by onacruse 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
God gave people the common sense to ignore the zealotry of his less stable followers.
The Koran has to be taken with a grain of salt. So does Dianetics, the Pentatuech, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, all of Paul's letters, TV Guide, The National Review, The Bridges of Madison County and the NHL Rulebook.
People are smart enough, on their own, to strain out the camel and gulp down the odd gnat for the true theme of love, forgiveness, charity and brotherhood that religions (should) teach.
No, it's not a religion of peace, for its stated aim in the Koran is to take over the world. Further that it's wrong to live under the law of the "infidel" (non-Moslem). Hence, the problem that Tony Blair now has with people in one area of the UK demanding Sharia law.
The government in the UK, as well as the government in Oz have tended to treat the issue on the basis that they think and act as we do. But the beliefs of christians and moslems are poles apart. Christ loves all humankind, but Allah............
Ozzie (of the greatly concerned class)
Islam is no less peaceful than Christianity. And neither true Muslims nor true Christians are violent anyway.
There are frightening and disgusting passages in the Bible and there are Christian fundamentalist nutters too.
One of my mum's best friends is a devout Muslim (*devout*, not a fanatic hiding behind a religion) and she and her family are amazing people, and there's no doubt in my mind they're representative of the vast majority of Muslims and humankind as a whole.
Ozziepost
Hence, the problem that Tony Blair now has with people in one area of the UK demanding Sharia law.
Where did you read that? People in an area of the UK want Sharia law? *What area*?
Calm down, there's no religious revolution going on here!
Craig,
I think this about sums it up:
: Samuel Shahid, Director of Islamic Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, points out. "The first phase was characterized by peace and appreciation for the revealed religions...but when [Muhammad] immigrated to Medina and established the first Islamic state, he was completely transformed...he began to organize an army.
Any religion that needs an "army" is the enemy of goodness and ethics.
Note I'm talking about a religion and not a government. However, many religions (including Islam and Christians and Jews) think that religion and government are ALL in their grip of power.
When people realize the fallacy of that position, religion will no longer control the people, or at least no longer control governments or run them.
Farkel
Well this will probably cause a stir but I don't see Christianity as a religion of peace. Throughout European history some of the bloodiest wars were fought in the name of the Christian God.
Devon
my only experience with islam was while living in yugoslavia with albanians and muslims from bosnia; ones who were educated and had spouses from other national groups were just like us, others- I was affraid off and did not see them peacefull at all, and they did contribute very much to the bloodshed over there in Balkans.
invictus
Devon, I agree...and I do not think it would cause a stir...killing people in the crusades, doing that TEN times! That is not peaceful...and well, most large religions (and small ones) are still just as evil.
Q: Is Islam a religion of peace?
A: yeah, and I'm a ballerina.
I agree with the sentiment that no organized religion is truely peaceful (Dubs included).
Most of us, because of our backgrounds, understand that many sects and divisions divide "Christianity." There are the mainstram churches and there are the fringe groups.
Why should it be any less so with Islam? There is no one "Islam." The Wahabi sect is the really dangerous one, the one that is willing to use force to spin the world back into the 14th century.
Any Christian who questions whether any other religion on earth is peaceful needs to get a clue. Can you say "crusades"? Or maybe "Inquisition"?
An objective study of Islam itself (not how it is PRACTICED in many places) will lead an honest researcher to discover its superiority over Christianity in several areas, not the least of which its treatment of women.
