Supporting diversity.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you,

If you had a job supporting people with a disability, would you be able to support them to go to a different place of worship other than your own?

I ask this question because the company I work for is seeking to employ support workers from different cultures, faiths, nationalities and ethnic groups.

The people we support come from all kinds of backgrounds and I have been asked to take people to different places of worship, how would you feel being asked to do this?

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship

Eric

[wilberhum]

Respect! It is all about respect. Respect what they believe. You don't have to believe what they believe, you just need to believe that they believe.

IMHO Assisting someone to pray to god has to be pleasing to god.

[جوري]

you tell 'em aretha *snaps fingers*
R*E*S*P*E*C*T!

[wilberhum]

aretha

:-\

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[Woodrow]

:-\

Print: Aretha Franklin - Respect Lyrics print version

(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got
(oo) What you need
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I'm askin'
(oo) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)

Yes, I agree with what everybody said so far. It is all about respect. Respect does not require agreement.

[Isambard]

I see nothing wrong with it. Then again I have no faith to conflict with so my point may be moot lol.

There's a really nice Buddhist temple near my area I've been to a few times to medetiate and book up some books (their bookstore has a wide selection of eastern philosophy :D).

There's also some churches but thats a gray area cause alot of em are cramped and have little/no air conditioning.

[Trumble]

You would just helping a fellow human being get to where they want to go. That has no relevance to where you would want to go or where you think they should be going. It is the choice, and the right to choose, which you respect every bit as much as the belief itself.

[snakelegs]

i would have no problem with it. taking them there would not mean i would have to worship with them.

[Malaikah]

I would have to look into it further.

In Islam we are not allowed to help people do something wrong... I don't know whether this would fall under that category.

[wilberhum]

I would have to look into it further.

In Islam we are not allowed to help people do something wrong... I don't know whether this would fall under that category.

How could you look at helping some worship god as helping them do something wrong? :-\

[Pk_#2]

I'd love to help someone, buh i duno if i would do it (if it's okay with the rules of Islam i will), i mean i wouldn't just leave them standing anywhere..It's not like i can force them to Islam :muddlehea. Astaghfirullah.

[poga]

I'd love to help someone, buh i duno if i would do it (if it's okay with the rules of Islam i will), i mean i wouldn't just leave them standing anywhere..It's not like i can force them to Islam :muddlehea. Astaghfirullah.

:sl: force feeding is needed if patient refuses to take medicine and islam is the cure for all KUFFR:w:

[snakelegs]

:sl: force feeding is needed if patient refuses to take medicine and islam is the cure for all KUFFR:w:

there is no compulsion in religion. :uuh:

[poga]

there is no compulsion in religion. :uuh:

yes but it dosen't mean we just watch while they kill each other out of ignorance

[Muezzin]

There is compulsion in not going off on tangents though, dudes and dudettes.

Sorry. One of my little flaws. I'm workin' on it.

[snakelegs]

who is talking about killing??????
the thread has to do with helping a disabled person get to a place of worship of a religion other than your own. did you read the OP - and if so, how did you get killing?

[poga]

i said killing
but only after watching your living dead condition out of pity

[Muezzin]

One more off-topic post and a whole bunch of 'em will embark on a great and perilous journey to the land of the Recycling Bin.

[snakelegs]

i miss the recycling bin. (sigh)
ok, i'll behave.

[poga]

i miss the recycling bin. (sigh)
ok, i'll behave.

how can i post direct to recyle bin
i know my post ends up there
just to help the mods
i know how torture it could be reading my apperent nonsense for theirs missing brain

[Karina]

I wouldn't hesitate to assist anyone with mobility difficulties to get to their place of worship, wherever it may be. But I suppose that's perhaps to be expected of someone who does not conform to specific religious label. I like being impartial!

I am kind of astounded though, that some would not do this, when (in this hypothetical situation) they have taken specific time out of their day to help those in need of assistance, a selfless act in itself.

Is just seems unfair, that's all. imsad

[poga]

:sl:my lord MUHAMMAD Sallel La Hu Alahi Wa Sallim said
whole earth is our place of worship
now if one person is immobile he can pray from any place standing sitting lying
we don't need mobile masjid or handycup madrasa:w:

[Karina]

:sl:my lord MUHAMMAD Sallel La Hu Alahi Wa Sallim said
whole earth is our place of worship
now if one person is immobile he can pray from any place standing sitting lying
we don't need mobile masjid or handycup madrasa:w:

Yes Poga but it's all about choice.

I'm sure if you wanted to go to the mosque, but you had a mobility disability, you would be really happy if someone took you there? And I'm sure you would be grateful and thankful too.

Anyone can pray, and nobody, as far as I know, is forced to pray or worship in a designated building if they cannot get there (correct me if I'm wrong!), but I also know that a lot of people rely on having the freedom to do so. And that is the whole point of this discussion, am I wrong? :sunny:

[snakelegs]

i could be wrong, but i think catholics are forbidden to enter any other place of worship. it's a sin.

[Karina]

i could be wrong, but i think catholics are forbidden to enter any other place of worship. it's a sin.

But would it be a sin for a Catholic to drop a Sikh off at their Gurdwara, if they needed support because of their disability?

[snakelegs]

i'm not a catholic so i'm not sure. we have some catholic members as well as some former catholics who will probably know.
i think it is only entering a place of worship.
in any case, i don't think most people would have a problem helping a disabled person get to a place of worship. it's not like you have to stay there or worship with them.

[Amadeus85]

i could be wrong, but i think catholics are forbidden to enter any other place of worship. it's a sin.

Nope, its not a sin.Pope Benedict XVI entered a mosque when he was in Turkey this year. I was in greek orthodox church in Athens, and nowadays kids in school in my country visit mosque and jewish synagogoue in highscool.

[snakelegs]

oh ok - i stand corrected.

[Malaikah]

How could you look at helping some worship god as helping them do something wrong? :-\

Because, the way they worship God is invalid, also there is the question of whether they are really worshipping God... What if they are praying to an idol, or Jesus? Neither the idol or Jesus is God.

I am not saying it is forbidden- just that I would look into it to see if it is permissible because doing it.

[wilberhum]

Because, the way they worship God is invalid, also there is the question of whether they are really worshipping God... What if they are praying to an idol, or Jesus? Neither the idol or Jesus is God.

I am not saying it is forbidden- just that I would look into it to see if it is permissible because doing it.

Standard I right and everyone else is wrong. :?
I sure you find great comfort in your perfection. :skeleton:

[Isambard]

Standard I right and everyone else is wrong. :?
I sure you find great comfort in your perfection. :skeleton:

You have no idea how awsome it is to be perfect:shade:

[Pygoscelis]

You would just helping a fellow human being get to where they want to go. That has no relevance to where you would want to go or where you think they should be going. It is the choice, and the right to choose, which you respect every bit as much as the belief itself.

Doesn't this kind of push the claims of some of these religions out of our minds though?

If you are of a religion that claims the worship of false gods is a grave sin, then are you not doing wrong by aiding and abeding the worship of false gods? Moreover, you yourself would have to go to these places to bring them there. If we keep in mind the "false god" taboo is this really that different in their minds from say working in a porno store?

[MustafaMc]

If you had a job supporting people with a disability, would you be able to support them to go to a different place of worship other than your own?

You ask a very good question. I personally would not have a problem with taking a disabled or elderly person to their place of worship. As has been mentioned there should be no compulsion in religion.

Quran 2:256 There is no compulsion in religion. True guidance has been made clearly distinct from error. Therefore, whoever renounce 'Taghut' (forces of Shaitan) and believes in Allah has grasped the firm hand-hold that will never break. Allah, Whose hand-hold you have grasped, hears all and knows all.

However, I respect the right for others to not do so if they feel that it would be sinning. I would not take a disabled person to a bar, "gentleman's club" or a casino.

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you all,

Thanks for all the replies, I found them very helpful, and of course I welcome any other views too. I know this question has posed a huge test of conscience, and I think to admit openly is very brave; whatever your point of view may be. My own views and actions are to support people whatever their faith, but this was not always so; there was a time I would have been troubled about going into another place of worship.

The kind of job I do now is not for everyone and I am starting to understand that sacrificing your own needs and desires is not easy to do when supporting someone else; even if they are disabled.

Hi snakelsgs, I am a Catholic and I have worshiped in other churches to my own and a Mosque.

Just to bring one further thought for consideration, the company I work for supports a few thousand people with varying disabilities in homes all around the UK. Do you think it would be better to have some homes with say just Muslims in, and some Christian, some atheist, some agnostic, etc.

Or do you feel there is any advantage in having all the homes with people of diverse beliefs together?

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship

Eric

[MustafaMc]

The kind of job I do now is not for everyone and I am starting to understand that sacrificing your own needs and desires is not easy to do when supporting someone else; even if they are disabled.

May God guide you to/along the path to Salvation for your service to others. I don't intend to embarass you, but I do want to share a hadith that comes to mind.

Sahih Muslim hadith: Narrated by AbuHurayrah Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said, Verily, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, will say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me. He will say: O my Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He will say: Didn't you know that a certain servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him, and were you not aware that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me. He will say: My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Didn't you know that a certain servant of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side? (The Lord will again say O son of Adam, I asked you for something to drink but you did not provide Me with any. He will say: My Lord, how could I provide Thee with something to drink when Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He will say: A certain servant of Mine asked you for a drink but you did not provide him with one, and had you provided him with a drink you would have found him near Me.

If my memory serves me correctly, there is a near-identical passage in the NT.

Just to bring one further thought for consideration, the company I work for supports a few thousand people with varying disabilities in homes all around the UK. Do you think it would be better to have some homes with say just Muslims in, and some Christian, some atheist, some agnostic, etc.

Or do you feel there is any advantage in having all the homes with people of diverse beliefs together?

Depending on how many people fall into the various religions, my opinion is that it would be a good idea to have some homes designated for specific faiths and others for inter-faith/no faith. Personally, I would prefer to be in a home with at least a healthy community of practicing Muslims. Since I live in an area with <1% Muslims, I don't have a problem being around others with different or no faith.

[poga]

Yes Poga but it's all about choice.

I'm sure if you wanted to go to the mosque, but you had a mobility disability, you would be really happy if someone took you there? And I'm sure you would be grateful and thankful too.

Anyone can pray, and nobody, as far as I know, is forced to pray or worship in a designated building if they cannot get there (correct me if I'm wrong!), but I also know that a lot of people rely on having the freedom to do so. And that is the whole point of this discussion, am I wrong? :sunny:

:sl: if i have disability why do i need to go to mosque if i go they have to put a bed or chair for me and this will interfere with rows i can very well pray at home and get the SAWAB
and it is not not wise to put blind umpire for game of cricket
but blind imam can lead muslim prayer ; yes you are wrong babe

[Eric H]

Greetings and peace be with you all,

On the whole it seems that most people who have answered would support a person of another belief and I find that a message of great hope. If we go down this road it brings diversity together and it gives the chance to build bridges of peace.

However there also seems a slight opposition to this in the way some people seem to favour having some homes just for Muslims, some for Christians, some for atheists and this seems to avoid the responsibility of coping with diversity.

Which is the greater way forwards?

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship

Eric

[wilberhum]

Greetings and peace be with you all,

On the whole it seems that most people who have answered would support a person of another belief and I find that a message of great hope. If we go down this road it brings diversity together and it gives the chance to build bridges of peace.

However there also seems a slight opposition to this in the way some people seem to favour having some homes just for Muslims, some for Christians, some for atheists and this seems to avoid the responsibility of coping with diversity.

Which is the greater way forwards?

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship

Eric

Usually the reason people don't want integration is so that they don't have to associate with those they conceder inferior. :thumbs_do

The concept of superiority is always an easy sell.
There are always millions of buyers. :hiding:

[snakelegs]

Greetings and peace be with you all,

Thanks for all the replies, I found them very helpful, and of course I welcome any other views too. I know this question has posed a huge test of conscience, and I think to admit openly is very brave; whatever your point of view may be. My own views and actions are to support people whatever their faith, but this was not always so; there was a time I would have been troubled about going into another place of worship.

The kind of job I do now is not for everyone and I am starting to understand that sacrificing your own needs and desires is not easy to do when supporting someone else; even if they are disabled.

Hi snakelsgs, I am a Catholic and I have worshiped in other churches to my own and a Mosque.

Just to bring one further thought for consideration, the company I work for supports a few thousand people with varying disabilities in homes all around the UK. Do you think it would be better to have some homes with say just Muslims in, and some Christian, some atheist, some agnostic, etc.

Or do you feel there is any advantage in having all the homes with people of diverse beliefs together?

In the spirit of praying for greater interfaith friendship

Eric

yes - aaron told me. i was misinformed about catholics being forbidden to enter any other place of worship.
the thing with disabled people is that they are often much more in need of spiritual comfort and support than the rest of us. personally, i would take the person in, but wait outside. i wouldn't attend the worship service. however, if the person was in great need for physical or emotional support, i would, even though it might make me uncomfortable.
i don't know how a person who belonged to a religion would feel, but personally, i would prefer to be in a home with as many different kinds of people as possible. who wants to be with people just like you? but i think many religious people would probably prefer/feel more comfortable to be among their co-religionists.