Dubai Muslim Christian Dialogue - Raw Audio

The following is the 3+ hour audio of the recent Muslim-Christian Dialogue held in Dubai on March 6, 2011. The event featured Thabiti Anyabwile and Bassam Zawadi as speakers. Video is being currently produced and will be available in April.

http://www.mediafire.com/?83g6artz4tsp1p9

Great Quote: The Aim of Music

The aim and final end of all music should be none other
than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed
is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical
bawling and twanging.
   
... J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

Great Quote: The Limits of Logic

Every logical position ... will eventually lead into
trouble, and heresy, and chaos. Every logical position is fully
consistent, but coherence arises from the human mind, not
God's. The human mind is finite and cannot grasp eternity, and
therefore the finite mind sees the infinite as not graspable
coherently. If we could grasp it all coherently, without
contradiction, we would be God. The person who insists on being
logical to the end winds up in a mess. I am not saying that we
should not be rational. I am not anti-intellectual. I am saying
that the intellect by itself is helpless to arrive at total
truth.
   
... Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2001), Stir, Change, Create, p.
         44

Iranian Government Unveils Islamic Ministry Approved Haircuts

As reported in the UK Telegraph, the Iranian government unveiled Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.  People without these "approved" haircuts risk arrest and barber shops offering "un-Islamic" haircuts risk being shut down.

"The proposed styles are inspired by Iranians' complexion, culture and religion, and Islamic law," said Jaleh Khodayar, who is in charge of a Modesty and Veil Festival later this month at which the guide will be promoted.

AFP: Boxing's Mike Tyson on Mecca pilgrimage: report

AFP: Boxing's Mike Tyson on Mecca pilgrimage: report

Fun with Misplaced News Headlines

Is Diego Maradona looking for a new home after his current World Cup loss?

7days, a local newspaper here in Dubai, is famous for it's headlines and pictures that don't match.  I don't know why they don't see the funny associations that will occur when they look at the final layout.  There are typically two stories on the front page.  One that is dominated by a picture and the other that is dominated by text.

Often the two become intertwined.  The above picture is an example.  The headline belongs to an article about some workers who have been abandoned by their company here in Dubai.  Diego Maradona, the coach of the Argentinian football team in the current World Cup is pictured as well.  He's dejected because Argentina are out of the tournament.

And with their recent loss combined with the extreme passion for football in Argentina, maybe he does qualify as a "stranded man".  Maybe it's not so smart for Diego to go back to Argentina for a while.