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What might CfE 2.0 look like?
Blog 20 May 2020 1 Comments
Neil McLennan FRSA
Rowena Arshad
Robin Macpherson
With the government review of Scottish education, it is timely to reflect on the views of a group of educators brought together in June 2019. During a Saturday session facilitated by educationalists, education leaders and academics CfE2.0 was considered.
NB this article written early 2020, pre COVID.
The late 2019 launch of the refreshed narrative of CfE was an opportunity to signal changes to CfE but left many disappointed. The key concern was that the 'slimmed down' version of what had gone before did not help do the job any better. However, those involved in the refreshed CfE microsite suggested it met OECD's recommendation to simplify CfE's narrative and reduce its complexity.
Mark Priestley's blog clarified that the microsite "is not a revision of CfE." However, Professor Walter Humes noted (ResearchEd Dollar, 2019), new narratives crept in, namely "curriculum making" and "empowerment". One might ask, if these new narratives can creep into policy then what about other new ideas, critiques and revisions to thinking? For example, the starting point of the 'CfE visuals' are the values. It has been questioned before whether the four values of the Scottish mace are for parliamentarians, the parliament or for education, educators or children (Gilles, 2006; Walsh & McLennan, 2018). Why is fresh thinking, like this, not entering alongside the other emerging narratives? This proposal specifically questions the values of CfE, however the broad principle raises questions about underling values displayed during curriculum reform. How open are we? And who decides?
The RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufactures) and EduMod co-hosted a "CfE2.0 gaitherin'" exploration session at Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh. The event was free, open to all and advertised by RSA Scotland websites, Eventbrite and shared across social media. 'The purpose of education', 'what work's, 'what isn't working' were discussed and captured on flip-chart paper. The event brought together early-years, primary, secondary and HE/FE educators; policy, practice and academics; various discipline backgrounds; newly qualified teachers and old hands; private and state sector experiences; mixed genders; unpromoted teachers, middle level leaders and mainly unpromoted teachers. Notable was the lack of teachers of black and minority ethnic ethnicity. In total 39 teachers gathered; a mere 0.75% of the GTCS registered population however still notable when we consider that the CfE public 'national debate' engaged 0.029% of Scotland's population. This was described as "good for democracy" (Munn et all, 2007). These figures are worth reflecting on.[1]
The purpose of education
An important part of open, participative and transparent discussions on the day focussed on educational philosophy. Despite divergent views, common causes were clear. There was little opposition to the four capacities of CfE, albeit systematic implementation of them may be questioned . There was a call for "pragmatic implementation." If we assume the capacities came from Delores's 1996 UNESCO Report 'Learning: The Treasures Within', these largely replicate four broad areas which education contributes to: to know (academics/knowledge), to do (skills), to be (self-actualisation and wellbeing), and to be together (community cohesion).
Recent PISA results have caused some concerns about declines in knowledge, as measured through testing. One might also reflect on how the skills noted in Es&Os could reflect skills needed today. The World Economic Skills noted in 2015 could not be incorporated, far less the skills of 2020. The time is ripe for review and consideration of how curriculum evolves in a fast-changing world. A better balance has been worked towards between attainment and skills through successive Determined to Succeed and Developing Young Workforce policies. However, parity of esteem remains utopian. We should be reminded that education is for a whole lot more than merely serving the economy.
At present there is no definable matrix around celebrating 'to be.' Simultaneously, we continue to receive worrying reports of mental health epidemics affected young people. Whilst the PISA academic scores worried many, perhaps the most concerning aspect was the evidence around children's happiness, or lack of it. Finally, 'community cohesion is difficult to measure. No education metrics exist. We might ask if we need them. Can community cohesion be gauged by low juvenile offending? And are reductions here because of better education or different reporting? The devil is in the detail, and critique of statistics is important, something educationalists called for more of during our day together.
The undernoted contains the unedited notes of those who attended a day to visualise CfE2.0. They are not in data sets but in qualitative data which reflects a rich tapestry of educational considerations. One note from the day concerned the "Datafication of everything which is moving away from a focus on the purpose of education." Broad proposed purposes included; "To know our place in the wider world: locally, nationally and internationally."
Views shared are arranged under an array of headings well kent within education, although quoted content from flip charts is unedited. This reflects the complexity of education. Furthermore, the inclusion of many views reflects the will to hear all voices, experiences and ideas as we seek to improve education. Hopefully the undernoted will be considered during this review phase of Scottish education.
CfE2.0: Practitioners' Voices:-
It was noted "the curriculum should last for 10-15 years - we need a new one" and that; "We need a new curriculum that is genuinely equitable for all and has different pathways - not driven by high stakes exams at the end of school." Issues of recruitment and retention were linked to CfE and its "increased workload."
Much consideration was given as to the purpose of education in Scotland. One noted "The purpose of education is to tell a story: but what story are we telling?" Whilst poly-purposes were noted, so too was the challenge of "Jenga Curriculum" with "more and more things added until it collapses." Some reflected on whether "the purposes of education change at different stages i.e. greater priority for some purposes at differing stages."
A core driver noted was; "Improving things for young people at the heart of every decision we make." The complexity of purpose to practice was perhaps best summarised as "Utopia for realists."
Enlightened Education: Teaching Thinking
"We knock out curiosity" was noted alongside the desire for "Developing criticality- discerning population", "To help children think for themselves", "Know the established cannon and how to criticise it," "To develop meta cognition : learning how to learn as the ultimate survival skill"
However, "OECD and PISA show that problem-solving skills have declined since CfE came in."
One note said, "We do not know what pedagogy underpins CfE". Facilitators reflecting on this considered whether indeed there should be a pedagogy, however lack of awareness of pedagogies may be an issue; especially if pedagogy is central to improving education.
Overall structure did not come up as often as in current debates however concern was noted at "Narrowing of subject choice, and the finite nature of curriculum all need to be questioned." It was queried whether educators should be just that rather than of subjects.
Transitions were noted three times including the need to "Focus on how children learn, at each stage, with effective transitions." Two comments circled around the same concern: "Transition from BGE to SQA to university does not work" and "BGE/Exam disconnect needs serious addressing before CfE can actually take root."
Skills, Knowledge and Es & Os
It was felt "Es&Os are not developmentally appropriate. It has led to a tick box approach that all teachers are following" and that "Es&Os being vague had both pros and cons." The skills/knowledge debate saw one note "Knowledge is the starting point – skills are the consequence of the knowledge." Meanwhile it was suggested, "SQA has invented skills that have no application outside of that qualification."
Culture, Leadership and Empowerment
One noted "a need to tear down structures that inhibit relationship building, conversations and collaborations but to be led bottom-up and not just imposed top-down." This was echoed by "Our system is supposed to be bottom up by the management of it is top down."
Many comments on leadership included "Leadership- passing the buck?" [One wonders if this is consequence of misinterpreted a mis-used leadership lexicon whereby 'distributed leadership' has entered policy rhetoric and thus practice with no alternative thinking to challenge it]. One questioned "What would a bottom-up system look like?" whilst suggesting Church of Scotland or University governance models.
There was; "Concern about careerist leaders- 'the Biggles factor' who do not remember what it is like on the ground and therefore impose without due care."
Amidst all of this, this article started with empowerment being a word entering refreshed narratives and promoted in policy. However, one noted; "The paradox of agency is that too much reduces it." Another noted "Loss of agency after ITE- scared to take risks with practice" in what someone else noted as "The compliance system." The demise of SCEL was cited as an example of "lack of pluralism." Another note stated; "Autonomy is a myth when educators are accountable to a government that tries to justify itself to an electorate through targets and data." One note on "Scottish education is so connected politically" raises questions as to whether education requires a manifesto similar to the Royal College of Physicians' calls to depoliticise healthcare.
There was a desire for "Not just to challenge but to encourage. / To provide opportunity but also to want to engage with it." This linked to the statement; "Teachers are the defenders of the Enlightenment but we are actually a heads-down profession." On reflection one wonders if the profession should be defending or promoting? Is education a disruptive innovation we might ask?
In Early Years, Froebel courses were "felt to work" and it was noted language and relationships in the Early Years "give the best start to life."
Other positives were noted too, including; "Many examples of innovative and successful collaborations and practice e.g. intergenerational work, working with therapists, school and community partnerships, inter-agency partnerships." One thing to reflect on is that "[these are] often considered niche- why can't the niche not be norm?"
Kingussie High School was cited as an "example of how a whole school community can begin to meet the needs of learners as well as forge community and consider really important issues like the environment."
SQA were commended by Biology teachers as they felt "consulted and listened to now."
Examinations and Assessment
The focus on "terminal exams" vexed in many who asked "are exams working" [NB "are inspections working" was also asked]. One noted that the "principles of CfE clashed with the assessment model" with another "SQA learning and teaching has become a bureaucratic grind. More work for the kids and less academic."
One asked for "a more logical build up to terminal exams" with a radical suggestion being "SQA given over to universities …. To improve transitions."
"We need to be more critical of the caveats that come with carrots" was one response alongside "Education system culture [considering] if we are in a hole, should we stop digging."
PRAG and PEF "Generational improvement" aspired to
Optimism, with further improvement needed, was noted in "PEF has raised attainment but has that changed the trajectory?" One wanted "to break the generational legacy of suspicion of education."
"Schools are being asked to plug the gaps of other services- throwing PEF money at it is increasing bureaucracy and not dealing with the underlying issues" similarly another note stated; "The poverty-related attainment gap has to be challenged by tackling poverty." One suggested, "we cannot re-imagine the curriculum without our politicians having the courage to reimagine funding and distribution models" whilst another attendee desired "Stop placing requests to magnet schools and rich authorities."
Research Informed
There was a plea for research to be used around sleep/school start days, best time for exams, and when to start formal curricula (Age 7?).
All ideas and change of course rests on implementation. There was recognition that; "We need to be realistic in terms of implementation- a pragmatic approach." Changes to CfE will need a good diagnosis, clear philosophy and policy followed by pragmatic, achievable and ambitious actions that improve education for young people. As was noted, this needs to be the heart of decision making.
Neil McLennan, RSA Fellowship Councillor (Scotland); Professor Rowena Arshad (formerly Head of Moray House, University of Edinburgh), Robin Macpherson (co-founder EduMod). Further CfE2.0 events are planned through RSA Scotland this year.
[1] Methodology 1, percentage of population engaged in national debate:- 1,517 responded to 2002 'the national debate' (Munn et. al. 2007). Population of Scotland, 2001 Census (NRS Scotland) 5,062, 011. NB population growing in this period and so a greater population in figure in 2002 would make this % lower.
Methodology 2, percentage of teachers engaged in CfE2.0 discussion July 2019:- 39 for RSA/EduMod event. Number of GTCS Registered teachers in Scotland in 2018 (latest figures available NB, these have increased over past three years):- 51,959).
Isabelle Boyd CBE
The follow on event held online on 20th May was very well attended by a healthy cross section of educators.
It through up many ideas, much discussion and indeed led to refreshing debate. Two papers arising from that have been prepared and will be shared here as soon as possible.
Further information is available from me.
Neil McLennan FRSA Rowena Arshad Robin Macpherson
Case for CfE change?
Independent and Critical Thinking in Education
Joshua Hillis FRSA
British high school students are poorly educated about controversial historical topics that polarise communities in the UK today. How can this be addressed?
Physically Active Learning - Tagtiv8
Bryn Llewellyn FRSA
RSA Fellow Bryn Llewellyn FRSA founded Tagtiv8 as an innovative way for children to learn core subjects, while being active.


This book is the second in a series compiled by a group of Canberra academics on the distortions they perceive to surround the writing of military history in this country. Before the book itself is tackled, a word should be said about the titles they have chosen for their two volumes. The first (published in 2010) is called Zombie Myths of Australian Military History; this one is entitled Anzac's Dirty Dozen: 12 Myths of Australian Military History. As happens to many a poor author, these hideously ugly titles may have been imposed on the book by the publisher. If not, they need serious help when they title future volumes.


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Adobe let the cat out of the bag yesterday telling the world that they are going to officially announce Creative Suite 4 on Sept. 23. You can actually sign up for the launch web broadcast and get the inside scoop along with the media.
I won't be able to talk about the details of CS4 until the 23rd, but I will say that this is a heck of a release for photographers. I've been working on a book that will show you how to use Photoshop CS4 and its bundled utilities to go from download to output in a very smooth workflow. The book will be published in late October. More to report after the web broadcast on Sept. 23.
As a side note, I'm off to Photoshop World today in Las Vegas. Since Kelby and company won't be able to talk about CS4, I'm guessing we'll see lots about Lightroom 2. I should have some gems to report. Stay tuned.


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Keep barking our way - we love to hear from you!
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Steve thinks a trip to Europe is out of the question—until he hears his grandfather's will. Suddenly he's off to Spain, armed with only a letter from his grandfather that sends him to a specific address in Barcelona. There he meets a girl named Laia and finds a trunk containing some of his grandfather's possessions, including a journal he kept during the time he fought with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. Steve decides to trace his grandfather's footsteps through Spain, and with Laia's help, he visits the battlefields and ruined towns that shaped his grandfather's young life, and begins to understand the power of history and the transformative nature of passion for a righteous cause.


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Peace Operations
After a more than a decade of continuous expansion, historic levels of demand and increasing operational complexity pose risks to the viability of peace operations. Setbacks in high-profile missions have coincided with military overstretch and growing fiscal austerity, while missions that have achieved interim stability lack a clear transition strategy towards sustainable peacebuilding and development. At the same time, the evolving use of a range of alternative models of peace operations, including the hugely expanded use of special political missions, is both creating new options and adding complexity to policy debates. At the UN and elsewhere, new questions about the relative merits of traditional peacekeeping versus lighter options create an ongoing demand for policy-relevant research. CIC aims to provide analysis on these issues and to improve conceptual and operational linkages across political missions, peacekeeping operations, and peacebuilding.
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More than 20 years have passed since the United Nations (UN) first committed to achieving gender parity in its managerial and decision-making positions, but the organization still has a long way to go. Karin Landgren, a former senior UN official, provided the data two years ago to show that gender parity at the UN had become a "lost agenda" under the previous Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. And in spite of a push to have a woman at the top of the UN hierarchy for the first time, the front runners in the Security Council straw polls for a new Secretary-General were largely men. (Perhaps Wonder Woman would have stood a better chance.) Yet the new Secretary-General, António Guterres, seems determined not only to talk about change but to effect it. After ensuring a 50/50 split in his own appointments at the senior level, Guterres has released this week the report of the Gender Parity Task Force: a far-reaching "System-Wide Strategy on Gender Parity," which does not pull any punches in describing the current situation for women trying to make a career inside the UN bureaucracy.
Author(s) / Contributor(s): Paige Arthur
Topic(s): Peace Operations, United Nations
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Paige Arthur, CIC Deputy Director, was a member of a distinguished panel of peacebuilding practitioners for the Initiative for Peacebuilding through Education's 2017-18 academic year kickoff event, "Has Peacebuilding Failed? The Shift to Sustaining Peace". The event was held at the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs on September 15, 2017.
Paige Arthur

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It's no maiden voyage for Gene Kaufman. The new owner of 8 Maiden Lane has tapped the prolific architect to design a 25-story, 191-room hotel on the site His Second On The Narrow Financial District Street.
The 75,742-square-foot project, to be crowned with a 25th-floor bar and outdoor terrace, will be located between Broadway and Liberty Place, according to a plan exam cited by BuzzBuzzHome. The cryptically-named 10-12 MLane LLC purchased the current four-story building in August for $5.6 million. The seller, Rusdan Operating Corp., had owned the lot since 1978.
The developer also picked up a five-story mixed-use building at neighboring 10-12 Maiden Lane for $7.1 million.


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Notice to Exhibitors of the Cabrillo and Del Sur Kennel Club
By AKC Communications
Apr 24, 2004 | 1 Minute
Please be advised – We have just been notified that the Cabrillo and Del Sur Kennel Club dog shows that were to take place May 15 and 16th have been canceled due to problems with the show site. The status of the independent specialties, the group show, and the other events surrounding the weekend, is unknown at this time. For more information on these shows, please refer to the following:
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'The tyrants and the arrogant people will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the form of tiny ants, which the rest of the people will trample underfoot because of their low esteem before Allah.?
Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa [sawa]
Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 199
Library » Marriage & Morals in Islam » Handling Sexual Urge Before Marriage
Handling Sexual Urge Before Marriage
If a person cannot marry soon after becoming sexually and mentally mature, then how should he or she handle the sexual urge? In this section we will survey some ways of fulfilling the sexual urge and see whether they are permitted by Islam or not.
1. IMMORAL WAYS
(A) Pre-Marital Sex
Pre-marital sex is absolutely forbidden in Islam, no matter whether it is with a girl-friend or a prostitute. Pre-marital sex is fornication (zina).
It is also an irresponsible sexual behavior There is no responsibility involved in such relationships. The most vulnerable person in such relationships is the woman. Statistics can overwhelmingly prove that man has often cheated innocent women in pre-marital sex. Today half of all American men and women in their thirties cohabited before marriage, many of them on the assumption that it is better to look deeply before they leap. But studies now demonstrate that couples who cohabit before marriage are more likely to divorce than those who do not. (Newsweek, p. 57)
Glen Elder, a sociologist at University of North Carolina, has this to say about cohabitation: "It's a relationship that attracts those, mainly men, who are looking for an easy way out and it is uncertain what, if anything, it contributes to marriage." A twenty-four year old lady wrote the following in a letter to Ann Landers: "...The line [in a previous letter] that struck home was from the teenager who said she knew lots of girls her age who had several partners 'just for the fun of it.' I found that odd because I was having sex at 16 and it was no fun at all. Sleeping with guys wasn't exciting or thrilling, it was degrading. It made me feel lonelier and emptier than ever. I also worried from month to month about being pregnant. That can be a real hell...if I could talk to the young girls who read your column, I would tell them that teenage sex doesn't solve problems, it creates more. It doesn't make a girl feel loved. It makes her feel cheap. I'd let them know that it doesn't make a girl 'more of a woman,' it can make her less of one." (The Vancouver Sun, Dec. 5, 1989)
Allah says: Do not go near adultery, .surely it is an indecency, and an evil way [of fulfilling sexual urge]. (17:32) Fornication and adultery have severely been condemned in the saying of the Prophet and the Imams. In Islam, pre-marital sex is considered an immoral act against the rights of Allah and one's own sexual organs.
Pre-marital sex is a sin punishable by the Islamic court. If an unmarried man and an unmarried woman are found guilty of fornication in an Islamic court, their punishment will be as the following: The woman and the man who fornicate scourge each of them a hundred whips; and in the matter of God s religion, let no tenderness for them seize you if you believe in God and the Last Day; and let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (24:2) If the unmarried man or woman commit fornication more than once, then they will be punished three times by hundred wipes, and if they are proven guilty for the fourth time, then they will be put to death. (See the chapter on "hudud" in Sharaya' and Sharh Lum'a also a;-Khu'i, Takmilah, p. 37-8) (As for adultery, its punishment is even more severe because married persons have no excuse, whatsoever, to commit adultery. The shari'ah says that married persons guilty of adultery should be stoned to death.)
Therefore, pre-marital sex is out of the question as a means of fulfilling the sexual urge.
(B) Masturbation
In Islamic terminology, masturbation (istimna) means self-stimulation of the sexual organ till one achieves emission of semen or orgasm. Masturbation in form of self-stimulation is forbidden in Shi'ah fiqh. While describing the believers, the Qur'an says, "The believers are... those who protect their sexual organs except from their spouses... Therefore, whosoever seeks more beyond that [in sexual gratification], then they are the transgressors." (23:5-6) The last sentence makes it very clear that any sexual gratification outside marriage is considered a transgression of the law of God. And this verse also implies that sex is an act in which two people are involved. Once when Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq was asked about masturbation, he recited this very verse and mentioned masturbation as one of its examples. (Wasa'il, vol. 18, p. 575) In another, the Imam was asked about masturbation; he said, "It is an indecent act..." (Wasa'il, vol. 14, p. 267; vol. 18, pp. 574-5)
Masturbation is a sin for which a person can also be punished by the Islamic court. Of course, the nature of the punishment is upon the judge's discretion. Once a person was caught masturbating and was brought to Imam 'Ali. The Imam punished him by beating on his hands until it turned red; then he made arrangement for his marriage on government's expenses. (Wasa'il, vol. 14, p. 267; vol. 18, pp. 574-5)
These days some scientists are telling us that there is no harm in masturbation, rather it is a natural act. To prove that it is natural, they give examples of some wild animals, like monkeys. Actually they represent those who have gone to the other extreme of sexual morality. They have degraded human beings to the level of wild animals, and then justify their deeds by finding examples in the animal world. They are, in Qur'anic expression, "like cattle, nay they are more astray; they are the heedless ones." (7: 179) The irony is that when Muslims talk about following Islam which came just 1400 years ago, they are labeled by the secularists as 'reactionaries,' 'those who want to turn the clock backwards,' 'anti -progress,' and now these very people are going millions of years back (according to their own counting) and following the wild animals or the primitive societies to determine what is natural for us and what is not natural!
Many different types of sexual behavior could be found in primitive societies, but that does not automatically make it natural or right. On the contrary, in some cases, masturbation was considered an abnormal and abhorrent act! For example, Lewis Cutlow writes about the Amazon Indians that:
...Xinguanos are deeply disturbed by civilizados who are sexually frustrated; they cannot understand how a man can become aroused at the sight of a nude woman. In his 25 years of daily life with Indians, Orlando told me, he had never seen an Indian with an erection. It would be absurd to them. Nor has Orlando seen or heard any instances of sexual deviation among the Indians. They did not know what masturbation was until they saw a civilizado telegraph operator doing it. From then on the telegraph operator was a problem to Orlando and his colleagues at the Park. The Indians despised him because, in their eyes, he had done something reprehensible. There was nothing to do but remove him from the Park. (The Twilight of the Primitive, p. 16-7 as quoted in Sex and Destiny, p. 88)
Sometimes the scientists justify masturbation by saying that many people do it! But if a majority does something, it does not automatically prove that it is right. Otherwise, drugs should also be declared 'normal' because the majority of Americans, at one time or another, took drugs. The surveys made by sexologists like Kinsey, Masters and Johnson, and the Hite Report just reveal what the American people do in the privacy of their bedroom; it does not necessarily prove that what they do is natural and right!
Many modern psychologists say that masturbation is just like normal sexual intercourse, rather even better because you are master of yourself, you don't have to worry about your partner's feelings! This is an example of how low the materialist society has sunk into its self-centered and selfish attitude that even in sex it prefers to seek self-gratification with the exclusion of the spouse. "They seem to forget that in sexual intercourse all the senses contribute to the stimulation and orgasm: Man and woman see their partner, touch each other, say endearing words to each other and hear the stimulating sounds; and even the senses of smell and taste are utilized. And the penetration of male organ into the female leads to the final excitement and orgasm. But in masturbation the only source of stimulation is imagination, in which no other sense takes any part. The whole burden is loaded upon the mind; and, as a result, while normal sexual intercourse causes happiness and joy, masturbation creates emotional and psychological depression." (Rizvi, S.S.A., Your Questions Answered, vol. 3, p. 40-1)
This is not just an opinion of a Muslim scholar. Even the Hite Report on Male Sexuality, says: "Similarly, many men said that they enjoyed masturbating physically, but that emotionally it was depressing." (The Hite Report on Male Sexuality, p. 489) In one of the replies, a man writes: "It is physically enjoyable, but it can leave one emotionally empty or lonely for the real thing. You can do it when you feel like it, come when you want, bring up your own images, but there is no warmth or closeness, no one to share pleasure with, no companionship. . . "(The Hite Report on Male Sexuality, p. 489) After saying that the physical effects of masturbation are negligible, Leslie D. Weatherhead in The Mastery of Sex writes: "Psychologically the results are more serious. Masturbation in the adult is nearly always due to a maladjustment..." (The Mastery of Sex, p. 103)
THE CURE FOR MASTURBATION: It is easy to stay away from fornication because it involves another person. But the danger of getting into the habit of masturbation is always there, therefore it is necessary to know how to combat this perverted sexual behavior. The following is a guide-line for releasing a person from the habit of masturbation. This has been taken from Weatherhead's The Mastery of Sex and 'Allamah Rizvi's Your Questions Answered.
1. Strengthening will-power. This is possible only if one honestly and sincerely wants to get rid of this habit. Pray to Allah to help you overcome this habit, concentrate on religious teachings, and build up the spirit of taqwa, piety.
2. More and more stay in the company of other persons: If in the daytime you feel like masturbating, get up from your bed or chair and get into the presence of other people and talk to them. If it happens at bedtime, sit up in bed, read a book or write a letter. Do something to switch your mind on to other things.
3. Adopt some hobby or sports which will provide you with an outlet for the energies of your body.
(C) Homosexuality
One way of fulfilling the sexual urge which is now becoming acceptable in the Western world is sexual relations between members of the same sex: homosexuality (which by definition includes lesbianism). By saying that it is becoming acceptable in liberal societies I do not mean to say that homosexuality is a 20th century phenomenon; no, not at all. But there is one big difference between the past and the present: in the past, homosexuality was considered a perverted sexual behavior whereas now it is being labeled as 'natural' and as a result of 'inborn tendency' !
All revealed religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam form a united front against such sexual behavior. It has been clearly condemned in the Bible and the Qur'an. The Qur'an describes the people of Lut (Lot) as follows:
When We sent Lut, he said to his people, "What! do you commit the indecency which none in all the nations had committed before you? Look at you! You approach the men lustfully instead of approaching your women! No, you are a people who have exceeded the limits." The only answer of his people was that they said, 'Expel them from your city, surely they are a people who seek to keep themselves clean!" So We delivered him and his followers, except his wife; she was one of those who tarried behind. We sent upon them a rain. So behold how was the end of the guilty people. (7:80-84)
The Qur'an also describes how Prophet Lut tried to reason with his people when they approached his three guests (who were actually angels in human form):
When the people of Lut saw the handsome young men, they came to him, running towards him. Lut had anticipated this because they had been doing evil deeds from before.
When the people reached close to his house, Lut said pointing towards his daughters that, "O my people! These are my daughters, they are purer for you. Fear Allah and do not disgrace me in regard to my guests. Isn't there among you a man of right mind?"
They said, "You know better that we have no desire for your daughters; and you surely know what we desire." (11 :78-79)
Explaining the details of the punishment, Allah says,
So when Our punishment came upon the people of Lut, We turned the city upside down and showered them with stones of baked clay, one after another.(11:82)
So we see that as far as the Qur'an is concerned, homosexuality is an "indecency," and that Allah had destroyed a whole nation because of this indecent sexual behavior.
In the Islamic legal system, homosexuality is a punishable crime against the laws of God. In the case of homosexuality between two males, the active partner is to be lashed a hundred times if he is unmarried and killed if he is married; whereas the passive partner is to be killed regardless of his marital status. In the case of two females (i.e., lesbianism), the sinners are to be lashed a hundred times if they are unmarried and stoned to death if they are married. (See the chapter on "hudud" in Sharaya and Sharh Lum'a also al-Khu'i, Takmilah, p. 42-44.
Why is Islam so severe in matters of fornication, homosexuality and lesbianism? If the Islamic system had not allowed the gratification of the sexual urge by lawful means (without even associating guilt with it), then it would be right to say that Islam is very severe. But since it has allowed the fulfillment of sexual instincts by lawful means, it is not prepared to tolerate any perverted behavior.
The homosexuals are considered as the high risk group for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This shows that nature has not accepted it as a normal sexual behavior among mankind. The homosexuals are told that in order to have safe sex, they must use condoms. If homosexuality without condoms is not safe sex, then how can it be natural? Isn't the statement that "it is natural but not safe" a contradiction in itself?
The moral bankruptcy of the West is clearly evident in the present trend where some Christian churches are willing to consider modifying the Biblical moral values to accommodate the whims of those who want to justify their immoral behavior! A high ranking Anglican cleric in Canada says that it's time his church approved some form of service or rite that would bless the union of committed same sex couples. (See the statement of The Very Rev. Duncan Abraham. Dean of St. James Cathedral in Toronto. The Toronto Sun, Nov. 24, 1993.) After a three-hour debate in 1987, the General Synod of the Church of England "decided that homosexuality is wrong, but has refused to condemn it as a sin." (The Globe & Mail (Toronto) Nov. 12, 1987) It seems that instead of providing moral and ethical leadership, the church is being led by the special interest groups. Such groups even want the public schools to change the definition of family so as to make their life-style acceptable.


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Home ENTERTAINMENT 'The Winds of Winter' release date rumors: author's publisher defends him against...
'The Winds of Winter' release date rumors: author's publisher defends him against criticism over the repeated delays
JudeJude
The slow and minimal progress of George R.R. Martin's writing of "The Winds of Winter," the sixth novel of his best-selling epic fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire," has met a lot of criticism as of late, and the most obvious reason is because everyone just can't wait any longer for the author to provide new material that they consider is long overdue.
Amid the several delays and backlash from eager fans, Martin's publisher has come to his defense. In an interview with Newsweek, Jane Johnson, the U.K. editor of HarperCollins' Voyager division, said that the 67-year-old author is working doubly hard on the new installment. "All I know is that George is working very hard. And as soon as we possibly can after he delivers, we'll publish the book," Johnson said.
She also seemed to suggest that criticizing Martin is just unfair because judging by his output so far, he has actually written majority of the two million words of the epic series in the last two decades. "So given the average length of a novel is around 100,000 words, that's 20 novels in most writers' worlds," she said.
Well, it definitely is an injustice to criticize a man, who without the brilliant mind to write the novels, everyone would never have had the chance to enjoy the TV adaptation and HBO could not have earned millions because of him. It also is no longer a secret that Martin has been suffering from a couple of health issues as of late, which could also be a factor to his slow pace. Nonetheless, "The Winds of Winter" is still on course for a 2017 release and no matter how many more delays will there be, it's pretty certain that fans will still line up for it once the sixth novel is published.
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Topic | PGA Tour | The Sydney Morning Herald
World golf
Morgan takes the Australian PGA and shatters the records of greats
On his home course of Royal Queensland, Jed Morgan won the Australian PGA and set up his career.
by Chris Roots
Cameron Smith resets goals for year after cracking world top 10 early
Fresh from his record-setting victory at the Tournament of Champions, the Australian is aiming for more success in Hawaii this weekend.
Minjee Lee takes out Greg Norman Medal as Cam Smith enters world's top 10
Australian golf has enjoyed a superb week with major winner Minjee Lee awarded the Greg Norman Medal in the same week Cameron Smith broke into the world's top 10.
Australia's Smith into top 10 for first time after record-breaking win
Australia's Cameron Smith entered the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time off the back of his win at the year-opening Tournament of Champions, where he set the PGA Tour's 72-hole scoring record.
'Unreal round': Smith seals victory in Hawaii with record PGA score
The Australian beat world No.1 Jon Rahm by one stroke at the Tournament of Champions with a record low 34 under.
Cameron Smith
Smith, Rahm in charge after dizzying display at Kapalua
Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm have pulled away from the rest in the Sentry Tournament of Champions after some of the best golf the Australian says he's seen.
Cameron Smith still in driver's seat at Tournament of Champions
Australia's Cameron Smith birdied his final four holes on Friday (Saturday AEDT) to reaffirm his grip on the lead at the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Woods gives few details on accident and return date but 'would love' to play British Open
The US star, who was close to having his leg amputated after he lost control of his car in February, was tight-lipped when asked about the crash.
'Making progress': Tiger Woods back on practice range after crash
Almost nine months after suffering serious leg injuries in a car crash, Woods shared a video on Twitter that offered hope of a return to golf.
by Doug Ferguson
Herbert sinks key putts in Bermuda for $1.5m payday, first PGA Tour win
Herbert's two-under 69 lifted him to 15-under 269 for the event at Port Royal Golf Course, one stroke better than Patrick Reed and New Zealand's Danny Lee.
Greg Norman heads $266 million Saudi-backed investment for Asian Tour
More than 25 years after Greg Norman tried to start a world tour, it has emerged he will be the CEO of a new company that will start by adding 10 tournaments on the Asian Tour.