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Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

I was unaware that Buddhism, or Buddhist affiliation, elicits negative responses in so many places. In my experience in a couple of dozen countries the response has seemed generally positive.

kiefer · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 268

Is Noor just an Arabic name, not necessarily Muslim? Like Hanan as in Ashrawi, who is Christian (and her father's name is Daoud)? Or Tariq as in Aziz who is Catholic?

Just Curious Noor. If you were indeed raised Christian, then play it safe and put Christan down.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject:

Dear Noor,

"I was unaware that Buddhism, or Buddhist affiliation, elicits negative responses in so many places."

Mainly in parts of the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Buddhists

Regards,
John

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

I am aware of some of these contemporary cases cited in the wiki article, as well as Islam's historical role in displacing Buddhism as the majority religion of India. It is without question possible to find any group being persecuted in some corner of the globe.

Noor is indeed an Arabic name, and indeed an Islamic one. As you may know, it means "light," one of the aspects of Allah. A very lovely name, if I may say so.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

Such changes are never easily attributable, but the invasion was the figurative stake in the heart from which it is only now recovering.

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Noor.

As a fellow buddhist let me welcome you to RAK with open arms.

I will also tell you what we were told by MANY folks (including the HR at HCT)

Put christian on any forms. It makes it easier to get things done, with fewer questions.

We had the same question when coming, and were told gently but FIRMLY that it would just be easier for everyone if we just put christian on our forms.

Green Acres · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 260

Why would Buddhism be complicated, especially if it were the truth?

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

Dear Green Acres,
I suspect that most residents of the UAE, including those who review the forms mentioned, would not consider it to be "the truth."
Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The obvious answer is that one should not always tell the truth (does that pair of jeans make a part of X's anatomy look big?)

Put Christian on the form... let the students think that you are, but of course, it is not discussed, so you avoid the topic... with your fellow expat teachers, you can be honest if you wish.

If you do a search of the board, you will find that all of the experienced Middle East hands keep saying the same thing... just put Christian... half of us are lying about it. Laughing

VS

anaxiforminges · Joined: 15 Apr 2009 Posts: 136 Location: UAE

Thanks to the wise counsel on this forum, I put "Christian" on my form without batting an eyelid. The thought of jotting down "Lapsed Charismatic Evangelical Episcopalian of the Late Convergence Movement" did occur to me for half a second...

I could almost hear a sigh of relief at the other end when HR received my documents.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

Dear anaxiforminges,
Most adherents simply put "LCEELCM," which is universally understood.
Regards,
John

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

John, I think Green Acres is using "the truth" to mean an accurate representation of the religious beliefs of the person completing the form.

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

Dear Noor,
Yup, I know - but I liked the ambiguity, and, in addition, Green Acres should have written " . . . if it was/is the truth." rather than using the conditional (which would, in fact, mean, that it wasn't the truth.)
Regards,
John

ItsJustMe · Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 34