May 14, 2015—Islam has a rich artistic heritage of architecture, design, music, painting, and poetry. Muslim poets like Rumi and Hafez are famous for a depth and beauty that defies time. Today, that poetic tradition is still strong. It’s kept alive in what many may perhaps consider an unlikely place—urban America, through the genre of hip hop. Artists like Yasiin Bey - known as Mos Def, Q-tip from Tribe Called Quest, and Lupe Fiasco all identify as Muslim hip hop artists. Their music mostly veers away from rap themes of braggadocio, girls, or… [Read More…]
TSE news roundup for 10.31.14
Oct. 31, 2014–It’s Halloween! Trick or treating, and parties are the usual ways to celebrate, but a group of Wiccans in San Jose have a different idea, according to the San Jose Mercury News. They’re honoring Samhain, “a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year.” It’s the end of the harvest season and perhaps also America’s honeymoon with meditation. While science still validates the benefits of mindfulness, cynicism is popping up. The cynicism is not necessarily about the tools… [Read More…]
‘Unmosqued’ points to bigger trend
Across the American religious landscape, people are turning away from their religions of birth. For Islam, a new documentary points a finger at mosques, saying they are the reason why Muslim youth don’t want to stick around. But these days, there are other options. NPR’s Code Switch aired a story about the documentary and a new phenomenon called “third spaces,“ which are alternative gathering places favored by some youth. The backlash against mosques may come in part from the symbolism these buildings can hold. Sometimes, they represent institutions that refuse to bend… [Read More…]
