I admired Rushdie, am glad he wrote this book and plan to read it. That said, I am always annoyed at speculation that some higher power singles out any individual life for saving. The unspoken and egotistic implication is that the saved live is somehow more worthy or meaningful to God (or whatever one calls it) than the countless lives not likewise saved. What saved Rushie was medical care and his own capacity for recovery from being stabbed by a knife-wielding zealot whose enthusiasm was greater than his skill.
Or maybe the individual is singled out because they have unfinished business to accomplish. I don’t know the answers but I do know that each of us is here for a specific mission. We don’t understand why some are hear for a short time or a long time but each of us has a job to do
Maybe Rushdie should listen to Nicole Avant on Honestly with Bar, talking about how she forgave the man who murdered her mother? Nah, actually, he’s not ready for that kind of radical selflessness.
I admire Rushdie, and his late great friend Christopher Hitchens, who sheltered Rushdie after the fatwa. Both are/were atheists. But I'm hopeful that in his final days Hitchens realized what many of us do, and that Rushdie will come to that realization as well: that faith and science are not incompatible. To have one you don't have to reject the other. ;-)
Thank you Salman Rushdie to remind me that I don't have to hold my detractors in contempt. Unpopular opinion, as sure as there is a judgement for me, there is also a judgement for his misguided attacker.
What is the difference between science and religion? Nothing. In the end, much of science is based on faith. And although the scientific search goes on, so does many religions. And in the end, science has no answer to the foundational questions of life. Why we are here, how was the universe formed. How did we get a conscience. etc. Science has no answer for such questions but the atheists keep the faith, that one day science will. Just like the earth is flat, the universe rotates around earth, alchemy, harmless drugs like coke, etc. But I expect that some will rebut this post. none will be able to do it with facts and truths. Just name calling and maybes.
And the fact is, there is a testable model of creation just as science requires. And science and the Bible are not opposed to each pother but in harmony.
I came of age in the Carter years. And one thing I have in common with today's young adults is that those were hard economic times. I was also in the when you're young stage of if you are not a liberal when you are young thing and the 1960s anti-war crowd was successful so we thought the liberal war was won. So I did not pay much attention to politics. I knew gas went from gas wars where a gallon was 15 cents (I had to write that out because I do not have the cents symbol) to oil embargoes and OPEC to the Iranian embassy debaucle. My dad worked on the helicopters sent to rescue the hostages that failed. He was devastated. So I was unaware of Carter's Op Ed. Not surprised by it though. He was the first President in my adulthood, maybe my life, to epitomize weakness. He was defeated by the Islamists. Then hosted them at Camp David. In hindsight we should have paid better attention to them.
As for the existence of miracles and the Higher Power, the way Rushdie contemplates it is one way. His circumstances brought him to a situation he could not rationalize. Another is to ponder where the evil, and it does exist, comes from. I submit if you believe there is good versus evil, light versus dark, fulfillment versus a void you do indeed believe in a higher power.
Thanks for the reminder of the grossness of Jimmy Carter. His malevolence has long been forgotten and he will likely be remembered for building houses not his ever growing hostility to Israel and his own country in favor of Islamic terrorists.
ICBW but I really do not see him as malevolent. The opposite actually - a devout man who really believed in kindness and enlightenment. To the point thst he had no self-interest. For himself or those on behalf of whom he was supposed to act. But it is really just taking the easy way - refusing to see much less face hard truths.
Are you kidding. Habitat was mostly paid for by Arab money. I am not a conspiracy person but maybe he had connections to Iran before the hostage debacle.
I am sure in his own mind he feels that wah. But his behavior and actions have been incredibly malevolent. Unless you don't consider meeting with murderous terrorists malevolent.
I see your point. In my personal life I do not meet with those I deem unworthy. But I actually prefer leadership that is strong enough to face anyone. The problem.with Carter was that he did not have that strength. Sort of Ike the current one. Just say "Don't" is not an effective strategy.
At the risk of sounding cliche (and of repeating myself...) there's that 'Still Small Voice' again in the darkness....Rushdie is a treasure. And now he might even see that he is. God bless him.
I'm In for the Fatwah on the Ayotllah's, these people are not humans but animals. Are there not enough Muslims in the world who need to learn to live without Western Aid and Support then attack the very people who try to assist them. The Palestinians' could exist without Western Aid they produce little or nothing they rely on others for their very existence yet they attack Israel at every opportunity. Start with cutting the aid most of which seems to flow to Hamas. Time to bring Iran to heel as well, no good can come from allowing this to continue.
I admired Rushdie, am glad he wrote this book and plan to read it. That said, I am always annoyed at speculation that some higher power singles out any individual life for saving. The unspoken and egotistic implication is that the saved live is somehow more worthy or meaningful to God (or whatever one calls it) than the countless lives not likewise saved. What saved Rushie was medical care and his own capacity for recovery from being stabbed by a knife-wielding zealot whose enthusiasm was greater than his skill.
Or maybe the individual is singled out because they have unfinished business to accomplish. I don’t know the answers but I do know that each of us is here for a specific mission. We don’t understand why some are hear for a short time or a long time but each of us has a job to do
Maybe Rushdie should listen to Nicole Avant on Honestly with Bar, talking about how she forgave the man who murdered her mother? Nah, actually, he’s not ready for that kind of radical selflessness.
After reading this article I can't but flashback to season 9 of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Rushdie's advice to Larry David on coping with a fatwa.
I admire Rushdie, and his late great friend Christopher Hitchens, who sheltered Rushdie after the fatwa. Both are/were atheists. But I'm hopeful that in his final days Hitchens realized what many of us do, and that Rushdie will come to that realization as well: that faith and science are not incompatible. To have one you don't have to reject the other. ;-)
So thankful you are still here
Thank you Salman Rushdie to remind me that I don't have to hold my detractors in contempt. Unpopular opinion, as sure as there is a judgement for me, there is also a judgement for his misguided attacker.
What is the difference between science and religion? Nothing. In the end, much of science is based on faith. And although the scientific search goes on, so does many religions. And in the end, science has no answer to the foundational questions of life. Why we are here, how was the universe formed. How did we get a conscience. etc. Science has no answer for such questions but the atheists keep the faith, that one day science will. Just like the earth is flat, the universe rotates around earth, alchemy, harmless drugs like coke, etc. But I expect that some will rebut this post. none will be able to do it with facts and truths. Just name calling and maybes.
And the fact is, there is a testable model of creation just as science requires. And science and the Bible are not opposed to each pother but in harmony.
I came of age in the Carter years. And one thing I have in common with today's young adults is that those were hard economic times. I was also in the when you're young stage of if you are not a liberal when you are young thing and the 1960s anti-war crowd was successful so we thought the liberal war was won. So I did not pay much attention to politics. I knew gas went from gas wars where a gallon was 15 cents (I had to write that out because I do not have the cents symbol) to oil embargoes and OPEC to the Iranian embassy debaucle. My dad worked on the helicopters sent to rescue the hostages that failed. He was devastated. So I was unaware of Carter's Op Ed. Not surprised by it though. He was the first President in my adulthood, maybe my life, to epitomize weakness. He was defeated by the Islamists. Then hosted them at Camp David. In hindsight we should have paid better attention to them.
As for the existence of miracles and the Higher Power, the way Rushdie contemplates it is one way. His circumstances brought him to a situation he could not rationalize. Another is to ponder where the evil, and it does exist, comes from. I submit if you believe there is good versus evil, light versus dark, fulfillment versus a void you do indeed believe in a higher power.
" A 24-year old New Jersey man" of what ethnicity and want religion? Two guesses. Are you afraid tl.write it? Emshi fahdlak!
It’s interesting…to live in a world where you don’t believe in miracles. For me, that’s like saying you don’t believe in the sky or trees or the sun.
Cultural enrichment from "Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old New Jersey man."
Thanks for the reminder of the grossness of Jimmy Carter. His malevolence has long been forgotten and he will likely be remembered for building houses not his ever growing hostility to Israel and his own country in favor of Islamic terrorists.
ICBW but I really do not see him as malevolent. The opposite actually - a devout man who really believed in kindness and enlightenment. To the point thst he had no self-interest. For himself or those on behalf of whom he was supposed to act. But it is really just taking the easy way - refusing to see much less face hard truths.
Are you kidding. Habitat was mostly paid for by Arab money. I am not a conspiracy person but maybe he had connections to Iran before the hostage debacle.
I did not know that.
I am sure in his own mind he feels that wah. But his behavior and actions have been incredibly malevolent. Unless you don't consider meeting with murderous terrorists malevolent.
I see your point. In my personal life I do not meet with those I deem unworthy. But I actually prefer leadership that is strong enough to face anyone. The problem.with Carter was that he did not have that strength. Sort of Ike the current one. Just say "Don't" is not an effective strategy.
So happy that you have a recovery. I believe in miracles- the noun and the adjective.
At the risk of sounding cliche (and of repeating myself...) there's that 'Still Small Voice' again in the darkness....Rushdie is a treasure. And now he might even see that he is. God bless him.
What caliber do your readers suggest for such an encounter?
I'm In for the Fatwah on the Ayotllah's, these people are not humans but animals. Are there not enough Muslims in the world who need to learn to live without Western Aid and Support then attack the very people who try to assist them. The Palestinians' could exist without Western Aid they produce little or nothing they rely on others for their very existence yet they attack Israel at every opportunity. Start with cutting the aid most of which seems to flow to Hamas. Time to bring Iran to heel as well, no good can come from allowing this to continue.