The Heart of Islam in Denmark

January 19, 2008. Copenhagen, Denmark

According to a spokesperson for the historic march through the Noerrobro section of Copenhagen, Ashura is the day when Freedom was Resurrected for the peoples of Arabian descent. The day commemorates several events, depending on whether one is Sunni or Shi'ite Muslim.

Among the Sunni, Ashura "biblically" honors the day a dove returned to Noah to let him know that the flood was now over. Hence, the dove has always represented peace. According to Islamic Sunni tradition, Ashura also also represents the day God saved Moses and his people from the Egyptian pharaoh.

Among the Shi'ite, Ashura also commemorates the day, in 680 AD, when Imam Hussein and about 70 of his followers were murdered (martyred) by an army of several thousand under the leadership of an oppressive Iraqi (Persian) chieftain. This warlord of the Umayyad regime had demanded allegiance from Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Imam Hussein, where they lived along the banks of the Euphrates in what is now known as Kerbala, Iraq. The resulting battle and deaths have since become a beacon of hope among Shi'ite Muslims, some say, much as Christ's death also represents.

The underlying point of this video is to express that it is the good within various cultures one should focus on. If in Denmark, laws are acccepted that hurt peoples for any reason, it will only hurt the whole of the world society. Equally, if a few from a particular culture misuse holy texts, and hurt others for any reason or agenda, that too will only cause great suffering for the whole of world society. Cultural clashing is pointless. We should all learn from one another's cultural wisdom, without imposing each other's views. What impressed me so much with the Ashura march through Copenhagen, was that it evoked the exquisite beauty of the Islamic faith, and "faith in the spirit" - bringing the latent tools within our collective unconscious into a more conscious arena, is something Denmark could learn in this time of so much greed and consequential suffering in the world.


Bent Lorentzen in a cultural anthropologist and author. As an undergraduate, he studied for a BS in environmental science, where he produced multimedia educational programs for planetariums. He has taught science, and lives now in Copenhagen, writing as a cultural journalist. He is the author of several books, including a series of dragon adventures based on ancient mythologies from all corners of the world.

www.denmark.gq.nu

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• islam
• mohammed
• muslim
• shi'ite
• sunni
• iraq
• copenhagen
• peace
• denmark
• news

[DonChilenito]

what i dont get is that they whant respect. and doesent respec the other... they whant to build moscu´s everywhere? like they own the country and builds Like they own communitys in other countrys and doesent respect the law on that country... and when women from other religios country travels to theri countrys they have to put a shawl on their head? wtf is that all about... and later they doesent whant to take it off then they come to our country... thats shows all the egoism they have...

[shokes1008]

@DonChilenito

God, devil, bad, good, evil... these are mere states of mind.

If we only follow what the mind constructs, such as words of old being abused to continue behaving like primitive predators, from justifying it through globalized economic capitalism down to the local level of a father abusing his children at home because the "Bible says so", nature is going to spit out the human species by default. Just look at climate change, f. ex.

[shokes1008]

@DonChilenito So don't throw the baby out with the bathwater

[brokenscimitar]

The problem with Islam is Islam.

[upallhours9]

France banned the burqa. Other countries should follow their example.

[madsmadser]

"And how it looked on January 19, 2008, when several thousand Danes participated in perhaps the largest spiritual gathering in Danish history." - You make it sound like this is ethnic Danes, but it's a ethnic/religious minority that ALWAYS express it's views, god or bad, by going to the street with banners and Arabic flags. When Ethnic Danes celebrate something we don't go to the streets like we are demonstrating... If they did, they would be called racists, but apparently its OK for the Muslims

[madsmadser]

Why are they going to the streets with banners and Arabic flags when they "just" are celebrating a historical event? It looks more like a demonstration. Ethnic Danes don't go out on the streets with flags on any of the Christian holidays or on the date of any historical event for Denmark. If they did, they would probably be called racists.

[AMoosin]

@MrChickybee1 God forbids extremists, and I don't know what Jews do. I know that there are some Jews who are oppressing Palestinians and who killed many innocent civilians. Don't know what is this 72 houris. Islam is the guidance of God. For you that could be your beliefs. For me, God is One and Jesus (A) was the servant and messenger of God. And I have my facts and beliefs right.

[AMoosin]

@MrChickybee1 Islam is a blessing in the entire world. I don't know what type of Islam is in those countries that may call themselves Muslims. The rulers are oppressive and do much injustice in these countries. There is alot of corruption too. I got the message, and I don't anywhere in the world it is safe. Europe has many incidents of murder, rape, and corruption. If Christians believe in God and say Jesus is God and a son of God, isn't that more than one God to believe in?

[ImToMMyXD]

Heart of Islam in Denmark: Death, evil, damnation, stupidity.....

[AMoosin]

@MrChickybee1 Islam is a blessing of God. God is Most Merciful and Most Beneficent. God is strict in punishment but His mercy is much greater. God forbids all extremists, and God forbids wrongdoing. On the Day of Reckoning, we will give account to God for our actions. In a Clear Record will be all the things we have said, felt, and done. Not a single action will be missing. I fear the punishment of Fire. I seek forgiveness in God.

[trippy119]

@brokenscimitar they'd hate each other it they had nobody else to hate them islam is western poisan!