Mosques

New Mosque: Istanbul

I wish I could capture the grandeur of a mosque: its numerous domes, soft carpets, and soft, ethereal light that graces the majestic yet humble walls. Entering a mosque is an entirely unique experience, and one can almost grasp the raw spiritual aura that encompasses the building itself. Here, the madness of the world stops, is assuaged, and is completely forgotten. 

Respect is a priority (and is rightfully and quietly demanded) before one even enters. Dirt from the outside world is forbidden, so before anyone can enter, shoes are taken off and placed outside, on the designated shelves. At first, this tradition seemed a little awkward, and led to all of us in the group surreptitiously glancing around us, making sure that we weren't about to make complete fools of ourselves.

“Knock, And He'll open the door
Vanish, And He'll make you shine like the sun
Fall, And He'll raise you to the heavens
Become nothing, And He'll turn you into everything.” 

--Rumi

Ignoring being slightly uncomfortable because of our lack of footwear, walking into a mosque for the first time was truly unique. As a person who detests wearing shoes in general, I felt that the lack thereof enhanced the experience. It made the difference between worldly woes and spiritual concerns all the more defined and beautifully dichotomous.

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.” 

--Joseph Campbell

“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” 

--Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” 

--Mother Teresa

“The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, 

we are no longer dealing with God.” 

--Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

Nicaea

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. 

We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” 

--Pierre Teilhard de Chardin