I think reading the Qur'an should probably be as essential as reading the Bible -- books I think should probably be read by everyone for cultural literacy purposes, even though I'm an atheist.
-B.
--- Chris Doss <lookoverhere1 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> --- Chuck Grimes <cgrimes at rawbw.com> wrote:
>
> > > I have a deeply serious question about this
> > Islamalic vodka. If after
> > two small glasses, or about 4-6 ounces, am I ready
> > to read The Rubaiyat
> > of Omar Khayyam, or perish the thought, the
> Qu'ran?
> >
> > CG
> >
>
> I almost never drink vodka, as it gives me a
> ferocious
> hangover, so I can't tell you. ;)
>
> The vodka in question (the label is green), is a
> product of Tatarstan, one of my favorite places. Not
> only does Tatarstan have the largest mosque in
> Europe
> (I've been inside:
> http://eng.e-islam.ru/mosque/kazan/kul-sharif/ ), it
> is a marvel of interethnic and interconfessional
> harmony -- just over 50% Sunni Muslim, and most of
> the
> rest Russian Orthodox -- which is nicely symbolized
> by
> the fact that the Kazan Kremlin is dominated by two
> buildings, the aforementioned giant mosque and a
> giant
> gold-incrusted Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
>
> As the official website of the Rebublic of Tatarstan
> sez in bad English:
>
> During its centuries-old history, Tatarstan has
> accumulated the richest experience of people of
> various nationalities and religions living together.
> It has become a tradition to pay special attention
> to
> safeguarding interethnic and interconfessional peace
> and accord.
>
> There are 8 nationalities in Tatarstan the
> population
> of which is over 10 thousand people. Alongside with
> Tatars (52.9 percent) and Russians (39.5 percent)
> there are Chuvashes, Udmurts, Ukrainians,
> Mordvinians,
> Maris, Bashkirs, et al. During last years, the
> number
> of Azerbaidzhanians, Armenians, Tajiks, Uzbeks
> permanently residing in the republic increased.
>
> The favourable social climate in the republic is
> positively influenced by adjustment of
> interconfessional relations.
>
> Islam and Orthodox Christianity are traditional
> confessions of the republic. The Tatars and Bashkirs
> (more than a half of the population of the republic)
> practice Islam. The other part of the population, so
> that Russians, Chavashes, Maris, Udmurts,
> Mordvinians,
> are Christians practicing Orthodoxy. Catholicism,
> Protestantism, Judaism and other confessions are
> also
> represented in the republic.
>
> Safeguarding the balance of the two major religions
> of
> the republic and equality of all religions before
> the
> law is in the basis of interconfessional accord in
> the
> republic.
>
> Among strategic priorities of social and economic
> policy of the Republic of Tatarstan is the task of
> gradual bringing of life quality to international
> standards. Thus, improvement of well-being of
> people,
> increasing of life level of working people and
> pensioners, who make more than one fourth of the
> population of the republic, are on the first place.
>
> Rich natural resources of Tatarstan, diversified
> economy, multilevel system of education and high
> cultural and scientific potential make the basis for
> stable development of the society.
>
>
http://www.tatar.ru/index.php?DNSID=c755f0e70fc8c6c52952a81d0c53fc1d&node_id=152
>
>
>
>
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