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2022-01-10T01:11:21-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Plans, 2022, and More Music

Last updated on: January 10, 2022 at 1:11 am By Bader Saab

2021 Was definitely a weird year, to say it in a soft way. With so many ups and downs, so many emotions, and news, it was hard to keep up with the world, or at least it was for me, and accomplish all the goals and plans. It was a bitter year for me, mostly because I couldn’t finish any of the readings I planned. I don’t want to make the same mistake on this 2022, but I do want... Read more

2021-12-12T16:24:32-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Semiramis and Ara, a Story of Madness and Witchcraft

Last updated on: December 12, 2021 at 4:24 pm By Bader Saab

I was reading today about Atargatis, the Syrian Goddess, a figure I’ve been intrigued with for a while, and found that, according to some sources, she had a daughter called Semiramis who seemed to be a sorceress or a witch, who was also madly in love with a man, Ara de Handsome of Fair. While not pre-Islamic, it’s a story certainly connected to pre-Islamic mythology, shows how some myths serve more of a political purpose, and also leaves a useful... Read more

2021-10-31T22:41:59-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What was Religion in Pre-Islamic Arabia Like?

Last updated on: October 31, 2021 at 10:41 pm By Bader Saab

I’ve been more absent than ever during this month because of health reasons that prevent me from even reading comfortably. Not the Halloween I expected, but I do hope you had a wonderful one. However, I have also found a kind of remedy in videos and documentaries. While it is uncomfortable as well, I can still get lost in the ancient work, mostly pre-Islamic Arabia. Although it’s hard to have a definite answer due to the diversity of faiths and... Read more

2021-10-04T08:27:44-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Do the Ancestors Need an Altar?

Last updated on: October 4, 2021 at 8:27 am By Bader Saab

Not so recently, my life took a change for the better. Way more difficult, but better in the long term. It has been one sacrifice after the other, getting used to a new place, taking care of myself and my family, learning how to be part of a new community… In short, we are starting from scratch. My spiritual practice has changed as well, but with the amount of space we have right now, I can only have one altar,... Read more

2021-09-12T21:15:42-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Oldest Arabic Poem, or a Possible Prayer?

Last updated on: September 12, 2021 at 9:15 pm By Bader Saab

I recently came across an interesting post which linked to the original article about an interesting poem. Ahmad Al-Jallad (2015) shared an extensive analysis of what seems to be the oldest Arabic poem, which describes a battle between the Gods Mot and Ba’al. Although it seems to be simple at first sight, when I read it and learned about the deities it references I had the feeling it was more than just a poem, or at least it could be... Read more

2021-08-21T13:02:13-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Afghanistan, or When Light Blinds

Last updated on: August 21, 2021 at 1:02 pm By Bader Saab

There have been a lot of talks in the media about what’s happening in Afghanistan, about the Taliban, human rights, and the future of a whole nation that ended in the hands of extremists that are capable of the unthinkable, of killing and dying for their cause. I’ve read comments, and initially agreed with them, about the world becoming a worse place, more dangerous, more hopeless, but then of my cousins made me see reason. There’s still time to make... Read more

2021-08-10T21:38:13-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Upcoming Annotated Arabian Nights

Last updated on: August 10, 2021 at 9:38 pm By Bader Saab

I’ve been writing a lot about the Arabian Nights, and some may find it rather curious, but I keep doing it because I keep learning and discovering this classic. I think it was a matter of time before I started getting notified about new editions and translations because Amazon recently told me about a new book scheduled for September 28: A groundbreaking translation―along with new commentary and hundreds of images―enhances this celebratory publication of the most famous story collection of... Read more

2021-08-10T20:05:33-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Current Readings

Last updated on: August 10, 2021 at 8:05 pm By Bader Saab

This year has been full of surprises, but it has also given me a few things to read. Despite the fact that real life has come in between those plans, I have been able to learn a lot through books, some that I wanted to read, and a particular story that wasn’t on the horizon when I made my plans. However, I view this as a way of evolving and not being static, although I know I could have read... Read more

2021-08-29T00:37:20-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Jinn and Devils: Are They Always Evil?

Last updated on: August 29, 2021 at 12:37 am By Bader Saab

I’ve been reading The Arabian Nights, one of my pre-Islamic readings for this year, since the beginning of the year, and while it is a heavy and sometimes even difficult book, it is filled with a lot of useful information about Arabic folklore, and I recently came across an interesting passage that speaks about the nature of the jinn and demons*, and whether they are good, bad, and their role in the world. The passage in question is part of... Read more

2021-07-04T15:51:38-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Tarot Deck Review: Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights

Last updated on: July 4, 2021 at 3:51 pm By Bader Saab

I’ve been using a certain deck for a while now, and I’ve fallen in love with it already. It is one that I use only for myself, my blood relatives, friends, and people who come from an Arabic family. The reason is that it is the Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights, published by Lo Scarabeo, with art by León Carré, a deck that has a beautiful energy in it. I have used it several times, experimenting a bit when... Read more

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