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The easiest way to control and manage your Anger!

This month's Synchroblog topic made me to pause for a while to think deeply about #Anger. How could one possible define this word "Anger" to denote the intense emotional feeling one experiences when in this mood.

Anger usually arises as a result of what has happened to someone. It clearly has an external cause. In other words, some sort of provocations occur immediately before the Anger experience. Anger could be expressed in either an aggressive or a calm and calculated way; it is the facial expression or action people display when their basic personal boundaries are violated. The angry person usually finds the cause of his or her anger in an intentional, personal and controllable aspect of another person's behaviour.

People have individual set down rules of what they can tolerate from others and how long they can endure certain behaviour (like comments, actions, attitudes, etc.) from others. There are several ways people react to any breach of this privacy, depending on the circumstances prevailing at the said time. Whenever these boundaries are violated, bitter and agitated, hot and tensed up feelings gradually start oozing out with or without sharp (noisy) breath. 

Causes
There are so many things that can cause people to be angry. People feel angry when they sense that they or their loved ones have been offended. Another thing that cause people to be angry is when something goes wrong and they are certain about the cause of the anger,  convinced that someone else is causing it and feels that they can do something about it.

Characteristics of Anger:
Some characteristics of Anger include external facial expression, body language, physiological responses combined with or without acts of aggression. The angry person might display different shades of Anger, for example, swollen face, sudden silence, tapping of foot/finger tips on the floor or on any surface close by, snapping of the fingers, twisting of the lips, dimming of the eyelid, etc. This behaviour associated with Anger is designed to warn aggressors to stop their threatening behaviour.

Do you forgive and forget easily? How long does it take you to find peace within yourself?

Remedy
Uncontrolled Anger can affect people's personal and social well-being negatively. There might be hostile, radical, aggressive and fierce reactions which may lead to destruction of property. Physical violence might lead to wounding somebody or exchange of words. A silent, deadly decision to retaliate in a more disastrous way might lead to actions that one will regret later in life. Worst of all is the hostile inaction, such as withdrawing or stonewalling.

Even though some people say that Anger may be used effectively when utilized to set boundaries or escape from dangerous situations, remember that one has the option of making choices. Instead of initiating a dominance contest or harbouring resentment, those who call themselves children of God strive to better understand and constructively resolve issues when they arise.

It is human and natural to be angry when offended in any way. In the Holy Bible, even God (The Most High) was angry with the Israelites and some prophets several times when they disobeyed Him. In His anger, He destroyed places and made His people suffer in one way or another. God's display of Anger is mentioned in many chapters of the Holy Bible. One remarkable thing about God (worth emulating) is that even after His fierce Anger, He had compassion and restored His people.
Psalm 145:8 says "The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love."
Isaiah wrote in 12:1 "In that day you will say: "I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."

Being conscious of the negative impact of Anger in our lives and that of the people around us, all God-fearing people should endeavour to avoid or dilute any situation that could lead to Anger. Prevention, they say, is better than cure. In the book of Proverbs 19:11 (International Standard Version) it says "A person's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence"

Even when provoked, we should make great effort to find peace within us and forgive. A prolonged Anger gives rise to other irrelevant issues that could eventually have greater and negative effects in our lives and that of those around us. Paul thought the Ephesians in 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,..."

Learn to forgive as quickly as possible knowing that God does forgive you, even when you forget to ask for His forgiveness!

Other Participants include:

• Mark Votava – Becoming Dreamers Again
• Carol Kuniholm – God’s Economy: Managing Anger Assets
• K.W. Leslie – Anger
• Glenn Hager – The Many Faces of Anger
• Paul Meier – The Value of Anger 
• Pastor Fedex – Chain Reaction 
• Jeremy Myers – You Sound Angry, Bitter, and Critical
• Michael Boden – Anger is Not a Godly Emotion
• Kathy Escobar – underneath anger.
• Danielle Thorp – in which we get angry and nobody dies

What I appreciate about Islam - as a Christian

(This post is part of the March 2015 Synchroblog “What I Appreciate About [Other Religions]”)

In this write up, I will talk about some things I appreciate about the #Islamic religion making reference to my own religion, which is #Christianity. I will mention certain things I appreciate about Muslims.

This topic has given me the opportunity to explore and find out more information about #Islam; the history, Islamic teaching and what #Muslims believe in. I made my research and received input from my friends who practice this Islamic religion.

There are certain things both Islam and Christianity agree with; there are others things the respective believers have different opinions about.

These two religions have similar origin, but they differ in their teachings and beliefs. Christianity, which was founded on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, developed out of Judaism in the 1st century CE.

Islam, which was founded on the teachings of Muhammad as an expression of surrender to the will of Allah, is a monotheistic religious tradition that developed in the Middle East in the 7th century CE.

Muslims do not believe in the Holy Bible because they think that it is not in the original form; that a lot have been deducted and added to it. Christians, on the other hand, consider Gospels to be authoritative and Holy Quran a later, fabricated or Apocryphal work.

Regardless of the fact that Christians and Muslims view each other’s religion differently and their respective religious interpretation (in the Holy Bible and Holy Quran) differ, there are certain things I like about Islam.

Since I am focusing on a religion other than mine, I will cite only quotations from the Islamic religion.

1.    One thing I like about Islam is that it has the same origin with my religion which is Christianity.

According to Wikipedia, "Christianity and Islam share a historical and traditional connection, with some stark theological differences. The two faiths share a common origin in the Middle East and are Abrahamic religions".

Both religions accept the tradition that God revealed himself to Abraham and think that Abraham was an important man.

This can be seen in the Holy Quran chapter 2 verse 136:

Say (O Muslims): We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. 

2.    Another thing I like about Islam is it’s teaching about the Virgin birth of Jesus, even though the Quranic account differs from the biblical version.

Muslims respect and revere Jesus (peace be upon him).  They consider him one of the greatest of God’s messengers to mankind.  The Holy Quran confirms his virgin birth; one of the chapters is titled ‘Maryam’ (Mary).

The Holy Quran (Chapter 3 verses 45 - 47) describes the birth of Jesus as follows:

(Remember) when the angels said, “O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God).  He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.” She said, “My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?” He said, “So (it will be).  God creates what He wills.  If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ‘Be!’ and it is.”

3.    One other thing I like about this religion is that it considers that Jesus was sent by God.

The Holy Quran, just like the Holy Bible, offers an account of the life and works of Jesus. In Islam, belief in account of Jesus (known as Injil) is an important part of Islamic theology.

I understand that Muslims consider the Trinity a division of God's Oneness and a grave sin (Shirk). The Holy Quran (chapter 5 verse 73-75) states:

Indeed, they disbelieve who say, “God is the third of three (in a trinity),” when there is no god but one God.  If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness?  For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger...

While I may not completely agree with this and certain parts of the Holy Quran, I still like certain things about Muslims.

In recent times, there have been many misconceptions about Muslims and the Islamic religion. Violence, hatred, killing and destruction have been associated with this religion.

One might argue that people from other religions also commit these evil deeds but we always hear in the news about those Muslims flying into buildings, blowing up tube stations, strapping bombs around themselves and setting them off in crowded places and causing harm to others in one way or another.

Despite all these misconceptions, I think that there are still some Muslims out there who are nice people devoted to their religion and belief. There are many peaceful, loving Muslims who simply try to live an honest and moral life. These people pray and search the Holy Quran on daily basis to understand the teaching and right things to do. I like those Muslims who live a simple pious life. 

I associate with some Muslims and I must say that some of them are really honest people. I like their honesty as they endeavour to live a clean life following their faith as much as they can. Just like Christians fear God, they fear Allah and no one and nothing else. I admire their adherence to their faith and their modesty.

In conclusion, I will say that Muslims are really nice people if they follow Islam!

Other Participants are: 

• Mark Votava – How Christianity Can Learn from Buddhism
• Justine Steckbauer – Christianity and Other Religions: Many roads or exclusive path?
• Glenn Hager – The Thing About Labels

• Stuart Delony – I Love Atheists
• Bram Bonius – What can Christians learn from neo-pagans and ‘magickal’ traditions?
• Mictori – Buddhism Reshaped my Easter
• Loveday – What I Don’t Appreciate About Your Religion
• Pastor FedEx – 3 Things Christians Learn from Other Religions
• Leah Sophia – Land, Sun, Community, Crops
• Kathy Escobar – Why I Love Interfaith Conversations
• Dr. Samuel Mahaffy – My House Shall be a House of Prayer for All People
• J. D. Myers – What I Appreciate About Pagans