MSI Press Blog

In some marriages, the vows extend beyond love and loyalty—they reach into the realm of faith itself. Religious conversion due to marriage is not new, but it remains deeply personal and often controversial. A Christian woman converting to Islam to marry a Muslim man may do so out of love, spiritual resonance, or cultural necessity. In many Islamic traditions, while Muslim men may marry Christian or Jewish women without requiring conversion, Muslim women are generally prohibited from marrying non-Muslim men unless the man converts. But what happens when conversion is less about belief and more about belonging? 🕊️ Examples Across Faiths: A Catholic bride converting to Islam to satisfy family expectations and secure a Nikah ceremony. A Protestant groom joining Iglesia ni Cristo to marry his Filipina fiancée, knowing refusal means automatic expulsion from her church. A Hindu woman embracing Christianity after marrying into a devout Christian family, navigating both spiritual and po...

  At Level 3, you can speak clearly, confidently, and even eloquently. But a native speaker listens not just to what you say—but how you say it. Take French. You're worn out. You say, "Je suis fatigué." Correct? Absolutely. Students learn that at very early levels in their textbooks and classrooms. Native-sounding? Not quite.  In a casual context, a native speaker might say: “J’ai un coup de barre.” — I hit a wall. “Je suis crevé.” — I’m beat. “Je suis au bout.” — I’m at the end of my rope. These expressions signal fatigue—but they also signal insider status. They say: I don’t just know French. I live it. 📌 Why This Matters “Je suis fatigué” marks you as someone who learned French in a textbook or classroom setting. “J’ai un coup de barre” suggests you heard it in a café, in a story, in a moment of laughter or complaint. The difference isn’t just semantic. It’s social fluency—the ability to match tone, context, and culture. 🚧 The Level 3 Trap: Lexical ...

Dan Aykroyd, co-creator of  Ghostbusters , has spoken openly about his Asperger’s diagnosis. His intense interests in law enforcement and the paranormal—classic autistic traits—became the foundation for one of the most iconic films of the 1980s. His quick recall, quirky humor, and obsessive research helped shape his characters and scripts. Aykroyd didn’t suppress his traits—he wrote them into pop culture. Autism didn’t hold him back—it gave him a franchise.  His story is a celebration of eccentricity as creative fuel. Post inspired by Colette McNeil's books on autism:  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism .  Entienda el desafino de -no - en los ninos con autismo ,  and  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil.  Read more posts about Colette and her books  HERE . To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to read an MSI Press book ...

  From the spiral of galaxies to the symmetry of snowflakes, the universe seems to whisper of intention. The  teleological argument , also known as the argument from design, asks a bold question:  Is this order accidental—or authored? 🧭 What Is the Teleological Argument? At its core, the teleological argument posits that the complexity, order, and apparent purposefulness of the universe point to an intelligent designer. The term  teleology  comes from the Greek  telos , meaning “end” or “purpose.” Philosophers from Plato to Paley have argued that the universe behaves not like a random collection of matter, but like a system with goals. “Just as a watch implies a watchmaker, the universe implies a designer.” — William Paley 🌠 Examples of Cosmic Design Fine-Tuning of Physical Constants:  The gravitational constant, the speed of light, and other parameters are so precisely calibrated that even slight variations would make life impossible. Biological Com...