537 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

Anyone catch the episode of "30 Days" on FX where the Christian guys goes and lives with a muslim family for 30 days? Very, very intersting and thoughtful program.

[bordercolliefan]

Anyone catch the episode of "30 Days" on FX where the Christian guys goes and lives with a muslim family for 30 days? Very, very intersting and thoughtful program.

That sounds very interesting. Can you tell us more?

Did he live with a U.S. Muslim family, or a Muslim family in a foreign country? What did he learn?

[Chad Vander Veen]

That sounds very interesting.  Can you tell us more? 

Did he live with a U.S. Muslim family, or a Muslim family in a foreign country?  What did he learn?

He was a married father from West Virginia. For the show, he went to Dearborn, MI (unofficial Muslim capital of the US) and lived with a Muslim family. He wore Islamic attire, ate middle eastern food, went to mosque, learned some arabic, learned very little from a fiesty Dearborn imam and learned a lot from an imam in Detroit (who looked and sounded exactly like a regular ol' preacher except he was middle eastern) and found out how much people fear Islam in general.

He struggled with completing the daily rituals of Islam becasue he did not understand what he was saying and felt he was betraying his religion. But he also learned to appreciate what Muslims deal with daily in terms of fear and anger from others.

Really cool program.

[seholber]

Anyone catch the episode of "30 Days" on FX where the Christian guys goes and lives with a muslim family for 30 days? Very, very intersting and thoughtful program.

I would like to see an episode where the Muslim guy goes and lives with a Christian, Lutherin, Prodestant, (enter your favorite religion here) family for 30 days. I think that would make for a thoughtful program as well.

[Chad Vander Veen]

I would like to see an episode where the Muslim guy goes and lives with a Christian, Lutherin, Prodestant, (enter your favorite religion here) family for 30 days.  I think that would make for a thoughtful program as well. 

I agree.

[bordercolliefan]

The Telegraph this week has several letters relating to the new mosque. They raise concerns about the architecture and traffic. One letter alleges that someone from the Planning Dept. characterized the mosque's design as "very un-Folsom" (whatever that means).

Regarding the square footage, I am wondering if 32,000 sq. ft is the size of the footprint, or is the footprint only 16,000 sq. ft. (i.e., because the building appears to be 2 stories high, though I can't tell for sure).

For purposes of comparison, I learned that the Technique Gymnastics facility in Rancho Cordova is 38,000 sq. ft. For the uninitiated, Technique is housed in a HUGE warehouse -- so big is is hard to see what is going on in one end while standing at the other end (you have to squint to see people in the distance).

[Terry]

The Telegraph this week has several letters relating to the new mosque.  They raise concerns about the architecture and traffic.  One letter alleges that someone from the Planning Dept. characterized the mosque's design as "very un-Folsom" (whatever that means). 

Regarding the square footage, I am wondering if 32,000 sq. ft is the size of the footprint, or is the footprint only 16,000 sq. ft. (i.e., because the building appears to be 2 stories high, though I can't tell for sure).

For purposes of comparison, I learned that the Technique Gymnastics facility in Rancho Cordova is 38,000 sq. ft.  For the uninitiated, Technique is housed in a HUGE warehouse -- so big is is hard to see what  is going on in one end while standing at the other end (you have to squint to see people in the distance).

Okay, here are the facts - the square footage of the proposed two-story mosque building is 31,668. It will be on a 2.25 acre (98,010 sq ft) lot. If the entire square footage of the building is the footprint (which is worst case scenario since it is two stories) it would take up less than 33% of the lot's space.

Based on the Planning Commission meeting minutes of 5/18/05, it will include a prayer hall, class rooms, multipurpose hall, as well as associated kitchen facilities. Since the lot is sloped, the building and parking lot is designed to step with the grade at different levels.

Also, from the minutes "The height of th main parapet is 25.7 feet high, 60 feet at the top of the main dome, and 70 feet at the top of the minaret. The zoning on the site is M-2, which alows up to four stories and a height of 50 feet. The FMC (Folsom Muni Code) allows towers and spires to extend another 25 feet above whatever the height restriction is for that zoning district. The building does meet both of those requirements.

If you want to read the entire minutes of the 5/18/05 Planning Commission meeting on this project, go to the City's website, then Meetings, then Planning Commission, then select Minutes for the 5/18/05 date.

[bordercolliefan]

Interesting. Thanks, Terry. We can always count on you to get the correct facts.

[LexHillsmom]

I believe the mosque will be a beautiful piece of architecture here in Folsom. I rather enjoy looking at the beauty of traditional places of worship like beautiful churches, synagogues and mosques. I don't like how some churches exist in strip malls and some are built to look more like office buildings. Kudos to the local Muslim community who raised their own private funds and take pride in their place of worship. Downtown Sac has some gorgeous Catholic churches - the old brick structures with beautiful high steeples.

Reading the dog thread and this thread it does seem like some people are very prejudiced against Muslims in general. It isn't about dogs or architecture or whether its right for Folsom, ect. Its because the folks are Muslim. I understand these are very sensitive times but painting everyone with the same brush is unfair.

[Chad Vander Veen]

I believe the mosque will be a beautiful piece of architecture here in Folsom.  I rather enjoy looking at the beauty of traditional places of worship like beautiful churches, synagogues and mosques.  I don't like how some churches exist in strip malls and some are built to look more like office buildings.  Kudos to the local Muslim community who raised their own private funds and take pride in their place of worship.  Downtown Sac has some gorgeous Catholic churches - the old brick structures with beautiful high steeples. 

Are you serious? Did you ever stop to think that many of these "strip mall churches" have small congregations and can't afford a glamorous new building?

Mind-boggling...

[LexHillsmom]

CV, I did not mean to slam the "strip mall churches" for not having a more beautiful place of worship. I only meant to lend credit to the Muslim community for securing their vision of a beautiful mosque through their fundraising efforts and to comment on the visual appeal of traditional places of worship.

[uberman]

Are you serious? Did you ever stop to think that many of these "strip mall churches" have small congregations and can't afford a glamorous new building?

Mind-boggling... 

Like Lakeside? Don't try and tell me they don't have enough money for a decent looking church...

[Chad Vander Veen]

Like Lakeside? Don't try and tell me they don't have enough money for a decent looking church...

What's wrong with it? Besides, ornate churches glorify what man can build instead of what God can do.

[mylo]

How about celebrating God in any house, and glorifying man through charitable actions, rather than construction.

Not to say church organizations don't do great deeds, but many elaborate places of worship seem more like ill-managed budget priorities when compared to the charitable alternatives.

[randb]

Like Lakeside? Don't try and tell me they don't have enough money for a decent looking church...

Please define a "decent looking church"?