Meeting 4 of 2016, 5/Feb/2016 (A wrap-up after John Dierks's introduction of ACIM)

Attendees: Abdu, John, Mahmoud, Sam;  Date: 5-7:30pm, Friday, 5/Feb/2015
ACIM: A Course In Miracles;  Topic: A wrap-up after John Dierks's introduction of ACIM

Abdu: 

- ACIM needs evidence, because anyone can claim anything (analogy with Mormons), ...

- As opposed Islam is a comprehensive approach that combine Materialistic, Intellectual and Spiritual dimensions (body, intellect, soul).

*comment:

- http://quran.com/17/85  "...The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."

John:

- There could be many ways to God (the Source)

- Let's try ACIM, it could be a shortcut.

*comment:

- http://quran.com/39 "The revelation of the Qur'an is from Allah , the Exalted in Might, the Wise. Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, [O Muhammad], in truth. ... Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever."...

Mahmoud:

- we need evidence and independent thinking. Refusing debate is not a constructive way to address any idea. This could be a "shortcut" that is a non-effective or wrong path.

*comment:

http://quran.com/16/125 "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way and who is [rightly] guided."

Sam:

- Analogy of human beings being nodes interacting in a social network (graph theory).

- Each node have materialistic (physical) and non-materialistic (non-physical) attributes with different weights and capacities. 

- God is regarded as the source node and also the sink node in such a network.
- Nodes (like our group members) help/interact each other in the journey to God.

Comment:

  - http://quran.com/13/11 "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves".