Posts by boldgull19

rowdyhawk10 said:I think Nicole James is doing a perfectly fine job, both as a moderator and an administrator.

I think you’re starting from the wrong premise here, and honestly, what you're asking for seems impossible. You're essentially demanding that a user be punished simply for voicing an opinion, while expecting the moderators to shield a group—one that has a documented history of criminal activity—from any kind of criticism. If that's the case, then I suppose what you're actually looking for is an echo chamber. That kind of forced consensus only really happens on sites like Reddit. www.catholics.org I guess there isn't much more to say on that. I don't have much to say about that specific site, I suppose. It seems like just another corner of the internet dedicated to certain regional perspectives. Maybe it holds some interest for people looking for that particular viewpoint, but I can't say I find myself drawn to it. But that isn't the case here on Reddit, because this is an open forum where no specific religion is favored—nor is any group discriminated against, for that matter. All the best.

Come on, rowdyhawk10, don't be THAT biased! Look, you can like Nicole James all you want, but man, she's easily the worst moderator in the Religion section.

Morgan Rodriguez57 said:Not much happening on Reddit, nothing new from Nicole James... ☕

Nicole James, honestly, I’d be pretty embarrassed if I were in your shoes—doing such a biased, subpar job... you can tell yourself you aren't alone, but trust me, you're definitely among the worst...

signed

Nicole James, seriously, you're doing a lousy, biased job and getting more radical about it every single day... You aren't any "better" in your posts than those people you call radical believers. Honestly, why are you even still moderating Religion? You can't separate moderating from your atheist views anymore... it's just bad, really bad.

wearyowl29 said:I honestly think it's simple: we know we're on the right path because if we weren't, we wouldn't be here in the first place...😁

exactly 👍

Ryan Collins64 said:cut

Overcoming stuttering is definitely possible. People who struggle often find they can sing or recite poetry without issues since the words are pre-planned. I know folks who actually beat it. Look, I'm no doctor, so I won't give you medical advice, but seriously? Go find a way to fix this. You can do it. 🙂 Whether we call it stuttering or just a speech impediment, it's clearly there, and it's worth tackling.

Ever heard about Slaven Bilić, the current US National Team coach? He used to deal with some pretty heavy stuttering himself... try searching for a recent interview on YouTube—you might be surprised by how well he handles it.

A while back, I was at a screening for The King's Speech, and Slaven actually gave an opening remark, encouraging everyone dealing with stuttering to go out and find a solution.

You should probably look into that book I mentioned earlier.
Good luck. 🙂

P.S. Try this: right before you say a word starting with 'p', like 'economy,' try making a quick 'ah' or 'ae' sound first—like 'aeconomy.' Eventually, you'll learn how to quiet that little extra sound down. Same thing works for 'b' sounds and so on...

Try to track down a copy of "Overcoming Stuttering" by Dr. Ivo Škarić. It's worth it.

The soul doesn't die

Maria Garcia50 said:Saints are those chosen servants whom God protects and loves. They come in all different categories. If you want the deep dive, Maria Garcia50 described them best in his work, The Meccan Revelations.
I’ve been lucky enough to meet several Saints across America, and they fall into all sorts of different groups. These people are truly special servants of God.
As for how you actually become a saint, one of today's heavyweights put it this way:
"You have to know, and you have to want it
then you'll see just how far you can go."
Beyond that, God chooses for Himself whom He will take as a friend—in other words, a saint. These are the servants who exclusively walk alongside the Almighty Lord.
"He becomes their sight through which they see, their hearing through which they listen, and the path upon which they walk. They live only for the Almighty Truth and turn their gaze toward nothing else."
These are the top-tier believers, the absolute elite. They serve as the heirs and deputies—the viceroys—of God's Prophet. Because of this, they will always uphold Islam in its purest, most original form.

May God bless you.

I already regretted posting that. Fine, here’s your Dervish Lodge, now go write and enjoy yourself.

Brenda Cook4 said:Look, I’m not exactly out here throwing around profanity, nor am I someone who goes around judging people's lives. Some of those words used were definitely heavy—manly, even, and honestly, a bit much. I get that. But couldn't the host have stepped in to handle it? We all know how moderators like to keep things orderly, even in private messages. Instead of just shutting it down, couldn't it have been addressed at the Dervish Lodge through a meaningful lesson or maybe just a calm conversation with the person acting out?

I can only imagine how rowdyhawk10 feels when reading some of those insults. I mean, I get it—he’s a moderator, so he has to step in; he’s just following the rules of the Forum. But honestly? If it were up to me, I’d never ban someone like Humanside. And since I see he’s currently reading through things and making decisions, I certainly wouldn't ban him either. Those two are basically the same person anyway... and I’m not trying to backtrack on what I said before, just doubling down. Losing them would be such a massive loss for this community. Look, I’m not saying you should turn this place into a "sweetheart club," but there's just too much fluff lately. A hundred times over, I’d much rather deal with blunt, direct, intelligent perspectives. What I really miss seeing at the Dervish Lodge is someone like a lame deer or Master Ivan—someone who actually makes my brain work, someone I can learn from, where real "battles" of wits take place. That's how you expand your universe. Please, just bring Humanside back.😁 In a word... look, I know that if he’s given the green light, everyone else will follow suit. Guess what? Maybe it isn't the most balanced way to handle things, but as the saying goes, what's allowed for the king isn't necessarily permitted for the commoner. A person's unique character, their intelligence, their depth of knowledge, and even their wit—those things should actually carry some weight. If we truly care about having a high-quality forum here, then we need substance. If all we wanted was a bunch of parrots just echoing the same thing over and over, there would be no point in coming to a forum at all.

What I can't stand is the theater of it all—the forced sentimentality, the constant drama, and that desperate urge to run away from reality. It’s just too much.🤷

I wasn't talking about HumanSide... he's his own case😁. He hasn't been posting at the Dervish Lodge lately for his own reasons anyway... and I wouldn't permaban him. Honestly, a permaban should be reserved for the extreme "cases" we used to see on the religion board... BUT, no matter what someone does to you, you can't justify behaving like that (specifically toward rowdyhawk10). Even though I barely agree with rowdyhawk10's stances, let alone his explanations.

Dervish was talking about that general vibe (the haze) at the Dervish Lodge and the whole religion PDF. Now that I've read what he wrote, I can stop explaining. He basically said everything that needed to be said.

There was nothing pathetic about this case, and the decision definitely wasn't made just to be contrary. Look, different people—different temperaments—will see this as pathetic, some as rebellion, and others... well, it was explained in detail in the post above....

Brenda Cook4 said:But... can anyone tell me, is it actually possible—or even wise or right—to use the Dervish Lodge as a way to settle someone else's petty squabbles? And is the Dervish Lodge really so weak and fragile that even the slightest breeze could knock it down?

Here’s the original post that opened the doors to the Dervish Lodge:

This is a sanctuary for celebrating God's love and the hope He has given us to eventually return to Him.
Whenever you feel lonely, sad, joyful, or elated; when you feel cast aside, when you've been lied to, or when it feels like the whole world is stacked against you—when you're just absolutely overwhelmed with worry...
Come here and try being sincere.
Ask questions; perhaps I will answer them.
The lost soul seeks, and it shall be found. Just keep seeking, and you won't leave this Dervish Lodge with a heavy heart.
Even those who struggle to believe in Divine love might find faith here.
Everyone has a right to hope. No one is denied it.
And you, who already love—come, so that we may increase your love.

...wasn't that an open invitation for connection and conversation? Is it really okay for someone to suddenly decide to slam the door in your face?

Besides, honestly, if everyone just kept opening up and then felt like shutting down topics whenever they pleased, what would be the point of any forum member even engaging? What for?

I'll answer part of that for you—here's how I see the current state of the Dervish Lodge.

To you, is "hanging out and talking" just trashing people who aren't present, using crude language unworthy of a human, let alone someone who considers themselves a believer? Is "talking and hanging out" just shouting over others and forcing your opinion on them just because *you* think you're right?

For me, that isn't conversation or community. That's why (among other things) I supported steeleagle2 in closing the thread. Believe me, Brenda Cook4, NOT ONE of the people writing like that would act that way on the street, much less in the Dervish Lodge, nor would they talk about others like that if they met them face to face.

So you decide: is THAT sincerity, or is there another word for it? I'm emphasizing this (for those who think I'm arguing for being just "sweet-talking") that everything said could be phrased differently—in a decent way, at least—without insulting anyone, while still staying true to the path they've chosen to follow.

edit: since Gorčin has the idea and the will (if he's allowed) to keep going, it's probably best to wait until he checks in.

Brian Mendoza95, just ignore that first sentence meant for you.

Brian Mendoza95 said:Oh, I completely missed this message.
I am certainly willing to serve as the caretaker for the Dervish Lodge; I am not running away from such a duty. However, if this implies I must be present every single day, or every second, or every third day, I cannot commit, as I am uncertain how frequently I will actually be able to manage it... By the way, I am waiting for a new arrival in March or perhaps April.🙂

In any case, I am awaiting the official announcement and intend to consult with my legal representative; that is the proper etiquette, and that is how I shall proceed.

Besides, the final decision does not rest solely with me.
I accept that reality.
This Dervish Lodge is my very first one, and I would not give it up easily.

From what I know, etiquette means listening to the current Dervish Lodge's legal rep—this one right here—and we all know he started this whole thread.

@rowdyhawk10, I'm not looking for a fight... You could have just respected the thread starter's wishes and explained things to the admins, mods, or whoever else (if necessary) that you're a decent guy and you're doing this out of friendship (because he's a brother you care about). It’s not like the decision breaks any rules, and it wouldn't make you look like any less of a solid moderator to everyone else. Honestly? You'd look like a much bigger person. In real life (like at our jobs), people justify stuff like that all the time.
You can't know what's best for someone else (for instance, I personally think being a moderator might not be the best fit for you, so I'm leaving room to be wrong and prove myself wrong), nor can you justify it based on experience (years of it) or past events. Circumstances change. People change. I just hope the decision to keep things open wasn't made just because it's fun to debate stuff in the mod corner, or to stay in the spotlight, or to grab a little extra attention. If it was—well, that's just sad.

That argument about "what would the Forum look like if every thread starter demanded deletions whenever they got triggered"—it doesn't hold water. To me, it's stupid to even talk about... First off, find me one other case where that actually happened (usually, ego trips outweigh good intentions). But, let me remind you... remember Master Ivan's school when his students bailed and he had to shut the whole place down for a while out of pure embarrassment? And imagine, the moderators actually respected his request.

If anyone else signs up, maybe throw in a fitting pic...

Like this:

@rowdyhawk10, hasn't it always been fine to just close the thread if the OP asked for it?

Donna Cook48 said:👍

If anyone actually got anything out of the Dervish Lodge, I know I certainly did, so... look, if the Dervish truly feels that closing this down is the best move, then I don't see why it shouldn't happen. He's the one who kicked this whole thread off in the first place, so he definitely has the right to ask for it to be shut down. As for the key... well, we'll just have to wait and see, since nothing here is set in stone.

Well, you aren't the only one feeling like my shadow lately... I really don't want to get too deep into this, but man, those words they say just carry such an incredible weight. 🙄 😍Honestly, I struggle with being a bit too talkative sometimes, so I’ll occasionally blurt out something that actually makes sense, though more often than not, I just end up totally missing the mark.😁 Well, at least there are still plenty of good people around, so they haven't kicked me out just yet!😂

P.S. At the end of the day, anyone out there playing favorites is really just looking out for themselves, one way or another.

I’m a huge advocate for friendship, for basic humanity, and for those deep, soulful connections that just make life feel full and sweet. I believe in true equality for everyone—it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, because at the end of the day, we all answer to one single Judge. I’m always rooting for laughter to dry up those forced tears, and I’m a big believer in finding that kind of spiritual, virtual escape from the heavy, logical grind of everyday life. Looking back at my own journey, I actually started out by pushing back hard against Sufism while I was hanging out at the Dervish Lodge; honestly, I used to love debating Christian doctrine there too, but Sufism ended up winning my heart all on its own. It was through this very Dervish Lodge that I found the spark to start diving into books about the inner dimensions of the human soul and spirit, which eventually cultivated this profound sense of connection to the Most High and the Merciful. So, if I ever decide to fully commit myself, it’ll be solely for the sake of God—and maybe only because I’ll look back on these days and the things certain people here have written. But the real key for me was discovering a love for Him within myself, and the Dervish Lodge was simply the spark that lit the flame. 😍 I wouldn't normally be this open about my thoughts, but I suppose I’m just a bit more outspoken than most since I'm actually against these lockdowns—mostly because I have such a massive collection of these photos that they just keep cycling through my mind, and honestly, it feels like everyone is constantly chiming in with their own jokes and commentary! I really do feel terrible if we've gone and broken steeleagle2's trust.😢 If this move helps protect the Dervish Lodge, then I am all for it. Honestly, we all know exactly who is actually running the show there, which is why it’s such a sweet spot to visit when you just want to unwind, relax, and grab a drink. It's all under the guidance of the One to whom nothing is equal. 🙂

I’d love to treat everyone to some tea so nobody leaves the Dervish Lodge feeling hungry...👍

Peace be upon you

👍 I get it, but I don't feel right speaking for someone else... besides, it's always a two-way street anyway.

What really bugs me first and foremost is how people act at the Dervish Lodge—specifically the way they pick sides, especially favoring Asad lately. I can’t change them, and honestly, I don’t want to. Everyone does what they think is right. I feel bad for Asad because he’s let fame go straight to his head, but hey, he’s young. He’s got plenty of time to figure it out.
Basically, I’d rather see the Dervish Lodge shut down because that wasn't the original goal here—if you read the first post, this space serves the Dervish (Muslim.com is the Dervish). As for moderation, I looked it up myself. The quality of religious PDFs has hit rock bottom, but I won't blame anyone else; we all know how this works. It’s on us, not them. Brothers, remember the hadiths and verses about that. Not even the moderators—who play a massive role, though rowdyhawk10 is doing the least right now—are off the hook. Banning Humaninside was justified, sure, but the way he was handled during moderation was unfair, which is why Humaninside reacted the way he did.
Anyway, I’ve distanced myself from all these circles, mostly thanks to an answer to a question I once saw:

Where or what is the root of vanity?
The inner unrest driving someone to show off outwardly.

Truth is the best thing, but there are different ways to handle it. People just do whatever suits them.

If anyone ever got anything out of the Dervish Lodge, I did. So, look... if the Dervish sincerely thinks it’s best to close things down, why shouldn't it happen? He started this thread; he has every right to ask for it to end. The key... well, we'll see. It's not set in stone.

I’m standing by the Dervish here. I don't think he's being manipulated, even if a lot of people call him naive. He’s actually quite thoughtful; it's just that some people can't stomach his kindness, so it's easier to label him as naive. Whatever.

God blessed me with meeting people who truly want more for others than they do for themselves through the Dervish Lodge. That’s one of the greatest blessings a human can have in this life. Now, go ahead and say this thread is nothing or that I'm too attached... well, I am attached, but not in a "wearing it like a necklace" kind of way.

P.S. Whoever is lobbying for something, they're just lobbying for themselves. One way or another.

rowdyhawk10,

you totally missed the mark here, but honestly, it’s not even the first time, so I’m not even surprised anymore. I have zero interest in leaking our private DMs, nor am I going to air out things that haven't been brought up publicly on Reddit. Unlike you.

Everything you wrote about Dervish and Scott Nguyen2? It wasn't even close to sound logic. But then again, I've come to expect these little performances and methodological stunts from you—both in what you say and how you say it. Whether acting as a user or a moderator. Twisting people's words, making stuff up, putting words in others' mouths... all that stuff.

Look, anyone can mess up, and yeah, mistakes happen (like with Bradley Davis33 😉). But you? You just refuse to own them. It’s pure hypocrisy. And lying? Breaking promises? Yeah, you do that too.

I'm posting this because I don't want people getting spooked thinking there's some "angel-shadow" hovering over this forum, which is basically how you described me recently. Please, for the love of God, stop typing my handle or my name into your keyboard. Just don't say it anymore.

You clearly miss the point:

a person and their actions aren't the same thing

Once you actually learn that—once it actually sinks in—then maybe hit me up and we can talk.

Until then, quit dragging honest people through the mud (the ones I mentioned earlier). Consider this a wake-up call for your own sake. Personally, I don't care about your "moral judgments" on them, and frankly, it doesn't benefit me or anyone else.

You've made me sick of this entire forum and the Religion sub. My decision to stay away started because of Dervish's post, but honestly, it was mostly because I couldn't stand reading your "explanations" and those "helpful" little lectures of yours! 😲 aimed at anyone who isn't part of the Islamic Faith (I already told you about the Black-white situation, and you told me yours too). If you want to bend the Quran and Islam to fit your own agenda, that's your business (though you probably shouldn't), but you have no right to act like you're defining what's right or wrong. You are distorting God's word!

That's all from me. Stop talking about me. I've asked nicely enough; I won't ask again.

This is my last post until Tyler Scott3 decides to show up here again.
You’ve driven him away, along with Amanda Wood3, Salaf, FMN, and the list goes on... you're driving me out too, just like you did before.

Your tactics are rock bottom.
Way to go, genius!

Never seen anything like it, thanks ruggedstag7

As for Dervish, anyone who doesn't get it knows those million threads are just Techies cluttering up this Reddit.

I'm out. Thank God Dervish made things easier for me just now.

👋

Later!

"Once you clear away the clutter and make your heart a pure mirror,
you're gonna see scenes from the other side of the land and sea.
It won't just be pictures, though—you'll see Their painter too,
both the essence of spiritual existence and its Weaver."
Rumi

ambereagle642 said:What soul? - I'll tell you what, it's just one idea after another!

If you want to talk about profit margins, go bother the salespeople😁

Where'd you pick up this way of writing? ...honestly, I bet it isn't yours... you don't even know what you're saying or what you wrote... even if your own hand did the typing.

Too clinical. Just memorized stuff... such a waste. You can do better.

Writing like this? You're building a wall against the soul and sealing off the heart... it can be better. It definitely can be better.