our family just lost someone dear and very close, a faithful jw.
as we went through the entire funeral services and meeting long time brothers and sisters, who in general have been very kind and warm towards us, we realize that the hope of resurrection is a meaningless utopia for us, like a fairytale for little children.
we don't have faith in it anymore, and serves us of no comfort.
Excellent OP.
What comforts you when you no longer believe in a ressurrection ? - AFAIK, this life is all there is, so getting the most out of life and doing my best gives me comfort.
As far as losing loved ones - memories provide comfort, and realising that they loved me, are at peace, and achieved things in their lives.
I don't know if God exists or not.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31447905.
even those in "the world" (tm) recognise the indecent nature of this type of apparel.
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@Pete Zahut - that's hilarious!
Although I've heard it before, I still find it difficult to believe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
This a good vid to post, in that for me it sums up what religion is all about.
Lots of emotion, unrealistic hope, and little else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I suppose the Islamophiles would have us believe either that the sheikh and the others in that vid aren't true muslims, or that the subtitles were a mistranslation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
As I've previously said, you have a point - interpretation is important.
What you seem to be ignoring is content. It's a simple fact that in the Quran (and Hadiths) there is plenty of violence, cruelty, bloodshed and killings - either on the battlefield or as capital punishment.
Here's a thought, what if literacy improved in the Muslim World, ordinary people read the Quran for themselves and decided on a literal, violent interpretation. There's no Muslim equivalent of the pope to correct them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
Jonathan Drake - I admitted that extremists are to blame for their actions, but pointed that the violence and killings in the Quran may be a factor. In non-ISIS areas, the violence and killings in the Quran (and Hadiths) must also be a factor.
Poor literacy levels in the Muslim World doesn't change this. They're taught various interpretations from the local imams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
Jonathan Drake - you have a point, the Islamists should get the blame for their own actions.
But surely the Quran shares a little of the blame? I mean, if the Quran said: 'be peaceful, love your enemies and killing is wrong' then the Muslim extremists would be very, very peaceful. The violence and killing in the Quran must take some blame, even if it's a tiny amount. Needless to say, this is not an attack on all Muslims.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
we should point fingers at the real reasons for these things. And that isn't a book, it's just really bad people who want to cause pain. That's all. They don't even need a reason for it - head-in-the-sand nonsense. There're not just really bad people; they're really bad Muslims. And they have a reason for it - their interpretation of the Quran plays a big role in what they say and do. You don't see really bad Hindus or Christians joining ISIS.
Throwing the blame on the book (at least in part) has nothing to do with attacking random Muslims like that shooting by the American guy.
What he did was terrible - I hope he gets locked away forever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k
Jonathan Drake - I have three points for your consideration:
1. If you're not a Muslim, why do you defend the Quran?
2. Your view that the Quran is a continuation of God's previous messages is too neat, too simplistic. God allowed Jews and Christians to drink alcohol but then forbade it for Muslims. Why?
3. Why did God choose such a f**king hopeless method of communicating his message to humans?
