A decent talk

[Socrates4Jesus]

Well I see God as being the Creator of all the Most High the most perfect being in all of existence since He made existence.

Yes, what you say makes sense, Nico. Socrates, for example, even though he lived in a polytheistic society, taught that there is one God who is more perfect than all the gods the people of Athens worshipped.

It makes sense to me, too, that there must be a cause (or creator) for all that is, and that what He creates would never be more perfect than He himself. Anything i might make with my own hands, for instance, would never be as perfect or complex as my own body and soul.

 

[East_and_West]

Allah is the arabic version of Aloho and we Easterners say Allah just for this reason, When we pray in Aramaic, we say Aloho.

 

[mark_a]

Hi everyone! I’m Nick

I think this forum could use a decent talk about Islam. Please lets keep this decent and open and not cover our ears and yell. Who has a question to ask or a statement?
Assalamu Alaykum!

I’m really late to this thread and didn’t have time to read through it all.

Thanks for taking questions here.

Here are mine:

What does Islam bring that is superior to Christianity?

How has Islam more positively affected society than Christianity has?

Much respect and thanks.

 

[Nicro]

I’m really late to this thread and didn’t have time to read through it all.

Thanks for taking questions here.

Here are mine:

What does Islam bring that is superior to Christianity?

How has Islam more positively affected society than Christianity has?

Much respect and thanks.

Well I dont want to really say that Islam is superior to christianity since that will light a huge fire.
But Islam granted women real rights, stopped female infanticide, destroyed paganism, concentrated on creating more peaceful civilization.

 

[Nicro]

Hi Nicro!

We can all agree that God is perfect - great, I dont think too many would disagree with that.

I have a separate question: how is the interpretation of the Quran accomplished? Is each individual allowed to interpret, or is there a vote by scholars or what? Does anyone have the final say on what is authoritative and if so where did this individual get his authority?

Well the Prophet(pbuh) pretty much had the final say in the meaning. But now a days it is pretty much up to the persons thoughts combined with scholars thoughts and their sheik.

 

[ralphinal]

Well I dont want to really say that Islam is superior to christianity since that will light a huge fire.
But Islam granted women real rights, stopped female infanticide, destroyed paganism, concentrated on creating more peaceful civilization.

I agree for the most part on the accomplishments of Islam, especially in the Middle East, but on other threads, it is stated that there has been a regression over the last 100 years. Why?

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<why do you say Allah is a different God than the One you worship when even Jesus called God by Allah?>>

But Jesus did NOT call God “Allah,” so your statement is wrong.

Tell you what. Why don’t you work to allow a Christian cathedral in Mecca where Christianity can be fully taught and understood, then we’ll talk about how wonderful the religion of Mahomet (ptuy) is.

 

[Nicro]

<<why do you say Allah is a different God than the One you worship when even Jesus called God by Allah?>>

But Jesus did NOT call God “Allah,” so your statement is wrong.

Tell you what. Why don’t you work to allow a Christian cathedral in Mecca where Christianity can be fully taught and understood, then we’ll talk about how wonderful the religion of Mahomet (ptuy) is.

Well according to his language yes he did.

 

[Nicro]

I agree for the most part on the accomplishments of Islam, especially in the Middle East, but on other threads, it is stated that there has been a regression over the last 100 years. Why?

what do you mean a regression?

 

[Alisa]

Hello Nicro –

I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian at this time, but I’m returning to Catholicism soon after having been Orthodox for 12 years. I don’t know any Islamic people, and I’m not sure I have even met one – but I feel strongly that Christian people and Islamic people could learn a lot from one another – though I know there is a tension now because of current world conditions.

I was in a doctor’s waiting room several years ago and picked up an Islamic women’s magazine and began reading; I have to say I was impressed with what I read. What a shame so much time is wasted arguing when we could be sharing our faiths and experiences. I hope this doesn’t sound too touchy-feely!

Love, Alisa

 

[mark_a]

Well I dont want to really say that Islam is superior to christianity since that will light a huge fire.
But Islam granted women real rights, stopped female infanticide, destroyed paganism, concentrated on creating more peaceful civilization.

These are all good things. Can you give some examples?

Which societies or countries would you point to as the best of the best in all of Islam?

 

[Nicro]

These are all good things. Can you give some examples?

Which societies or countries would you point to as the best of the best in all of Islam?

Well in Arabia it was considered horrible to have a girl, so alot of times the baby would be buried alive. If they were lucky enough to grow up they would usually become sex slaves and objects. When Islam came it taught that you should not curse having a girl or put men above women for both are equal.After all the Prophet(pbuh) said “Paradise is at the feet of your mother”. And Islam itself means “Peaceful submission to the will of God” and concentrates on people of all faiths and races being peaceful to one another and living as one.

 

[Reuben_J]

Well in Arabia it was considered horrible to have a girl, so alot of times the baby would be buried alive. If they were lucky enough to grow up they would usually become sex slaves and objects. When Islam came it taught that you should not curse having a girl or put men above women for both are equal.After all the Prophet(pbuh) said “Paradise is at the feet of your mother”. And Islam itself means “Peaceful submission to the will of God” and concentrates on people of all faiths and races being peaceful to one another and living as one.

It was in the news today.

Saudi Arabia has launched a public relation offensive to improve its image at an OPEC summit in Riyadh in the light of a court case in which a gang rape victim, a 19-year-old woman, was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail. Her assailants, six Saudi men, were initially sentenced to between one year and five years in jail for rape.

Her crime was for “being in a car of an unrelated male at the time of rape”.

Saudi Arabia enforces a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism and forbids unrelated men and women from associating with each other, bans women from driving and requires them to cover head-to-toe in public.

I hope what this present Saudi government does, is a deviant teaching of Islam.

 

[ralphinal]

what do you mean a regression?

Reubin just put one up. IN some Muslim nations, women cannot drive, vote, own property, et cetera. These same nations do not allow for freedom of religion, which was not usually the case 500 years ago, when Jewish communities co-existed in Muslim lands. As far as encouraging a peaceful world, see state sponsored terrorism. Please do not start the “this is not true Islam” line. Once it becomes the position of a government, it is the faith of the land.

 

[Nicro]

This has nothing to do with Islam. This is all just politics for how the government wants something and not that they are doing it for Islam. It is purely for there own means and if the Prophet(pbuh) was here he would never allow such things. As you said go back a few hundred years when they were ruling with true Islamic law people of all faiths lived together and cooperated. The reason this is happening today is that people figured out they could manage to control there people in any way they wish and say that it is for Islam.

 

[ralphinal]

This has nothing to do with Islam. This is all just politics for how the government wants something and not that they are doing it for Islam. It is purely for there own means and if the Prophet(pbuh) was here he would never allow such things. As you said go back a few hundred years when they were ruling with true Islamic law people of all faiths lived together and cooperated. The reason this is happening today is that people figured out they could manage to control there people in any way they wish and say that it is for Islam.

Then Muslims should stand up and say “this shall not stand. You will not pervert our faith.” Rise up and take back your lands!! Rise up and take back your faith!! Otherwise, we in the west will continue to think that this is true Islam.

 

[Alisa]

Easier said than done, Ralphinal, to “rise up” and reclaim Islam. And why would we westerners continue to think “this is the real Islam?” Why not give the benefit of the doubt to the millions of Islamic people who are living under oppression? They are our brothers and sisters, and many of their lives are much more difficult than we in the west have ever had it. Let’s be a little more tolerant and compassionate here. And lest we forget, Christianity has had its share of bigots and extremists. People are people under God.

 

[ralphinal]

Easier said than done, Ralphinal, to “rise up” and reclaim Islam. And why would we westerners continue to think “this is the real Islam?” Why not give the benefit of the doubt to the millions of Islamic people who are living under oppression? They are our brothers and sisters, and many of their lives are much more difficult than we in the west have ever had it. Let’s be a little more tolerant and compassionate here. And lest we forget, Christianity has had its share of bigots and extremists. People are people under God.

I agree 100% with you. The part that keeps troubling me is that whenever a Muslim based government gets into power, the oppression begins. Just on the surface, it seems like this is the way that they want it. I know that my views are tainted by “of the people, for the people, and by the people.” It is hard to swallow that the majority of people want it one way but none of the governements agree.

 

[Alisa]

I think especially in the United States we are ethnocentric enough to think Democracy is The Only Way – a kind of exalted, God-created way of life. I’m not defending other forms of government – I’m just saying let’s let them evolve in their own way and keep our noses out of their business. I don’t claim to be an expert on the Islamic religion in any way, but it bothers me that we think we Christians are especially chosen by Him above other human beings. We were born and raised Christians, just as they were born and raised Islamic – human beings equally loved by God.

 

[Socrates4Jesus]

BPB:

I believe you are mistaken. Did not Jesus (pbuh) pray the following?

“This is eternal life: That they may know you Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

(John 17:3)

Allah simply means the God (as in, there is only one true God), and Jesus (pbuh) clearly taught his followers that the Father was the only true God.