This is a weekly post by Nidhal Guessoum (see his earlier posts here). Nidhal is an astrophysicist and Professor of Physics at American University of Sharjah and is the author of Islam's Quantum Question: Reconciling Muslim Tradition and Modern Science. 

The French magazine Psychologies, not to be confused with its namesakes in the US and in the UK, while aiming for the general-public, tries to keep a reasonable standard of scientific accuracy. It also tries to remain “interesting”, that is to sell copies, so in its latest issue (February 2012), it has a cover story on why our (sexual) desire comes and goes and an interview with the captivating actress Juliette Binoche. But it also has a two-page article on the more than dubious “quantum therapies”.

But I was intrigued by the quiz it ran on the various types of spiritualities that people hold today, though they may or may not be fully aware of that aspect of their personalities/personhoods.

Now, before I give you an idea of the quiz, and even let you take a short version of it, I must point out that the concept of “spirituality” has been the object of various attempts to redefine it or at least expand its meanings. Indeed, “spirituality” comes from “spirit”, which in the “technical” sense refers to “the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person” (as the Webster dictionary puts it), or more simply that dimension of humans that religious people believe makes us able to connect to God and perhaps to others. But since “spirit” can also mean “temper or disposition of mind or outlook” (another definition given by Webster), and if you take this meaning and infer some “spirituality” from it, then it no longer needs to be related to religion. And that is why there is this increasing trend of people describing themselves as “spiritual, but not religious” (just Google up "spiritual, not religious").

The Psychologies quiz begins with an introduction titled “To each, their own spirituality”, where the different facets of the concept are first explained. The reader is told that spirituality can refer to: a) a state of “completeness”, when one has integrated various dualities (light and shadow, heaven and earth); b) a feeling of being in relation with something sacred, of being connected to a higher dimension of existence; c) a “life of the spirit”, representing a kind of “secular spirituality”, as has been defined by some thinkers (the magazine refers specifically to the popular French philosopher Andre Comte-Sponville). It goes on to explain that these different types of spirituality then result in different responses in the person: giving meaning to one’s life, giving comfort, developing an ethic of living together, or solving personal problems and inner conflicts.

On this basis, the magazine produced a quiz: 48 statements are offered, and the reader is asked to the select the ones that s/he agrees more with (or represent his/her personhood); each statement is given a symbol, and the reader then counts which symbol appears most in his/her selected statements; on the next page, a description of the spiritual type represented by each symbol is given, thus describing the reader’s spiritual nature.

Since I can’t reproduce the whole quiz for you (first there are copyright limitations, and second I don’t have time to translate 48 statements), I’ve selected 16 from the four categories and labeled them A, B, C, D. Select the letter that appears more in your answers and refer to the description of each category at the end.

Here’s the mini-quiz. Have fun:

• I often feel a need for protection. (A)
• We are here on Earth to learn and to improve ourselves. (B)
• As I matured, spirituality became more important for me. (B)
• I feel connected to all that lives. (C)
•  Solidarity and compassion are not a monopoly of spirituality. (D)
• I cannot bear the idea of nothingness after death. (A)
• I find meaning and values in humanistic philosophies. (D)
• I believe in miraculous healings. (A)
• I often get lightning and accurate intuitions. (C)
• I meditate to calm my mind and to open up my heart. (B)
• I ask heaven for help in difficult situations. (A)
• Spirituality should never leave the personal sphere. (D)
• To change the world, one must first change oneself. (B)
• It’s in Man that I believe, first and foremost. (D)
• Speaking to God is completely natural for me; I need no intermediary. (C)
• I am fully convinced that hardships have a meaning, and we must accept that sometimes it escapes us. (C) 

The categories:

A describes a spirituality which seeks “refuse” in something or some being, a “parent God” who protects and heals the person. Supposedly (according to the magazine), this is closer to the traditional concept of God and spirituality.

B describes the spirituality of an evolving person, one who, through practices like yoga or zen, seeks higher and more connected ways of living. Here belief in a higher being (God) is not essential, even though there is often the belief/feeling that there is some higher intelligence that we may be part of or may be able to become part of.

C refers to the mystical type of spirituality, to seek to live in communion with the Divine/Spirit or with the Universe (in a pantheistic/panentheistic worldview).

D denotes an “atheistic ethic” (the magazine’s description), one which tries to uphold truth, goodness, and beauty without any reference to or need for God.

So, there you have them: the four types of spirituality as Psychologies sees them. Perhaps there are other types or definitions or hybrid forms…

Do you recognize yourself in any of these? Do you have a different description for your own or your parents’ spirituality?

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Jemputan Berkongsi @ Radio IKIM.FM (Episod Ke-2) Live Esok Malam!!!

Monday, January 30, 2012 | Author: Fakhrullah Bin Mawardi

Dengan Nama Allah Yang Maha Pengasih Lagi Maha Penyayang
Pengumuman Asli : SaBaHaNmUsLiM

Assalamu'alaikum wbt, Alhamdullillah, saya dijemput sekali lagi membuat perkongsian dalam slot remaja di Radio IKIM.FM (Pilihan Utama Anda) pada esok malam, 31 Januari 2012 dari jam10.00PM - 11.00PM secara LIVE (LANGSUNG)..Episod pertama dulu boleh didapati di link ini -> Al-Quran Sumber Motivasi @ Radio IKIM.

Mohon doakan agar saya mampu berikan yang terbaik kepada semua pendengar Radio IKIM pada esok malam ya! Jangan lupa untuk menjadi salah seorang dari pendengar pada esok malam dan bantu sebarkan lagi kepada keluarga dan kawan untuk dengar bersama ya..^.^..tajuk yang diberikan kali ini adalah mengenai "Remaja & Rasulullah", InsyaAllah.

Semoga perkongsian esok saya mampu menyampaikan dan menyedarkan remaja sekalian perihal contoh solid yang perlu kita teladani dalam menjadi remaja acuan al-Quran dan as-Sunnah, Amin Ya Hadid.

Terima kasih kepada pihak IKIM atas kesudian menjemput saya lagi membuat sedikit perkongsian kepada semua generasi muda harapan agama, bangsa dan negara.

source: http://sabahanmuslim.blogspot.com

~End Of Post~

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by Salman Hameed

Booksellers are in trouble everywhere. But here is a fantastic solution in Pakistan (should we call these r-books to go with e-books?):

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I made these charts to help the students review what a solid, liquid, and gas is.  I cut out different pictures from a magazine and laminated them.  I then put sticky Velcro on the pictures and anchor charts so the students could place the correct picture onto the correct chart.  We did this activity whole group first so I could explain the pictures.  Then, I let the students do this activity as a center.

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My students loved solving these shape riddles to guess the 2-D and 3-D shapes.  The shape riddles not only help the students practice their shape names, but it also helps them practice counting sides, vertices, and faces.  These also make a fun center! 

Click HERE to Download

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by Salman Hameed

In October 2009, we had organized an international conference on Darwin and Evolution in the Muslim World at Hampshire College. One of the public sessions included presentations by evolutionary biologist, Ehab Abouheif and physicist Taner Edis (he is also the author of An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam). They have different takes on Islam and evolution. Ehab is a practicing evolutionary biologist and believes that the two are compatible, while Taner believes that evolution poses serious challenges, at least to the traditional forms of religion, including Islam. If you are looking for name calling and mud-slinging, you won't find it here. This is a perfect example of people having disagreements about religion and having an intelligent conversation about it. It may also answer some questions you might have on the topic, or raise more. The good thing is the spectrum of opinions from people who agree on the basic principles of science.

Here is the main session followed by Q & A:

Ehab Abouheif & Taner Edis on Evolution and Islam from evolutionandislam on Vimeo.


Hampshire College | Night QA Panel Darwin and Evolution in the Muslim World from Hampshire TV on Vimeo.

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We have been doing many different 100^th day activities this week to celebrate the 100^th day of school!  Here are a couple activities we have done this week:

100 Piece Snack: The students used their sorting mats to help them count out 100 pieces for their snack.

100 Grid: The students colored in the numbers I called out on their number grid.  After I finished calling out the numbers in random order – it formed a 100 on their piece of paper.

100 Roll and Add: The students rolled a die and continued to add the numbers together until they reached the sum of 100.

 

100 Fruit Loop Necklace: The students used their sorting mats to help them count out 100 Fruit Loops.  Then they strung them onto a piece of yarn to make a necklace.  Some students strung them in a pattern.

 
100 Trading: Each student brought a bag filled with 100 of the same items.  Then, all of first grade got together and traded.  Each student traded one item of theirs for one item of another student.  By the end of the trading each student had their bag filled with 100 different items. 

This is the note and bag that went home with each student about the 100th Day Trading. 

 

Here are some examples of what some students brought to trade.

100th Day FREE Center Ideas!

100 Link Chain: I cut strips of construction paper that were numbered from 1 to 100. The students worked together in groups to string their chain from the number 1 to 100.

 

100 Piece Puzzle: The students worked together to put together a 100 piece puzzle. The puzzle was a picture of a 100 dollar bill.

 

100 Structure: The students used 100 cups to build a structure.

 

 

 

100 Piece Train: The students used the 100 items to build a train.  They compared the length of each train and talked about why one train was longer/shorter than the other trains.

 

 

 

100 Estimation: The students guessed which container was filled with 100 things.  After the students made their guess they counted the items to check their guess!

 

 

 

Fun Snacks on the 100th Day of School!

 

I passed out these fun snacks on the 100th Day of School!

 

 

Click HERE to download my 100th Day of School packet on TpT!

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Thumbody Loves You....and that Thumbody is Me!

I had my students make this craft to give to their parents for Valentine's Day. They cut and glued all the pieces together then stamped their thumbprint on each flower pedal.

Click HERE to Download

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It’s too bad I didn’t go to film school. If I had, I could have done a clever play on the film noir genre for this balsamic beurre noir recipe. 

Of course, it would have been done in black and white, and featured a chain-smoking, fishnet stocking-clad femme fatale who would eventually double-cross me after a few extended close-ups of spinning ceiling fans. But, I didn’t, so all you get is this plain old video for an incredibly easy and delicious, garlic-spiked, balsamic butter sauce. 

The name is going to confuse a few culinary students out there. Technically, a “beurre noir” refers to a sauce where the butter is cooked until it turns a very dark brown, almost black color. I’m using the term “beurre noir,” as one would use “beurre blanc,” a butter sauce made with reduced white wine, or “beurre rouge,” one made with red wine. The technique is identical for these types of sauces, and we just change the name depending on the color.

For you guys out there looking for Valentine’s Day recipe ideas, you can’t go wrong with this very sexy sauce. Everyone knows cooking dinner for your sweetheart on V-Day is way more romantic than taking her out, and you really can’t beat the old home field advantage for these occasions. You don’t have to hire a private dick to figure that one out.

Anyway, I hope you give this a try soon. Rent some classic film noir, grill up some meat or fish, and spoon over this dark, dangerous, and deeply delicious sauce. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 2-3 portions:

2 tsp melted butter

1 sliced garlic clove

1/3 cup aged balsamic vinegar

1 tsp minced red chilies

1/2 tsp tomato paste

salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp unsalted butter

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Tip from Farid Alvie.

I have a whole collection of these 'ascent of man' cartoons. Of course, they also propagate the erroneous ladder view of evolution. But what can we do? They provide for some nice comic opportunities. Here is one of my favorites, from the New Yorker:

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by Salman Hameed

Kamila Shamsie, the author several novels set in Karachi (for example, In the City by the Sea, Kartography), had an interesting article in Guernica about schools in Pakistan. The challenges are immense. It is not just a matter of creating more schools - after all, the Taliban are also "students". It is about the quality of education and its accessibility to all Pakistanis.

Here she talks about the infiltration of religion in textbooks (for example, on the encouragement of raising cattle, since it is a Sunnah of the Prophet), and a bit on ghost schools - schools that exist only on paper. But most of the article is about efforts to reform the existing educational system by an NGO led by couple if young Pakistanis, including Sana mentioned below. The efforts seems promising and I hope it works out, but then there have  been numerous efforts in the past that have fizzled out at the end.

But apart from a better curriculum, I was struck by the gender issues mentioned in the article - and it provides a glimpse of the challenges involved.

But problems didn’t just come from adults. Increasingly, the neighborhoods in Karachi are divided along ethnic lines with each group identifying with a political party. The relationships between some of these political parties are marked by violence and “target killing,” intimidation, and extortion to the perceived benefit of the party. By the time many boys are adolescents, they’ve already been pulled into some of the more thuggish aspects. “With the boys you have to get to them by the time they’re eleven or twelve. Any later is too late,” Sana said, recalling how a group of fourteen-year-olds told her, “What do we need education for? We’re in politics.” Even further, those boys were unwilling to listen to a female. Once, when Sana was trying to get them to be silent, one of the students said, “Get the bearded guy with a stick to come in if you want us to be quiet.” Not long after, she stopped teaching in the boys’ section of the school. 

“What about the girls?” I asked. 

The girls, she said, were an entirely different matter. “I can set any essay assignment, and without fail they’ll manage to work into it that their greatest wish is to just be allowed to stay in school and complete their education,” Sana told me. But all too often their parents pull them out of school by the time they’re twelve. Sometimes the parents want them to get married, other times they can’t afford the fees and feel it’s more important to pay for the education of their sons. 

The girls are as affectionate as the boys are macho, I heard from both Sana and Adnan. It was hard not to think that at home their brothers received all the attention. Damaging for both the boys and the girls, as well as for their relationships with each other. For Sana, it was particularly disheartening to realize how low the girls’ expectations for their lives were, how little they felt they could ask from the world.

This is a serious issue and the society as a whole has to work to find a solution. This is after all half of the student population of Pakistan! [and yes, I thought it was funny/sad that some of the boys thought they don't need education now that they are in politics]

Read the full article here.

Also see these earlier post:
The Enigma of Educated Pakistanis
Muslim Women Scientists Today

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I made these for dinner when I was on the search for finding something new to make using ground beef.  I can only eat meatloaf, chili and meatballs so many times.  While browsing on Pinterest I saw a picture of taquitos that looked so delicious.  I found this recipe which is super easy and really yummy.  Everyone in my family enjoyed it so I will be making this one again.  I'm also going to make these using mini tortillas and serve them as an appetizer at my next get together.  To make them healthier you can definitely use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef as well as using low fat cheese.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for brushing on the taquitos

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3/4 pound lean ground beef

1 cup salsa, plus more for dipping

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

10 (6-inch) flour tortillas

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack

Sour cream

Preparation:

Heat the oven to 400º. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook them for 3 minutes, stirring often. Add the beef and use a wooden spoon or a spatula to break it up while it cooks, until it is no longer red, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup of the salsa, the chili powder, and the salt and pepper. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

Place the tortillas on a plate and cover them with damp paper towels. Microwave them until warm and pliable, about 45 seconds. Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup of the beef mixture, spreading it to an inch from the edges. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the beef.

Roll up the tortillas and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet with the seam sides down. Brush the taquitos lightly with vegetable oil, then bake them until the filling is heated through and the tortillas are lightly browned, about 8 to 12 minutes. Serve them hot with sour cream and/or salsa. Serves 4 to 6.

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I was so excited I’d been able to make such a fine Sloppy Joe with ground turkey instead of the usual beef, that I didn’t even consider its unsightly appearance as I ate. It wasn’t until later, as I edited the footage and photos that I realized this was not an attractive dish.

Even the best looking Sloppy Joe is a homely plate of food, but this was made even more so by the pale turkey meat. As I mentioned in the video, I believe a more thorough browning of the onions would have helped the color, and I will test that theory the next time I make this.

In fairness, it did look a little better in person, and the taste and texture were exactly as I had hoped. It tasted enough like a traditional beef Sloppy Joe to provide that satisfying comfort food fix, yet seemed much lighter.

Superficial beauty aside, this made for a very enjoyable lunch, and kept warm in a slow cooker, could also work very nicely for a Super Bowl party. I hope you give it a try soon. By the way, thanks to Me.Eat.Food for inspiring today post title! Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 Portions:

2 tbsp butter

1 onion

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/4 pounds ground turkey plus 1/2 cup cold water

3/4 cup ketchup

1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar, or to taste

cayenne to taste

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 cup water, or as needed

1/3 cup chopped green onions

1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

View the complete recipe

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As promised, here’s my official Super Bowl XLVI prediction, using Buffalo chicken wing bones! The game will feature the heroic New York Giants vs. the despised New England Patriots, and while I’m sure you would have enjoyed the game anyway, just think how much more fun you’re going to have winning all this easy money too.

The best thing about using bones to predict the winner is not having to waste time gathering information, analyzing game plans, and considering any actual facts. 

No, all the talking haircuts on TV can do that, I’m sticking with this time-tested, definitely-not-an-obvious-joke method. By the way, the fact that the "N" is backwards makes this even more of a sure thing. Why? Don't worry about it.

On a personal note, Michele and I were at Candlestick Park yesterday for the NFC Championship Game! The weather was dreadful, but the old ball yard was rocking, and the game turned into an epic defensive struggle that I’m glad we got to see in person. Go Giants! Enjoy!

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When report card assessments came along it was always such a stressful time.  We have checklist type report cards with many different skills to assess per student.  UNTIL I created assessment packets!!!  These packets have worksheet assessments that align to each skill.  I just pull the worksheets that I need for that nine weeks and staple them together.  I have the students work on them independently while they have their offices up.  When the students have finished their packet I just grade them and transfer how they did onto their report card.  It also helps to have a hard copy of how each student is doing.  Then when you have a parent argue with you that their child knows how to do a particular skill you can pull out the assessment packet and show them that on that certain day they couldn’t successfully complete that skill.  My first grade team uses these same assessments that I have created.  That way we know we are assessing the same skills and the same way!

This is a preview of some of the assessment pages:

Click HERE to Download

 

 

 

Here is how I have all the assessments organized....

 

 

I have all the assessments stored in a 3 inch binder.

 

 

All the assessments are organized by each 9 weeks.

 

 

This is the districts progress report which lists the skills that need to be assessed at that time.  After the progress report I then put all the assessments I need for that 9 weeks behind it.  Each assessment page is in a clear plastic sleeve cover.  I usually have multiple copies of each assessment so I can easily pull one if I need to assess a student again.

 

 

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