Talks

Inspired by Prophet Muhammad – Interview With “Muslims 4 Peace”

04/18/2020 Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Representatives of Muslims 4 Peace, an organization that aims to bridge people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds through interfaith activities, interviewed Dr. Considine on a range of topics including (but not limited to) the life and legacy of Prophet Muhammad and effective ways of engaging in interfaith work. The interview was conducted in February…… Continue reading Inspired by Prophet Muhammad – Interview With “Muslims 4 Peace”

Personal

How Peanuts Helped Shape My Views of Muslim Americans

12/10/2015 Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

It’s time for an uplifting story. In 2008 I was part of a group that was doing fieldwork in Muslim communities around Los Angeles. One evening we were at the home of a Pakistani Muslim man. His name, I believe, is Malik. There were a lot of people at this event. At one point in the…… Continue reading How Peanuts Helped Shape My Views of Muslim Americans

Quoted

10 Inspiring Quotes to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/20/201401/20/2014 Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

As a little boy attending elementary school in Needham, Massachusetts, I always borrowed two books from the Mitchell School library. One of those books gave a history of the Boston Celtics, my favorite basketball team, and the other book was a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the Civil Rights leaders of the 1950s…… Continue reading 10 Inspiring Quotes to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Interfaith · Religion

New Book Sheds Light on Prophet Muhammad’s Interfaith Views

12/10/201301/14/2015 Dr. Craig Considine24 Comments

No other leader in world history has been more scrutinized and ridiculed than Prophet Muhammad. Since the founding of Islam in 632 AD, Christians and Jews have described the Prophet of Allah as a blasphemer, bigot, terrorist, and pedophile, among other slurs. However, according to a new book The Covenants of the Prophet Muhammad with the…… Continue reading New Book Sheds Light on Prophet Muhammad’s Interfaith Views

Interfaith · Religion

Guiding Jewish/Muslim Relations Through the Life of Maimonides, the 12th Century Jewish Scholar

11/06/201301/31/2015 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Maimonides did not think it was healthy for the soul to have “unbounded desires” which “is never stated with pursuing passions.” Referencing Jewish Holy Scripture (Koheles 5:9) he argued in The Guide that a person who has a covetous soul “will not be sated with all the wealth of the world.” Maimonides’ thought mirrors Rumi,…… Continue reading Guiding Jewish/Muslim Relations Through the Life of Maimonides, the 12th Century Jewish Scholar

Religion

Are We Alone in the Universe?

07/20/201302/08/2015 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

“The universe?” From where did it come? How? When? By what energies did what we see only in tiny glimpses come into being?—the universe containing infinities of organized, living worlds, earths, suns, galaxies—cells, organic life, atmosphere— purpose, directions, and lawful order, fundamental forces at work everywhere and in everything—all of which emerged out of what?…… Continue reading Are We Alone in the Universe?

Quoted

“To go forward is to move towards perfection” – Khalil Gibran

05/30/201305/30/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Taken while hiking An Spinc (“Pointed Hill”) in Glendalough, Ireland in 2011. That’s me in the picture.

Poems

“Springtime of lovers”

05/24/201305/24/2013 Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Pictures · Quoted

Carry beauty

05/17/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Flying into Dublin over a year ago, our plane glided through a majestic sky that was truly awe inspiring. I use a quote from Boston native Ralph Waldo Emerson, a transcendental philosopher, poet, and humanitarian for inspiration.

Pictures

Is this the most important quote in American history?

05/09/201305/10/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Friends

Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule” Painting

05/08/201302/09/2014 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

On Monday I visited the Dover Rug Company in Natick, Massachusetts for an interview with CEO Mahmud Jafri, who happens to be a very down-to-earth and insightful man. Mahmud is a successful businessman who happens to also be a proud Bostonian, American, Muslim and Pakistani. When I was entering the Dover Rug building, I noticed a…… Continue reading Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule” Painting

Pictures

Two of my street art photographs published by The Guardian (England)

05/07/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The Guardian Witness has a new assignment called Public Art. Whether it’s a traditional statue or graffiti on the wall of an underpass – public art is all around us. But is it always good? Public art can be controversial, the latest proposed occupant of the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square is a recent…… Continue reading Two of my street art photographs published by The Guardian (England)

Commentary

Reflecting on the state and future of American exceptionalism

05/05/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

In the face of racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, or whatever you call hate in modern America, I am still optimistic about the future of the United States. From day one, the mission of America has been progress, progress, progress. We need thoughtful writers and bridge builders to keep it going. There are thousands and thousands of…… Continue reading Reflecting on the state and future of American exceptionalism

Religion

The Function of Prayer

05/03/201302/08/2015 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Note: I took this picture during Mawlid in Dublin, 2013 Prayer, both obligatory and spontaneous, is an immense spiritual treasure to be tapped. It inspires peace, purity and tranquility, and instills a continuous awareness of and feeling of closeness to God. It amazingly reduces the hustle and bustle of life to tame proportions…. [P]rayers tend…… Continue reading The Function of Prayer

Poems

Inspiring poem: “The Man in the Glass”

04/07/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The Man in the Glass When you get what you want in your struggle for self, And the world makes you king for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say. * For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgement upon…… Continue reading Inspiring poem: “The Man in the Glass”

Pictures

Where is your soul from?

04/06/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

I took this picture in the summer of 2011 at “The Rock” in Dover, Massachusetts. “The Rock” is one of my favorite getaways, a serene place I often go to contemplate the world around me. That’s me in the picture. I placed my camera on the timer to capture the glorious sunset. I’ve included Rumi’s poetry to…… Continue reading Where is your soul from?

Personal

Personal: The drive

12/11/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

There’s this drive within me. I think it’s in my soul. It’s always been with me. I didn’t create it, though I certainly create from it. It was given to me, but I don’t know when or by whom. This drive is a mystery, though I’m certain that it pushes me forward and never backward.…… Continue reading Personal: The drive

Music

Music: Hold My Hand

08/17/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

It is okay to be corny once in a while if it brings out good vibes. It is all about understanding anyways. This song reminds me to reach out to people. To travel with people. To trust people. You should listen to it.

Film-work

Do something worth remember, with a photograph or a scar

07/22/201203/30/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Personal

The short speech I never read

07/19/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

I wrote this speech (with a few typos) before launching Journey into America, which was screened at the Washington D.C. Convention Center. I ended up not even reading it. I was under the impression that we (researchers) were going to be asked to say a few words in front of the audience. This was never…… Continue reading The short speech I never read

Poems

Do you make flowers or thorns?

07/12/201203/26/2013 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Someone who doesn’t make flowers makes thorns. If you’re not building rooms where wisdom can be openly spoken, you’re building a prison. SHAMS OF TABRIZ I found this on page XI of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation by Eboo Patel.

Creative writing

Quoted: Whitman, Tagore, and Rumi

07/10/201211/02/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

I just picked up Eboo Patel’s Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation at New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton, Massachusetts. To be honest, I wasn’t searching for it; I pretty much stumbled across it randomly in the extremely small ‘Islam’ section (it’s small…… Continue reading Quoted: Whitman, Tagore, and Rumi

Personal

Alive

07/09/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Last night I watched the movie Alive. Have you seen it? It’s about a Rugby team that’s stranded for something like 70 days in the Andes mountains after a plane crash. As you can imagine, the team faces unfathomable hardship and even has to resort to cannibalism. It’s also, unbelievably, a true story. Something came…… Continue reading Alive

Journal

Rome Was Not Built Overnight

07/09/201202/07/2015 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Something, though I can’t put my finger precisely on it, has come over my being within just a few days. My hours, as of late, have been one’s dedicated to my studies and thoughts regarding morality, and more particularly, the life I have been striving to maintain for quite some time now. Hardly any of…… Continue reading Rome Was Not Built Overnight

Journal

Personal: Manifesto from 2008

07/08/201208/18/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Lately, I have been engaged in learning about the life of one of America’s Founding Fathers: Thomas Jefferson. His writings have inspired me to live a more moral and virtuous life. Oftentimes, I cease to ponder on my character and conduct, so it is humbling to learn about my self through someone else. Last night,…… Continue reading Personal: Manifesto from 2008

Poems

Evolution

07/03/201207/03/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Arrogant, and a know-it-all, who cannot be taught anything. * Indifferent, spiritually empty, dictated by relativism. * Empty, on the inside, seeking perfection on the outside, * Lonely, insecure, with no direction. * Veering, losing sight of family, running from relationships that matter. * Selfish, closing in on the self, the ego and the cliques. * Broken,…… Continue reading Evolution

Poems

Poem: Spirit at Hemlock George

07/02/201208/21/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

An inviting path, under the shade of a gigantic tree and the shadow of a bird flying above. The bird chirps, as another one sings. The aura is over me. * There’s an opening ahead, where the water, crashing at the falls eliminates the silence. There, on a small cliff, I stand, embracing the mist, which, ever…… Continue reading Poem: Spirit at Hemlock George

Poems

Stripping the layers

06/28/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Lovers trust in the wealth of their hearts while the all-knowing mind sees only thorns ahead. * To wander in the fields of flowers pull the thorns from your heart. – Rumi

Music

Someone You’d Admire

06/21/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Creativity

Love, country, and border

06/11/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border? – Pablo Casals

Film-work

Reading Plato’s ‘Apology’ in Greece

05/23/201202/06/2015 Dr. Craig Considine

Poems

Just do it

05/14/2012 Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Who am I? What am I? Where am I going? Tough questions to ponder. * To find the answers You better not ask For action and not thinking Defines you.

Music

I’ll Take You There

05/03/201205/03/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

My jam for the day.

Personal

Personal: 10 things successful people do

05/01/201210/10/2012 Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

By Chad Howse from www.chadhowsefitness.com 1. They didn’t use excuses. 2. It wasn’t just about them. 3. Early morning and late nights. 4. The greatest commodity. 5. Principles. 6. Wavering, yet unbreakable faith. 7. A reason. 8. They persevered when others didn’t. 9. Great people relentlessly studied their craft. 10. Risk. Read WHY at addicted2success.com

Creativity

One of my favourite films: ‘Baraka’

04/28/201204/29/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Baraka, a word which means ‘blessing’ in a multitude of languages (it’s also a Sufi word which means ‘breath of life’), is a film directed by Ron Fricke in 1992. Why do I like ‘Baraka’ so much? Perhaps it’s because it has absolutely no story line, or at least not an overt one. The film…… Continue reading One of my favourite films: ‘Baraka’

Poems

The better question

04/05/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The troubled man, in stress, utters out, ‘Life is hard…’ ‘Life is hard?’, responding back. ‘Compared to what!?’, I ask. © Craig Considine

Poems

Successful minds in question

04/02/201204/14/2012 Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Have you thought about who you are? About where you’ve been? Of what you’ve seen? If not, when will you start? Ever so gradually or now? And do you prepare yourself? Take stock of your soul? Do you know what drives you? Do you stray from that? Do you take shortcuts? And what about goals? Do…… Continue reading Successful minds in question

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