To address all this. I don't know if simplicity is a tenet of Islam,
though devotion to God is. Personally I think flush toilets are not as a
good a think as we all think they are, water-wise and environment
wise(which affects everyone). I personally advocate the saw dust
toilet or something of a similar manner from which good soil can be made
and which can help to sustain agriculture, soil fertility and in the end
our health. (for more on this visit: http://www.weblife.org/humanure/).
Clean water is certainly a plus. As for technology personally I feel like
it should be truly beneficial and not a vanity. It should contribute to
essential skills, reinforce/or educate on whatever morality one engenders
and most of
all justly and unbiasly inform people so that they can make better
informed decisions. As a media of knolwedge and wholistic betterment I
support technology. But as a media for vanity, unjust propaganda,
time-wasting through vain entertainment, I do not support technology.
Technology is nuetral it is truly just the way in which something is
done. But we need to consider the implications, ramifications and meaning
behind how we choose to use such technology. To each his own. But to help
people become self-suficient(something global economy is against) and
perhaps to introduce them to the means by which they can choose to come
together and better their communities if not their country is the best
thing in my mind. We don't have to do anything for anyone. But according
to my belief espousing and being active for the betterment of oneself and
others(as best one can) is encouraged by God, and a truly right thing to
do. But we are all different, so to each his own devotion. We should all
be free to choose(according to my beliefs) what we choose to devote
ourselves to.

Godbless,
Anwar

This reminds me of a section in the Qur'an popularly called 'the
ungrateful deniars'(remember to deny also means to disavow).
It tells Muhammad to state that he is not devoted to what those who deny
God's existance or are ungrateful to Him are devoted to. For them is to be
their order and for him, his.


Liza May wrote:
>
> > Why do we have to provide them with a better standard of living?
> > Why is it up to us to support the whole world?
>
>
> Well, we don't. But I feel sorry when I see children dying of =
> starvation, and people without medical care, and other sad things. We =
> don't HAVE to support the whole world, we are under no moral obligation =
> to do this in my opinion. But I, personally, would like to help people =
> if I can.
>
>
> >  Why in the name of any particular diety
> > should they need muultiple cars per family, cell phones,
> > playstations and 3 tvs per family? Two of the main tenants of
> > islam are simplicity and devotion.
>
> Not sure that any post here has mentioned these items. Of course you'd =
> agree that it would be nice for anyone in the world to be able to own =
> these things if they want. But I know that I certainly have no idea what =
> someone else wants. Not Afghanis, and not my next door neighbors, for =
> that matter.
>
>
> > If you were to ask the average
> > Joe [Akim?] he would probably want clean water to, access to good
> > public bathhouses, a flush toilet per every few houses [like
> > Britain still has in some victorian neighborhoods] and access to
> > reasonably inexpensive food. The local religous teacher for
> > education, and doctor for the village complete the basic needs.
>
>
> It seems a little arrogant for you to assume you know what Joe Akim =
> wants. I'm sure every person there is as much an individual as every =
> person in your part of the world. They're people, just like you and me. =
> Some of them would like four Sony playstations, others want outhouses. =
> Some want a violin and a CD player to study great classical works, =
> others want a rustic hut on a peaceful mountaintop.
>
> It would be nice for people to be able to choose their lifestyle, is my =
> opinion. I wish they could have more freedom and liberty there, like we =
> do here. Then they could decide for themselves whether they wanted coke =
> and MTV or Walden Pond.
>
>
> > Just because we happen to live in a consumer-product driven
> > economy, don't make the stupid assumption that everybody else in
> > the world wants one also.
>
> Did a post on this forum suggest this? I'm thinking maybe you're upset =
> with a post you read elsewhere, and have confused the two.
>
>
> > margali
> > who has 1 computer, 1 tv, and a phone only because I need to
> > occasionally telecommute and the Navy requires my husbanto have
> > one. I don't even have air conditioning, a play station or a car
> > under 10 years old. I keep sheep, poultry and we garden. Think
> > Walden - SIMPLIFY!
>
>
> Maybe you like to "simplify."  Why should everyone else like what you =
> like? That, perhaps, is a bit "ethnocentric" or "imperialistic" or =
> "arrogant"  don't you think?   Did you think your "simple" way of living =
> is superior to my hedonistic, materialistic, high-tech way of life?
>
> Love Liza
>
> ~~~~~
> > The Quote Starts Here:
> > > I think we have a life here far better than they have there. There =
> are
> > > 1.3 billion Moslems in the world. I imagine that most of them are
> > > apolitical, would like to have a better standard of living,
> >=20
>