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January 26th, 2013
10:00 PM ET

My Take: An American Jew finds MLK – and a new understanding – on the West Bank

Editor's note: Arri Eisen, PhD., is professor of pedagogy at Emory University’s Center for Ethics, Department of Biology and Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts. Carlton D. Mackey, who took the accompanying photographs, is the director of the Ethics & the Arts Initiative at the Emory University Center for Ethics.

By Arri Eisen, Special to CNN

Monday was Martin Luther King Day. Monday, Barack Obama was inaugurated president for the second time.

This was one of the few glimmers of hope held up by many of the Palestinians I met with at the turn of the year in the West Bank: “Who would have thought in Martin Luther King’s day that you would now have a black president? If that can happen in the U.S., then maybe one day there can be peace here.”

I spent 10 days in Jordan, Israel and the occupied territories on a “journey of reconciliation” my university sponsored, with a dozen other Americans — I the only Jew among them — meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

We met with Vera Baboun, the newly elected and first-ever female mayor of Bethlehem, a small city in the West Bank. The mayor told us she earned her degree in African-American literature at the Hebrew University; she was inspired by Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. Like many of the Palestinian political leaders in the West Bank, she is Christian. She is a mother of five; her husband was detained by the Israelis for three years and died soon after his release. Just outside her office, across the square, Jesus was born.

As we stand in the lobby saying goodbye to the mayor, a full-sized picture of Yasser Arafat, waving and smiling at me. In the world I grew up in, the late Palestinian leader was considered nothing but a Jew-killer, a terrorist.

Take everything that is good in humans and everything that is bad, mix it together, pour it in a vat of irony and then boil it down and stick it in one small area. This is the Middle East.

As we leave Bethlehem, the “separation barrier” — tall, thick concrete walls topped with gnarly wires cutting through the land like a knife — is on our left. On our right, says our guide, is the valley where the shepherds were told by the angels of Jesus’ birth. As we cross through the checkpoint, one of 500 in the West Bank, I turn and look back to see a huge red sign warning that it’s illegal for Israelis to enter Bethlehem – as well as dangerous to their lives.

I think of another sign we saw earlier that day. We had driven our bus up a good road that led to a settlement — full of Jews, surrounded by their own fence and guarded gate — and then took a ragged road as far as we could, up to the boulders strewn across it. We got out and walked the wind-whipped path to the Tent of Nations, 100 acres owned by Daoud, a Palestinian with a deed for this land that dates to 1916. The sign on entering Daoud’s property: “We refuse to be enemies.” He fights as MLK would; his right to the land has been tied up in the Israeli courts for more than two decades. When Daoud puts up tents for a summer camps he runs for kids from Bethlehem, he is issued demolition orders for them. He sees swimming pools in the settlements, but his water and electricity are cut off; he collects his own rain water and produces his own solar power.

These were not the stories I was told. I was raised in the classical Jewish American Zionist narrative of black and white, good and evil. Seeing the endless stream of evangelical Christians and Jews on birthright trips from all over the world touring through Jerusalem, I want to stop and shake them and tell them what they’re missing, what I wasn’t told.

It’s not that the Palestinians are angels. When the Israelis built the separation barriers, the suicide bombings terrorizing Israeli citizens stopped. I had dinner with an old friend, an American who had moved to Israel decades before. She spoke of gas masks and bomb shelters and of fear for her daughter, who is in the army guarding a West Bank settlement.

In Jerusalem, I walk out of the Church of the Nativity with our Palestinian guide Nabeel, one of 42 allowed to enter the city (on a six-month renewable permit). He walks with a limp. I tell him, “I now know three men with your name, one from Pakistan, one from Lebanon and now you.” He smiles. “What is your name again?” he asks. “I’m glad you’re on the trip. You know, in America, outside, I have Jewish friends, but here ...”

At the place where Jesus was buried, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, bells compete in aural space with Muslim prayers over loudspeakers. Our guide shows us a side entrance for black Christians who at one time weren’t allowed to use the main entrance. We take it and wind upward. On the roof of the church, here in the middle of the Old City of Jerusalem, a group of African monks has set up their own village!

At the Wailing Wall, small birds have taken up residence in a very resilient plant that grows from its ancient bricks. The birds look out at me, at the man holding his iPhone to the wall so a distant friend can pray into its mortar, at the Israeli soldiers completing their training and swearing to die for their country before this last remnant of the second Temple, at the masses of praying men and women — the women in a smaller area, separated from the men and further from the holiest part of the Wall. I am humbled. I turn and am struck by a huge sign advertising “bar mitzvahs at the Wall.” I wonder what the birds are thinking.

Many, Palestinians and Israelis, talk of how “things have gotten worse the last two years,” how peace is not even an issue in this week’s Israeli elections.

We meet with a group of young men and women calling themselves Kids for Peace: Palestinians, Christians, Jews, Israelis, Muslims. They get together regularly and share stories; they bring their parents together across the enmity formed by walls and fences. I see my son in them. The oldest one clears his throat. “We have peace in our veins,” he says, “We are changing people. We must listen to each other.”

- CNN Belief Blog

Filed under: Belief • Christianity • History • Israel • Jerusalem • Judaism • Middle East • Palestinians

soundoff (453 Responses)
  1. avaladonian

    Let's Go Rangers!!! Let's Go Rangers!!!

    January 27, 2013 at 9:00 am |
  2. question i've always want answered

    What is under the dome of the rock that makes it such a holy spot – and is this something magnetic that draws people to it – or some other pull on the parts of persons rains and minds that would make them overly religious or spiritual in thought?
    What is it that makes these people crave it to the point of willing to die for it – for their seeming very existance – and survival? Does anyone know?

    January 27, 2013 at 8:51 am |
    • Damocles

      Now that would be interesting if there was some kind of radioactive material under there that turns everyone loony.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:55 am |
    • Robert Brown

      Temple mount

      January 27, 2013 at 8:59 am |
    • Edweird69

      The Dome of the Rock is in the centre of a greater Muslim shrine, known as the Haram ash Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), which Muslims believe commemorates Muhammad's miraculous Night Journey into heaven. Later commentary by Muhammad, known as the hadith, have him name Jerusalem as the site of the Night Journey:
      "When the people of Quraish did not believe me (i.e. the story of my Night Journey), I stood up in Al-Hijr and Allah displayed Jerusalem in front of me, and I began describing Jerusalem to them while I was looking at it." Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 226 [1
      The Dome of the Rock is located at the visual center of a platform known as the Temple Mount. It was constructed on the site of the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. In 637 CE, Jerusalem surrendered to the Rashidun Caliphate army during the Muslim conquest of Syria.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:01 am |
    • Damocles

      Ahh... religious material that turns everyone loony.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:02 am |
    • questioner

      Thank you for your answers so far ... what is there in the earth that can cause people to suddenly go on dark nights of the soul in a quick hurry – almost like instant nirvana (or similar in nature as understood in eastern traditions) ... and perhaps stay that way ... or have knowledge to master that state again easily?
      Is this energy there always – or is it more intense at different times (and increasingly so at different ages) in history?

      What is REALLY there – would this cause a major war to find out?

      January 27, 2013 at 9:38 am |
    • Robert Brown

      Questioner,

      Now, under the mosque of Omar are the ruins of the Jewish temple.

      Before the southern kingdom was taken captive by the Chaldeans, the Shekinah glory of God was in the temple. From memory, which is often faulty, one of the prophets was given a vision of this glory leaving the temple and going back to heaven. The people started referring to the God of heaven.

      January 27, 2013 at 10:07 am |
    • otherquestions

      I wonder what this was that the prophet is said to have seen.
      Do the people who live there actually structure their entire lives on these visions?
      I mean – it is what it seems like from casual view.

      There is another thing that has caught my eye – cut I’ve also always wondered what 666 really referred to? I mean – i figured perhaps it was 999 upside down – or some other glyph of course.
      I was wondering if the reference is the sun – and if sunspot 1666 – which will occur soon – has any significance...
      Just wondering ... who's election is soon (say in next week – perhaps two) – and if the reference of 666 is even to a person and not simply to the sun.
      When is the Israel election exactly?

      January 27, 2013 at 11:45 am |
    • M

      A small asteroid or comet fell there, they took it as symbolic. Is never been tested because no one can actually touch "The rock" itself.

      January 27, 2013 at 1:09 pm |
    • questioner

      I need to read more on it ... a meteor or comet ... it needs to have scientific testing to really understand what is going on over there is my thought – especially if the USA is supposed to go to war over it – i mean – I’m not going to support a war over a rock that is making every one less than rational about it ... not that I would support a war anyway – but over a rock? I am interested to know more about it though.
      I wonder if whoever has control over it now would finally allow testing of it. (and the energy levels – composition of the grounds around it).

      January 27, 2013 at 1:22 pm |
    • otherquestions

      the fact that israel has nuclear weapons in such a small portion of a very volatile part of the world – all fueled with religious hatred and control issues – and those nuclear weapons are this huge fear mongering yet defensive strategy – coupled with the nuclear weapons in pakistan and india – two sworn enemies – is outrageous.
      What a mess – if all those people go insane at once – like they seem to have this tendency to put much weight on 'god's word' type prophecy – i mean – these prophets could have had a vision of a nuclear weapon rising from the area – and they term it god cuz they didn't know what it was.
      what a mess
      what's in the rock??? wonder if we will ever know?

      January 27, 2013 at 1:59 pm |
    • hard to get your mind around it

      The fact that these people have led so many to think that their pining for the day a nuclear warhead rises from their revered dome is this great and wonderful thing that all must live rightly – and prosecute them more – until they truly feel justified to unleash their god given glorified wrath and longed after rescue from their grief – is way too much to truly get your mind around to acceptance. I still think WHAT? every time i think of it.
      It does cause angry feelings though – I wonder if the Jewish people understand this – and use it to their advantage to justify their feelings of persecution when they finally see the rising of their promised savior and all their enemies will finally … what? I don’t remember that part – what happens after that?
      Why would anyone want to have a part in that delusion – when so many are aware of the fate that is shrouded in hate?

      January 28, 2013 at 4:25 am |
    • solutions

      the only way to solve the issues in the mideast without war is through peaceful negotiations instead of war.
      there is no delusion to that idea ... it seems fairly logical.
      the delusions need to stop – and all face realities of what they are – how they got to that point – and what they really want in future – and that cannot include wars – so – must include solutions that are peaceful and prosperous and right for all without all having to exist as just one thing ... or nothing at all – that is major thinking that is issue isn't it – people can't just live as people – they have to morph into something else ... something that they are not in order to fit in – which is ok too if that's what they want to do and don't impede on other's rights to just live as people that is more like them too without having to change who they are either to fit in.
      what is so hard to understand in that logic?
      No need to fight – just share
      and pay fair – peace is main goal here

      January 28, 2013 at 6:48 am |
  3. avaladonian

    Just think...without hate...there'd be no love....without war, there'd be no peace...without strong, there'd be no weak, without left..there'd be no right, without wrong...there'd be no right

    January 27, 2013 at 8:51 am |
    • Damocles

      That works in reverse as well.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:56 am |
    • avaladonian

      annnnnnddddd...............?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:59 am |
    • Damocles

      Just saying you can't have any of those without its opposite.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:00 am |
    • Edweird69

      I think it's just a silly quote, period. Can you have cancer, and not have cancer? Can you have a heart attack without having a heart attack? Doesn't really make any sense. Silly.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:03 am |
  4. Elizabeth

    What a wonderful article! Rabbis and synagogues and temples throughout the US should make this required reading. Is it in our nature to turn the very land where the Judeo-Christian ethic was born back into the incivility of the Roman empire? If we have lost Jesus' message where it was born, how can we keep it anywhere? Will violence bring us there? Will usurpation of homes and property bring us there? I fear not!

    January 27, 2013 at 8:49 am |
  5. achepotle

    I believe in the right of return of Polish Jews to Poland.

    January 27, 2013 at 8:40 am |
    • ayala88

      What about the right of return for Jews from Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, and more (who comprise over half of Israeli Jewish population)? Illegal for those Jews to even visit their former homelands, if not a death sentence.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:02 am |
  6. truth be told's psychiatrist

    truth be told suffers from religious psychosis and is not mentally stable...please disregard all of its lies and delusions. we are working on medication to stabilize the disorder

    January 27, 2013 at 8:38 am |
    • CSMITH

      Thank you!

      January 27, 2013 at 8:43 am |
    • Damocles

      Less drugs, more hugs for tbt!

      January 27, 2013 at 8:48 am |
    • lol??

      "......stabilize the disorder".......When you're sittin' in your rod in the garage, not wantin' to get it dirty by actually drivin' it, just put the Disorderly Orderly in your DVD player and get the wife and pretend you're at a Drive-In. You do have a big screen in the garage?

      January 27, 2013 at 9:14 am |
  7. ignorance of history

    The author lacks basic knowledge of history. Yes there are Palestinians who own deeds to land from 1961, woopidoo!
    After stealing the land from Jews in the 1929 massacres in Jerusalem and Hebron, the point is not individual deeds of land, (of which millions of Jews were cheated out of when they were chased out of the Arab countries)
    The point is that the Israelis are looking for a partner for peace, and have proven this by repeatedly giving away land, vacating Gaza (mistakenly), giving the Palestinians their own police force with guns included(huge mistake)
    The Palestinians do not want peace, they want every last Jew to be dead (they don't even hide this)
    Why does a Palesitinian woman like Baboun have only the Hebrew University to turn to for a proper education?
    BECAUSE PALESTINIANS TAKE THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM WORLD AID AND USE IT TO BUY MISSILES

    January 27, 2013 at 8:27 am |
    • left wing cnn using a jew to paint a left wing anti israel narrative

      very well said...the author of the article, the left wing guy who is naturally a jew bashing israel, is another in a long line of american jews who are so self righteous and narcissistic...brought up on left wing academia crap...what an ignorant fool....but he's a jew so he knows, right? wrong. he's an american liberal jew who only wants to fit in ....who has no spine and no guts to tell the anti's, hey, scre you, you have it all wrong....oh well...just another american leftist liberal who cares more about his cars and country clubs than his own people...typical.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:35 am |
    • Ben

      The author writes about Daoud's deed that date back to 1916 not 1961, a deed that preceed the 1929 incident you refer to. The unfortunate thing is that both sides are too occupied with putting forward their naratives, rather than work for peace. Isreal deserve a peaceful state, but so does the Palestinians.
      Unfortunately, the Israely Prime Minister have shown time and time again its lack of interest for peace. The palestinian leaders can't even come together either. I pray for leaders on both sides who will put peace above their political dance, and do the work that is required to give the world a peaceful and prosperious Israel and Palestan side by side with all the walls knocked down.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:02 am |
  8. left wing cnn using a jew to paint a left wing anti israel narrative

    how novel...

    can you say chomsky? pappe? finkelstein...? all of these nutcases are kapos...look it up ...kapo.

    if there were no suicide bombers, children wearing specially fitted suicide vests hand sewn by their parents, then there would be no wall, no checkpoints...and if the arabs hadnt tried to once more destroy israel in 1967, there would be no so called occupied territory. Its time cnn and others started reporting the full truth, all of the facts, the context ....palestinians are in the predicament they are in because they put themselves in it...not the jews, and not israel....

    January 27, 2013 at 8:24 am |
    • Ben

      Just because you are loud obnoxious like a lot of the crazy right wing in this country does not mean you care more for Israel than those who calls for peace. America invaded Iraq, that does not mean we have to keep their land. If we take the stand that those who will like to see a two state solution become reality are "left wing", then peace become more illusive. It is people like you that makes it difficult to bring peace to Israel and Palestan. Give peace a chance.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:16 am |
    • mike

      well said.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:32 am |
  9. Name*penguin

    There can be no peace without compromise. When both sides want the same piece of land (Jeruselam)there can be no compromise. There will never be peace in the middle east.

    January 27, 2013 at 8:19 am |
  10. Peace in the Middle East LoL

    You kidding me. The people (Especially the leaders) of the Middle East do not want peace. They won't even condemn their own terrorists.

    January 27, 2013 at 8:08 am |
    • Thinker23

      Well, if you believe that the people (especially the leaders) do not want peace then you must believe that they just love to be killed at war...

      January 27, 2013 at 8:20 am |
    • tas

      our GOD is living GOD .If HE gave that land to Israelites then it belong to I Israelites .

      January 27, 2013 at 9:19 am |
    • Damocles

      @tas

      Incoherent. I give it half a star and you should thank me for that generosity.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:21 am |
  11. TSIndiana

    When the chief priests and scribes (Jewish) went to to Pilot and got permission to torture and crucify Jesus they showed what they are about 200 years ago...and NEVER have changed.

    January 27, 2013 at 8:07 am |
    • Thinker23

      It seems that you blame the Jews (ALL Jews) for the death of one Jewish man who was arrested, tried, convicted and executed 2000 years ago by the ROMANS (not by Jews). If so are you willing to accept the responsibility for the death of SIX MILLION JEWS murdered 70 years ago by your fellow Christians? YES OR NO?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:23 am |
    • Henry8

      Pilate not Pilot

      January 27, 2013 at 8:29 am |
  12. spacecalculus

    “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
    ― Confucius

    January 27, 2013 at 8:05 am |
  13. Metazip

    The only thing the arabs will ever understand is a bullet in the side of the head...

    January 27, 2013 at 8:03 am |
    • Desjardins

      Why did the Nazi hate the Jews ??

      January 27, 2013 at 8:13 am |
    • Thinker23

      Desjardins: "Why did the Nazi hate the Jews ??"

      ALL Racists tend to blame those who are DIFFERENT (especially if those DIFFERENT are smart, educated, hard working and successful) for their own failures. The Nazis and other Jew-haters blamed and continue to blame the Jews for being smart, educated, hard working and successful.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:27 am |
    • lol??

      Desjardins
      Why did the Nazi hate the Jews ??" It was humanity's preseason warm up game for their solution to the Christian problem.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:06 am |
    • mohammad

      bring it on you COWARD

      January 28, 2013 at 12:53 am |
  14. truth be told

    All atheists are liars, that said now morally decent peoples can see atheists comments for the useless filth they truly are.

    January 27, 2013 at 8:03 am |
    • Toltec1

      Truth be told. What do I see when I read your post? I see sadness. Sadness at your anger, fear and ignorance. What can I do to help you? I will pray for your enlightenment. Peace

      January 27, 2013 at 8:19 am |
    • Atheist (anti-theist)

      Haha, you're funny 😉

      January 27, 2013 at 8:20 am |
    • truth be told

      @toltec 1
      Truth spoken in love is not anger, you are deluded and deceived and I would not desire your prayers.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:21 am |
    • Damocles

      @toltec

      Yeah, don't try to take tbt's anger and hatred away from him. It's all he has left.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:24 am |
    • truth be told

      @dumbocles
      I just posted Truth spoken in love is not anger (nor is it hate.) Thanks for adding proof to my original statement.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:28 am |
    • Damocles

      @tbt

      Right, right, because I run around telling everyone I love they are a bunch of hateful people that are going to burn. That so reeks of love.

      Need a hug? A pony? An apology from your parents for dropping you on your head?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:34 am |
    • Science

      @ tbt
      They are trying to reply to you, but filter is preventing the message in print form
      Peace
      Published on Jan 25, 2013

      Keepers at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington DC have taught their Orangutans to use iPads as part of the Apps for Apes initiative which was started by a non-profit organization, Orangutan Outreach.

      Category

      News & Politics

      January 27, 2013 at 8:40 am |
    • lol??

      So Science, how do you think those Orangutans will vote?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:51 am |
    • Damocles

      That's a big leap from banging on an iPad to voting. Oh wait....

      January 27, 2013 at 8:54 am |
    • Blah

      There is no Jesus, there is only Zuul!

      January 27, 2013 at 8:56 am |
    • Edweird69

      I am filthy, but not because I'm an atheist. I just happen to love filth. I like to consider myself the filthiet person alive. But that was a trait I picked up when I was a practicing Xtian, before becoming atheist.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:57 am |
    • Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

      Hi there, Captain Azzwipe!

      January 27, 2013 at 9:11 am |
    • Pete

      "All atheists are liars,"

      More lies from the xtians – 157!

      January 27, 2013 at 9:11 am |
    • Science

      @lol??
      Go to zoo ask them.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:13 am |
    • Damocles

      Here he comes to wreck the day! Captain Azzwipe is on the way!

      Listen.... you can hear his butt whistling!

      January 27, 2013 at 9:19 am |
    • Science

      Send azzwipe to water treatment plant for final FLUSH !!!

      January 27, 2013 at 9:27 am |
  15. factoidlover

    The amount of tension this small, rocky, spot on the planet causes is based solely upon infantile, mystical beliefs. These beliefs have been primary causes of centuries of bloodshed over a place that has less geological interest than Death Valley.

    I support the plea and hope that there can be peace for this troubled place, but does anyone truly believe it can occur as long as these views exist? These same religious beliefs promote the idea that conflict will continue until some celestial being is revealed, appears, or returns.

    I sometimes wonder what a being of peace, from another planet, would think. What would someone without any bias or prejudice, except equality and peace for all, recommend?

    January 27, 2013 at 7:49 am |
    • truth be told

      Wars and conflict are the end result of atheism. Atheists have brutally tortured and murdered more people in the last 100 years than were killed in all previous centuries.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:01 am |
    • CSMITH

      TBT, please back up your statement that atheists have killed more people in the past 100 years than believers...that's false and patently stupid.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:41 am |
    • Damocles

      @CSMITH

      Ohhh.... yeah that's a classic mistake, trying to get tbt to back up anything he says.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:45 am |
    • CSMITH

      I'm new here. He's just certifiable? No way to break through the tinfoil hat?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:48 am |
    • Damocles

      In tbt's case, the tinfoil hat has been glued, bolted and welded on. Very Frankenstein-esque. I try to give him the benefit of the doubt and pretend he's deaf, dumb and blind and that his incoherent gurglings are translated by a madman against his will.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:52 am |
    • lol??

      Damo sayz, ".....Very Frankenstein-esque......" That's what the progressives did to the gubmint, while making it A god.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:00 am |
    • CSMITH

      Damocles, HA!

      January 27, 2013 at 9:03 am |
    • Damocles

      @lol

      Yeah, I'm no friend of the umm, gubmint, as you so hickly put it.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:16 am |
  16. no1nefjerseys

    Let the world without war, let people can eat satisfied, laugh too happy, every day, healthy body, put on discount jerseys:www.no1nefjerseys.com, to playing sports now

    January 27, 2013 at 7:47 am |
  17. no1nefjerseys

    Let the world without war, let people can eat satisfied, laugh too happy, every day, healthy body, put on discount jerseys, to playing sports now

    January 27, 2013 at 7:45 am |
  18. Reality

    Please forward to all the imams and ayatollahs out there:

    From the studies of Armstrong, Rushdie, Hirsi Ali, Richardson and Bayhaqi----–

    The Five Steps To Deprogram 1400 Years of Islamic Myths:

    ( –The Steps take less than two minutes to finish- simply amazing, two minutes to bring peace and rationality to over one billion lost souls- Priceless!!!)

    Are you ready?

    Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith" a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

    The First Five of the 77 Branches:

    "1. Belief in Allah"

    aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc. should be added to your self-cleansing neurons.

    "2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

    Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gi-b G-nab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "crea-tionist".

    "3. To believe in the existence of angels."

    A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/de-vils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hitt-ites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ug-ly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as f–airies and "tin–ker be-lls". Modern de-vils are classified as the de-mons of the de-mented.

    "4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

    Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

    Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the un-educated masses in line. Today we call them for-tune tellers.

    Prophecies are also invali-dated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

    "5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
    be upon him) alone."

    Mohammed spent thirty days "fasting" (the Ramadan legend) in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic vi-olence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallu-cinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

    Walk these Five Steps and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

    Unfortunately, there are not many Muslim commentators/readers on this blog so the "two-minute" cure is not getting to those who need it. If you have a Muslim friend, send him a copy and help save the world.

    Analogous steps are available at your request for deprogramming the myths of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism..

    January 27, 2013 at 7:45 am |
    • Reality

      The above in Arabic, the official language of Palestine (from Google Translate):

      ارسلها مرة اخرى لجميع الأئمة وآيات الله هناك:

      من دراسات ارمسترونغ، رشدي، علي هيرسي، والبيهقي ريتشاردسون ----–

      الخطوات الخمس لأبطل تأثير الخرافات من 1400 سنة الإسلامي:

      (-اتخاذ خطوات أقل من دقيقتين إلى دقيقة، والانتهاء ببساطة مذهلة-سنتين إلى إحلال السلام والعقلانية لأكثر من مليار نسمة، فقد لا تقدر بثمن!)

      هل أنت مستعد؟

      استخدام "الفروع الإسلامية 77 من" الإيمان "مجموعة الإمام البيهقي جمعتها كنقطة انطلاق. في ذلك، وهو ما يفسر الفضائل الأساسية التي تعكس صحيح" الإيمان "(إيمان) من خلال الآيات القرآنية وأحاديث نبوية ذات الصلة." أي ملخصا لطيفة من المعتقدات الإسلامية والقرآن الكريم.

      والخمسة الأولى من الفروع 77:

      "1، والإيمان بالله"

      وينبغي أن يضاف الملقب كما الله، الرب، زيوس، الرب، الطبيعة الأم، وما إلى ذلك لالخلايا العصبية الذاتية التطهير الخاص.

      "2. وإذا ما تصورنا أن كل شيء غير الله كان غير موجود. بعد ذلك، خلق الله العلي هذه الأمور لاحقا وجاء إلى حيز الوجود."

      التطور والانفجار الكبير أو "غي ب G-NAB" (عندما يبدأ الكون لإعادة تدوير) هي أكثر قبولا وينبغي إدراج "المندرجة" في سبيل الله إذا كنت لا تزال تشكل "CREA-tionist".

      "3. إلى الاعتقاد في وجود الملائكة".

      A بندا رئيسيا لتطهير الخلايا العصبية. الملائكة / دي vils-الإبداعات الأسطورية هي من الحضارات القديمة، على سبيل المثال Hitt خائبي، لشرح / تحديد الأحداث الطبيعية، والاتصالات مع آلهتهم، والطيور الكبيرة، والرياح المفاجئة، وحماة في ليالي الظلام، وما إلى ذلك لا "جميلة / UG-لاي ثينجيس افسح المجال ل" أو بزيارة أي وقت مضى تحدث إلى محمد، يسوع، مريم أو جوزيف سميث أو جو. اليوم سوف نصنف الملائكة كما airies-F و "كير القصدير يكون LLS-". وتصنف الحديثة دي vils كما دي مونس هيئة اجتثاث mented.

      "4. إذا ما تصورنا أن جميع الكتب السماوية التي تم إرسالها إلى الأنبياء مختلفة صحيحا، ولكن بصرف النظر عن القرآن الكريم، كل الكتب الأخرى غير صالحة بعد الآن."

      آخر بندا رئيسيا في حذفها. لا توجد كتب في ولاية روح السماء (إن وجد) كما لا توجد الملائكة لكتابة / نشر / توزيعها. القرآن، OT، NT وما هي ببساطة كتب من قبل البشر للبشر.

      اخترعت من قبل الأنبياء الكتبة القديمة عادة للحفاظ على الجماهير من الامم المتحدة والمتعلمين في الصف. اليوم ونحن ندعو لهم مقابل لحن فرز الأصوات.

      كما نبوءات invali مؤرخة من قبل الهدايا الطبيعية / الله / الله من الإرادة الحرة والمستقبل.

      "5. لنعتقد أن جميع الأنبياء صحيحة، ولكن ونحن أمرنا اتباع النبي محمد (عليه الصلاة والسلام
      صلى الله عليه وسلم) وحده. "

      قضى محمد ثلاثين يوما "الصيام" (أسطورة رمضان) في كهف الساخن قبل لقاءه الأول مع الله ويعرف أيضا باسم الله وما إلى ذلك من خلال "افسح المجال ل ثينغي جميلة". الحس السليم يتطلب حذف الخلايا العصبية من رقم 5. # 5 هو أيضا المصدر الرئيسي للالاسلامي VI-olence أي تحول محمد "سريع والجوع يحركها" hallu-cinations إلى واقع فظيع لغير المؤمنين.

      المشي هذه الخطوات الخمس ونحن نضمن انتعاش الكامل من طرقك الإسلامية!!

      للأسف، لا توجد العديد من المعلقين مسلم / القراء على هذا بلوق لذلك "لمدة دقيقتين" هو عدم الحصول على علاج لأولئك الذين في حاجة إليها. إذا كان لديك صديق مسلم، وإرسال نسخة منه وتساعد في إنقاذ العالم.

      خطوات مماثلة متوفرة في طلبك للحصول على deprogramming الأساطير المسيحية واليهودية والبوذية والهندوسية والوثنية ..

      January 27, 2013 at 7:48 am |
    • criticize islam

      dont forget, in praising the greatst prophet of all time prophet muhammed. Praise his holy and prophetic deeds such as marrying a 9 year old girl, massacaring 900 men of the Banu Qurayza, surprise attack for no reason on the tribe of Banu Mutallib, enslaving woman, raping woman after enslaving them and marrying them by force, wiping out the arab pagan culture and banishing all the jews from their homeland in yathrib or medina. Yes the holy prophet whose actions will be the basis of morality for all times for mankind. ( sarcasm)

      January 27, 2013 at 8:49 am |
    • Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

      Ahahhhahhaaaahhhhah! Does your arrogance know no bounds?

      Yeah, all the imams are SURELY reading this blog in hopes of finding your "words of wisdom."

      January 27, 2013 at 9:05 am |
    • Reality

      More information for the imams and ayatollahs out there:

      Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

      This agenda continues as shown by the ma-ssacre in Mumbai, the as-sas-sinations of Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, the Ft. Hood follower of the koran, and the Filipino “koranics”.

      And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

      Current crises:

      The Sunni-Shiite blood feud (e.g. Iraq, Pakistan, Syria) and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.

      January 27, 2013 at 11:44 am |
    • Reality

      The above in Arabic:

      مزيد من المعلومات عن الأئمة وآيات الله هناك:

      وكان محمد وهو أمي، معاشرة النساء، والطمع شهوة يحركها، إثارة الحرب، تهلوس العرب الذين أيضا قد تجميل / تهلوس / يغشون كتاب السيرة الذين طباعي ليس فقط أضاف "الملائكة" ومركبات تحلق إلى القرآن ولكن أيضا لدعم جدول الأعمال العسكرية نهب ونهب أراضي غير المؤمنين.

      هذا البرنامج لا يزال كما هو موضح من قبل MA-ssacre في مومباي، AS-SAS-sinations بوتو وثيو فان جوخ، وسلوك الأطباء 7 مسلم في المملكة المتحدة، والإرهابيين 9/11، والانتحار السنة 24/7 / على جانب الطريق / السوق / المفجرين المسجد، و24/7 الانتحارية الشيعية / على جانب الطريق / السوق / المفجرين المسجد، ومفجري قطارات الإسلامية في المملكة المتحدة وإسبانيا والمجانين بالي، والمجانين وكينيا، وباكستان "koranics"، والانتحار فلسطين المفجرين / مطلقي الصواريخ، وnutcases اللبنانية، وظائف الجوز طالبان، وفورت. أتباع هود من القرآن، والفلبينيين "koranics".

      وصناديق المنظمة هذا الوحل ورائحة الإرهاب؟ و، الإسلامية المثيرة للحرب والإرهاب والثيوقراطية الشيعية التعذيب إيران ويعرف أيضا باسم المحور الثالث من الشر، وكذلك "Wannabees" السنة في المملكة العربية السعودية.

      الأزمات الحالية:

      الخلاف بين السنة والشيعة الدم (مثل العراق وباكستان وسوريا) ومؤسس إثارة الحرب، معاشرة النساء (11 زوجات)، تهلوس.

      January 27, 2013 at 11:46 am |
  19. Flying Spaghetti Monster

    Destroy all religion. It's worse than cancer.

    January 27, 2013 at 7:40 am |
    • lol??

      SSSssllllluuuuuurrrrp.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:55 am |
    • Damocles

      Wow, is your cellmate patting you on the back of the head now?

      January 27, 2013 at 8:59 am |
    • lol??

      No Damo, just someone or a religion or a science eating the Flying Spaghetti.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:34 am |
    • Damocles

      Just sounds like you really dig his thick, noodly appendage. Be sure to cup the meatballs.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:37 am |
    • lol??

      EEEeeewww, nasty in a perverse way.

      January 27, 2013 at 9:55 am |
  20. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    The arguments about the "holy" land are just that: about land.
    I'm amazed by arguments about religion, but less amazed by these, as they are arguments about the validity of a forged deed.

    January 27, 2013 at 7:37 am |
    • Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

      Try this on and see if it fits: God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in land.

      January 27, 2013 at 7:46 am |
    • lol??

      Well it's not a Christian argument. That's Old Jerusalem.

      January 27, 2013 at 8:54 am |
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About this blog

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.