This is the 20th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation [mostly] rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94… Read more

I’ve noticed that discussion of politics is even less rational than religion. I have ruined relationships with several dear friends and family members over their being absorbed into the Trump cult. Yes, each of these people are religious, but they could always tolerate my atheism. It’s just that I cannot worship their orange god. So, now that the spineless Senate majority have acquitted their Conspirator In Chief, I see family and friends crowing about his alleged innocence. Most of them… Read more

This is the 19th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94 &… Read more

This is the 18th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94 &… Read more

This is the 17th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94 &… Read more

This is the 16th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94 &… Read more

I think it’s funny when someone demands that I explain the entire evolution of life “from molecules to men”—on Twitter. My video series to answer that question takes 47 episodes at an average of ten minutes each, but my would-be interlocutors expect me to explain all that in a single tweet of 240 characters or less?! Twitter is NOT the place to have an intellectual discussion of any depth about anything. Likewise, debates on Facebook are similarly frustrating even without… Read more

This is the 15th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93, 94 &… Read more

This is the 14th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on surahs 1 & 2. my 2nd post on surahs 96, 68 & 73. my 3rd post on surahs 74, 111 & 81. my 4th post on surahs 87, 92, 89, 93,… Read more