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Resolved Question: Christian women...do you really believe your husband is superior to you?

Because if you strictly follow the Bible, it clearly indicates that he is. There is no equality in genders in the Bible. It is purely sexist, especially in the Old Testament. Certainly, it tells stories of strong women, but for the most part, here is a summary. GENESIS 1) Women are cursed with painful childbirth, dominated by husband. 2) Cain marries his sister. 3) Man marries two wives (polygamy). 4) Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt for disobedience. 5) Rape of virgin daughters as opposed to male angels. 6) Lot impregnates his own daughters. 7) Abraham prostitutes his own wife...twice! 8) Keeping many concubines is considered respectable. EXODUS 1) Clearly states that wives are considered property of their husbands. 2) It's okay to sell daughters. Female slaves okay to use for sex, without being paid. Polygamy is okay. 3) It is okay to kill women who practice the occult. LEVITICUS 1) Childbirth is a sin, women are unclean after childbirth. 2) Menstruating women are dirty. 3) Homosexuals are sentenced to death. 4) Okay to burn your daughters. 5) Not okay to marry a "used" woman, only virgins. NUMBERS 1) Population census only list men. Women don't count. 2) Fidelity test only okay for women. 3) Woman's vow invalid unless approved by her father or husband. 4) Kill all women except virgins. Virgins are okay. DEUTERONOMY 1) Take women as plunder. 2) You should stone non-virgin brides to death. It's okay. 3) You should also stone female rape victims. They are dirty now and deserve to die. 4) Cut off woman's hand for touching a foe's genitals. 5) Man must not marry a "used" woman. JUDGES 1) Women are spoils of war. 2) Samson gives wife to another man. It's okay to trade wives, just like livestock. 3) Girls are abducted and taken as wives. 1 KINGS 1) Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. And that's okay! ESTHER 1) Queen Vashti dethroned for disobedience. Must set example to other bad women. PROVERBS 1) Beware of wicked women. Women are sinful. 2) Do not waste any strength over women. ISAIAH 1) God will punish haughty women. Haughty men don't count. MATTHEW 1) Husband should divorce wife for adultery. Women cannot. 1 CORINTHIANS 1) Women are created for man. 2) Women must be silent in church. EPHESIANS 1) Women must be obedient and commit to servitude to their husbands. 1 TIMOTHY 1) Women must not have any authority. Women are only on earth to bear children. 1 PETER 1) Sarah calls her husband "master". This should set an example to other women. These are obviously, only a few examples. I'm just wondering if you church-going females have any arguments against this? Also, please don't argue that "the Bible was written a long time ago, things were different..." blah blah. You can't say that for one thing and then turn around and say that the other "good" parts of the Bible are sufficient for today's standards. So, your husband is your master then?OK. Fine then. So I'm paraphrasing. But any idiot knows what this means, for EXAMPLE: Leviticus 12:1 2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. Hmm. Unclean for having a baby. VERY pro-female.Hey NewlyBorn! I completely forgot about that one. So let's say, as a woman, I decide to go through my life, having a career and not getting married or having any babies. Basically, the only reason I'm here is as a babymaker. I'm going straight to Hell. Hahaha! What a crock.John f... okay, that's great. BUT, since society is so "ever-evolving" (which you're right, it is), how can we cling to some Biblical laws (i.e. the "sin" of homosexuality) and just dismiss others? (treating wives as servants).""To most of you...respect FOR EACH OTHER should be the goal. Not setting one person as the dominant. We are civilized humans. Not a pride of lions."" ACK! Beautifully worded. ;) more

Resolved Question: am i going to hell? what does god think?

I dont go to church i wont lie. I dont read the bible. I am an independant woman. However i do ocassionally pray when i am in need of doing so. I do believe in god and jesus but i wouldnt give them a name its rude. but noone knows for sure. I dont want to offend them so i call jesus the holy lord etc I like to meditate i believe in spirits and such i believe in psychics i am very open minded. I dont give god a certain sex. Again it could be awoman. (please no OH NO DONT SAY THATIm a vegetarian. I dont believe in killing animals. Killing a sin and to put that murdered pig in your mouth surely makes you one too? I look at it as me not eating meat could give them a day or twoof extra life. I want peace an equality in the world so, what am i in gods eyes? and what religion could i be? more

Resolved Question: Question for people who think being gay is wrong for reasons of faith?

I am looking for some insight into the minds of people against same-sex marriage for faith reasons. Ok, here goes... A few questions in one... 1. Why doubt His decision and creation of homosexuals? God loves all his children, right? Including whores and murderers and drug addicts. Surely, a relationship built from love does not fall in line with such crimes.... Right? 2. While it apparently says in the bible something about homosexuality being a sin, as is sodomy, (?)how do you know that God is not constantly changing his plans and creations? (?)How do you know that God is not continually creating and decided that this world needed gay people to create loving families who could not reproduce so that all the children without homes in this world (many, many, many) could have a loving, caring family? 3. Do you not think that judging another person for who they love is a sin? The bible says "judge not, lest ye shall be judged." (?) Don't you think you are sinning when you judge someone else, and deny them equal treatment as humans? Don't you think that it isn't your place to tell someone else who they can and cannot love? I believe God makes us who we are because we are his creation, and that he made each and every one of us, including gays, in his vision. I don't know about you guys, but I'm not going to question God's creation or any of his children. I believe that God wants all of his children to treat each other with kindness, respect, and equality. Isn't that what religion is about, or am I misunderstood about the meaning and purpose of religion? Thanks, I know it is a lot of questions, but please answer. I am looking for intelligent responses, not ones that claim, "Because the bible says," or "I just know." Please explain why you agree or disagree with any or all of the questions I have asked. Thank you.klint, I like your response because that is exactly why I said that. (responding to your #2) We have no definite way of knowing, so I believe we shouldn't question why he created them that way, and just trust His decision :) Thanks!!Thank you guys for giving me thorough answers. I did not grow a part of a religion, but I have always believed in God. Everytime I try to ask an honest question, people jump all over it with all this religious stuff that I don't understand. I do believe, though, that being gay is not a choice, so I'm having trouble understanding why loving someone of the same sex is supposedly wrong.Ugh, I should have asked this earlier, but if ones who have answered and ones who do answer, can you tell me what your religion is? Thanks! Sorry about that! It would just help me understand a little better where you are coming from so I can research it! more

Resolved Question: Atheists, how can you attack the Bible (specifically the Old Testament) for being immoral WHEN....?

....morality and justice are not universal things? Morality and justice depend on what time you live in. When God is shown in the Bible telling Moses that people who work on the sabbath should be killed or homosexuals should be killed, etc. this ONLY applied to Jews and ONLY for Jews AT THAT TIME. We don't follow this anymore so to attack the God of the Bible as being immoral has ZERO merit. God is love, but he is also justice and justice and morality are relative things. For example, Abraham Lincoln said that he was NOT for the equality of blacks. Lincoln did free the slaves, but he was also QUOTED as saying that he did not think the races were equal. Would you attack Lincoln as being pure EVIL? No. This is because morality depends on what culture you come from and what time. Morality is relative, so why attack God for "killing" a child, for example, if this happened in the OLD TESTAMENT and the child felt NO PAIN and was put in Heaven FOREVER? Morality is relative. I put "killing" in quotation marks because God kills no one. When God let the children die in the Old Testament it was as a punishment for the sins of the parents. An example would be the Flood. God didn't kill them, he simply took them to a wonderful place which is Heaven.Edit: I'm asking how can you attack the Bible for being immoral when morality is a relative thing?Why attack it when the standards of our time are different?Edit: The stuff done in the book of Joshua was justified because the people they killed were EVIL and they practiced human sacrifices. I don't know if it actually says that in the Bible per se but you can tell from context. People who worshipped Baal did kill people.They murdered children. more

Resolved Question: Why do people answer religious questions with a non-religious answer?

CrG wrote 'How limited is your understanding. I wish I had the inclination and the strength to answer all of your petty objections. Everything you quote is true. Your conclusions are false. Read what Isaiah says about Jesus. Where in Isaiah should this guy look? And if you're so sure his conclusions are false then you have a religious obligation to say more than you did. And if his conclusions are wrong according to you then are any conclusions he draws, from reading Isaiah, after you suggested it, be wrong? If you answer a question in the capacity of Christian, do so with authority...don't put your foot in your mouth! I agree with most of what MuslimRose~Amir wrote/concluded and can think of verses in the Bible that agree...OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD! The Book of Isaiah is 66 Chapters long and extremely controversial in many areas among some of the greatest and most revered scholars in the world. In the least, any argument should use one of them. Oh! Wait! I Am Not A Christian. I gave that up a few years ago. I served it well for over 19 years though. Mark 10:18-19 In the same breath Messiah continued to speak about the Law (Zec. 5:6 The ephah = the standard of perfection or moral ruler) cf. Gal. 3:24 The Law is our Teacher; I John. 3:4 John 5:30 Only by ASSUMING the Messiah was completely human can this verse be taken literally or figuratively! There is no in between. If Messiah can ever NOT do something then he is not all powerful, not God, and a HUMAN! "As I hear, I judge" Judge what? According to the Law. Messiah was a priest of the Temple. Many people don't know that. He taught in the Temple and Synagogues on a regular basis and was revered as a great teacher of Jews! Only a Jew learned in the Law, and a lover of the Law could EVER get respect among such a viciously religious community. "and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of my Father." The ultimate existence of any human (INCLUDING MESSIAH) is Ecc. 12:13...to observe the Law I will pay you $10,000 to show me a verse in the Bible(KJV) or (BOY) that says: 1.do not keep the law 2. do not try to keep the law 3. no human can keep the law 4. Messiah was not human John 14:31 Messiah never did anything contrary to Yahweh's will/plan/ or law! There is no Biblical argument against this!...did you know there is a Law, of the 613 Laws as prescribed by Moses (Mosheh) that commands us not to add to nor take away from the Law?(Deut. 4:2) or that Messiah said the Law would always be here and that he came here to magnify it? (Matt. 5:17-20) "till heaven and earth pass away?" Only advocates of Satan and the Beastly Governmental System believe that we don't need the Law because there is no commandment contrary to the many, MANY commandments to keep, observe, love, and study the Law. and...Matt 5:5 says the meek will inherit the earth! So the earth will never be destroyed...and neither will the Law! John 14:10 Only easy to get Rose's conclusion if we continue on the foundation that Messiah was human, and not part of the Trinity, or somehow God. Anyone who is 'close' to their higher power would say this! I am in Him, and He is in me. Does that mean they are members of the same Trinity? I wonder how most Christians can believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity when it is not taught in Scripture? For Messiah to claim that Yahweh was 'in him' he would have to prove a few things: 1. that he was free from sin (I John 3:6) 2. that he kept the Law in order to fulfill the prophecies concerning himself, namely the Laws of the Priesthood and the office of High Priest. There are clear examples of specific Laws being kept by Messiah's parents in just the first two chapters of Luke (ie. circumcision on the 8th day, name by the Law, Luke 2:22=Lev. 12:2-5, Luke 2:23=Lev. 27.2,8,25, Luke 2:24=Ex.34:19-20, Luke 2:41-42=Ex.23:14-17....These are less than half of the Laws kept in these two chapters. Positive Laws 215,114,52, etc. sin = I John 3:4 = breaking the Law I John 5:2 "by this we know that we love the children of Yahweh: When we love Yahweh BY KEEPING HIS LAW..." Philippians 2:6 KJV and Thayer's Greek Lexicon (being) to begin below (form) external appearance, fig. cf. Gen. 1:26 and Ex. 34:6-7 (this is the image of Yahweh) (not) no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer (robbery) a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained Phil. 2:6 Who, created, like Yahweh, would usurp equality of Yahweh?! The answer is NO ONE BUT... Satan! Isa. 14:13 Every Christian should read, The Two Babylons, http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/babylons/default.htm by Rev. Alexander Hislop I cannot believe I am even going to mention Mat 24:36 but here goes... Yahshua Messiah said that no man knows that day nor hour... let me rephrase that portion of the verse for easier understanding...people do not understand sin, what it is, why it is, and fewer people think thatthe air i breath...something that does exist even though it cannot be seen, has been proven to exist by modern science more

Resolved Question: What is the deal with Christianity?

1.) Why are Christians not informed on the 'banned' books of the bible? Christianity would be looked at in a whole new light if Christians even knew about these books that were banned by the heads of the church, who at the time had very conservative views thus making the bible very biased and one sided. did you know the book written with revelations actually talks about taking people out of hell after the apocalypse? Also several books were banned because they seemed to 'gnostic' to the church leaders, it wasn't because of false information they just seemed to gnostic?!? come on? I mean there is tons of teaching left out of Christianity that make it seem so unclear to people because of this, and believers need to know this stuff. 2.) Why do most Christians want religion taught in schools? to me religion is a personal belief and should be confined to yourself not pushed on anyone or put in the government. just as other beliefs not only Christian beliefs about what happens at death should stay in the personal realm (my definition of religion is anything that occurs at death, which yes atheistic belief falls under this category to me, anything that involves the end of life). 3.) Why are most Christians conservative? whether you believe what Christ did or not his teachings are very liberal, equal rights for all man, standing up to government rules, etc. He taught strongly about women equality and 'loving' your fellow man not 'judging/oppressing' so why do most Christians believe the opposite here (gay rights comes to mind) Christianity sees this as a sin but from what Jesus taught even the prostitutes, gays, minorities, should have equal rights. By the way I am a Christian believer and I do not know why 99% of Christians are such hateful, judgementally, pushy people. I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. - GandhiThanks for all the responses guys, although I wasn't able to come to a new census your answers did make me think more about my current system of belief with Christianity. I took every serious answer to value here whether it was extreme left or extreme right. Really, thanks. more

Resolved Question: Christians, do you think atheists are evil or "gay" or both? Do you hate Muslims?

I saw someone say something to this extent earlier today and it makes me wonder... Do you really think atheists are always homosexual and homosexuals are always atheist? Why do you dislike Islam so much? Why do you view all these things as evil things which must be purged rather than allowing other people to make decisions for themselves about their lives? I don't understand how a religion that teaches its followers to love their neighbors can be so widely misunderstood by the very followers its trying to teach. I've heard people say that Christians are not supposed to love everyone the other day, which just proved to me how little most Christians know about their own religion. Are you Christian? Have you read the entire Bible? Have you read any other religious texts from other religions? How much do you really know about yourself? Think about it! The most racist, sexist, bigoted people I have ever met called themselves Christians. I knew a pastor who would openly talk about how much he hated gays and African Americans and would call people with disabilities freaks. He forced me to take a vow saying I believed and accepted Jesus when I was 4 years old and went to play with his daughter. Don't you think that's wrong? Isn't that brainwashing? Do you think that people should force Christianity on to others? Why don't Christians really pay attention to their own religion? A lot of you come on here and talk about how mean atheists are or how they are all going to rot in hell, but why? Does that just make you feel better about yourself? Do you honestly believe it's a sin and are honestly concerned for our "safety" or do you just dislike anyone who isn't just like you? Islam professes equality and peace and yet you have so grossly misunderstood it that you mostly believe it's all about murder and hatred and forcing people to convert. While this is not what normal, non-Fundamentalist Muslims believe, Christians as a whole will it's fine to say "Convert or burn forever while I laugh at you from heaven." Is that awfully similar to "Convert or die?" You're just letting God do you murdering for you. Islam and Judaism share many similar beliefs, in fact that are almost identical in their foundations. Do you dislike Jews as well? If you do not dislike Jews, then why do you dislike Muslims? Why do you persecute anyone who is not Christian and even people of different denominations? Why do you think religion must be forced? Why can't it be something people can decide to accept or not accept without any pressure? Many Christians I have spoken to say they don't know and just don't want to know anything about Atheists or Homosexuals or Muslims because they are sinners. You want us to read the Bible, which I and many other atheists have, yet you do not want to examine anything beyond your own belief. I know that you will just shoot this down, but If I can make at least one person stop and actually use some of that grey matter up their in their skull for five seconds, then it will be well worth my time. I'm not saying people should be atheists or Muslims or Hindu or anything else, you can do whatever you want its your life, I just wish you could see your own hypocrisies. I think Christianity is a pretty interesting and fundamentally good religion, I've just never met a "Christian."No, I'm asking questions based on observations I have made about Christians. When I sit in my Theology class, they become enraged when the professor attempts to explain Islam as something other than AY-AY-AY-AY! *Boom* I don't hate Christians. I find the religion very interesting. I just wish I could understand why people say one thing and do another so much and how common it is, which is why I asked the question.Colette Pioline ART I go to a Catholic University, I probably know and am around far more people who call themselves Christian than you are. more

Resolved Question: What do you think of my speech?

I am addressing today a major issue among our beautiful nation’s people. There are those who believe so strongly in lessons they have learned that they deny the rights of others who have not had, or do not compromise to these lessons. The issue I am addressing today is the denial of gay rights. Marriage is a ceremony to be shared. It is a binding of one loving soul to another, and any extremist who denies this has their eyes clouded by prejudiced, and darkened by ignorance. If they consider the unity of two lovers a sin, then they should consider this: In the Bible, it states that homosexuality is a sin. It also states that premarital sex is a sin. Would not God want a unification of anyone before sex, instead of someone committing both of these sins? Homosexuality is not a greater sin in the book of God. It is not one of the divine commandments, and has never been. Any man who interprets the word of God and considers himself a Christian is hypocritical, and falsely labeled. I talk to you today via a religious stand point to prove to you the open-mindedness that I hold, for I do not believe in a God. I am open minded enough to accept that many people are Christians, Muslims, Jews, Islam, Buddhists, and any other religion, and I will not try to convince them otherwise. They are entitled to their beliefs, just as I am entitled to mine. I will however correct them on their interpretation, for if they believe in the omniscient gods, why would they question them? I also would like to address the fear that the young, and old people are going through just because of their sexual orientation. There are too many hate crimes in our great nation against the homosexual community, and it is scary. The gays, bisexuals, lesbians, and transvestites are afraid to come out and be proud of themselves, because of the hate in our great nation. I will not stand by idly and let the good people of our nation hide in fear in a nonexistent closet. I say I because I am proud. I am proud to be able to hold my head high, and be able to state that I am gay. I am proud to be able to say that I am myself, and I will do my best to help others develop their well-deserved pride. To quote Harvey Milk, “All men are created equal. No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words.” We are created equal, and we will be treated equal. The sum of a man and woman is no greater than, or less than that of a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. We are equal. I, and all other members of this great society will one day be able to stand with their hand over their heart and say, “With liberty, and justice for all,” without feeling the blackness of a terrible lie slip between their lips. To quote Harvey Milk one more time, “you and you and you, you have to give people hope.” I have hope. I have a drive. This nation will be driven. Equality is finally being noticed. more

Voting Question: How is Christianity backed by evidence. and how can people follow such unknowns so intensely to kill over it?

religions preach equality among humans, however, unequal rights given to people...via the religion god expects one to devout ones life to him, with no real confidence in which religion, if any, are correct, and if he is wrong he will suffer the greatest punishment. the apple in the gardens of eden consist of knowledge and sense, therefore only after eating the apple would adam and eve understand that eating it would be a sin, and that sin is bad moreover why did god not stop the snake from convincing Adam and Eve to eat the apple...what else was he doing? life, in terms of the bible, is simply a punishment towards adam and eve for eating an apple, who have long since passed away, and is totally unrelated to us. god only talks to people/prophets alone and expect the rest of the world to believe that person, despite the countless mental disorders the "prophet" may have. corrupt religious officials, who dont have any biblical history or necesity in the first place, are considered more holy and pure than a completely virtuous athiest. when the point came that technology would be able to legitimately document miracles, prophets, and divine happenings, they stopped all together. I hate the fact that the reason for religion has been corrupted... whether the concept of god and religion was or was not created by acient leaders to control the citizens, it is abused today to gain support for otherwise, irrational conflicts. moreover,there is no such thing as a holy war...only a political war that cannot be questioned I feel bad for those that the polititians are using to fuel their wars...militants and nationalists.. furthermore on the topic of national religious leaders and causes....why is god on our side and not theirs...how can be sure...does a country win by the amount of people pray to god in that country...if so then why is the US a hegemony? 10 commandments "thou shalt not kill" ... people are killed in the name of god all of the time. christianity is obviously nonsensical, and even religious figures must know it...because in the dark ages around martin luther the church wanted citizens to be illiterate so they were not educated and think about religion because they might become wise. my feelings. your thoughts/responses....and PLEASE dont say "its just faith" or "god is all powerful" (cliche: can god create a boulder so big that god himself cannot lift it.) more

Resolved Question: Ramadan: Why can't Muslims understand even logical proof of Jesus' divinity from the Koran and Bible?

PROOF OF THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST From the Koran and the Bible God began by choosing a chaste woman, Mary (Maryam). To qualify her, He necessarily exalted her in advance ABOVE ALL THE WOMEN OF CREATION, for birth is the women's GREATEST pride and, yet Mary would EXTRA-ORDINARILY give the birth that is the GREATEST of all times. See Luke 1:28, 30:34, 41-44, 48-49, and 54-55. Also says Qur'an 3:42, "....O Mary! Allah has CHOSEN thee, and PURIFIED thee, and PREFERRED thee ABOVE ALL THE WOMEN OF CREATION". After that, God settled His soul (Ruh) inside His word (Kalimat) which he had put in the womb of Mary, who had been spiritually qualified as we have seen earlier. That was how Mary conceived Jesus. That was to enable the divine attribute have human features through her for the humans to understand Him better (Hence only Jesus is Biblicaly and Qur'anically declared as GOD's WORD and GOD's RUH (Spirit): John 1:1, 14:8:23, Phl. 2:5-8; and the Qur'an 4:171, 2:252 etc. (By implication, Jesus' flesh is not actually biological but God's Word; similarly, his life is not actually human's but from God's own as we will see more later). Therefore, even after his humanly birth, Jesus was declared as much superior to angels and, in fact, God said, "Let ALL God's angels WORSHIP him (Jesus)" (Heb. 1:6; 1Pet. 3:22; Mat. 4:11), as was Adam, of course, in Qur'an 2:30-34. Thus, apparently, Jesus was a human, the rationality and aim of his humanized birth. See Rom. 8:3-6; Heb. 2:16-18. Also, says Allah according to Qur'an 6:9, "Had We appointed an ANGEL our messenger, We ASSUREDLY had made him LIKE A MAN SO THAT HE MIGHT SPEAK TO (associate with) MEN...." Muslims often cite John 5:30-31; Mark 13:32-33 and John 1428 etc as disproofs of Christ's divinity. But, logically, these verses, rather than disprove Jesus' divinity, expressed the anticipated and expected demonstrations of the character that was Jesus-in-exemplary-typical-human-nature and , therefore , in accordance with God's programme as stated in the Qur'an 6:9 and:- (1) Phil. 2:6, "Who (Jesus) being in very nature God, did NOT consider equality with God something to grasp, 7 But made himself NOTHING, taking the very nature of a SERVANT, being made in human likeness 8, and found in appearance as a MAN, he HUMBLED himself and became OBEDIENT to the death, even death in the cross" (2) Heb. 2:16, "For surely it is NOT ANGELS that he (Jesus) helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 FOR THIS REASON HE (GOD) HAD TO MAKE HIM (JESUS) LIKE HIS BROTHERS IN EVERY WAY in order that......" (Compare Qur'an 6:9) (3) Rom. 8:3, "(Jesus)....in the LIKENESS OF A SINFUL MAN.........." So, in the light of these verses, it should be clear that Jesus' humanized acts did not mean that he was actually a human being (John 8:23) but were the divinely designs that were to make Jesus not unnecessarily scare the humans but, rather be their SOURCE OF INSPIRATIONS. In other words, if Jesus were to act God-the-father again even when haven purposely transformed into a man, the transformation would logically be nonsense. The Holy Bible reveals relationship between Adam and Jesus thus, "The FIRST Adam became a LIVING SOUL, the LAST Adam (Jesus) a QUICKENING SPIRIT", 1 Cor. 15:45. Therefore, to understand the nature of Jesus more, we must go back to the Adam's case. Thus, when God breathed life into Adam (Qur'an 38:73-78 and Gen. 2:7), he (God) declared him His (God's) own IMAGE/LIKENESS (Gen. 2:7) or His VICEROY (Qur'an 2:30). Also, according to Qur'an 28:37-38, 15:39-44; 17:61-62; 7:11-13 and 2:34, Allah instructed ALL the angels to WORSHIP Adam on the ground that He (Allah) had breathed something of His SpIRIT into Adam for a soul (see Heb. 1:2-6, for the same instruction in respect of Jesus). In fact, according to these Qur'anic verses, Satan's curse and demotion are God's reaction to his (Satan's) refusal to prostrate himself before Adam. Therefore, Biblically and Qur'anically Adam, whose flesh was made from just the sand (Gen. 2:7, Qur'an 28:72), was notwithstanding such GLORIOUS initially. And, logically, the glorious qualification came from what God breathed in him. However, Adam did not pass Satanic test but sinned (that shows some relative weakness in him), thereby lost his INITIAL STATUS and therefore was ordered out of MOST EXALTED DWELLING, the Garden of Eden(Qur'an 7:19-24, Gen. 3:1-24). But Jesus passed all the Satanic tests (Mt.4:1-11, Heb. 4:15; Qur'an 19:19), which logically implies comparative superiority in him. Therefore, the fact that SOIL is the comparative parent of Adam, who, again, could not pass Satanic test, sinned and was demoted; and Mary, the SUPERIOR among all women, is the comparative parent of Jesus, who, again, passed all the Satanic tests, did not sin and therefore was NEVER demoted, given that both Adam and Jesus got their souls unbiologically from God directly; it follows that whatever type of soul God gave Adam wasoriginally INFERIOR to the one He gave Jesus. Thus Jesus would still have been superior to Adam even if he (Adam) had been able to defend his INITIAL STATUS, (and thus Jesus was very superior to the demoted Adam (and, by the way, EXTREMELY superior to Adam's descendants including MUHAMMAD, whom Allah found STRAY: Qur'an 12:3, 93:6-8). So if initially Adam, made from soil, was inter-alia, QUALIFIED to be God's IMAGE/LIKENESS (Biblically) or GOd's VICEROY and WORTHY OF A WORSHIP BY THE ANGELS OF GOD (Qur'anically), all because his soul was God-breathed, then Jesus, who has much greater of these qualifications and miraculousness (Bible, Qur'an 5:113), is logically divine. Thus to Jesus' divinity God did order the angels to worship; indeed, only divinity can be worshiped (Mt. 4:8-10; Qur'an 16:36; Heb. 1:2-6). That was why when Jesus was asked to disclose God he said, "Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me...? He who has seen me has seen the FaOne Lone Tree, I challenge you to prove that I have copied it from any where in the World! My only sourses were the Bible and the Koran.And, that is why when Jesus accomplished his mission on the Earth naturally, he went back to where he came from, Qur'an 4:158, "God has raised him up unto HIMSELF". See also John 6:28, 62, and Mk. 16:19. John 8:23. Yes! Jesus is, according to both the Bible and the Qur'an, back to his origin, God.Noor, You mean all this while you don't even know the nature of Surahs? Is either you add 1 or subtract 1 to get the correct Surah if the Surah of your addition of the Koran does not correspond with the given Surah(s). more

Resolved Question: "Christianity itself is 100% against violence...."?

Do Christians really read the bible? Again, I just asked a question about the double standard of violence in Christianity when it comes to Islam. Numerous people said it is against the doctrine of Christianity to be violent. They also say that being a Muslim is all about violence. But dont this verses mean the same exact thing? Violence is referred to to same in both the Bible and the Quran....for example the bible says: “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence." (Luke 19:26-27) The Quran says: (Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against him. But fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 190-194) Both verses are referring to enemies, so how can Christians say the bible has no "violence" The Quran has numerous verses stating violence is wrong: (…Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred... (Al-An`am 6: 151) and Allah says in the Qur’an, (Nor take life, which Allah has made sacred, except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, We have given his heir authority (to demand Qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the law)) (Al-Israa’ 17: 33). According to the Qur’an, killing any person is as big a sin as killing the whole humanity and saving the life of one person is as good deed as saving the whole humanity. (See Al-Ma’idah 5: 32) Both the bible and the Quran is taken of of context, when will people realize that Muslims are not violent? Just because Christians committed acts of violence in the past does not mean they are all like that, they were just as misguided as the terrorist today. Why cant the same apply to Muslims? Your thoughts? more

Resolved Question: What do you think about this?

Theists, especially christians, try to control and restrict us based on their views. If all christians stop crusading against science, education, culture, art, sex and sexuality, religious freedom and such, and stop telling everybody else they're going to be tortured throughout eternity unless they join you, I assure you that you won't encounter nearly as much hostility. Christians still kill kids for "witchcraft" today. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/di... Let's make a deal: You promise me that nobody ever gets hurt by your religion again, and I'll never discuss it again. Read Letter to a Christian Nation if you want to understand how harmful your religion is. In the meantime: http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_... http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_o... *end* This is an answer I commonly come across, copied and pasted multiple times as I have just done for my question. How much of it do you agree with? Disagree with? What are some flaws in the argument? Strong points in the argument? Here's my view on those words, and I apologize that although the paragraphs above acknowledge "theists," I am responding as a Christian, and thus cannot give any kind representation for any other religion aside from my own. A lot, if not, of most of science's concepts and etc are agreed with by Christians. The only things I hear from atheists are generally about evolution and theories on how the universe/world was created (feel free to tell me other things atheists see Christians disagreeing on. But these two things were literally the only two I've heard atheists talk about that receive Christian resistance). And again, aside from some science aspects, since when do Christians crusade against education? And I'm talking about recently, not past events that haven't reoccurred for hundreds of years. I don't see Christian resistance to math, languages, music programs, P.E., or Social Studies/geography/history or again, much of science. In addition, in one of the links it said that schools have to fight to be able to teach evolution and etc because religions overrun it. Well a few atheists have suggested that if you want your child to learn about/with a certain religion, then private schools are available. That should be the same with the evolution and etc, since it goes against other peoples' beliefs and vice versa. I'm not saying private school is the only option, but if you ask schools to be free of religious beliefs, isn't it fair to ask that schools be free of nonreligious beliefs? Additionally, Christian resistance to sexuality is just Christians being uneducated. Many pastors/speakers that I know say the same things about homosexuality- Yes, according to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin. But we shouldn't act aggressively on it, because Christians don't put up as much resistance to other sins, like lying. According to the Bible, everyone is a sinner, so why should one group of people receive less equality than another group of people based on their sins? All sins are equal, as stated in the Bible, except for blasphemy, which is said to be an unforgivable sin. I say all sins are equal because all sins cost the same thing- Jesus's life. Jesus died to forgive our sins, and in that measure, every sin is viewed as equal because they cost his life. Big or small, Jesus had to die for those sins regardless. As for "telling everybody else that they're going to suffer for eternity if they don't join you," as a Christian, it is believed that if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your savior, then you go to hell. But aside from a few raving people on online forums, I have never heard a Christian blatantly shouting at non Christians that they're going to hell unless they believe. I'm not saying that some Christians don't do that, but my point is that most Christians do not do that. And while I can't apologize for those individuals who speak so freely, I can only ask that you do not prejudge the rest of the Christian population based on bad people you have had bad experiences with. As for your "deal," that's impossible for anyone to promise. No one can make a promise that says no one will get hurt by Christianity. At least, it's not a promise anyone can keep. Every individual has their own will, and no one Christian can be responsible for every other Christian's actions. Even if a group of people were sworn in to prevent pain because of Christianity, it's just impossible to keep track of every single Christian's actions. An individual is responsible for his or her own actions, and there is only a limited amount of influence outside forces can have to keep actions in safe boundaries. And it's not as if Christians are/were the only ones dealing out the pain- plenty of Christians were murdered/are threatened by people. I won't provide any links, but I am sure that if you were to do a little research, you would find plenty of attacks oattacks on Christians. Even on Yahoo Answers I constantly see such high levels of unnecessary sarcastic mockery from atheists. I am not saying that all atheists do this, nor am I saying that Christians don't do this, but as far as I have seen, more atheists do tend to act more harshly on R&S than theists. So as you said to theists, perhaps if some atheists toned down their level of ridicule, mockery and etc, they will receive less hostility as well, and vice versa to theists reading this. As for a lot of harsh rules/guidelines found in the Old Testament, many of those laws were simply the laws of the people in the Old Testament, not the ruling of God. And also to consider is the fact that Jesus didn't die for our sins yet in the Old Testament, and thus the concept of forgiveness didn't really apply so freely until Jesus's death. *endWhoever wrote that paragraph- although I disagree with some (or a lot) of your statements/reasoning, I think it's safe to assume that all you want is an ultimate peace to exist between religions. I'm afraid to say that it's highly unlikely that any religion (including atheism) will cease to ever have at least one crazed individual who does corrupt things in the name of that religion. But again, I can only ask that you don't think of every theist as those bad theists you know about, and that you apply your own thoughts on theists to yourself as well. I apologize for any outraging statements caused by typos, and any offense you find in my words. I'm open to discussion- this is just my view of the original statements given, and like I said already, please try to keep out mockery, sarcasm, ridicule, or any other hate-arousing tones/words, to anyone to answers.to miami- oops...I guess when I copied and pasted that, the links didn't get through all the way. I'll try to fix themhttp://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/saving+africas+witch+children/2780062 http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/harm.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_religionAlright, I found the links again. All of them should be locked and loaded more

Resolved Question: Christianity's lack of equality when it comes to gender.....?

The story of the fall of man- Eve being gullible to temptation, and then persuading Adam to sin- has been used & quoted throughout the bible to indicate a need for the women to accept a place below men, one of submission. I hear two things from modern day Christians as for their views on this. One is that Jesus gave women a better standing, and that since his time (because of him) things have been overall not too unequal. The other is, women are still required to be submissive to men. The only verse I'm aware of in the new testament that directly says that women should be submissive is right next to a verse that commands slaves to be submissive to their masters. If you believe that the slave part is out-dated, why not the verse next to it about women? Why would it be important any longer to continue an outdated tradition of women submitting to their husbands? And females having limited access to positions of leadership in so many churches- shouldn't that be behind us as well? Thank you for your answers, please respond with thought and consideration.Some answers here are that women submiting to their husbands in no way at all suggests inequality? I don't think that is the most logical response, I'm sorry, but I just can't see it"pa v"- My references to any scriptures were, actually, completely accurate. I have studied the bible well. With all due respect, you may be an actual christian, but I might know a little more about the bible than someone who refers to Paul's attitude towards women as something favorable. Come on, we all know that's not true. more

Resolved Question: Why was the Holy Father Benedict XVI Criticized for merely supporting what was commanded in the bible?

The bible is very clear that Female equality is wrong and that Homosexuality is a sin. So what has Holy Father done other than remind us of what is in the bible? Why are people so eager to portray a person that has dedicated his life to the service of others as evil or despicable?I disagree super kitteh Corinthians makes it very clear that women are to be subservient to Men. more

Resolved Question: connections to vampire, just tell me what you think?

This is a very valid topic, as to whether Jesus Christ was a Vampire. In a different sense. He obviously was known to be the God of Wine, and converted his wine into his own blood for others to drink and be healed. A lot of hidden facts and implications in the bible do make clear the existence of vampires. Jesus also states that "One day all Kindred shall unite". He's been the one famous for the term "The Blood is the Life". However, to better describe it, Jesus was a Vampire, for lack of a better term. I say this, because he contained all the necessary energy and healing powers he would have ever needed by God. So he was more of a source, rather than a Vampire who needed to feed. He was the source of others who fed off of his blood to engage with him for the gift of eternal life. He also did come into contact with two other Vampires during his time on earth. A lot of his terminology also is based on Vampire terminology today. The term Vampire has existed for a long time, which originated from The Church, but in order to describe them as a reanimated dead corpse that rises from the grave at night. Just before his crucifixion, he was known to slit his wrist to allow others to drink from him. His blood was given up as the gift of eternal life for all of man's sins. His body, was given up as the sacrifical lamb for all of man's sins. Just as the practice with all other Vampires even before Jesus, they were all crucified by the Romans with the spear through the heart. Interestingly enough, I have never seen any picture or realistic image of Jesus that ever showed his teeth or him smiling. Vampires may very well be the best kept hidden secret in nature towards the reality of immortal life in the next world. "teach a man to fish" metaphor-- then said we are all to be fishers of men gain external life and immortality had to drink jesus' blood A vampire is a human or non-human entity that is skilled in stealing the life from another entity Blood is easily the most primal and cross-cultural symbol of life energy Lilith was Adam's (the first man) first wife, created before Eve. She was created of the Earth like Adam. Because of her equality in invention she demanded to be Adam's Equal. She demanded that during sexual intercourse she be allowed on top. When it became ovious she could not fight Adam's dominating nature, she uttered the holy name of God and flew out of Eden (the Garden). When she left Eden she engaged in sex with the Deamons of earth, and had children, hundreds of them being demonic, called Lilim. After she left, Adam was lonely, and wanted god to fetch her so he sent out three angels, Sanvai, Sansanvai, and Semangelof . She told him that she would not return, claiming that her purpose was to slay Adam's children.Eventually, she agreed that she would spare thier lives is she saw the names of the angels printed above their door. After Lilith left Eden God created Eve out of a rib of Adam. Adam and Eve who gave into the temtation of Satan (the serpant in the garden), were also banished and made mortal. However Lilith never ate from the tree of Knowledge so she was imortal. ^ dhampires--Dhampire is the name of children of a vampire-human relationship Dhampires are found in Serbia and elsewhere in parts of Yugoslavia. They are very efficient in detecting and destroying their vampiric families, thus making a comfortable living as vampire hunters. They are said to be the only creatures that can see the Serbia vampires(they are invisable). They perform bizzare rituals- whistling, running about, undressing, and using shirtsleeves as a type of telescope. After wrestling with a foe(many incvisable), the dhampire declares the vampire dead and collects his large fee. The last documented dhampire ceremony was in 1959 in the Yugoslovian province of Kosovo These are just different pieces I found and put them all together, I have never read the Vampire Masquerade, and personally don't believe jesus was a vampire. Also I put the dhampire thing because it connects to Adam's first wife. I forgot to put that part in. It just interested me, when I found all the different pieces.When she left Eden she engaged in sex with the Deamons of earth, and had children, hundreds of them being demonic, called Lilim Dhampires are also know as Lilim more

Resolved Question: Does the Bible condone slavery?

Afer reading this tell me if it changed your understanding of where the Bible stands on slavery? “Well, why not? If the Bible is the word of God, why wouldn't it condemn such evil?” In a sin-fallen world, the battles we fight have to be chosen carefully. The same thing goes for the manner in which those battles are going to be fought. “Explain.” The Bible was never designed to serve as a manifesto on controversial political issues. It is rather primarily the story of how God, over time, has worked His sovereign will in this universe, and is still able to do so, through the hearts and minds and lives of those who trust Him. “But slavery isn't just a political issue. It's a moral issue. Isn't the Christian Bible supposed to be a moral guide?” Of course. But as a rule, the best way to change moral behavior is to transform moral views. And guess what. Beginning in the second century, many masters, upon converting to Christ, began to release their slaves. Slavery was abolished in Great Britain after people began being converted to Christ under the preaching of John Wesley and George Whitefield. “But why doesn't the Bible just come right out and condemn slavery in so many words?” Did you know that in the Old Testament, slaves were often prisoners of war? The law of Moses in fact served to regulate the care of slaves by their Hebrews masters, i.e. Exodus 21:20 and 26, Leviticus 25:40. Consequently, Israel never captured and sold humans as did the the Phoenicians and Philistines. “But what about in New Testament times? Why didn't Jesus, as a moral authority, speak out boldly against slavery?” “Well, numerous New Testament texts, such as Colossians 4:1, Galatians 3:28, and the Book of Philemon, make the case for the inherent spiritual worth of slaves, which effectively laid a base for deep down authentic change in social practice, over time. God's way is often to work from within, dealing primarily with the spiritual component. Jesus was typically apolitical. Otherwise, encouraging direct confrontation over such a hot button social issue may have fomented revolution, providing Rome with a political excuse for persecuting Christians.” “Well for me, slavery is slavery. It's wrong, it's immoral, and the Bible should be against it.” On the contrary, slavery in Bible times significantly differed from slavery in modern times. It was not based on race. It was often less imperialistic. Some believe that in many cases it was actually more of an indentured servant type arrangement. “In the Old Testament Book of Leviticus 25:44-46, slaves are actually referred to as possessions. And Jesus Himself sometimes used analogies that seem to tacitly condone slavery.” Again, the Bible primarily details the account of how God has chosen to deal with the tragic results of a sin-fallen world down through the ages. While recognizing the reality of slavery as it existed in various forms, the Bible never actually condones it. It rather gives slaves, both then and more recently, a spiritual basis for worth, dignity, equality, and hope to face difficult circumstances. In the end, at a deeper level, its position is clear. God bless.The question more or less is this- After reading this tell me if it changed your understanding of where the Bible stands on slavery? more

Resolved Question: raised christian but ive got some questions....?

alright so why is the christian religion better than lets say Hinduism. they say our god is a jealous god and doesn't want us praying to anyone else and thats reasonable. but how do i even know that Christians are right. there is only one truth in the world. but what if that truth is in Buddhism? or perhaps we all just decompose and thats the end of it. i believe in equality for all and so its hard to just say "my religion is the right one" when the person down the street is saying the same thing about some other reliogion and some other god. the whole idea of creationism seems far fetched and Darwinism seems like theres proof rather than faith. and what about dinosaurs? they don't exactly support the christian faith. and yet theres no other way to explain their bones rather than there were huge beings on earth long before us and our beliefs. theres evidence for evolution but all christians (and others) have is "i just know it" there have been countless times when i have asked questions and either been shunned or given some answer like "they just do" ive read books that claim to have made people switched to the christian religion without any doubt in there mind that it was wrong. and ive read them and gotten the same old "faith is the answer. fall back into the arms of jesus." whenever i focus inward and dont think about other things and (in a nutshell) just shut myself out and become ignorant, i belive that there must be a greater power. but at night when i look at the stars and imagine all the things we dont know and all those planets out there and black holes and comets and things i just feel like "the bible never said anything about this" i believe that there must be other life forms out there and humans just arent advance enough to notice/discover them. alot of christians just seem to use the religion as a crutch so they can say what they want and do what they want. which is horrible. like i know people who lie, sleep around, cheat and steal, but then they say a person being gay is totallly unacceptable. and they say they believe that because they are christian. but god sees all sins as sins. and it doesnt matter if your doing something as trivial as thinking about harming yourself or others or having dirty thoughts, or something as "bad" as having sexual relations out of wedlock or with the same gender. it doesnt matter to god. and the ultimate question i know will never be answered. why are we here?  more

Resolved Question: Why are homosexuals alienated from the Church? ?

I feel quite strongly about equality for all, regardless of sexuality. Why is it that some religious people and religious leaders view homosexuality as 'wrong' and as a 'sin.' I understand there is something in the bible suggesting that homosexuality is 'wrong' - can someone please point out to me where this is said? Surely, given that the bible was written so long ago, we can be a little flexible on such issues? Don't people feel 'guilty' for alienating homosexuals, especially those who don't even subscribe to their faith? (I suppose one could ask 'where is the alienation occuring - I have several gay friends, for example, who say they feel alienated from the Catholic Church as that faith does not include them without labelling them as sinners). Thanks in advance for your replies! more

Resolved Question: On the issue of abortion ,why are we not exposing the Christian fundamentalists for the hypocrites they are?

Only because the Christian fundamentalists drag my faith into politics,I am posing this in POLITICS and not RELIGION Up until 1980,the Southern Baptist Convention were in fact advocates of abortion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_abortion From the above: History within the Southern Baptist Convention Before 1980, the Southern Baptist Convention advocated for abortion rights.[7] During the 1971 and 1974 Southern Baptist Conventions, Southern Baptists were called upon "to work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother."[8] W. Barry Garrett wrote in the Baptist Press, "Religious liberty, human equality and justice are advanced by the [Roe v. Wade] Supreme Court Decision."[7]" These moralizing,holier-than-thou staggering hypocrites must be exposed as they constantly try and hijack the secular political agenda with their horribly divisive ever changing morality . Further ,for centuries the Roman Catholic Church had no problem with abortion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_abortion Excerpfrom the above: "Main article: Christianity and abortion There is no mention in the Christian Bible about abortion, and at different times Christians have held different beliefs about abortion.[5] For example, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Innocent III, and Pope Gregory XIV believed that a fetus does not have a soul until "quickening," or when a woman begins to feel her fetus kick and move.[6] Therefore, abortion was not a serious sin. However, Pope Stephen V and Pope Sixtus V opposed abortion at any stage of pregnancy.[7] ""TO HOMERT: Not surprising you missed the entire point .Yes indeed the SBC was in fact founded in 1845 soley to give God's blessing to Slavery AND it was this held believe that resulted in the Civil War and after resulted in Jim Crow and all the horrors and literal crimes against humanity perpetrated by Southerners . History is replete with horrors all due to people obeying a religious institutions MORAL CODE only to see those CANCELLED at some later point. Do you think that the PRESENT MORAL CODE of these Fundies (or other religious groups) is not causing great harm in the here and now to homosexuals,to abortion clinic workers and a host of other victims ? Perhaps you need to have a loved one of yours killed by a religious zealot following his churches moral code and maybe you will realize the point of all this . The POINT isTO ISLAM: What on earth are you babbling about.Wikipedia is as good as source of reference to the former RCC position based upon the "quickening" To repeat : "For example, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Innocent III, and Pope Gregory XIV believed that a fetus does not have a soul until "quickening," or when a woman begins to feel her fetus kick and move.[6] Therefore, abortion was not a serious sin. " My positing of this FACT makes my conclusion totally valid that at that point the RCC was indifferent to abortions . You need to educate yourself .TOMISTY: Nobody and certainly I did not say that the RCC has no problem tel quel with abortion so what are you talking about . You wrote that the RCC has always held that abortion is wrong .That of course is a simply lie for I repeat the following: "For example, St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Innocent III, and Pope Gregory XIV believed that a fetus does not have a soul until "quickening," or when a woman begins to feel her fetus kick and move.[6] Therefore, abortion was not a serious sin. " At least three leading RCC historical fiqures obviously had no problem with abortion as we see and define it today . You need to tell Innocent 111 and Gregory 1v that they were wrong not me. more

Resolved Question: Homosexuality:do you approve of equality in the USA?

Now....I am in no way endorsing homosexuality.....I recognise the fact that it is a different life style then what society has endorsed as normal. However, I think in the 21st century...we should have equal rights for EVERYONE....And even though others may not agree with gays...may not like them for their own prejudice reasons....Why not grant them the same freedoms, justices, and TITLES that everyone else has. If they love someone, it is not mine, nor anyone else's job or duty to judge that love....and no one has the right to call it less then that. I'm nineteen years old...and I already have this opinion: That if you don't approve of same sex marriage, don't marry someone of the same sex. Then no one is hurt. And I'm also christian...and I can't stand the christians that bring religous values into this. Yes, this country was formed by christians...but it was also formed on seperation of church and state. That is what makes this country so beautiful....that one has the freedom to worship who ever they want. I believe Christ was the son of God and will return....but Its not my job to make everyone worship him. As a christian it is my job to see who is willing to learn about Christ...to try and persuade others to see the light. Ya know? And there are so many christians that try to shove your scripture down gay's throats, no wonder their petrified to walk into a church. I've read the Bible in its entirety...and though I do believe it was divinely inspired by God, it was written by man and by the point of view of man at the time. If you read more closely you would also read "judge not and ye will not be judged" and "all sin and fall short of the glory of God." THis means no one is better, and NO ONE has the right to judge another human being for any reason. For it also says that "we all are equal at the foot of the cross" If people did their research, they would see that marriage was in no way created or instituted in the Bible. Though it is mentioned as plenty of married peoples lived in the Bible, it did not originate there. It originated in Rome, and at first was seen as a way to own a woman. If we continue to live in a world that practices laws and traditions of 2000 years past, should we not still stone people in the streets? Should we not kill someone for talking back to their mother like as was done in Bible times. If so, say goodbye to every child you ever saw on Maury. Should we not own many wives and trade them or pawn them off for sex for political advancement as done back then? Should we still own blacks? See...Over time we have all come to realize that these practices we're wrong....and anyone who isn't blind would agree. So as the times change, society needs to adjust. At the end of the day I'm still amazed that living in a country that has advanced further then so many other countries, we still have not caught onto this. In respect for all those that lived in the 60's and remember the civil rights movement, don't gays live and struggle with the same thing? I mean, forty years ago, black couldn't marry whites, couldn't get equal pay or jobs, couldn't get equal anything really. ANnd scripture was used to support unequality in this nation. In comparison, gays are going through something very similar. Let me know who agrees, and who disagrees....but I ask that we keep it classy and form an adult conversation here. NO hateful remarks. Just a debate. And try to keep open minds and unbiaced opinions here;. Love ya ANONYMOUS Oh...and if you would like to debate me on this....feel absolutely free to message me on myspace myspace.com/coltonforrest  more

Resolved Question: since the bible said jesus was killed due to his claim of equality with god,,,what comes to your mind?

how does that relate to dying for anyone's sin,,,it gets me confused everytime i think about it.. i know other part of the bible refer to it but looking at the naration of the actual event, one is made tot hink otherwise.. could this be the reason why you christians need faith(evidence of things unseen/unknown ?) cos i havent really found much logical theories in religious circles.they always tell me to have faith, or just believe... ..it makes me wonder why god said he will use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise...and also that the message of the cross is foolishness to those that perish,.............................are we meant to do away with brain when it comes to religion? just believe as an insurance against hell?how come when some christians cant reason well, they decide to label you as atroll or just plainly insult the Question,,,,why not leave if you're faint hearted and cant question your believe?.....enoea (sorry i didnt check the spelling)..wheni used to be a christian, i use to see reason with you, but christians love the idea that they are condemned sinful wretchs who were to be save by the mere confession of believe...... i wonder how many have changed in true terms..most are still below average in behavioral conduct.. more

Resolved Question: Why does God hate Naked People?

I love this theme. Not because I am a nudist, but that it's hard to define. Being Christian, one must be humble and modest, but if God created man in his own image, it sure is strange that the Bible is so critical of naked people. Of course, the number one issue I hear why people should not be naked, over even topless equality, is that naked people would tempt each other the wrong way, and more sins would be committed, yet in Europe, girls run around topless at all the same places as guys, and their sex crimes against women went down as a result. De-sexes the breast. Doesn't make them exciting. Messes up the porn industry by taking a fetish element out.But if there are laws, where do you think they are based on. If you think about it, most laws that deal with clothing are based on fear. Of course, I sometimes fear seeing a 500 pound fat guy topless, but I do respect his toplessness, just as we should respect a woman's at the same place.blessedr..., the reason why porn is bad, is that it creates fetishes. You equate nudity to porn. That's pretty scary. A nude body is just the base form of being human. It's almost a great equalizer, as is dead, because once striped down, you are exactly like everyone else. more

Resolved Question: Whats your thoughts on my philosophy of Life,its long, I know. I'd really like to know.?

The Only way, that the homeless and the starving, and indeed all of the world can be saved, IS if the Money and Trade system is Gone. There Must be a system in place Where EVERY BODY from the moment they are born, are Placed into an Equal START in Life. Where they have food, clothing and proper sheltered Homes to begin Life with. No Ifs Ands Nor Buts about it! No matter what there parents are doing, wether the parents are high status or low status , EVERYBODY MUST HAVE LIFE in order to Enable them to LIVE LIFE. Wether somebody is a "contributor" of society or Not. As a person leaves life and "dies", God doesnt judge there worthyness of how much they contribute or work on this planet . For if God Did, we would see people have Immortality on earth. It sickens me, how the poor are constantly ruled over by the well off or rich. Deciding wether they get Proper Life here, in Homes or not based on wether they "work" or Not. To Me, THAT is Bullshit. There Would be more people WILLING to work, IF they grew Up in a society that showed the WILL to CARE about ALL . BUT as long as Money Rules the earth, LIFE will Not have a chance at peace Nor Evolution, because Beings on a Planet Do NOT grow Through a patch of blind judgement. Wether others in this world agree with me or not, is no matter, the Proof is shown untill eitherwise. when I said that Immortality would exist. What I meant is, that if God DID judge us by our contribution or not, then those who did not "contribute" or "work" would never die, and live here forever, cause they wouldnt be worthy enough to leave. Im just SICK and TIRED of ALL the Trade system in this soceity, which is basically slaves working for the well off or rich. people working for pennies at a fast food place to feed the fat un-caring rich. There is no other Idea I am More passionate about, then the fact that ALL of the Money and Trade system MUST be Deleted In order for the world to Evolve any further! THAT is the reason Why all the societies in the past on earth Fell in colapse of war! Even when the poor raised up and fought and defeated there greedy governments , The SAME circle of greed overcame them because they did NOT get rid of the Trade system. Though I have not studied history, I'm sure you agree with that conclusion as well. The problem is, that the acts of war, bring about the evil that the peacefull are trying to stop. If instead, folks decided, In masses , to stop there work, stop being slaves, and instead went and built there own little villiages elsewhere, to have a life where they helped each other acquire shelter etc, even for those who are not helping , Then that would turn the hearts of those not helping too. But you want to know the funny part, even though there is no law against it, the rich government would create a law and throw all the FREE people into prisons unless they came back and became slaves again. Unless it was in a place that the government could not find them. This topic, I can not help but be passionate about. I dont have a dime, but I have a belief about Freedom. And I hope that one day, the people Free themselves . Then folks like my uncle, who deserved a good life, but died poor cause he grew up poor, wont have to die before knowing Free happiness. Greed Greed GREED! THAT is what causes the trade and money system to exist, it's so that the rich can remain rich and the poor can remain there slaves. Jesus Himself, incouraged this very idea of erasing the trade system. He spoke of a story where somone owed money to his Lord, and the Lord erased his debt because the servant begged him. But then that servant, who had money owed to him by another, punished the one that couldnt pay him his debt, and when the Lord heard of this, he grew angery. I do not know the bible fully well, so I am going by memory here. Yet that is the same messege about the Money Trade system! That having such in existance is NOT helping Anybody. Fear over rules almost everybody, too many folks are too afraid to try and change this system, for fear of trying to think of a replacement system to have the surviving nessecities. But it is the Rich that fear it most for some of them, would not want to have the job of most poor slaves, which is cooking the foods we eat, assembling the homes, collecting all that is needed. It is the negative selfish , self serving folks that created this Trade system in the first place. Meanwhile, Yes, if the system of Trade was taken away, there Would be much worry and certain stress brought forth on the people, But only for a short time period in History. If even a small group of folks brought together in there own community, by hearts that care without a search for thanks nor anything in return, and lead there community into building homes for each other, gathering and cooking food, creating clothing, and spreading it out to those of there community, Those that did that, would soon find not only more help arrive from those who they helped that wouldnt help, But also from those who were once there enemy. I am not talking about this, to expect others to agree or not. I am being a voice, rather it be big or small, for those of us whom are Tired of the Unevolved way that our society is being run. NOTHING has changed, the Royalty STILL rules the poor. Those who are born into Royalty are still those who become it later , and not understanding nor giving understanding to those whom are Not royalty. And When I speak of Royalty, That is the word I use now for all the folks whom are Rich and born into Rich families, or well-off as well. Because it is THEY whom Rule over the rest of us. It is THEM whom the rich government ears wish to make happy, and screws the rest of the population to Hell. Taking people off of "Welfare" because they are not "working", taking away there Homes, and indeed one little bit of perhaps happiness of Hope that is keeping the poor from cutting there own throats. But as always the government are there to only help the "tax payers", and of course, many "tax payers" have the same Uncaring attitude "If they arent working , then I dont want MY tax dollars to pay for there Free ride" Since when does a society kill off those who did not have the same opportunity as them. Indeed MANY are Hyprocrites, who go to church and do good deeds for the church, Yet have the same attitude about the poor. Surely not the attitude of a "christ" like being. Nor follower. Did Jesus heal only those whom were working? Or whom were rich? No, if asked, by another No matter there deeds or none deeds, He would forgive them for there "sins", eraseing there debt of what ever they "owed". This alone would heal them! It is like saying to the person who grew up poor and so had not had the Will to work for there own shelter, and telling them "It is ok, I of all, do not judge you. Go now and just Be" That alone, changes the other. And rather it does with all or not did not , nor does not matter. Rather a person whom was poor and didnt work at a job, ends up Not ever doing so, Giving him/her Life is enough. To evolve a species on any planet, you must do what first? Stop all wars. How does one do that? Stop the chance of any country or people from Not having LIFE. Meaning help provide a Home for them , and food to eat and clothing, nothing more, nothing less. Money is the route to ALL wars. Those who did not have, fight those who DO have. Because deep anger resides within both over there differences of having or not having. It is sooo Obvious! Once a society grows from a point of EQUALITY, then and ONLY THEN will the world as a Whole, begin to research together there connection to the stars and Eternal Destiny. The idea in the t.v. show "Star Trek: The Next Generation", has that idea and truely does show what the society needs to evolve! Indeed, no stronger and obvious words are in the Title of the show itself "the next generation". It is ONLY in That Next generation of Thinking and Belief, that this world will EVER see Progress. Yet as Long as Trade and money exist, we shall not pass on To the next step foward in Generation. And again, look at the words I just said, more lay within, Words reveal everything! I said "pass on to", and right there, is what we always in politics seem to talk about, and indeed within some families, is What shall be passed onto our kids. So many times, does this world, speak about things, that they don't actually carry foward. Many speak about worrying about the next generation of young that are to live the next few decades, Yet No Body seemingly takes a step back to see that in order to pass survival on , they must HAVE survival! No chance of wars, no chance of homelessness, and it is as easy as Stopping the Money Trade systems! And having nothing of that way exist at ALL! If only for that one simple difference made, then would you see a change upon the earth that would shine upon Histories memory forever. The Moment where mankind grew out of its immature stage of greed and want, and began taking steps that actually taught them there is more to life, then what the rich hold. By the actuall existance of a world that does show care to all of its Beings, by providing itself with Life, would turn our eyes to the open FREE idea's of invention. We would reach the stars alot faster then if we had remained as we presently are, which at present is a society that cares more about toys and allowance from there slave jobs, then they do about the actuall importance , which is Life. I , as I have, may speak about Jesus or God , I do not follow any religion, (I do respect those of you whom do though, so do not take ofense to this),and I do not believe everything is interpreted correctly from the bible to most today. But what I do feel, is that there Image and the story of Jesus, is a great positive example of mature Beings. I do believe in a God, and personally I do feel that Jesus did exist, yet that is my personal belief and I shall not here try and convince anyone of anything. We must all have the Freedom to choose our positive beliefs as we may. Yet there is somthing I must point out, that I find interesting. In the story, When Jesus is asked "How do we pray", I believe his answer, gives proof of what I am saying here, about how important it is for us NOT to have a Trade nor money system. Now the response from Jesus varys from each bible, but the one that fits what I'm saying is this: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and Forgive us our debts, as we also have Forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil." Right in the words underlined, is exactly what is proof to me that Jesus himself felt as I do about the Money Trade system is NOT important. That which IS important is the survival of ALL whom LIVE. No matter wether they are helping to contribute or not. For those whom do not contribute , a Home and food and clothing should be provided, even though that person may be considered to owe a debt in return (or so many seem to think), should be given and forgiven anyhow. Just as yourself. For no matter what one does,they shall owe some kind of debt to somebody else (according to the ways of how most seem to think now a days). And so if a person is working to contribute and they feel they deserve to be given the essential survival things, (which everyone does deserve), then they Must Forgive the others who may not be working, no matter the reason for that non-contributor. Because the worker is not working on every job, they are not both working as a cook, and a house builder, and sewing clothing. So if they go with the unforgiving attitude (which most do presently),then according to there mind, they should not be given anything that there work does not provide. So if he is a House Builder, then he should not recieve food nor clothing, just a house. That would cause a problem for the builder, for how will he survive? This is exactly the reason why He Must forgive the one not working, if he himself wishes to be forgiven for not working all three essential area's of survival. To forgive we must give. Even if all we give, is forgiveness. There is one simple way for the world to avoid all the terror that is coming to society , we can avoid starvation, and war, and homelessness, with one simple action.... and that is... erase the Trade and Money system. The problem is , that no one wants to get together and start there own little villiages elsewhere, cause of the comfort that the Trade system provides. Too many folks enjoy just sitting in there homes, and not doing anything, as long as they have comfort where they are. The people need a leader (but not a leader whom is looked at as a leader, nor thinks of themself as one, so that they maintain equal rights, and compassion, andd so no ego is created). All the needless pain in the near future, can be completly avoided, if mankind just chooses to rid itself of there dependancy upon rich government whom uses Trade and money for controll and power. Many times, I wish I had been born in the old days of Robin Hood. For those days, there were not so many comforts provided by the government and people were then able to fight back and think straight instead of get clouded minds through toys that they get at stores. I am guilty of it too, I play video games and watch t.v. Almost as if in those devices there is a sublimibal messsege to relax the mind and take away other ideas. But if people went into villiages of freedom, even then they could still have the same comforts of tv and video games, they just do it in the times they are not busy helping the villiage. So in order for somthing to work, it needs to be NEW, and Not a copy of an old idea. Thats why Trade systems in EVERY Form, Must not exist within a villiage if it is to work and indeed reflect a pure society. Basically in my opinion, if I were in charge of such, I would have everything based on volunteer . All shops, for food, clothing, building etc, would all be folks whom are volunteering. And no matter wether a person is volunteering or not, they would still be provided a home and such for survival. Many would then fear and say "Well what if no one volunteers", then the villiage starves. At the begining it may only be a few folks volunteering, but eventually when demand comes into view, the news would be let out to all there, that in order for demand to be met to provide for all, more folks would need to volunteer. when I speak of demand, I am speaking about when there are lots in need, and not enough service volunteers, thats when everyone would be let known that more volunteers are needed , and untill then the service of provision will not be good untill more help arrives. That is the way, to deny no one, to be honest about the supplies, and honest about what will help to bring more provision for all. In books about people that have had NDE's, they have met a council of beings. This is how I feel things work in most high evolved societies. There exists a Council. One Being to be the speaker, one to be the Being that takes Action , and another that observes. Many of us have a strength in one of these three area;s. Myself, my strength is in observation, and at times, speaking, (mostly in observation though). This is the way, a society should be built upon, is a Council of such. I have no doubts in my mind on it. more

Resolved Question: What is Islam? read all details before you come quick to judge?

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Resolved Question: Does the Bible say Jesus is God?

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 5:18 - "For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." John 8:24 - "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." Note: In the Greek, "He" is not there. John 8:58 - "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.'" Exodus 3:14 - "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'; and He said, Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" John 10:30-33 - "I and the Father are one." 31The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." John 20:28 - "Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Col. 2:9 - "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." Phil. 2:5-8 - "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Heb. 1:8 - "But of the Son He says, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom." Quoted from Psalm 45:6, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom."Isaiah 44:6 - "Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me." Rev. 1:17 - "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."Arthur likes beer: you might want to google "hypostatic union".To Hannah J Paul: Without being lengthy again, you have to take verses like the one you cited along with the verses I cited. Clearly Jesus intent was to point people toward worshipping Jehovah God, as in the verses you pointed out. In the verses I point out, he is clearly shown as God! So...either he was crazy, a con artist, or exactly who he said he was. John 1:1 says it all for me. I'm not a bible scholar, but that verse sums up the Trinity quite well for me. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. more

Resolved Question: I don't fully understand this bible stuff!!?

If the answer is christianity.....is the question? Who wants to believe in a God who needs blood to wash away sins? Who wants to believe in a God thats best plan to populate the world was incest? Who wants to believe in a God that can burn people alive forever? Who wants to believe in a god that thinks its okay to have slaves? Who wants to believe in a God that doesn't believe in equality for all? Who wants to believe in a God that thinks woman are second class? Who wants to believe in a god that was "pleased" with blood offerings in the OT. Do you christians even hear yourselves trying to justify this stuff....take a step back and really look at it.....you have been brainwashed and you need to really look at this awake!!1 BLOOD OFFERINGS.........BLOOD TO WASH AWAY SINS!! Do you really think a perfect God could or would be like this?I give up.....you just don't get it....a perfect good would never need blood to make it all okay......never burn people alive for ever....a perfect god could never even think of such uglyness!! I feel sorry for you people.....its so sad that people can believe this stuff!!! more

Resolved Question: Is this what you have to believe to be a christian....its all stuff from the bible...?

If the answer is christianity.....is the question? Who wants to believe in a God who needs blood to wash away sins? Who wants to believe in a God thats best plan to populate the world was incest? Who wants to believe in a God that can burn people alive forever? Who wants to believe in a god that thinks its okay to have slaves? Who wants to believe in a God that doesn't believe in equality for all? Who wants to believe in a God that thinks woman are second class? Who wants to believe in a God that was "pleased" with blood and burnt offerings? Strange cult christianity...its so funny the way its followers try to justify it...do they hear themselves i wonder? more

Resolved Question: Anybody interested in reading a long but interesting article about the little Known Genocide in Armenia ?

Armenian Genocide Holocaust ------------- The plans of the 1915-23 Armenian Genocide, where a million and half Armenians perished in a barbaric way in their ancestral lands in modern Turkey, actually were drawn up and were in place by the year 1910 or 1912. There is the book "Inner Folds of the Ottoman Revolution" written by Mevlan Zadeh Rifat in Turkish and published in 1929, the author, a pro-sultan Turk, claims that the "Armenian genocide was decided in August 1910 and October 1911, by a Young Turk committee composed entirely of displaced Balkan Jews in the format of a syncretist Jewish-Muslim sect which included Talaat, Enver, Behaeddin Shakir, Jemal, and Nizam posting as Muslims. It met in the Rothschild-funded Grand Orient loge/hotel of Salonika." Syncretism means a combination of different forms of belief or practice; masonism fits that description. As the masons started the 1897 revolution in France with the cry "liberty, fraternity, equality," Young Turks used the same slogan in their revolution of 1908. A 1994 conference paper/lecture by Joseph Brewda of Schiller Institute entitled "Palmerson launches Young Turks to permanently control Middle East " claims the founder of the Young Turks to be a certain Jew by the name of Emmanuel Carasso. He states: "Carasso set up the Young Turk secret society in the 1890s in Salonika, then part of Turkey, and now part of Greece. Carasso was also the grand master of an Italian masonic lodge there, called 'Macedonia Resurrected.' The lodge was the headquarters of the Young Turks, and all the top Young Turk leadership were members." Further on Mr. Brewda says: "During the Young Turk regime, Carasso continued to play a leading role. He met with the sultan, to tell him that he was overthrown. He was in charge of putting the sultan under house arrest. He ran the Young Turk intelligence network in the Balkans. And he was in charge of all food supplies in the empire during World War I." It is ironic that four centuries after the Turkish sultans welcomed the expelled European Jews into Turkey, certain Jews belonging to secret societies and to Zionism will kick the sultan out of power early in 20th century, destroy the Ottoman Empire, and celebrated their victory by massacring by proxy almost the whole Christian Armenian people, one million and half Armenians; half million Greeks; and half million Christian Assyrians & Arameans. In 1982, after the Israeli army conquered Lebanon, they celebrated their victory by massacring by proxy children and women in the Palestinian camp of Shattila, in Lebanon, by allowing Lebanese Phalanger militia fighters to move into the camp for two days and murder its inhabitants. Eighty percent of the camp were killed. Nearly all of the dead were old men, women and children and all of them had been unarmed. Not one gun, not one knife was found in their possession, claims a Palestinian witness. All this according to the percepts of the Talmud, the Satanic Bible of the Jews, which encourages Jews to kill, directly or indirectly, by sayings like: "Every Jew who spills the blood of the godless, is doing the same as making a sacrifice to God." Talmud: Bammidber Raba c21 & Jalkut 772. In the eyes of Talmudists all non-Jews are godless. And "It is the law to kill anyone who denies the Torah. The Christians belong to the denying ones of the Torah." Talmud: Coschen Hamischpat, Hagah 425. Very neatly put sentence indeed. Jesus came and shed his blood for us in order to save humanity and put an end to human and animal sacrifices practiced by Talmudist Jews who believe that the shedding of the blood of the innocents is a prerequisite of their reptilian gods, specially before embarking on an enterprise. They have orchestrated the massacres and slaughters of millions and millions of humanity so that their demonic gods will be appeased and grand them a new homeland in the near-east. Apparently, the sacrifice of hundreds of millions of humanity during the first half of the twenty century (including the six million Jews of Nazi Holocaust) have appeased their gods and their wish was granted. Back to the Young Turks. Mr. Brewda writes: "Another important area was the press. While in power, the Young Turks ran several newspapers, including 'The Young Turk,' whose editor was none other than the Russian Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky. Jabotinsky had been educated as a young man in Italy." Mr. Brewda, ignoring the possibility that Talaat could have been a secret infiltrated Jew, writes: "Of course, there were also some Turks who helped lead the Young Turk movement. For example, Talaat Pasha. Talaat was the interior minister and dictator of the regime during World war I. He had been a member of Carasso's Italian masonic lodge in Salonika. One year prior to the 1908 coup, Talaat became the grand master of the Scottish Rite Masons in the Ottoman Empire. If you go to the [archives of] Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, D.C., you can find that most of the Young Turk leaders were officials in the Scottish Rite." By 1916 the British and French, overpowered by greed, already had a secret agreement to divide the Ottoman Empire between themselves. Presently Hitler's "Mien Kempt " anti-semitic book is a best-seller in Turkey, it is published by various Turkish publishers by thousands and thousands. Are the Turks finally waking up and realizing that their Sultan's refusal to grant Palestine to the Zionist Jews as a homeland had cost them their centuries-old empire? And are the subjugated Turks about to discover who their real rulers are? There are claims that the blue-eyed founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk had Jewish origins. And it is known that at least two presidents of modern Turkey (Inonu and Bayar) were Jewish. In Istanbul, which was the capital and the power center of the Ottoman Empire, there was only few thousands (less than 10,000) Jews and some 200,000 Armenians and Greeks who controlled the trade, finances and arts of the Empire. Jews and Christians were in strong competition through hundreds of years of the life of the empire. Jews were the losers and Christians were the winner always because the Sultans ( there were very few bad sultans who killed Christians) listened to and favored the Christians. For the Zionist Jews to take over Turkey, its Christians had to be eliminated; and that is another ugly facade of the first Genocide of the 20th Century in Turkey. Another source is the lengthy article "The Armenian & Jewish Genocide Project: Eliminating Ethnic Conflict Along the Oil Route From Baku to the Suez Canal Region " written by Clifford Shack and posted in his web-site. Mr. Shack writes: "In the 1880's, the French branch of the Rothschild family acquired interests in Russia's Baku oil fields in an effort to supply their refinery on the Adriatic with cheap Russian oil. In exchange for these interests they built a railroad linking Baku to the newly acquired Black Sea port of Batum. This opened up the Baku oil, a major world supply, to the world. With the success of the new railroad, the Rothschilds had more oil than they could actually sell. Overcoming their fear of competing with the giant Standard oil [of USA], they sought out the huge [Far East] markets east of Suez." Further on Mr. Shack makes his point: "The decision by the shrewd French Rothschild branch to diversify into other areas of oil exploitation was, presumably, a calculated one. Three years after they joined Royal Dutch, production at Baku would come to an abrupt halt in 1905. Although shaken by political activity, the principal disruption was due to the violence of the ethnic conflict between the region's Muslims and the minority population of Armenians who are Christians. This ethnic conflict caused the first interruption of oil distribution to the world market. Standard oil was quick to supplant the needs of the effected markets as its source was operating under the blanket of peace. The Royal/Dutch/Shell Group (and the Nobles) watched their Baku investments go up in flames. Ethnic conflict was at the root of the matter. It could be safely assumed that they were taking measures to eliminate the possibility of that happening in the future." Oil corporations seem to have learned their lessons from history because before the construction of present-day Baku-Ceyhan pipeline has began, someone has made sure that no Armenians were left in Baku anymore. Mr. Shack notes that "the mere elimination of the Armenian population of Baku would not solve the problem of ethnic conflict in that region. The surrounding areas would provide reservoir effect in resupplying the conflicting minority element." And he asks: "was the removal [in 1915-23] of a small minority like the Armenians [from historical Armenia] a fair price to pay for the peace in a region so crucial to the development and investment of the Far East?" Apparently Mr. Shack ignores the factor of revenge raging in the heart of human beasts. Mr. Shacks answers his own question by stating in his article about the big business or big corporations: "It would be fair to say that the genocide of a group of a million or so, to serve the benefit of a billion or so [in the Far East], is less of a question of should it be done, than how it could be done. So as not to reveal any plausible motive which could link the actual planners to the genocide, the scheme involved a proxy party [namely the Muslim Turks, Kurds & Azeris] , which was manipulated through layers of influence, providing sufficient cover for the planners." In chapter 30 of the book of Isaiah we read God speaking by His prophet: "Woe to the rebellious children, who execute a plan, but not Mine, and make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, in order to add sin to sin;...For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord." This is not the whole story; there is an evil aliens connection to it. Amitakh Stanford, in her web-site <http://www.xeeatwelve.com... and in her article "The Anunnaki Remnants Are Still on Earth" writes: "It is these horrible beings, the Anunnaki, that Sitchin has written an apology for. Reading Sitchin's material, he has painted these evil aliens as palatably as possible by presenting the story that they are trying to save their own planet, and leaves the readers to believe that after that is accomplished, they would leave without a trace, so to speak. But, the Anunnaki came here to conquer and enslave, not for any worthy purpose whatsoever, nor will they leave voluntarily. "Anunnaki cull people and other species from the planet. Before, this was often referred to as genocide. However, today the more euphemistic term of "ethnic cleansing" is used. The disdain of other races is another vile Anunnaki-sponsored trait to divide people into factions and create hatred and distrust of one another. Any fair look at history will verify this as true. The twentieth-century Holocaust is one such example." So after all, we are not dealing with normal human beings, but by humans who are possessed with those alien entities and humans that are manipulated, influenced, and given instructions by those evil aliens in their various factions. _____ This research article is not copyrighted. Reproduction is permitted. No one need waste time calling the author an 'anti-semite.' He will be the first to come to the help of a Jew if and when a Jewish life is in peril. Before you call him anti-semite your better call the God of the Bible and His prophets 'anti-semites.' If not, then you have to re-read the Bible...carefully. For Joseph Brewda's article go to : SchillerInstitute.org then put the name of the author or title of his article in the search tab of the web-site of the institute. For Clifford Shack's article, put his name in the search tap of Yahoo in order to find his web-site where his article is posted. The Turkish book "Inner Folds of the Ottoman Revolution" has no known English translation. It was translated into Armenian in 1939 in Beirut, Lebanon, by Donigian Press. http://www.rense.com/general64/genoc.htm more

Resolved Question: what is the status of Christ in Islam ?

Christ in Islam by Ahmed Deedat In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One : Christian Muslim Responses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debate on TV At the end of the debate - "Christianity and Islam" - which appeared on the SABC-TV program "Cross Questions" on Sunday 5th June 1983, the Chairman, Mr. Bill Chalmers commented: "I think it can be said from this discussion that there is, at present, somewhat more accommodation on the Islamic side for the founder of Christianity than there is on the Christian side for the founder of Islam. What the significance of that is, we leave it to you, the viewer, to determine, but I do think you will agree that it is a good thing that we are talking together." "Bill" as he is popularly addressed, without any formalities, on all his programs, by all his panelists, is extremely charming and stupendous in his humility. He is a picture of what the Holy Quran portrays of a good Christian: "...And nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say: 'We are Christians': because among these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world. And they are not arrogant." (The Holy Quran 5:82) Jesus - His Status Were the Muslims on the panel trying to placate the viewers out policy, deceit or diplomacy? Nothing of the kind! They were only articulating what God Almighty had commanded them to say in the Holy Quran. As Muslims, they had no choice. They had said in so many words: "We Muslims believe, that Jesus was one of the mightiest messengers of God that he was the Christ, that he was born miraculously without any male intervention (which many modern-day Christians do not believe today), that he gave life to the dead by God's permission and that he healed those born blind and the lepers by god's permission. In fact, no Muslim is a Muslim if he or she does not believe in Jesus!" Pleasant Surprise Over 90% of the people who witnessed this debate must have been pleasantly, but skeptically, surprised. They might have not believed their ears. They must have surmised that the Muslims were playing to the gallery - that they were trying to curry favor with their fellow Christian countrymen; that if the Muslims would say a few good words about Jesus, then in reciprocation the Christians might say a few good words about Muhammed (may the peace and the blessings of God be upon all His righteous servants, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed...etc.); that I scratch your back and you scratch my back - which would be a sham or hypocrisy. Hate Cultivated We cannot blame the Christians for their skepticism. They have been so learned for centuries. They were trained to think the worst of the man Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, and his religion. How aptly did Thomas Carlyle say about his Christian brethren over a hundred and fifty years ago: "The lies which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to ourselves only." We Muslims are partly responsible for this. We have not done anything substantial to remove the cobwebs. Ocean of Christianity South Africa is an ocean of Christianity. If Libya boasts the highest percentage of Muslims on the continent of Africa, then the Republic of South Africa would also be entitled to boast the highest percentage of Christians. In this ocean of Christianity the R.S.A. - the Muslims are barely 2% of the total population. We are a voteless minority - numerically, we count for nothing; politically, we count for nothing; and economically, one white man, as Oppenheimer, could buy out the whole lot of us, lock, stock and barrel. So if we had feigned to appease, we might be excused. But no! We must proclaim our Master's Will; we must declare the Truth, whether we liked it or not. In the words of Jesus: "Seek ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Two : Jesus in the Quran -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christians Unaware The Christian does not know that the true spirit of charity which the Muslim displays, always, towards Jesus and his mother Mary spring from the fountainhead of his faith - the Holy Quran. He does not know that the Muslim does not take the holy name of Jesus, in his own language, without saying Eesa, alaihi assalam ("Jesus, peace be upon him") The Christian does not know that in the Holy Quran Jesus is mentioned twenty five times. For example: "We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit" (The Holy Quran 2:87) "O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary..." (3:45) "...Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of god..." (4:171) "...And in their foot steps we sent Jesus the son of Mary..." (5:46) "And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous." (6:85) Jesus - His Titles Though Jesus is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Holy Quran, he is also addressed with respect as: Ibn Maryam, meaning "The son of Mary"; and as the Maseeh (in Hebrew it is the Messiah), which is translated as "Christ". He is also known as Abdullah, "The servant of Allah"; and as Rasul u Allah, the messenger of Allah. He is spoken of as "The Word of God", as "The Spirit of God", as a "Sign of God", and numerous other epithets of honor spread over fifteen different chapters. The Holy Quran honors this mighty messenger of God, and the Muslims have not fallen short over the past fourteen hundred years in doing the same. There is not a single disparaging remark in the entire Quran to which even the most jaundiced among the Christians can take exception. Eesa Latinised to "Jesus" The Holy Quran refers to Jesus as Eesa, and this name is used more times than any other title, because this was his "Christian" name. Actually, his proper name was Eesa (Arabic), or Esau (Hebrew); classical Yeheshua, which the Christian nations of the West latinised as Jesus. Neither the "J" nor the second "s" in the name Jesus is to be found in the original tongue - they are not found in the Semitic languages. The word is very simply "E S A U" a very common Jewish name, used more than sixty times in the very first booklet alone of the Bible, in the part called "Genesis". There was at least one "Jesus" sitting on the "bench" at the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Josephus the Jewish historian mentions some twenty five Jesus' in his "Book of Antiquities". The New Testament speaks of "Bar-Jesus" a magician and a sorcerer, a false prophet (Acts 13:6); and also "Jesus-Justus" a Christian missionary, a contemporary of Paul (Colossians 4:11). These are distinct from Jesus the son of Mary. Transforming "Esau" to (J)esu(s) - Jesus - makes it unique. This unique (?) name has gone out of currency among the Jews and the Christians from the 2nd century after Christ. Among the Jews, because it came to be a name of ill - repute, the name of one who blasphemed in Jewry; and among the Christians because it came to be the proper name of their God. The Muslim will not hesitate to name his son Eesa because it is an honored name, the name of a righteous servant of the Lord. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Three : Mother And Son -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Honored The birth of Jesus Christ is described in two places of the Quran - chapter 3 and chapter 19. Reading from the beginning of his birth, we come across the story of Mary, and the esteemed position which she occupies in the House of Islam, before the actual annunciation of the birth of Jesus is given: "'Behold'! the angels said: 'O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of all nations" (3:42) "Chosen thee above the women of all nations." Such an honor is not to be found given to Mary even in the Christian Bible! The verse continues: "O Mary! Worship thy Lord devoutly: prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." (3:43) Divine Revelation What is the source of this beautiful and sublime recitation which, in its original Arabic, moves men to ecstasy and tears? verse 44 below explains: "This is part of the tidings, of the things unseen, which We reveal unto thee (O Muhammad!) by inspiration: Thou wast not with them when they cast lots with arrows, as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary: nor wast thou with them when they disputed (the point)." (3:44) Mary's Birth The story is that the maternal grandmother of Jesus, Hannah, had hitherto been barren. She poured out her heart to God: If only God will grant her a child, she would surely dedicate such a child for the service of God in the temple. God granted her prayer and Mary was born. Hannah was disappointed. She was yearning for a son, but instead she delivered a daughter; and in no way is the female like the male, for what she had in mind. What was she to do? She had made a vow to God. She waited for Mary to be big enough to fend for herself. When the time came, Hannah took her darling daughter to the temple, to hand over for temple services. Every priest wanted to be the god-father of this child. They cast lots with arrows for her - like the tossing of the coin - head or tail? eventually she fell to the lot of Zakariya, but not without a dispute. The Source of His Message This was the story. But where did Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, get this knowledge from? He was an Ummi, Arabic for "unlettered". He did not low how to read or write. He is made by God Almighty to answer this very question in the verse above, by saying that it was all by divine inspiration. "No!", says the controversialist. "This is Muhammed's own concoction. He copied his revelations from the Jews and Christians. He plagiarized it. He forged it." Knowing full-well, and believing as we do, that the whole Quran is the veritable Word of God, we will nevertheless agree, for the sake of argument, with the enemies of Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, for a moment, that he wrote it. We can now expect some cooperation from the unbelievers. Ask him: "Have you any qualms in agreeing that Muhammed was an Arab?" Only an ignorant will hesitate to agree. In that case there is no sense in pursuing any discussion. Cut short the talk. Close the book! With the man of reason, we proceed. "That this Arab, in the first instance, was addressing other Arabs. He was not talking to Indian Muslims, Chinese Muslims, or Nigerian Muslims. He was addressing his own people, the Arabs. Whether they agreed with him or not, he told them in the most sublime form, words that were seared into the hearts and minds of his listeners that Mary the mother of Jesus, a Jewess, was chosen above the women of all nations. Not his own mother, nor his wife nor his daughter, nor any other Arab woman, but a Jewess! Can one explain this? Because to everyone his own mother or wife, or daughters would come before other women. Why would the prophet of Islam honor a woman from his opposition! and a Jewess at that! belonging to a race which had been looking down upon his people for three thousand years? Just as they still look down upon their Arab brethren today." Sarah and Hagar The Jews learn, from the Bible, that their father, Abraham, had two wives Sarah and Hagar. They say that they are the children of Abraham through Sarah his legitimate wife; that their Arab brethren have descended through Hagar, a "bondwoman", and that as such, the Arabs are an inferior breed. Will anyone please explain the anomaly as to why Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, if he is the author, chose this Jewess for such high honor? The answer is simple, he had no choice he had no right to speak of his own desire. "It is no less than an inspiration sent down to him." (53:4) The Chapter of Maryam There is a Chapter in the Holy Quran, named Surat u Maryam "Chapter Mary", named in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; again, such an honor is not to be found given to Mary in the Christian Bible. Out of the 66 books of the Protestants and 73 of the Roman Catholics, not one is named after Mary or her son. You will find books named after Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul and two score more obscure names, but not a single one is that of Mary! If Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, was the author of the Holy Quran, then he would not have failed to include in it with Mary, the mother of Jesus, his own mother Aamina, his dear wife Khadija, or his beloved daughter Fatima. But No! No! This can never be. The Quran is not his handiwork!. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Four : The Good News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- " 'Behold!' the angels said: 'O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him: his name will be Jesus, the son of Mary; held in honor in this world and the hereafter; and (of the company of) those nearest to Allah." (3:45) "Nearest to God," not physically nor geographically, but spiritually. Compare this with "And (Jesus) sat on the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19). The bulk of Christendom has misunderstood this verse as well as many others in the Bible. They imagine the Father (God) sitting on a throne, a glorified chair, and His Son, Jesus, sitting on His right hand side. Can you conjure up the picture? If you do, you have strayed from the true knowledge of God. He is no old Father Christmas. He is beyond the imagination of the mind of man. He exists. He is real, but He is not like anything we can think of, or imagine. In eastern languages "right hand" meant a place of honor, which the Holy Quran more fittingly describes as "In the company of those nearest to Allah." The above verse confirms that Jesus is the Christ. and that he is the Word which God bestowed upon Mary. Again, the Christian reads into these words, a meaning which they do not carry. They equate the word "Christ" with the idea of a god-incarnate; and the "Word" of God to be God. "Christ" Not a Name The word "Christ" is derived from the Hebrew word Messiah, Arabic Maseeh. Root word masaha, meaning "to rub", "to massage", "to anoint". Priests and kings were anointed when being consecrated to their offices. But in its translated Grecian form, "Christ" seems unique: befitting Jesus only. Christians like to translate names into their own language; like Cephas to "Peter" , Messiah to "Christ". How do they do that? Very easily. Messiah in Hebrew means "Anointed". The Greek word for anointed is Christos. Just lop off the 'os' from Christos, and you are left with "Christ"; a unique name! Christos means "Anointed", and anointed means appointed in its religious connotation. Jesus, peace and blessing be upon him, was appointed (anointed) at his baptism by John the Baptist, as God's Messenger. Every prophet of God is so anointed or appointed. The Holy Bible is replete with the "anointed" ones. In the original Hebrew, he was made a Messiah. Let us keep to the English translation "anointed." Not only were prophets and priests and kings anointed (Christos-ed), but horns, and cherubs and lamp-posts also. "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar ..." (Genesis 31:13) "If the priest that is anointed do sin ..." (Leviticus 4:3) "And Moses... anointed the tabernacle and all things that was therein..." (Leviticus 8:100) "..the Lord shall...exalt the horn of his anointed" (I Samuel 2:10) "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed to Cyrus..." (Isaiah 45:1) "Thou art the anointed cherub..." (Ezekiel 28:14) There are an hundred more such references in the Holy Bible. Every time you come across the word "anointed" in your Bible, you can take it that that word would be christos in the Greek translations, and if you take the same liberty with the word that the Christians have done, you will have Christ Cherub, Christ Cyrus, Christ Priest and Christ Pillar, ...etc. Some Titles Exclusive Although, every prophet of God is an anointed one of God, a Messiah, the title Maseeh or Messiah, or its translation "Christ" is exclusively reserved for Jesus, the son of Mary, in both Islam and in Christianity. This is not unusual in religion. There are certain other honorific titles which may be applied to more than one prophet, yet being made exclusive to one by usage: like "Rasulullah", meaning "Messenger of God", which title is applied to both Moses (19:51) and Jesus (61:6) in the Holy Quran. Yet "Rasullullah" has become synonymous only with Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, among Muslims. Every prophet is indeed a "Friend of God", but its Arabic equivalent "Khalillullah" is exclusively associated with Father Abraham. This does not mean that the others are not God's friends. "Kaleemullah", meaning "One who spoke with Allah" is never used for anyone other than Moses, yet we believe that God spoke with many of His messengers, including Jesus and Muhammed, may the peace and blessings of God be upon all His servants. Associating certain titles with certain personages only, does not make them exclusive or unique in any way. We honor all in varying terms. Whilst the good news was being announced (verse 45 above) Mary was told that her unborn child will be called Jesus, that he would be the Christ, a "Word" from God, and that... "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous." (3:46) "At length she brought the (babe) to her people carrying him. They said: 'O Mary! truly a strange thing has thou brought!'. 'O sister of Aaron!, thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!' " (The Holy Quran 19:27-28) Jews Amazed There is no Joseph the carpenter here. The circumstances being peculiar, Mary the mother of Jesus had retired herself to some remote place in the East (19:16). After the birth of the child she returns. A. Yusuf Ali, comments in his popular English translation of the Quran: "The amazement of the people knew no bounds. In any case they were prepared to think the worst of her, as she had disappeared from her kin for some time. But now she comes, shamelessly parading a babe in her arms! How she had disgraced house of Aaron, the fountain of priesthood! "Sister of Aaron": Mary is reminded of her high lineage and the unexceptionable morals of her father and mother. How, they said, she had fallen, and disgraced the name of her progenitors! What could Mary do? How could she explain? Would they, in their censorious mood accept her explanation? All she could do was to point to the child, who, she knew, was no ordinary child. And the child came to her rescue. By a miracle he spoke, defended his mother, and preached to an unbelieving audience." Allah azza wa jall says in the Quran: "But she pointed to the babe. They said: 'How can we talk one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: 'I am indeed a servant of Allah (God) : He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet: 'and He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I live. '(He hath made me) kind to my mother, and not overbearing or unblest; 'So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life again)'!" (19:29-33) His First Miracle(s) Thus Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, defended his mother from the grave calumny and innuendoes of her enemies. This is the very first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Holy Quran that, he spoke as an infant from his mother's arms. Contrast this with his first miracle in the Christian Bible which occurred when he was over thirty years of age: "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.' His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." (John 2:110) Since this miracle, wine has flowed like water in Christendom. Many reason that what was good for the Master is good enough for them. Jesus was no "kill-joy" they say. Didn't he make good potent wine, that even those "well drunk", those whose senses had been dulled could make out the difference ? "That the best was kept for the last.". This was no pure grape juice. It was the same wine that, according to the Christian Bible, enabled the daughters of Lot to seduce their father (Genesis 19:32-33).It was the same wine which the Christian is advised to eschew in Ephesians 5:18 - "And be not drunk with wine..." It is that innocent (?) 1% potency that eventually leads millions down into the gutter. America has 10 million drunkards in the midst of 70 million "born-again" Christians! The Americans call their drunkards "Problem Drinkers". In South Africa, they are called "Alcoholics"; drunkard is too strong a word for people to stomach. But the Prime Minister of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, does not hesitate to call a spade a spade. He says, "I am not prepared to lead nation of drunkards", referring to his own people who drink intoxicants. Whether the water "blushed" or not "seeing" Jesus, we cannot blame him or his disciples for the drinking habits of his contemporaries. For he had truly opined, "have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). Mankind had not reached the stage of receiving the whole Truth of Islam. Did he not also say "You cannot put new wine into old bottles"? (Matthew 9:17). "Mother" or "Woman"? According to St. John, in the fourth verse above, describing the marriage feast at Cana, we are told that Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, behaved insolently towards his mother. He calls her "woman," and to rub more salt into the wound he is made to say "what have I to do with thee?" What connection is there between you and me, or what have I got to do with you? Could he have forgotten that this very "woman" had carried him for nine months, and perhaps suckled him for 2 years, and had borne endless insults and injuries on account of him? Is she not his mother? Is there no word in his language for "mother"? Strange as it may seem, that while the missionaries boast about their master's humility, meekness and long-suffering, they call him the "Prince of Peace" and they sing that "he was led to the slaughter like a lamb, and like a sheep who before his shearer is dumb, he opened not his mouth", yet they proudly record in the same breath, that he was ever ready with invectives for the elders of his race, and was always itching for a showdown i.e. if their records are true: "Ye hypocrites!" "Ye wicked and adulterous generation!" "Ye whited sephulcres!" "Ye generation of vipers!" and now to his mother: "Woman..." Jesus Defended Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, the Messenger of God, is made to absolve Jesus from the false charges and calumnies of his enemies. "And He (God Almighty) hath made me (Jesus) kind to my mother, and not overbearing or unblest" (19:31). On receiving the good news of the birth of a righteous son Mary responds: "She said: 'O My Lord! how shall I have a son, when no man hath touched me?" The angel says in reply: "He said: 'Even so: Allah (God) createth what He willeth: when He hath decreed a matter He but sayth o it 'Be,' and it is! And Allah (God) will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Torah (Law) and the Gospel," (3:47-48). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Five : Quranic and Biblical Versions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meeting the Reverend I was visiting the "Bible House" in Johannesburg. Whilst browsing through the stacks of Bibles and religious books, I picked up an Indonesian Bible and had just taken in hand a Greek - English New Testament, a large, expensive volume. I had not realized that I was being observed by the supervisor of the Bible House. Casually, he walked up to me. Perhaps my beard and my Muslim headgear were an attraction and a challenge? He inquired about my interest in that costly volume. I explained that as a student of comparative religion, I had need for such a book. He invited me to have tea with him in his office. It was very kind of him and I accepted. Over the cup of tea, I explained to him the Muslim belief in Jesus, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. I explained to him the high position that Jesus occupied in the House of Islam. He seemed skeptical about what I said. I was amazed at his seeming ignorance, because only retired Reverend gentlemen can become Supervisors of Bible Houses in South Africa. I began reciting from verse 42 of chapters 3 of the Holy Quran: "'Behold!' The angels said: 'O Mary, Allah hath chosen thee...'" I wanted the Reverend to listen, not only to the meaning of the Quran, but also to the music of its cadences when the original Arabic was recited. Rev. Dunkers (for that was his name) sat back and listened with rapt attention to "Allah's Words". When I reached the end of verse 49, the Reverend commented that the Quranic message was like that of his own Bible. He said, he saw no difference between what he behaved as a Christian, and what I had read to him. I said: "that was true". If he had come across these verses in the English language alone without their Arabic equivalent, side by side, he would not have been able to guess in a hundred years that he was reading the Holy Quran. If he were a Protestant, he would have thought that he was reading the Roman Catholic Version, if he had not seen one, or the Jehovah's Witness Version or the Greek Orthodox Version, or the hundred and one other versions that he might not have seen; but he would never have guessed that he was reading the Quranic version. The Christian would be reading here, in the Quran, everything he wanted to hear about Jesus, but in a most noble, elevated and sublime language. He could not help being moved by it. In these eight terse verses from 42 to 49 we are told: (a) That Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a virtuous woman, and honored above the women of all nations. (b) That all that was being said was God's own Revelation to mankind. (c) That Jesus was the "Word" of God. (d) That he was the Christ that the Jews were waiting for. (e) That God will empower this Jesus to perform miracles even in infancy. (f) That Jesus was born miraculously, without any male intervention. (g) That God will vouchsafe him Revelation. (h) That he will give life to the dead by God's permission, and that he will heal those born blind and the lepers by God's permission, ... etc. "Chalk and Cheese" The most fervent Christian cannot take exception to a single statement or word here. But the difference between the Biblical and the Quranic narratives is that between "chalk and cheese". "To me they are identical, what is the difference?" the Reverend asked. I know that in their essentials both the stories agree in their details, but when we scrutinize them closely we will discover that the difference between them is staggering. Now compare the miraculous conception as announced in verse 47 of the Holy Quran with what the Holy Bible says: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, (as husband and wife) she was found with child of the holy ghost."(Matthew 1:18) Master Dramatizer The eminent Billy Graham from the United States of America dramatized this verse in front of 40,000 people in King Park, Durban, with his index finger sticking out and swinging his outstretched arm from right to left, he said: "And the Holy Ghost came and impregnated Mary!" On the other hand St. Luke tells us the very same thing but less crudely. He says, that when the annunciation was made, Mary was perturbed. Her natural reaction was : "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34) meaning sexually. The Quranic narrative is: "She said: O my Lord! how shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" (3:47) meaning sexually. In essence there is no difference between these two statements "seeing I know not a man" and "when no man hath touched me". Both the quotations have an identical meaning. It is simply a choice of different words meaning the same thing. But the respective replies to Mary's plea in the two Books (the Quran and the Bible) are revealing. The Biblical Version Says the Bible: "And the angle answered and said into her : 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" (Luke 1:35) Can't you see that you are giving the atheist, the skeptic, the agnostic a stick to beat you with? They may well ask "How did the Holy Ghost come upon Mary?" "How did the Highest overshadow her?" We know that literally it does not mean that: that it was an immaculate conception, but the language used here, is distasteful. Now contrast this with the language of the Quran: The Quranic Version "He said (the angel says in reply): 'Even so: Allah (God) createth what He willeth: when He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!' " (3:47) This is the Muslim concept of the birth of Jesus. For God to create a Jesus, without a human father, He merely has to will it. If He wants to create a million Jesus' without fathers or mothers, He merely wills them into existence. He does not have to take seeds and transfer them, like men or animals by contact or artificial insemination . He wills everything into being by His word of command "Be" and "It is". There is nothing new in what I am telling you, I reminded the Reverend. It is in the very first Book of your Holy Bible, Genesis 1:3 "And God said..." What did He say? He said "Be" and "It was". He did not have to articulate the words. This is our way of understanding the word "Be", that He willed everything into being. Choice for His Daughter "Between these two versions of the birth of Jesus, the Quranic version and the Biblical version, which would you prefer to give your daughter ?" I asked the supervisor of the Bible House. He bowed his head down in humility and admitted "The Quranic Version." How can "a forgery" or "an imitation", as it is alleged of the Quran, be better than the genuine, the original, as it is claimed for the Bible? It can never be, unless this Revelation to Muhammed is what it, itself, claims to be viz. The pure and holy Word of God! There are a hundred different tests that the unprejudiced seeker after truth can apply to the Holy Quran and it will qualify with flying colors to being a Message from on High. Like Adam Does the miraculous birth of Jesus make him a God or a "begotten" son of God? No! says the Holy Quran: "The similitude of Jesus before Allah (God) is that of Adam; He created him from dust then said to him: 'Be', and he was." (3:59) Yusuf Ali, comments in his notes in the Quran translation: "After a description of the high position which Jesus occupies as a prophet in the preceding verses we have a repudiation of the dogma that he was God, or the son of God, or any thing more than man. If it is said that he was born without a human father, Adam was also so born. Indeed Adam was born without either a human father or mother. As far as our physical bodies are concerned they are mere dust. In God's sight Jesus was as dust just as Adam was or humanity is. The greatness of Jesus arose from the divine command 'Be': for after that he was more than dust a great spiritual leader and teacher" The logic of it is that, if being born without a male parent entitles Jesus to being equated with God, then, Adam would have a greater right to such honor, and this no Christian would readily concede. Thus, the Muslim is made to repudiate the Christian blasphemy. Further, if the Christian splits hairs by arguing that Adam was "created" from the dust of the ground, whereas Jesus was immaculately "begotten" in the womb of Mary, then let us remind him that, even according to his own false standards, there is yet another person greater than Jesus, in his own Bible . Who is this superman? Paul's Innovation "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God... Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life..." (Hebrews 7:1,3) Here is a candidate for Divinity itself, for only God Almighty could possess these qualities. Adam had a beginning (in the garden), Jesus had a beginning (in the stable); Adam had an end and, claim the Christians, so had Jesus "and he gave up the ghost". But where is Melchisedec? Perhaps he is hibernating somewhere like Rip Van Winkel (a fairy tale character who slept for many ages.) And what is this "Hebrews"? It is the name of one of the Books of the Holy Bible, authored by the gallant St. Paul, the self appointed thirteenth apostle of Christ. Jesus had twelve apostles, but one of them (Judas) had the Devil in him. So the vacancy had to be filled, because of the "twelve" thrones in heaven which had to be occupied by his disciples to judge the children of Israel (Luke 22:30). Saul was a renegade Jew, and the Christians changed his name to "Paul", probably because "Saul" sounds Jewish. This St. Paul made such a fine mess of the teachings of Jesus, peace blessings be upon him, that he earned for himself the second most coveted position of "The Most Influential Men of History" in the monumental work of Michael H. Hart: The 100 or The Top Hundred or the Greatest Hundred in History. Paul outclasses even Jesus because, according to Michael Hart, Paul was the real founder of present day Christianity. The honor of creating Christianity had to be shared between Paul and Jesus, and Paul won because he wrote more Books of the Bible than any other single author, whereas Jesus did not write a single word. Paul needed no inspiration to write his hyperboles here and in the rest of his Epistles. Did not Hitler's Minister of Propaganda Goebbels say: "The bigger the lie the more likely it is to be believed'? But the amazing thing about this exaggeration is that no Christian seems to have read it. Every learned man to whom I have shown this verse to, seemed to be seeing it for the first time. They appear dumbfounded, as described by the fitting words of Jesus: "...seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand." (Matthew 13:13) The Holy Quran also contains a verse which fittingly describes this well cultivated sickness: "Deaf, dumb and blind, will they not return (to the path)." (2:18) The Sons of God The Muslim takes strong exception to the Christian dogma that "Jesus is the only begotten son, begotten not made". This is what the Christian is made to repeat from childhood in his catechism. I have asked learned Christians, again and again as to what they are really trying to emphasize, when they say: "Begotten not made". They know that according to their own God given (?) records, God has sons by the tons: "...Adam, which was the son of God."(Luke 3:38) "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair... And when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them..." (Genesis 6: 2,4) "...Israel is My son, even My firstborn:" (Exodus 4:22) "...for I (God) am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn." (Jeremiah 31:9) "...the Lord hath said unto me (David): 'Thou art My son: this day have I begotten thee." (Psalms 2:7) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 18:14) Can't you see that in the language of the Jew, every righteous person, every Tom, Dick and Harry who followed the Will and Plan of God, was a "Son of God". It was a metaphorical descriptive term commonly used among the Jews. The Christian agrees with this reasoning, but goes on to say: "but Jesus was not like that". Adam was made by God. Every living thing was made by God, He is the Lord, Cherisher and Sustainer of all. Metaphorically speaking therefore God is the Father of all. But Jesus was the "begotten" son of God, not a created son of God ? Begotten Means "Sired"! In my forty years of practical experience in talking to learned Christians, not a single one has opened his mouth to hazard an explanation of the phrase "begotten not made". It had to be an American who dared to explain. He said : "It means, sired by God." "What!?" I exploded : "Sired by God?" "No, no!" he said, "I am only trying to explain the meaning, I do not believe that God really sired a son." The sensible Christian says that the words do not literally mean what they say. Then why do you say it? Why are you creating unnecessary conflict between the 1,200,000,000 Christians and a thousand million Muslims of the world in making senseless statements? Reason for Objection The Muslim takes exception to the word "begotten", because begetting is an animal act, belonging to the lower animal functions of sex. How can we attribute such a lowly capacity to God? Metaphorically we are all the children of God, the good and the bad, and Jesus would be closer to being the son of God than any one of us, because he would be more faithful to God then any one of us can ever be. From that point of view he is preeminently the son of God. Although this pernicious word "begotten" has now unceremoniously been thrown out of the "Most Accurate" version of the Bible, the Revised Standard Version (R.S.V.), its ghost still lingers on in the Christian mind, both black and white. Through its insidious brainwashing the white man is made to feel superior to his black Christian brother of the same Church and Denomination. And in turn, the black man is given a permanent inferiority complex through this dogma. Brain-washed Inferiority The human mind can't help reasoning that since the "begotten son" of an African will look like an African, and that of a Chinaman as a Chinese, and that of an Indian like an Indian: so the begotten son of God aught naturally to look like God. Billions of beautiful pictures and replicas of this "only begotten son of God" are put in peoples hands. He looks like a European with blonde hair, blue eyes and handsome features like e one I saw in the "King of Kings" or "The Day of Triumph" or "Jesus of Nazareth". Remember Jeffrey Hunter? The "Savior" of the Christian is more like a German than a Jew with his polly nose. So naturally, if the son is a white man, the father would also be a white man (God?). Hence the darker skinned races of the earth subconsciously have the feeling of inferiory ingrained in their souls as God's "step children". No amount of face creams, skin lighteners and hair straighteners will erase the inferiority. God is neither black nor white. He is beyond the imagination of the mind of man. Break the mental shackles of a Caucasian (white) man-god, and you have broken the shackles of a permanent inferiority. But intellectual bondages are harder to shatter: the slave himself fights to retain them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Six : Answer to Christian Dilemmas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Christ in Islam" is really Christ in the Quran: and the Holy Quran has something definite to say about every aberration of Christianity. The Quran absolves Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, from all the false charges of his enemies as well as the misplaced infatuation of his followers. His enemies allege that he blasphemed against God by claiming Divinity. His misguided followers claim that he did avow Divinity, but that was not blasphemy because he was God. What does the Quran say ? Addressing both the Jews and the Christians, Allah says: "O People of the Book! commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah (God) aught but the truth. Christ Jesus son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah (God), and His Word, which he bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah (God) and His messengers..." (4:171) Going to Extremes "O People of the Book" is a very respectful title with which the Jews and the Christians are addressed in the Holy Quran. In other words, Allah is saying "O Learned People!", "O People with a Scripture!" According to their own boast, the Jews and the Christians prided themselves over the Arabs, who had no Scripture before the Quran. As a learned people, Allah pulls up both the contending religionists for going to either extremes as regards the personality of Christ. The Jews made certain insinuations about the legitimacy of Jesus and charged him of blasphemy by twisting his words. The Christians read other meanings into his words; wrench words out of their context to make him God. The modern day Christian, the hot - gospeller, the Bible thumper, uses harsher words and cruder approaches to win over a convert to his blasphemies. He says: (a) "Either Jesus is God or a liar" (b) "Either Jesus is God or a lunatic" (c) "Either Jesus is God or an impostor" These are his words, words culled from Christian literature. Since no man of charity, Muslim or otherwise, can condemn Christ so harshly as the Christian challenges him to do, perforce he must keep non-committal. He thinks he must make a choice between one or the other of these silly extremes. It does not occur to him that there is an alternative to this Christian conundrum. Sensible Alternative Is it not possible that Jesus is simply what he claimed to be, a prophet, like so many other prophets that passed away before him? Even that he is one of the greatest of them, a mighty miracle worker, a great spiritual teacher and guide - the Messiah!. Why only God or Lunatic? Is "lunacy" the opposite of "Divinity" in Christianity? What is the antonym of God? Will some clever Christian answer? The Quran lays bare the true position of Christ in a single verse, followed by a note by Yusuf Ali's: "That he was the son of a woman, Mary, and therefore a man;" "But a messenger, a man with a mission from Allah (God), and therefore entitled to honor." "A Word bestowed on Mary, for he was created by Allah's word 'Be', and he was;"(3:59). A spirit proceeding from Allah (God), but not Allah: his life and mission were more limited than in the case of some other messengers, though we must pay equal honor to him as a prophet of Allah. The doctrines of Trinity, equality with God, and sons, are repudiated as blasphemies. Allah (God) is independent of all needs and has no need of a son to manage His affairs. The Gospel of John (whoever wrote it) has put a great deal of Alexandrian Gnostic mysticism round the doctrine of the Word (Greek, Logos), but it is simply explained here." Jesus Questioned Reproduced below are verses 119 to 121 from the Chapter of Maeda (chapter 5 of the Quran) depicting the scene of Judgment Day, when Allah will question Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding the misdirected zeal of his supposed followers in worshipping him and his mother: and his response, "And behold! Allah will say: 'O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah?' He will say: 'Glory to Thee! never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I know not what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden. 'Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them; when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thou art a witness to all things. 'If Thou dost punish them, they are Thy servant: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power, the Wise.'" (5:116-118) Claimed No Divinity If this is the statement of truth from the All-Knowing, that "Never said I to them aught except what Thou didst command me to say, to wit, 'Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord'", then how do the Christians justify worshipping Jesus? There is not a single unequivocal statement throughout the Bible, in all its 66 volumes of the Protestant versions, or in the 73 volumes of the Roman Catholic versions, where Jesus claims to be God or where he says "worship me". Nowhere does he say that he and God Almighty "are one" and "the same person." The last phrase above "one and the same person" tickles many a "hot-gospeller" and "Bible-thumper," not excluding the Doctor of Divinity and the Professor of Theology. Even the new converts to Christianity have memorized these verses. They are programmed to rattle off verses out of context, upon which they can hang their faith. The words "are one" activates the mind by association of memories. "Yes", say the Trinitarians, the worshippers of three gods in one God, and one God in three gods, "Jesus did claim to be God!" Where? Reverend at the Table I had taken Rev. Morris D.D. and his wife, to lunch at the "Golden Peacock." While at the table, during the course of our mutual sharing of knowledge, the opportunity arose to ask, "Where?" And without a murmur he quoted, "I and my father are one" to imply that God and Jesus were one and the same person. That Jesus here claims to be God. The verse quoted was well known to me, but it was being quoted out of context. It did not carry the meaning that the Doctor was imagining, so I asked him, "What is the context?" Choked on "Context" The Reverend stopped eating and began staring at me. I said, "Why? Don't you know the context?", "You see, what you have quoted is the text, I want to know the context, the text that goes with it, before or after." Here was an Englishman (Canadian), a paid servant of the Presbyterian Church, a Doctor of Divinity, and it appeared that I was trying to teach him English. Of course he knew what "context" meant. But like the rest of his compatriots, he had not studied the sense in which Jesus had uttered the words. In my forty years of experience, this text had been thrown at me hundreds of times, but not a single learned Christian had ever attempted to hazard a guess as to its real meaning. They always start fumbling for their Bibles. The Doctor did not have one with him. When they do start going for their Bibles, I stop them in their stride: "Surely, you know what you are quoting?", "Surely, you know your Bible?" After reading this, I hope some "born-again" Christians will rectify this deficiency. But I doubt that my Muslim readers will ever come across one in their lifetime who could give them the context. What is the Context? It is unfair on the part of the Reverend, having failed to provide the context, then to ask me, "Do you know the context?" "Of course," I said. "Then, what is it?" asked my learned friend. I said, "That which you have quoted is the text of John chapter 10, verse 30. To get at the context, we have to begin from verse 23 which reads: 23. "and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade." (John 10:23). John, or whoever he was, who wrote this story, does not tell us the reason for Jesus tempting the Devil by walking alone in the lion's den. For we do not expect the Jews to miss a golden opportunity to get even with Jesus. Perhaps, he was emboldened by the manner in which he had literally whipped the Jews single-handed in the Temple, and upset the tables of the money changers at the beginning of his ministry (John 2:15). 24. "The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:24). They surrounded him. Brandishing their fingers in his face, they began accusing him and provoking him; saying that he had not put forth his claim plainly enough, clearly enough. That he was talking ambiguously. They were trying to work themselves into a frenzy to assault him. In fact, their real complaint was that they did not like his method of preaching, his invectives, the manner in which he condemned them for their formalism, their ceremonialism, their going for the letter of the law and forgetting the spirit. But Jesus could not afford to provoke them any further there were too many and they were itching for a fight. Discretion is the better part of valor. In a conciliatory spirit, befitting the occasion: 25. "Jesus answered, I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me," 26. "but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." (John 10:25-26). Jesus rebuts the false charge of his enemies that he was ambiguous in his claims to being the Messiah that they were waiting for. He says that he did tell them clearly enough, yet they would not listen to him, but: 27. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." 28. "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." 29. "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.." (John 10:29). How can anyone be so blind as not to see the exactness of the ending of the last two verses. But spiritual blinkers are more impervious than physical defects. He is telling the Jews and recording for posterity, the real unity or relationship between the Father and the son. The most crucial verse: 30. "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30). One in what? In their Omniscience? In their Nature? In their Omnipotence? No! One in purpose! That once a believer has accepted faith, the Messenger sees to it that he remains in faith, and God Almighty also sees to it that he remains in faith. This is the purpose of the "Father" and the "son" and the "Holy Ghost" and of every man and every woman of faith. Let the same John explain his Gnostic mystic verbiage. "That they all may be one as thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us..." "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one..."(John 17:20-22) If Jesus is "one" with God, and if that "oneness" makes him God, then the traitor Judas, and the doubting Thomas, and the satanic Peter, plus the other nine who deserted him when he was most in need are God(s), because the same "oneness" which he claimed with God in John 10:30, now he claims for all "who forsook him and fled" (Mark 14:50). All "ye of little faith" (Matthew 8:26). All "O faithless and perverse generation" (Luke 9:41). Where and when will the Christian blasphemy end? The expression "I and my Father are one," was very innocent, meaning nothing more than a common purpose with God. But the Jews were looking for trouble and any excuse will not do, therefore, 31. "Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him," 32. "but Jesus said to them, I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33. "The Jews answered him, saying : 'For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself a God.'" (John 10:31-33). In verse 24 above the Jews falsely alleged that Jesus was talking ambiguously. When that charge was ably refuted, they then accused him of blasphemy which is like treason in the spiritual realm. So they say that Jesus is claiming to be God "I and the Father are one". The Christians agree with the Jews in this that Jesus did make such a claim; but differ in that it was not blasphemy because the Christians say that he was God and was entitled to own up to his Divinity. The Christians and the Jews are both agreed that the utterance is serious. To one as an excuse for good "redemption", and to the other as an excuse for good "riddance". Between the two, let the poor Jesus die. But Jesus refuses to co-operate in this game, so: 34. "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, `I have said you are gods'?" 35. "If he called them `gods,' to whom the word of God came --and the Scripture cannot be broken--," 36. "what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, `I am God's Son'?" (John 10:34-36). Why "Your Law"? He is a bit sarcastic in verse 34, but in any event, why does he say: "Your Law"? Is it not also his Law? Didn't he say: "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law of the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but to fulfill (the Law). For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one Jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:1718). "You are Gods" "You are gods:" He is obviously quoting from the 82nd Psalm , verse 6, "I have said, ye are gods: and all of you are the children of the most High." Jesus, continues: "If he (i.e. God Almighty) called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (meaning that the prophets of God were called 'gods') and the scripture cannot be broken..." (John 10:35), in other words he is saying: "you can't contradict me!" Jesus knows his Scripture; he speaks with authority; and he reasons with his enemies that: "If good men, holy men, prophets of God are being addressed as 'gods' in our Books of Authority, with which you find no fault, then why do you take exception to me? When the only claim I make for myself is far inferior in our language, viz. 'A son of God' as against others being called 'gods' by God Himself. Even if I (Jesus) described myself as 'god' in our language, according to Hebrew usage, you could find no fault with me." This is the plain reading of Christian Scripture. I am giving no interpretations of my own or some esoteric meaning to words! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Seven : "In The Beginning" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where does Jesus say: 'I am God,' or 'I am equal to God,' or 'Worship me'?" I asked the Rev. Morris again. He took a deep breath and took another try. He quoted the most oft-repeated verse of the Christian Bible - John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Please note, these are not the words of Jesus. They are the words of John (or whoever wrote them). Acknowledged by every erudite Christian scholar of the Bible as being the words of another Jew, Philo of Alexandria, who had written them even before John and Jesus were born. And Philo claimed no divine inspiration for them. No matter what mystical meaning that Philo had woven around these words (which our John has plagiarized), we will accept them for what they are worth. Greek not Hebrew Since the manuscripts of the 27 Books of the New Testament are in Greek, a Christian sect has produced its own version and has even changed the name of this selection of 27 Books to Christian Greek Scriptures ! I asked the Reverend whether he knew Greek? "Yes," he said, He had studied Greek for 5 years before qualification. I asked him what was the Greek word for "God" the first time it occurs in the quotation "and the Word was With God"? He kept staring, but didn't answer. So I said, the word was Hotheos, which literally means "The God". Since the European (including the North American) has evolved a system of using capital letters to start a proper noun and small letters for common nouns, we would accept his giving a capital "G" for God; in other words Hotheos is rendered "the god" which in turn is rendered "God". "Now tell me, what is the Greek word for "God" in the second occurrence in your quotation - "and the Word was God"? The Reverend still kept silent. Not that he did not know Greek, or that he had lied, but he knew more than that; the game was up. I said : "the word was Tontheos, which means "a god". According to your own system of translating you aught to have spelt this word 'God' a second time with a small 'g' i.e. 'god', and not 'God' with a capital 'G'; in other words Tontheos is rendered "a god". Both of these, "god" or "a god" are correct. I told the Reverend: "But in 2 Corinthians 4:4 you have dishonestly reversed your system by using a small 'g' when spelling 'God' "(and the devil is) the god of this world." The Greek word for "the god" is Hotheos the same as in John 1:1. "Why have you not been consistent in your translations ?" "If Paul was inspired to write hotheos the God for the Devil, why don't you use that capital 'G'?" And in the Old Testament, the Lord said unto Moses: "See, I have made thee a god to Pharoah" (Exodus 7:1). "Why do you use a small 'g' for 'God' when referring to Moses instead of a capital 'G' as you do for a mere word 'Word' - "and the Word was God."? "Why do you do this? Why do you play fast and loose with the Word of God?" I asked the reverend. He said, "I didn't do it." I said, "I know, but I am talking about the vested interests of Christianity, who are hell-bent to deify Christ, by using capital letters here and small letters there, to deceive the unwary masses who think that every letter, every comma and full stop and the capital and small letters were dictated by God (Capital 'G' here!)." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter Eight : What is Left -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Topics It can hardly be expected in a small publication of this nature that one can deal with all the references about Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, interspersed throughout the fifteen different chapters of the Holy Quran. What we can do is to give a quick glance to the index page reproduced from the Quran earlier in this letter. Here we find three significant topics, not dealt with yet in our discussion: Not crucified, (4:157). Message and miracles,(5:113, 19:30-33). Prophesied Ahmed, (61:6). Regarding the first topic, "not crucified", I had written a booklet under the heading "Was Christ Crucified?" some twenty years ago. The book is presently out of print, and further, it needs updating, for much water has passed under the bridge since it first saw the light of day. As regards the third topic mentioned above, "Prophesied Ahmed", I propose to write a booklet under the title "Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, the Natural Successor to Christ" after I have completed "Was Christ Crucified?", I hope to complete both these projects soon, Insha Allah! (Arabic: "By the will of Allah"). The Way to Salvation We are now left with Topic No. 2, "Message and miracles". The message of Jesus was as simple and straight forward as that of all his predecessors as well as that of his successor Muhammed, salla Allah u alihi wa sallam, namely "Believe in God and keep His Commandments". For the God who inspired His Messengers, is an unvarying God and He is consistent: He is not the "author of confusion" (1 Corinthian14:33). A law abiding Jew comes to Jesus seeking eternal life or salvation. In the words of Matthew: "And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:16-17) You will agree, that if you or I were that Jew, we would infer from these words that, according to Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, salvation was guaranteed, provided we kept the commandments without the shedding of any innocent blood. Unless, of course Jesus was speaking with tongue in cheek; knowing full well that his own "forthcoming redemptive sacrifice", his "vicarious atonement" (?) for the sins of mankind, was not many days hence. Why would Jesus give him the impossible solution of keeping the Law (as the Christian alleges) when an easier way was in the offing? Or did he not know what was going to happen, that he was to be crucified ? Was there not a contract between Father and Son, before the worlds began, for his redeeming blood to be shed? Had he lost his memory? No! There was no such fairy tale agreement as far as Jesus was concerned. He knew that there is only one way to God, and that is, as Jesus said, "keep the Commandments"! Miracles, What They Prove Regarding his miracles: the Holy Quran does not go into any detail about blind Bartimus or about Lazarus or any other miracle, except that he (Jesus) defended his mother as an infant in his mother's arms. The Muslim has no hesitation about accepting the most wondrous of his miracles - even that of reviving the dead. But that does not make Jesus a "God" or the begotten "Son of God" as understood by the Christian. Miracles do not prove even prophethood, or whether a man is true or false. Jesus himself said: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."(Matthew 24:24) If false prophets and false Christs can perform miraculous feats, then these wonders or miracles do not prove even the geniuses or otherwise, of a prophet. John the Baptist, according to Jesus, was the greatest of the Israelite prophets. Greater than Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah and all, not excluding himself: in his own words: "Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..." (Matthew 11:11) Not excluding Jesus: because, was he not born of a woman - Mary? The Baptist, greater than "all", yet he performed not a single miracle! Miracles are no standards of judging truth and falsehood. But in his childishness, the might Christian insists that Jesus is God because he gave life back to the dead. Will reviving the dead make others God too? This perplexes him, because he has mentally blocked himself from the miracles of others who outshine Jesus in his own Bible. For example, according to his false standard: Moses is greater than Jesus because he put life back into a dead stick and transmuted it from the plant kingdom to the animal kingdom by making it into a serpent (Exodus 7:10). Elisha is greater than Jesus because the bones of Elisha brought a man back to life merely by coming into contact with the corpse (2 Kings 13:21). Need I illustrate to you a catalogue of miracles? But the sickness persists - "it was God working miracles through His prophets but Jesus performed them of his own power." Where did Jesus get all his power from? Ask Jesus, and he will tell us: Power not His Own "...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18) "...I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you." (Matthew 12:28) "I can of mine own self do nothing " (John 5:30) "I with the finger of God cast out devils" (Luke 1 1:20) Borrowed Power The "power" as he says is not his, "it is given unto me". Given by whom? By God, of course! Every action, every word he attributes to God. Lazarus But since so much is made of Jesus' mightiest miracle of reviving Lazarus from the dead, we will analyze the episode as recorded in John's Gospel. It is astonishing that none of the other Gospel writers mention Lazarus in any context. However, the story is that Lazarus was very sick, his sisters Mary and Martha had made frantic calls for Jesus to come and cure his sickness but he arrived too late, actually four days after his demise. He Groaned Mary wails to Jesus that had he arrived in time, perhaps her brother would not have died; meaning that if he could heal other peoples' sicknesses, why would he not have healed her brother, a dear friend of his. Jesus says that "even now if ye have faith, ye shall see the glory of god." The condition was that they should have faith. Didn't he say that faith could move mountains? He asks to be taken to the tomb. On the way, "he groaned in the spirit". He was not mumbling; he was pouring out his heart and praying to God. But while he sobbed so bitterly his words were not audible enough for people around him to understand. Hence the words "he groaned". On reaching the grave, Jesus "groaned" again; perhaps, even more earnestly and God heard his groaning (his prayer), and Jesus received the assurance that God will fulfill his request. Now, Jesus could rest assured and command that the stone which was barring the tomb, be removed so that Lazarus could come back from the dead. Without that assurance from God, Jesus would have made a fool of himself. Avoiding Misunderstanding Mary thinks of the stink because her brother had been dead for four days! But Jesus was confident and the stone was removed. Then he looked up towards heaven and said: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 11:41-42) What is all this, play - acting? Why all the drama? Because he know that these superstitious and credulous people will misunderstand the source of the miracle. They might take him for "God". Giving life to the dead is the prerogative of God alone. To make doubly sure, that his people do not misunderstand, he speaks out loudly that the "groaning" was actually his crying to God Almighty for help. The prayer was incoherent as far as the bystanders could discern, but the Father in heaven had accepted his prayer, viz. "thou hast heard me". Furthermore, he says, "thou hearest me always"; in other words, every miracle wrought by him was an answer by God Almighty to his prayer. The Jews of his day understood the position well, and they "glorified God", as Matthew tells us of another occasion when the Jews exclaimed "for giving such power unto men" (Matt. 9:8). In fact, Jesus gives his reason for speaking loudly. He says, "that they may believe that thou has sent me." One who is sent is a messenger, and if he be sent by God, then he is a Messenger of God i.e. Rasulullah. Jesus is referred to in the Quran asRasulullah ("Messenger of Allah"). Alas, this attempt by Jesus to prevent any misunderstanding, as to who really performed the miracle, and that he was in fact only a messenger of God, failed. Christians will not even accept the unambiguous disavowal of Jesus, nor the testimony of Peter, the "Rock" upon which Jesus was supposed to build his Church. Peter truly testified: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, A man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. " (Acts 2:22) Case Not Hopeless This very same message is repeated by God Almighty in the Holy Quran, following the annunciation. In verse 49 of chapter 3, Allah makes it clear that every sign or wonder that Jesus performed was "By Allah's leave," by God's permission. Jesus says so, Peter says so and God says so; but the stubborn controversialist will not listen: prejudice, superstition and credulity die hard. Our duty is simply to deliver the Message, loud and clear, the rest we leave to God. The case is not altogether hopeless for Allah tells us in His Holy Book: "And among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors." (3:110) "Among them", meaning among the Jews and the Christians, there are two types of people; the one group described as people of faith to whom this book is addressed, and the other as rebellious transgressors. We must also find ways and means of getting at them. Our literature is eminently suited to cater for all. Pass them on to your non - Muslim friends after reading. Open the Holy Quran and make your Christian friends and acquaintances to read the verses discussed in this book. Then we can truly conclude: "Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. "It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah (God) that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, 'Be', and it is. "Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight." (19:34-36) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an authorized modification of the original English text. For more free publications, please contact: Islamic Propagation Centre International 124 Queen Street , Durban, 4001 Republic of South Africa Telephone (027-31) 306-0026. Telex (095) 6-21815 IPCI SA Telefax (027-31) 304-032 more

Resolved Question: Why didn't Jesus say He was G-d?? Or did He??

esus literally was "God with us", God in human form "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." -- Matthew 1:23 This had been prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -- Isaiah 9:6 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! -- Philippians 2:5 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him... For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. -- Colossians 1:15-20. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. -- Colossians 2:9-10 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. -- Hebrews 1:3 Scripture Shows Jesus and God are One In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. -- John 1:1 We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. -- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 Jesus Said He and the Father Were One "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." -- John 10:28-38. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father... Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." -- John 14:9 Bible Repeatedly Refers to Jesus as God While we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. -- Titus 2:13-14 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: -- 2 Peter 1:1 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" -- John 20:28 Jesus Spoke with Authority as God "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. -- Matthew 7:24 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." -- Mark 2:4 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." -- Matthew 12:6-8 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. -- Matthew 5:21-22 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. -- Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus Spoke from God's perspective "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" -- Matthew 23:37 Scripture Provides Strong Evidence If we believe that the Bible is the Word of God, the preceding Scripture quotations are strong evidence that Jesus is God incarnate. more

Resolved Question: Christians: Why do you claim God/Jesus to be racist??

you christians claim God became a man to sacrifice himself for the sins of mankind, but what kind of man did he become? An african, russian, spanish, caucasian, indian, native american, asian, rastafarian, or republican?? The point i am trying to get accross is why do you claim God chose to be a jew?? couldn't he have chosen to be all races if he wanted to (because the bible claims he is also the holy ghost)?? So if he can be three (trinity), then why can't he be one of each race in order to demonstrate TRUE EQUALITY? more

Resolved Question: Does god and the bible really support equality?

God created us equal and s/he wants us to be happy right? So why would s/he be against homosexuals? It's not always their decision to be attracted to the same sex....some people are just born that way. And they're happy right? My friend is a lesbian and her girlfriend is what keeps her living and keeps her happy. Why should that be wrong? What makes it a sin? Your opinion on the matter? more

Resolved Question: Is Christ more upset by two gays together than our intolerance and hatred?

uh, no I aint gay and I know about that little passage in the Bible about two guys layin together n'all, but to raise this issue to national prominence, while conveniently ignoring the CORE teaching of loving your fellow man (no pun intended) as yourself and working for equality and opportunity, is probably (and should be) a mortal sin. Guess who's really goin' to hell, fundi!? more

Resolved Question: Why do most Christians tend to focus only on the sin of homosexuality while forgetting all of the rest...?

...of the lines in the Bible that they do not put to practice in their daily lives? The real reason is that they feel disgust and prejudice toward homosexuals, and that’s fine. Think whatever you want to think. However, they find it suitable to use the Bible to justify their hate, perceived superiority, and other atrocious acts. Religion has been a tool for one group to gain one up (to achieve complete and total domination and control) over the other group throughout centuries. I think that, if they are going to focus on the very one abomination of homosexuality, they should do it for all the other things that are mentioned in the Bible that is not condoned in all of the various passages, or all of the things written that they must do to avoid an undesirable outcome. This kind of hypocrisy somewhat discredits the religion of Christianity. If they are going to apply something to one, they must apply for all. Whatever happened to trying to achieve equality, especially in the Bible?I think most people like to choose what is convenient for them to support their feelings, perspective, environment, and way of life. From just_ine_credible: Why would anyone want to be as ignorant as you?Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other specific Biblical laws and how to follow them. a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness (Lev.15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.If I come into contact with a woman who is menstruating and she doesn't tell me until afterwards, must I kill her immediately or can I just beat her? d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Also, is Sabbath on Saturday as Seventh Day Adventists (Christians, like us...or are they?) or is it on Sunday as Baptists and some other faiths agree? I am beset by not knowing who to kill and when to kill them...please clarify this for me. f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality (Lev. 18:22).I don't agree. I'm also confused about how homosexuality can be an abomination when Jonathan and David were married in the Bible (1 Samuel 18:1, 3 - 4). Here, I'll quote it - "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle." and also Ruth's relationship with Naomi is suspect, (Ruth 1:16-17)"And Ruth said to Naomi, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part three and me. " Can you settle this? g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27 and even though 1st Cor. 11:4-6 says that it is a shame upon a man to have long hair. How should they die? i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?Also, since it is strictly forbidden to "eat neither fat nor blood" in Lev. 3:17 & Lev. 19:26, does that mean that I must be a vegetarian and must I smite those who choose to eat meat? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev.24:10-16)? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)? k) I know that it is an abomination for a man to wear a woman's clothes or a woman to wear a man's (Deut. 22:5), so does that mean that since my wife borrowed my boxers once, she's going to hell?l) An unbeliever sent me an email telling me that God is an ABORTIONIST? It says, "In Num. 5:11-31, God commands a husband to get an abortion for his wife if he suspects she has been impregnated by another man. A priest is to make her drink a potion and tell her, "If any man other than your husband has had intercourse with you, may the LORD make an example of you . . . by bringing upon you miscarriage and untimely birth." To deliberately cause a miscarriage is to perform an abortion. And who brings about this miscarriage? Who performs this abortion? It is the LORD who does so. God is an abortionist. In Ex. 21:22-25, God tells us what to do if a man who is fighting knocks against a pregnant woman. If the woman dies, the principle of "life for life" is invoked and the man responsible for her death must be killed. If she lives but has a miscarriage, then the death of the fetus is to be compensated for by the payment of a fine, as demanded by the woman's husband.Thus, God has revealed the status of the unborn fetus: it is not an independent, full-fledged human life, whose destruction amounts to murder. It is a thing owned by the woman's husband, a thing whose loss, like that of any other thing, may be compensated for with money." How can this be true? I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging and also for the reassurance that the Bible is infallible. Conclusion: Nobody’s perfect. Some people are just only trying to impose their views on others because they think that they are right, and the other person is wrong. It's only just a difference of opinion. more

Resolved Question: How can you "love the sinner but hate the sin. . . .?"?

and not be a hypocrite? Isn't this also going against the "judge not" part of your belief system, and the admonition to treat others as you would like to be treated? It seems very two-faced to me. Shouldn't true Christians work for justice, tolerance, peace and equality? WWJD? Please reply with your own thoughts. Cutting and pasting, although expedient, demonstrates laziness and a lack of rational logic. You're smarter than that, aren't you? :o) Besides, I've read the bible - so have most of the folks in this posting category. more

Resolved Question: Christian~wicca?

many Christians believe that the Bible condemns Witchcraft. However, the practices that biblical passages -- in the original Hebrew and Greek -- condemn are really evil forms of sorcery and murdering people by poisoning. Both practices are forbidden to Wiccans. Many define a Christian quite specifically. They include only those who have repented of their sins, has trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and has accepted certain core traditional Christian teachings. (e.g. the Trinity, Incarnation, resurrection of Jesus, virgin birth, heaven, hell, sin, salvation, original sin, the existence of Satan as a living entity, etc.) Many of these teachings are incompatible with Wiccan theology. Many conservative Christian denominations teach that women should not be in a position of power over a man, either in church, at work, or at home. Such a belief is totally at variance with Wiccan beliefs who generally believe in sexual equality. Religious conservatives generally believe that homosexuality is unnatural, abnormal, chosen, changeable and intrinsically sinful. Most Wiccans disagree with these beliefs, accepting the findings of human sexuality researchers that a homosexual orientation is normal and natural for a minority of adults. Further, an adult sexual orientation not chosen and cannot be changed. Many conservative Christians believe that various forms of divination are an integral part of Wicca. Since the Bible contains passages condemning many of the divination techniques which were in use in ancient times, they conclude that there is no room for Wiccan belief within Christianity. They overlook that some forms of divination were condoned by the Bible. One was even used by temple priests. Also, while it is true that some Wiccans engage in divination, not all do. Wiccans would have to abandon many traditional biblical teachings in order to consider themselves to be Christian. However, millions of Americans already reject major portions of the Bible, and still consider themselves to be Christians. For example, most liberal Christians probably reject certain themes and stories in the Bible as being profoundly immoral and not representing the Will of God. These might include: genocide, human slavery, burning some hookers alive, whipping children with a rod, raping female prisoners of war, execution of non-virgin brides, executing people who work on the Sabbath, executing sexually active persons with a homosexual orientation, executing religious minorities, etc.these are exactly how i feel about these things i was on the wccans side on these major points even when i was a christian more

Resolved Question: People use the Bible to justify their prejudices. Your thoughts?

Some say homosexuality is sin. I say the Bible says we all are sinners. Some say that homosexuality is sin enough to justify denying LEGAL equality. I say the Bible says not to judge. Some point to Leviticus. I point to the 10 comandments. And, I ask you, when's the last time you stoned someone to death? That's in the Bible, too.Ooops. I forgot I was talking to the literalist. So, I'll be blunt. Your version of the Bible is a hateful, judgemental one. I don't think most Christians worship the way you do. And, I suspect that your very own holy book condemns you to he11. more

Resolved Question: Answer To BRIGHTS Question at length?

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