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When it relates to the People of the Book, some emphases on the Tolerant, Neutral, Cautionary and Adversarial Surahs and Ayat

Table of Contents Cautionary Surahs and Ayat Adversarial Surahs and Ayat Tolerant Surahs and Ayat Neutral Surahs and Ayat The ‘Covenant of ‘Umar’ The reason for the inclusion of Christians, Jews and Sabians as People of the Book, not only depends on having a sacred book but is also based on monotheism. Another fact was that the Qur’an calls on Prophet Muhammad to: “Set you (O Muhammad...) your face towards the religion (of pure Islamic Monotheism) …. Allah’s Fitrah (i.e. Allah’s Islamic Monotheism) with which He has created mankind” (Al-Rum 30:30). Strictly speaking, monotheism is another criterion and followed by the fact that the three religions considered Abraham as their father; “it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham), Islamic Monotheism” (Al-Hajj 22:78).   Another criterion can be found in terms like Al-Muttaqun ( Al-Baqarah 2:2). The term Al-Muttaqun means to profess faith in one God as a revelation given and written down in the form of scripture. This defi...

The Pathis and Panchappathis in Ayyavazhi Religion

Table of Contents The Pathis The Panchappathis Social and Mystical Teachings Ayyavazhi is a sect in the Hindu religion a string of a dharmic belief system that was founded based on the life and teachings of Ayya Vaikundar. Principally, it is noted that the pathis (places where God is) and panchappathis (five abodes of God) play central roles in the lives of its followers. The general characteristics of this Hindu religious sect include: Monotheism Concepts of good, evil and dharma. The poorest of the poor are its major adherents. For monotheism – Ayyavazhi has a strong belief in the concept of one God known as Bhagavan Vishnu who has the capability to appear in human likenesses, such as in names and forms which suggests that there are other lesser godheads. But it also teaches that God is the most supreme of all deities, who is formless, transcendental, infinite, and eternal. As a religion, its symbol is a lotus carrying a flamelike white Naman which could mean in the Hindu languag...

The Construction of Religious Identity and Recognition in Nigeria

Table of Contents Nigeria’s Demography Identity Construction in Nigeria Conclusion Identity construction in Nigeria is arguably rooted in ethnicity, tribal majority, and religious supremacy. They form the basis for defining who a Nigerian is and where they come from? Patriotism doesn’t count much when it comes to constructing identity in Nigeria. There are many reason reasons for this claim. For example, the Nigerian state does not recognize the existence of its citizens. By this, the emphasis is not on the compulsory enforcement of getting the National Identity Cards but on the state providing for the citizens the basic amenities for living, such as motorable roads, electricity, water, functioning hospitals, steady and timely education, and employment. Those are things of the past. They stopped in the early 1980s. These infrastructures are considered luxuries and only the rich and their relatives can enjoy them now. Questions of nationalism and service to the nation are defined by the...

The Fable of the Snails or the Phenomenology of Sex

Table of Contents The Fable of the Snails The Possibility of the Phenomenology of Sex Duels over Sex Phenomenology and Possibility Glamour, Intuition, and Intentionality Conclusion Mythical inquiry into the phenomenology of sex is an attempt to delve into the glamorized or idealized conceptions surrounding sex in this age of technology, self-esteem, and contentment. It is about sex ;  not sex in the form of gender definitions: masculinity or femininity; nor behaviour that lends credence towards sexual activity or some definitions marked by reproductive characteristics. What is a phenomenology of sex? To answer this question, the poem The Fable of the Snails may give some insights into its meaning. The Fable of the Snails Their slimy tongues traversed thorny earth. Weighty shell, on hard earth, rolled. Going miles! Slow but efficient and exact. Quiet snuggling and snogging! Everything is on its path. Seamless and methodical; sensitive and sentient.   Chameleon stung; consciousn...