Random Thoughts 16

As I've said before, not all Jews stay kosher. Not all Christians refrain from eating meat on certain days. Not all Jehovah's Witnesses go door to door in service. Not all Pagans wear pentacles.

It doesn't mean it's not part of the religion.

 

Everyone knows that not every muslim is a terrorist, but if a muslim does blow himself up he will get 72 virgins. Those are 2 facts, and I'm not insulting anyone, not even Omar. I know Omar won't blow himself up, so why should he get offended?

 

I'm not even Muslim Derek but I know what it's like to have people look at you like you could possibly have a bomb in your backpack. I was asked to get off a bus in Central London a few years ago because of just that. I don't need education on the matter and quite frankly I'm probably more aware of the stereotypes and far more educated on the matter in hand simply because of the colour of my skin.

 

Here here.

I'm part Syrian, which is right next to Iraq, and when I found out and told my step father, the first thing he told me is, "Oh, so you're part towel-head terrorist?"

I know not all are like that, Derek, a bit more than I think anyone knew.

 

Except that he made no mention of martyrdom. He said a believer who blows himself up (for whatever reason) is granted 72 virgins.

The whole "72 virgins" thing is not a fact of Islam. The Quran is the sole authority on the religion -- if it ain't there, its validity cannot be proven.

Also, if it helps the veracity of my post, I'm not sure I am Muslim anymore. I'm just sick of people devouring whatever the media spins at them.

Shame on you, Chris.

 

Thank you for the clarification. As I had mentioned previously, I was going by what I was taught in school pre and post 9/11, but obviously you would know more on the situation.

 

Its not something I thought of for the last year or something though, just when everyone left and then came back I had this weird wtf-thought. Then I got almost shot down for some of my posts in the input topic while that could have been handled way better because I know you guys can reply like normal persons can, and then this.

 

I *think* somebody extracted the 72 virgins thing from commentary on a Hadith (a supposed saying of Prophet Muhammed, PBUH), but since there's no way to confirm what he said and didn't say (or what was added/omitted/translated/mistranslated) it's not what Muslims follow.

I have read the Quran in full. I don't remember the exact chapter, but it states CLEARLY that to kill, regardless of why, is a grevious sin. Death is reserved for God's hands. There's no way to misinterpret this -- it's a literal passage. The people who do so are only screwing themselves over.

EDIT: if you want to know how something like that occurs, read See No Evil by Robert Baer, or watch Syriana. It's essentially manipulation of people looking for an excuse to hurt others.

If you want the exact passage, I'll find it over the weekend.

 

Why thank you, I'd love to see the passage. If there was a Theology major at my school, I'd be a Theology major and not a Music Major

I saw online that it was from the Hadith.

I feel you on the misconception of hurting people is listed as a top priority in religion.

I'm a Pagan. People automatically think I'm a fetus-eating, goat murderer who fornicates with Satan in Black Masses

 

Sounds like some people need to re-read that passage. I've met many Muslims in my life, and they've all told me that while it states that, it also states that all infidels (A.K.A. people who don't follow Islam) must be killed. Somehow, I don't think that God would exactly hand down commandments that are contradictory.

And no, I'm not saying all Muslims are that way, I'm just saying the ones I've met so far state that as fact.

That happens to me when I wear, draw or mention a pentagram. Especially when I explain the meaning of the pentagram, which I've learned from several symbologists, or whatever the hell you call them.

The world can be very judgemental, and often unreasonably so.

 

Well one could argue the same between the New and Old Testaments in the Christian Bible.

Eye for an eye vs turn the other cheek.

 

There are 3 mentions of war in the Quran: all are defensive tactics. When the enemy stops, so must you, and you must not initiate war.

You must remember that we're talking about a few thousand years ago; war was much more prolific then than it is now. People only immigrated to countries they had taken over. They had no concept of democracy or civil liberty. It's all relative, I suppose.

I go to a Christian school. One of my professors has stressed that the "love thy neighbor" interpretation of the Bible is relatively new. People used to it much in the way the Quran is currently being used.
I got to go. Sorry for adding wood to the fire.

 

I'm so glad someone's explaining this for me now. At least I'll have a better understanding than "God wants us to not kill, but we must kill you, because you don't believe in Islam".

And all of these contradtictions within the Bible, etc., are the main reason I don't practice any religion at all. And my parents wonder why...

 

Exactly the point I was making. Different people interpret ways and manifest it in their own interests. Someone could read the Quran as the words of Allah through the Prophet Muhammad, and just as that, like you and the majority of the Muslim population of the world do. However, there are those who interpret it into their own needs, and take their fundamentalism to deathly means. And it's not limited to Islam.

Anyone recall the Spanish Inquisition?

 

Hey man, I think we should have a thread in Serious Chat with a person relegated to each religion that is misunderstood.

Omar can handle Islam, I can handle Paganism, and I can have my cousin come on for Jehovah's Witnesses.