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Bring it on - The World's Main Places of Pilgrimage
- Wed 25 Apr, 2007 4:42 am
Post subject: The World's Main Places of Pilgrimage
A guide to some of the world's main places of pilgrimage.
WEB EXCLUSIVE
Newsweek

April 30, 2007 issue - Traditional pilgrimages are drawing ever-increasing throngs. Every year, tens of millions of people of many faiths take spiritual journeys that are becoming increasingly important both to pious and nonpious alike. From Lourdes to Our Lady of Guadalupe, from Jerusalem to Lhasa, from Mecca to Mariambad, the travelers embark on what Phil Cousineau, author of ????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬????????The Art of Pilgrimage????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬???????????????????????????? calls ????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬????????a transformative journey to a sacred center.????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬???????????????????????????? Some of the main pilgrimage routes and sites around the world:

NORTH AMERICA

LAC ST. ANNE, Canada
Fifty miles west of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Every July, tens of thousands of pilgrims flock to this lake named for St. Anne, traditionally identified as the grandmother of Jesus.

CHIMAYO, between Santa Fe and Taos, N.M.
Each year during Holy Week, thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Chimay????????????????????????????????????³ to visit the Santuario, and take away a bit of the sacred dirt.

MORMON TRAIL, from Nauvoo, Il., to Salt Lake City, Utah.
This trail follows the steps of Brigham Young, who relocated the Mormon community after the people of Nauvoo drove them out.

LATIN AMERICA

SHRINE OF PADRE CICERO
From Juazeiro do Norte following 530 kilometers (about 320 miles) in the backlands of Cear????????????????????????????????????¡, in northeast Brazil, to the shrine of Padre Cicero. Every year 2 million people visit his shrine, many
bearing crosses and climbing the long stone stairs to the monument on their bleeding knees.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, Mexico City
A 140-day walk to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, including a stop along the way at Queretaro de Arteaga.

OUR LADY OF APARECIDA, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The most-visited shrine in Brazil and one of the most popular in the Roman Catholic world. Pope Benedict XVI will visit this shrine in May.

EUROPE

WAY OF ST. JAMES TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
The Way of St. James connects various pilgrim routes throughout Europe. The most popular is the Camino Frances, or French Way, starting either from Saint Jean Pied de Port on the French side of the Pyrenees or from Roncesvalles on the Spanish side.


VIA FRANCIGENA, from Canterbury to Rome.
This route stretches south to the ancient port cities where pilgrims [and Crusaders] used to depart for the Holy Land.

NIDAROS, from Oslo to Trondheim.
One of the great northern pilgrimage routes of the Middle Ages

LOURDES, France
Over five million pilgrims and tourists visit Lourdes, France. The Vatican has recognized 68 miracle healings from those who consumed the water from the sanctuary grotto, which is thought to possess healing powers.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA, Portugal
Pope John Paul II believed he was saved from death at the hands of his assassin by Our Lady of Fatima and visited the shrine three times after the attempt on his life.

HILL OF CROSSES, Lithuania
Thousands of crosses, crucifixes and rosaries make up this shrine to recognize the endurance of Catholicism throughout Lithuania's history.

MIDDLE EAST

MECCA, Saudi Arabia
This holy journey takes place on the eighth day of the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar. All able-bodied Muslims are obligated to make the journey to Mecca at least once to make the Hajj, which includes taking the Umra, or acts of faith. Many also make the Ziarah pilgrimage to Medina to the mosque and grave of prophet Muhammad at the same time.

VIA DOLOROSA and HOLY SEPULCHRE, Jerusalem
Thousands of Christians follow the path they believe Jesus walked on his way to his crucifixion.

AL AQSA MOSQUE, Jerusalem
Known as the "farthest mosque," it is one of the holiest sites in Islam.

WAILING WALL, Jerusalem
Jews have prayed at the Western Wall for hundreds of years, believing that the Divine Presence rests upon it and that the gate of heaven is situated directly above it.


ASIA

MARIAMBAD, Pakistan
Known as Asia's Lourdes, Christians and some Muslims make the pilgrimage between Sept. 7 and 10.

FOUR HOLY SITES OF BUDDHISM
Pilgrims generally follow a circular route from Delhi to Sarnath (where Buddha gave his first sermon) to Bodhgaya(where he attained enlightenment) to Kushinagar (where he died) to Lumbini (where he was born). Many pilgrims also visit Rajgat on the banks of the Yumana River where the Mahatma Gandhi was cremated.

KUMBHA MELA
This Hindu pilgrimage is known to be one of the most spectacular in the world. It rotates among Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik on the shores of the Ganges, every three years over a 12-year cycle. On the 12th year, the Grand Kumbh Mela becomes the biggest pilgrimage in the world.

GUFU, Shandong Province, China.
This is the hometown of Confucius.

LHASA, Tibet
Tibetans have many ancient pilgrimage routes starting from all over the area that was ancient Tibet and culminating in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama's seat of power.

MOUNT KAILASH, Tibet
This 52-kilometer (32-mile) pilgrimage should be made in one day. Hindus and Buddhists make it in a clockwise direction. Jain and Bonpo religions circumnavigate it in a counter-clockwise direction.

SOLOMON'S ROCK, Ferghana Valley, Central Asia.
Pilgrims travel to the top of the hill to see the imprints where Solomon (in his Muslim incarnation) is said to have pressed his hands and feet into the rock.

AFRICA

KWAZULU-NATAL, South Africa
Every year members of the Nazareth Christian Church walk barefoot????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬?????????????????????¢??????????????????????their possessions carried on their heads????????????????????????????¢?????????????????????¢??????????????????????¬?????????????????????¢??????????????????????to the holy Nlangakazi Mountain about 80 kms (50 miles) away.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18247328/site/newsweek/


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????????????????????????????????????© 2007 MSNBC.com
- Wed 25 Apr, 2007 8:24 am
Post subject:
Salam mate

see how it is commonly known that Muslims do Hajj to Al Masjid Al Haram in Mecca, it is really strange that some of the Quran aloners sect want to change that yet they never providd a single valid evidence from the Quran

Salam
- Wed 25 Apr, 2007 8:41 am
Post subject:
Well that's the thing isn't it, Hajj and cicumbabulation are in the Qur'an so they're gonna have a tough time trying to majic it away! Razz
- Wed 25 Apr, 2007 10:57 am
Post subject:
Al-Quraishi wrote:
Well that's the thing isn't it, Hajj and cicumbabulation are in the Qur'an so they're gonna have a tough time trying to majic it away! Razz

www.aididsafar.com
- Wed 25 Apr, 2007 6:28 pm
Post subject:
Salam Jungleboy,

Is there anything relating to the subject of this thread on the website? If you could paste a link directly to the relevant material that would help as I can't see anything to do with Hajj on the front page or links. Or are you referring to one of the flash videos?
- Thu 26 Apr, 2007 10:29 am
Post subject:
Click on the "cube" link located on the lower left hand side at www.aididsafar.com then download and save it in your documents folder. When you open the folder, you will find various files that you can read and reflect upon. Note: the file is 27.5 MB but worth it.
- Thu 26 Apr, 2007 9:54 pm
Post subject:
Salam,

Done all that, but I'm still not sure what you're trying to get at, are you saying that the Hajj and Kaba are polytheistic innovations? Please be clearer instead of just posting a weblink.

Like I said originally, how do people who claim this explain the obvious verses in the Qur'an that explain them?
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 3:04 am
Post subject:
# that's the bloke who wrote 1 of the lengthiest (and most pathetic) jokes u ll ever read anywhere..."arab conspiracy against islam" is what it went under....innit?

## i remember this forum i used to be at....the peepz there were rippin' off his jokes and calling it a "god-alone" understanding...there was this guy who had started a thread about whether islam is a "religion", and i asked him to define religion and somehow he never got past that...beat that! :-S

# take care, budz! (-:
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 4:35 am
Post subject:
Quote:
that's the bloke who wrote 1 of the lengthiest (and most pathetic) jokes u ll ever read anywhere..."arab conspiracy against islam" is what it went under....innit?


Salam bro, yes I noticed that also and as a result I have little respect for such an individual because he's either:

1. He is ignorant of Arabic and the correct meaning therefore in light of his own ignorance he feels he can convince others and guide them with his articles even though he can't read the Qur'an.

2. He isn't ignorant and understands the Arabic word therefore he's purposefully mistranslated it to decieve others and attack an entire race/ethnicity of people.

Quote:
## i remember this forum i used to be at....the peepz there were rippin' off his jokes and calling it a "god-alone" understanding...there was this guy who had started a thread about whether islam is a "religion", and i asked him to define religion and somehow he never got past that...beat that! :-S


You hit the nail on the head with that one, notice on the website it has "ISLAM IS NOT A RELIGION" in a big scrolling marquee across the top. This pussyfooting around the issue of Religion/Way of life is rediculous, the argument is negligible regardless as it's clear a good Muslim's life is guided by Islam. It's also a shame that the people who share these views almost always have prejudiced views towards Arabs.

Many (or is it most?) Christians and Jews/Zionists are prejudiced toward the people of the Middle East i.e. the cultural, racial, ethnic, liguistic etc etc inheritors of their own supposed Prophets. The sad thing is that Muslims know that Arabs are the cultural inheritors of the prophets esp. Muhammad and this resentment has grown. If Muhammad was around here today would they too despise him becuase he speaks and dresses like an Arab?

Just some food for thought for all those vehement-Western/'Progressive' Muslims out there.
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 4:50 am
Post subject:
Al-Quraishi wrote:
Salam,

Done all that, but I'm still not sure what you're trying to get at, are you saying that the Hajj and Kaba are polytheistic innovations? Please be clearer instead of just posting a weblink.

Like I said originally, how do people who claim this explain the obvious verses in the Qur'an that explain them?

If you've "done all that", then the contents of that weblink should have become clearer to you or need deeper contemplation. Perhaps you need to have a better look, visualize and understand exactly what goes around at Hajj and Jamrah, which by the way, does NOT fit Quranic adjudications if it were from God. Many verses in the Quran are not obvious after all, now are they, else we wouldn't have 'gazillion' translations or to each his own.
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 5:26 am
Post subject:
Al-Quraishi wrote:
This pussyfooting around the issue of Religion/Way of life is rediculous, the argument is negligible regardless as it's clear a good Muslim's life is guided by Islam.

BIG difference between Religion and Way of Life, if only you knew.

Quote:
It's also a shame that the people who share these views almost always have prejudiced views towards Arabs.

Perhaps you forgot that that's how and where Islam started....in the Arab world and it were the Arabs from all ethnic backgrounds that desecrated and disbelieved in Muhammad and went rampaging about their old idolworshipping pagan ways that we witness till today. No wonder the Quran professes that the majority of people have disbelieved and lost interest in its REAL message for whatever reasons, hence they refuse to or simly cannot understand.
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 5:47 am
Post subject:
Quote:
Perhaps you forgot that that's how and where Islam started....in the Arab world and it were the Arabs from all ethnic backgrounds that desecrated and disbelieved in Muhammad and went rampaging about their old idolworshipping pagan ways that we witness till today. No wonder the Quran professes that the majority of people have disbelieved and lost interest in its REAL message for whatever reasons, hence they refuse to or simly cannot understand.


So you're condoning this? Even if this was true (which I'm going to prove it ain't) it in no way warrants prejudice against a whole group of people.

Quote:
Perhaps you forgot that that's how and where Islam started


Yes it did start here, as the Prophet was an Arab, so were his closest friends and beloved family.

Prophet Muhammad - From Makkah, delivered true Islam

Now let's have a look at the architects of today's traditionalist 'Islam':

Al-Bukhari - From Central Asia

Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj - From Persia

Abu Dawood - From Persia

Now to say:

Quote:
in the Arab world and it were the Arabs from all ethnic backgrounds that desecrated and disbelieved in Muhammad and went rampaging about their old idolworshipping pagan ways


Is rediculous as people everywhere are as bad as each other when it comes to mixing pagan and cultural things into their religious practice - however after your comments it's clear to me you believe that Arabs must be treat unequally compared to the rest of mankind.

Or do you wish to rephrase what you said?
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 11:47 am
Post subject:
Salaam Al Quraishi,

My points are geared towards idols and idolworshipping acts relevant to Hajj, Umra and Jamrah, not towards Bukhari & Co., hence the weblink I presented to better understand and reflect upon AS PER THE QURAN. It seems that you didn't contemplate well enough. Besides, I never said ALL the Arabs, as you seem to point out. Arabs does not mean Muslims ONLY, keep that in mind.
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 4:03 pm
Post subject:
Quote:
al-quraishi wrote:
Salam bro, yes I noticed that also and as a result I have little respect for such an individual because he's either:

1. He is ignorant of Arabic and the correct meaning therefore in light of his own ignorance he feels he can convince others and guide them with his articles even though he can't read the Qur'an.

2. He isn't ignorant and understands the Arabic word therefore he's purposefully mistranslated it to decieve others and attack an entire race/ethnicity of people.


# hmmm...i think it's a mixture of 1 and 2...he most likely started off with li'l or no knowledge of quran or arabic, and himself ripped off the works of non-muslims and wannabes before him, and over the years picked up li'l here and there...not too hard to gain a superficial knowledge of a language if u are sufficiently motivated to...u know! personally..ummm...i dont think he's a muslim, or has ever been!

...in anycase, it's hard to have much respect for an unabashed liar!

Quote:
You hit the nail on the head with that one, notice on the website it has "ISLAM IS NOT A RELIGION" in a big scrolling marquee across the top.


## yups...and that's only 1 of the things they ve ripped off and are trying to propogate..a lot many other ideas too have found their way into their "god-alone" religion! : lolz :

Quote:
This pussyfooting around the issue of Religion/Way of life is rediculous, the argument is negligible regardless as it's clear a good Muslim's life is guided by Islam. It's also a shame that the people who share these views almost always have prejudiced views towards Arabs.

Many (or is it most?) Christians and Jews/Zionists are prejudiced toward the people of the Middle East i.e. the cultural, racial, ethnic, liguistic etc etc inheritors of their own supposed Prophets. The sad thing is that Muslims know that Arabs are the cultural inheritors of the prophets esp. Muhammad and this resentment has grown. If Muhammad was around here today would they too despise him becuase he speaks and dresses like an Arab?


# well...i dont think it matters whether peepz speak and dress like arabs...arabs are just another nation...and nations before them did deviate...i don't think that they are the best or the worst as extreme elements on either side claim!

Quote:
Just some food for thought for all those vehement-Western/'Progressive' Muslims out there.


## here are some possibilities regarding the wannabes:
* they simply seek to deceive
** they feel inferior to some other peepz and hence try to ape/appease them to gain accpetance/leverage
*** they lack faith and are seeking justification thru any means whatsoever

## salam buddy..take care! (-:
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 4:07 pm
Post subject:
Quote:
jungleboy wrote:
BIG difference between Religion and Way of Life, if only you knew.


# cool...seems like u do know the big difference....how about sharing it with us! (-:

## take care, bud! (-:
- Fri 27 Apr, 2007 7:14 pm
Post subject:
Yes Jungleboy, can you not argue for yourself instead of sending links to someone else's website?

Or are you Aidid Safar in disguise???

If you have a point then please state, otherwise don't quote my stuff in a refuting manner when you have nothing to refute it with.
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 7:13 am
Post subject:
Al-Quraishi wrote:
Yes Jungleboy, can you not argue for yourself instead of sending links to someone else's website?

Or are you Aidid Safar in disguise???

If you have a point then please state, otherwise don't quote my stuff in a refuting manner when you have nothing to refute it with.

I see that both you and "The" (dah!) Evil or Very Mad revere and worship stone structures, just because you understand the meanings of Quranic injuctions better than others as such regarless of idols and idolworshipping being condemned. Nice, LOL!!! Laughing Laughing Laughing
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 9:24 am
Post subject:
I'll take that as a no, you can't argue for yourself.

Quote:
I see that both you and "The" (dah!) revere and worship stone structures


Wow! You seriously know how to jump to conclusions, let's apply your own logic to yourself, does that mean you worship Aidid Safar because you're gonna let him dictate your faith?

I'm not sure about you but neither myself or The have a problem with you, we were talking and then you decided to quote something I said and placed a link.

All I've asked is for you to explain yourself and you haven't been able to do that. If you have an issue with something I've said then please refute like a man (or at least something with a backbone).
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 9:57 am
Post subject:
JungleBoy wrote:
I see that both you and "The" (dah!) Evil or Very Mad revere and worship stone structures, just because you understand the meanings of Quranic injuctions better than others as such regarless of idols and idolworshipping being condemned. Nice, LOL!!! Laughing Laughing Laughing


JUNGLEBOY IS SUSPENDED FOR 30 DAYS
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 3:10 pm
Post subject:
Quote:
jungleboy wrote:
I see that both you and "The" (dah!) revere and worship stone structures, just because you understand the meanings of Quranic injuctions better than others as such regarless of idols and idolworshipping being condemned. Nice, LOL!!!


# say, bud, which of my comments about safar or the wannabes hurt u? (-:
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 3:15 pm
Post subject:
Quote:
al-quraishi wrote:
I'm not sure about you but neither myself or The have a problem with you, we were talking and then you decided to quote something I said and placed a link.


# well...i did say a few pretty straight-forward things about safar guy and sum wannabes...i think that's hurt our sensitive friend here! (-:

... and yeah, i asked him to share the big difference...if he's got no idea about, it he could ve simply admitted that he's got no idea, rather than get emotional! (-:
- Sat 28 Apr, 2007 3:20 pm
Post subject:
Quote:
life wrote:
JUNGLEBOY IS SUSPENDED FOR 30 DAYS


# whenever he returns, and with whatever id or as guest, i wonder if he ll share the big difference with us! (-:
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