William Sutherland's photos with the keyword: Religions

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY Folio from the “Blue Qur’an” Sura 30 (al-Rum): 28-32 Tunisia, Qairawan, North Africa, Fatimid period (909-1171 CE), dated mid 9th-mid 10th century CE Additional Images: Mihrab Tile Iran, Ilkhanid period (1206-1353 CE), dated 1322-23 CE Inscription: “ In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate; and keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the first hours of the nigh; surely good deeds take away evil deeds; this is a reminder to the merciful. ” [Sura 11 (Hud): 114] Display featuring Folio from a Qur’an (center) Sura 39 (al-Zumar): 1-5 Spain, Nasrid period (1232-1492), dated late 13th-early 14th century Second Volume of a Qur’an Iraq or eastern Mediterranean, Abbasid period (750-1258 CE), dated 9th Century CE Bifolium from a Qur’an Sura 72 (al-Jinn): 6-22 Central Islamic lands or North Africa, late 9th-10th Century CE and Red Folios from a Qur’an Manuscript Central Islamic lands, circa 9th Century CE, Ink on Parchment

Created from a photograph of an icon of Our Lady of Kazan , circa 1970 in Sofrino, Russia. The original icon was created in Constantinople in the 13th century and brought to Russia shortly thereafter. When the Tatars captured Kazan in 1438 the icon disappeared. It was rediscovered under the ruins of a burnt down house in 1579 by a young girl Matrona who had received messages from the Virgin Mary. This icon has a lot in common with Fátima, Portugal. Consequently, with the expansion of wars and hardening of the already rigid and unyielding positions by world leaders that reject compromise and who have discarded the concept of mutually assured destruction (coined during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870), the 13 July 1917 Fatima message to Lucia – “ When you see a night illuminated by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign God gives you that He is going to punish the world… ” – remains relevant and fitting today. On 25 January 1938 an intense geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky all across Europe and could be seen as far south as Bermuda. A month later Hitler invaded Austria. Eight months later he invaded Poland and World War II was officially underway. On 11 May 2024 an intense geomagnetic storm (perhaps the most intense since record-keeping began in1932) lit up the skies across much of the world. Auroral displays could be seen all across the United States into Mexico, in the Bahamas, western Africa and as far south as Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. Could this be history repeating itself with the greater intensity warning of an even greater conflagration that leads to nuclear war? Let’s hope world leaders rediscover reason and pursue peace if we are to remain a planet of the living. In the meantime, as the Blessed Mother has repeatedly implored through the ages – La Salette, France (1846), Lourdes, France (1858), Fátima, Portugal (1917), Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina (1981), to name four such instances – we should pray for peace . And as we pray for peace Our Lady of Kazan can serve as a protector. Although we may not live to see that day when peoples and nations are reconciled to each other and live in peace, one day it will happen if humanity doesn’t first extinguish itself into extinction through nuclear war and consequent Armageddon.

Mamaroneck, NY Notes: The title is not meant to be offensive but to point out this photographic work of art was created out of garbage consistent with Garbage Crucifixion that can be found at: www.ipernity.com/doc/285927/35523765/in/album/711719 The Crescent and star represent the universal symbol of Islam. The Camel on the cigarette box, a form of figurative art that is popular in Islamic culture and acceptable based on the Qu’ran and Hadith represents Islam’s Middle Eastern roots in Mecca and Medina. The white roses represent purity in spite of attempts by ISIS and other “Islamic” extremists to defile this great Faith with the blood of slain innocents. The red heart represents God’s unconditional enduring love and the Arabic writing in the bottom right hand corner means peace since when Islam is followed as the Prophet Mohammed had envisioned, it is a peaceful, loving and tolerant religion that does not compel anyone to act against their conscience. Last, I included a smiling face in the lower left corner since smiles were important to the Prophet Mohammed and provide a glimmer of light in this dark period of history. Finally, even though the same medieval-minded barbarians that seek to snuff out free will, creativity and human life may object, this photographic composition represents true alignment with Islam’s virtues vs. their antithetical dogma of evil. Therefore, it represents a positive contribution to religious and secular tolerance and serves as a tribute to Islam and Islamic culture.

St. Vito's Church, Mamaroneck, NY