As with most religions, most devotees of the religion ignore a lot of whatever is in whatever sacred texts. And then there are theologians of every religion who interpret or re-interpret things in different ways.
Like I said, it's better not to imagine that books, or anybody, speak(s) with the voice of God. Fortunately, most people have better sense in what they do, regardless of what they are told they are supposed to believe. A person's behavior is generally a better indication of what he believes than what he says he believes, or even of what he thinks he believes. Then, too, the fact that words are tricky allows people to say things that they don't understand themselves (e.g., 'the Free World', 'India is a democratic country', 'the U.S. DEFENSE Dept.' etc.)
Quote from a famous 17th-century Muslim Indian poet (forgot his name): "We might as well allow all religions, since God Himself allows them."
My question was: Where & when was it supposed to have been 3PM, before it got to be 1PM in Kunming? Was that 3PM sunday in Kunming, or 3PM in Greenwich, or what?
@Haali: At any rate many of the old testament stories are referred to as a kind of 'background knowledge' or understanding in the Quran, although their significance and interpretation are not necessarily the same, and this reflects the spread of these stories, as well as new testament accounts, within the world that the Prophet Mohammed was familiar with. Thus Christians and Jews are both 'Peoples of the Book', who have received prophecy, for Muslims - Muslims merely consider that the Jews and Christians have frequently misunderstood the accounts in their book(s), and that some of the accounts have been misrepresented in the Jewish and Christian books.
I think I've got this right - will be glad to be corrected.
Nice article, Ginger, and on a subject that one might not think about until, once one does, it's obvious that it should be explored.
The point about foreigners particularly applies, as you indicate, to people from milk-product-using 'western' countries and, as you indicate, it is one picked up in some southeast Asian countries as well - but foreigners from other areas will be pegged also (e.g., South Asians who use many different 'curry' spices, etc., that are not used so much in China).
And then there is the widespread smell of tobacco, noticeable primarily by those foreigners who don't use it. Baijiu has a particular smell also.
Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.
As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.
Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.
Counting down Kunming's Top Ten Smells
Posted byDon't worry about it.
Counting down Kunming's Top Ten Smells
Posted byYeah, well, it's perhaps useful to tourists and very new arrivals.
Counting down Kunming's Top Ten Smells
Posted byWet markets, smells - yeah, but not all bad. Cf. sterile supermarkets.
Counting down Kunming's Top Ten Smells
Posted byNice article, Ginger, and on a subject that one might not think about until, once one does, it's obvious that it should be explored.
The point about foreigners particularly applies, as you indicate, to people from milk-product-using 'western' countries and, as you indicate, it is one picked up in some southeast Asian countries as well - but foreigners from other areas will be pegged also (e.g., South Asians who use many different 'curry' spices, etc., that are not used so much in China).
And then there is the widespread smell of tobacco, noticeable primarily by those foreigners who don't use it. Baijiu has a particular smell also.
Food and Drug Administration issues southern China alcohol alert
Posted byThose responsible should have their faces publicly rubbed in the dirt.