Category: Hate Crime - Carisma Services - inspiring communities

Ladies Day @ The Mosque

3/3/2019

In order to create community cohesion the women of the Ahmadiyya Mosque, Moss Side opened up their doors for other women of Muslim faith and other faiths to come and share knowledge about each other's faith and look at the similarities of each other's faith.
Sikism - first we had a woman from the Sikh faith address the audience. She was born in Kenya to Indian parents. She was educated in India then moved to Britain. Her place of worship is known as the Guduwara Temple. It is believed that the first Gurunanak brought about women's equal rights and tried to abolish the caste system. Women had no rights up until the 14th century - women had to die with their deceased husbands. This practice was called 'Sutty', where women had to sacrifice themselves to cremation - burning alive! They do celebrate Christmas, Divali, Eid with respect.

Jewish Faith - The second speaker was a Jewish lady. She informed us that as a Jewish person they do eat Halal foods and Kosha foods are similar. However, they do not eat prawns or pig meat. They read the holy book- The Torah. In the Jewish community, a child is Jewish if the mother is Jewish. After 8 days of the birth of a male child, circumcision is performed on the penis area (this is simarly done in the faith of Islam and in Nigeria - even amongst non Muslims). In Hebrew this is called Brit or Covenant between God and Abraham. Genesis (of the Bible) speaks of circumcision. There marriages are arranged. During a wedding ceremony the Groom covers the glass and breaks it with his foot. I remember doing this at my wedding (and we are not Jewish). The Jewish do this because they believe that you cannot have good without bad and this is done to ward off evil spirits. Also simbolizing the last time the man will put his foot down.
We were told that in the Jewish religion women do not count during a service and for a service to be held there needs to be 10 men present. In an orthodox Jewish church the women sit separately (similarly in a Mosque). Women are obligated to light two candles to welcome the Sabbath. They are not obligated to go to church because their men say they have a very important already very busy role of bringing up the children; teach them the ways of Judaism; keep the house and cook - sounds like most households and including going to church!

Beha'i Faith - this religion is believed to have started about 175 years ago in Iran. It is believed that this was started in 1863 by a person known as Bahaullah, born 1817. They say that they are the fundamental investigators of truth. They are encouraged to investigate all religions. They believe that religions, social things and even the manifestations of God change according to the need of humanity. Known as 'progressive revelations'. They say men and women are equal and ladies are mothers of the future. Their women are well educated because they educate the next generation. In this faith they do not have separate services for women. They do fast for 19 days during this time of year. There are 361 days a year in the Beha'i calendar consisting of 19 days x 19 months. The basic fundamental law = Unity. No sects just Beha'i faith.
Christianity -This guest speaker was a Reverend from the Church of England, St Johns Church. She explained that Christianity is Abrahamic like Judaism and Islam. All our religions have more in common than what divides us. Although men and women in the Christian faith do worship together. Christians have different seasons and times of worship - Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension and these are a few of many celebrations. Mainly worship on a Sunday but not exclusively. There are 5 Marks of Mission. Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure.
1) Proclaim the good news story of Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
2) Teach the Gospel and the teachings of the Bible through scripture and baptize new believers.
3) Attending to those who are in need, hungry, homeless, sick or suffering - with loving service.
4) To work against injustice in our society, to challenge violence of every kind an to work for peace and reconciliation.
5) Look after and protect the Earth, the animals, plants because they are all Gods glory.
Fundamental law - To love God and Love Our Neighbour is important to Christians.
Ahmadiyya Five Pillars of Islam - These are 1) Declaration of Faith (PBUH); 2) Salat (Prayer) 5 times a day facing Mecca; 3) Zakat - 2.5% of ones annual assets to be given to charity; 4) Fasting -no eating, drinking, smoking, or acts of intimacy; 5) Hajj - each Muslim is expected to go Mecca at least once in their life, to do Hajj.
Fundamental law- Love for All Hatred for Non. They are very well known for their charitable giving to enhance the dignity of man. Constantly searching for what it means to be human.

Hate Crime Awareness Week

11/2/2019

Nigerian Women's Group Manchester held our annual Hate Crime Awareness event. There was a good turnout. In small groups we looked at our own sub-conscious bias around religion and other issues such as voluntary returns via the Home Office.

Sunday Assembly

10/2/2019

Continuing on with my attendance at various Hate Crime Awareness events I was invited to be a guest speaker at the Sunday Assembly.
What is the Sunday Assembly I hear you ask? This is the same question I asked. They are a global movement and have been in existence for about 5 years. The Assembly was first set up by two people, one a Christian and the other not. The Sunday Assembly in Manchester meet in the NIAMOS community space in Hulme.
It is a non-religious group and movement, however, they still keep the model of a service. At first I questioned this because I thought do they think I am non-religious. This reminded me of when I spoke as a guest speaker at the Atheist Forum - we had very interesting discussions after my talk where I showed them that just because you are an atheist does not mean you do not believe in anything. The opposite is actually true because we all believe in something - The God/Allah/Most High Theory; The Big Bang Theory: The World is Round or Flat!
Anyway the members of the Sunday Assembly welcome all who welcome all. Their ethos was that '...they do not know if there is an after-life, but they do celebrate being alive. Now I thought, yep, I'm down with that one. I love life and enjoy being on planet earth, plus I am definitely not in a hurry to meet my makers - at least not just yet.
Sunday Assembly motto: Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More - What can I do to help me on the inside and help others.
This is where I came in focussing on "What Is Community and What Is the Power of Community?"
I showed the listeners that we who come together because of what we have in common whether within a neighbourhood, street, school business are a community - otherwise known as bonding social capital. We need to focus on the real issues that affect all of us in whatever shape or form or size. Do not get side tracked. Focus on the real issues for the benefit of all, and not just self. This is how you get all people concerned on to the same page to effect change. That's the power of community.