Monday, February 20, 2012
Part 2 Discussion, February 20
Up until the second portion of The Faith Club, Ranya has been somewhat quiet. Then in Chapter Nine, The Promised Land, she has a confrontation with Priscilla. Where you shocked at what she said? Did you think she was being too harsh? Do you think Priscilla over-reacted? Were you surprised that Suzanne had so little to say?
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19 comments:
After being somewhat excluded from the earlier debates, I am glad she seized an opportunity to be heard. She is becoming my favorite of the 3 club members. I liked her approach. I was a bit surprised that Suzanne sat back and just observed.
I tend to think that Priscilla overreacts, however, as I read the book, I find that I am beginning to see things from different perspectives.
I too was surprised that Suzanne barely said anything. I'm glad Ranya spoke up and talked about her feelings. I think she echoes the beliefs of many when she talks about the Palestinians who were displaced.
That's funny Kim, that was my reaction about Priscilla as well. I think she may be mellowing somewhat as the book progresses. I think she's finding some peace from being with the others.
I liked the quote Priscilla remembered by Thomas Wolfe, "Knowledge is finding out something for oneself with pain, with joy, with exultancy, with labor, and with all the little ticking, breathing moments of our lives."
Do you think Suzanne was just surprised by the direction of the conversation or did she feel that as a Christian, she is not a part of the debate?
I think Suzanne said she was shell-shocked from the discussion but I was surprised she didn't have any opinion on the issue. Sometimes I think she's a bit of a Pollyanna but I was surprised she added so little to this conversation. It was certainly one of the most explosive and I think Ranya had to wait until she felt safe to discuss this topic.
It is fascinating to see the way each of the women approach the practice of the respective faiths.
Especially since two don't attend services on a regular basis. I can understand why Ranya may have had a difficult time finding a service that she felt comfortable in, but I'm surprised that Priscilla didn't attend more regularly.
That's the other aspect of Priscilla - the need to preface many of her discussions/explanations with the fact that she is "reformed". I find it interesting as well that in city such as New York there is not a single mosque that
she would be comfortable attending. Yet, she practices her faith in a very deep and profound way all on her own.
Sorry, I was referencing Ranya in the second part of my last statement
I guess I didn't realize that the Islamic and Jewish faiths don't have a promise of eternal life. We hear so many things about the Islamic faith that aren't true.It's also easy for us to confuse what's a religious practice and what is a cultural tradition.
I found it interesting that while Ranya carried a Quran for sometime, she didn't really read of study it.
I think many people are that way. Priscilla talked about finding her father's prayer book and finally reading it. I know many people who are Christian who don't read the Bible regularly. Suzanne rarely mentions it.
The mother of one of my Jewish friends commented to me after we had attended a Christian funeral together
"how comforting it must be to know that you will be with that person again" It was at that point that I realized how in grained the concept of Eternal Life is for me.
Very true, I don't know my Bible as well as I should!
I appreciated this comment from Ranya, "I believe in one God, an all-embracing God, a God who is neither male nor female, or human, a merciful and compassionate God." While we believe our God was made human, I think the Lutheran faith sees God as all-embracing, merciful and compassionate. I'm not sure what some other religions believe, especially when they portray so much hate in their religion.
Yes, I agree.
Thanks for your comments and your time tonight! Hope to hear from more of you next month, March 19, when we finish The Faith Club!
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