Things to Think about when reading these over for April 3, 2006.

Discussion by Bernard Douglas Federspiel

1. Is it the end of life on earth as we know it? According to the evidence of things happening in the world and that of the Qur’an, God’s will is coming: who believes in this?
   
2. What evidence is there in favor of the naql view?
   
3. What evidence is there in favor of the aqal view?
   
4. What is the modern view of Muslims?
   
5. What is happening ecologically to the Muslim world (Muslim nations)?
   
6. What is the significance of hay’a in the Islamic tradition? (multiple interpretations are available)
   
7. What is causing depletions of resources? (several answers)
   
8. Specifically to overpopulation: why is there a problem with population?
   
9. Where do the Muslim countries fit in the world market?
   
10. Discussing the two principles of the Islamic economic system: what questions come to mind? (response questions)
    
11. Why is it important to disassociate humanity with ownership of land? Does that fit the model for the capitalistic economy that was previously discussed?

1. What do gardens mean to Muslims? What integral part of Islamic tradition does a garden represent?
   
2. Does the meaningfulness contribute to a respect for the environment (with respect to the Gardens of this world)? Is there a movement to try and preserve the original meaning or is there a loss of the original word of the Qur’an?
   
3. Where are the gardens now? Has growth and population destroyed the sacred gardens?
   
4. Where do Muslims go now to find sanctuary and paradise?
   
5. What do you think about the modernizing of shrines? Is this an effective way to encourage attendance and participation? Or is it simply reverting to an old style of living?

    6.  Wescoat asks at the end of his article if these gardens are designed at a deeper level, and if more should be studied to find that out. Is it possible to synthesize the original meanings in the art work?