I was just reading the reviews and commentaries on the movie Avatar and I am still excited about this movie and cannot wait till it is released on DVD/blue-ray! I saw it once but wouldn’t hurt to see it again and well again. Being my typical over obsessive self I couldn’t help having a connection to the natives and over analyzing the film’s overtly religious and cultural element. Who can deny the fact that almost all films from Hollywood mock and demean religion and culture to a great extend. They have in recent years become rather ‘self-critical’ of their ‘colonization’ years but they always find away to inject their ‘heroic’ self to saving the ‘other’ from themselves. This movie was not much different in that respect but the spirituality and religious element was fascinating. I’ve never been one to argue secularization exists but we are fast becoming ‘materialistic’ people and the ‘West’ is the forerunner. Now in the avatar something strange has occurred which I think is a first; At the beginning you see the Na’vi religious life, and its connection to nature, receives some level of respect from the scientific researchers as might be expected with a film that provides a duality and contrast between the evil corporation and paramilitary and the more benign group of scientists. Much like secular anthropologists who have studied Earth’s indigenous tribes and respected their beliefs even while viewing them as unenlightened and unscientific, the researchers in AVATAR do much the same with the spirituality of the Na’vi, even as they come to reassess the “validity” of these beliefs through their own experiences with the Na’vi and the land. But then Sully steps up playing the same duality, with two identities, he seems to be in pain and hunted, RELIGION and CULTURE comes forth as the knight in the shinning arm, and the whole sympathetic observer who still holds himself as superior is shattered. Sully’s transformation as a Na’vi is intense and beautiful, I was literally sitting there thinking I want to be in that world and experience that. The religion was not too much it was perfect; people seem to have the illusion that it is all about control, authority and being stuck on one state of mind, when in reality it is an evolutionary experience, the discovery of the ‘self’ as not alone. A religious/cultural/spiritual meaningful identity is not as materialistic and ritualistic as many might view it, for some it is an awakening and deeper appreciation for life and for others it is a state of belonging. I think any person with a deeply spiritual awareness will understand this film as more than save the planet. Using Africans as the ‘other’ natives was interesting also, and may I add Jake in avatar form was HOT. What was your reaction to it?

Interesting. But think over this, religious people have a motive for being 'good', their morality is based on faith/religious laws. For examples Muslims (majority) will not steal because of the fear of hell or even God. The whole reward and punish system keeps them on a straigth line. Whereas a non-believer will not do something 'bad' like steal because they geninuely believe its wrong using their own personal rational. This difference always intersted me.

I've not listen to music for almost a year now, it was a decision that was mad for me after I lost my ipod and my laptop crashed and deleted all my music files. Instead of starting my collection I followed a friend's advice and wanted to test the whole 'its haram and bad for your iman'. For me it made no difference to my iman and outlook in life, no music living is cheaper but not holier. So far no song/artist has tempted me to go back to music. Good luck, its easier then you think.

lol. From what I know a girl can only get pregnant during the three days a month before or after she is ovulating. Sperm can only live in her body for 3-5 days however.

Blessed haha, you've assumed the brother he is referring to is guilt of the sin. As for the topic starter, I agree with the majority here, committing one sin does not mean one can committ another just as grave. Salat is said to be performed even if you are on your death bed, One cannot make any excuses whatsoever. This reminded me of those who say if you don't pray salat why bother fasting during Ramadan, why must the two be conntected? You will get the reward if you follow Allah's commends either way.

I think its just the mentality and culture they are living in, most countries have been through lawlessness and have survived. Somalia just needs to find its time and courage to beat the routine. It will take longer than most think, comparing it to countries that have been stable for centuries is wrong. Its a long process to gain conformity and law, the first step is the hardest.

Originally posted by MAXIMUS POWERS: The reason why many Somalis don’t consider themselves black is due to cultural and religious difference. Most attempts to classify Somali fails to take in account their distinct position as the interface of different cultures. The closest monitoring category – Black African, is too broad, when subsumed within this category, Somalis do not share any culture, language or religious practices with their fellow Black Africans. As Muslims, Somalis worship along side their co-religionist from Asian and Arab countries, but just as they diverge from Black Africans, Somalis do not share other aspects of culture, language or dress with their co-religionist. Somalis are thus a unique demographic community (UDC). They are niether african or Arab. I am African and very proud, however when I see fellow African people showing clear contempt for Somali people, it makes me think twice about Africans and their xenophobic attitude towards their own kind (I say this with caution, by African, I mean Geographically).Even in South Africa, Somalis businesses are attacked and destroyed since the black South Africans don’t consider Somalis to be African. The terms 'African' and 'Black' should not be used interchangeable, since they have different meanings. That made no sense whatsoever. 1st I've never met a 'Somali' that does not consider themselves 'Black', the other alternative is 'white'. 2nd There are more 'Muslim' countries in Africa then there are in Arabia. 3rd our language is related to East African spoken languages. Our culture has been Arabized in the 19th century due to the religious shift from Sufism to more Arab/Saudi Arabia influenced Shafi' methodology. Before that we had a culture very similar to most East African countries. We might share a religion with Asian but we are far from sharing an identity with them. I've never understood why people like to complicate things, its hard enough finding a place in the word. Its simple: Somali, Black, African.