19 March, 2024

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Can’t A Muslim Scholar Write About Jesus ?

Reza Aslan, a religious scholar with a Ph.D. in the sociology of religions from the University of California and author of the new book, “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth,” went on FoxNews.com’s online show Spirited Debate to promote his book only to be prodded about why a Muslim would write a historical book about Jesus.

Is this the most embarrassing interview Fox News has ever done? asks Andrew Kaczynski of BuzzFeed Politics.

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  • 1
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    Thank you very much. Like you many more will come to Islam. Islam is true religion and all world knows that.that is why some mud worshiping people feel jealous of Muslims.

    • 0
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      Taraki,

      800 years ago….

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4obaC7ncY

      Imam Al-Ghazali – On Seeking the Truth

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONDk_kr_UVw

      Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad Al-Ghazali’s Last

      • 1
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        Taraki,

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl1nJC3lvFs

        Ghazali Elevated Revelation above Reason and Facts and the Ulema Cheered. Natural philosophy (science) declined and Theology rose up and the status of Ulema.

        The Intellectual Collapse of Islam
        Published on Apr 14, 2012

        Neil deGrasse Tyson lectures a crowd on how religious fundamentalism is the root of the collapse of the Islamic Golden age of Science and Mathematics in Baghdad. An Islamic scholar named Hamid Al-Ghazali deemed Mathematics evil.

        • 1
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          The serial spammer+ wikipedia/Google scholar Amarasiri, who ridicules other scholars while at the same time quotes scholars who are a minority with regards to their views and and are in the fringes of scholarly circles.A classic example of pick and choose what fits your argument, even if it is complete rubbish.

          • 1
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            Shezard,

            Scientists have been spamming the world population since Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton;s time regrading the Earth going around the Sun. Still 22% of the Americans do not believe that. There is no harm in believing in Myths, as long as they are harmless.

            Appendix table 7-10

            Correct answers to specific science literacy questions, by country/region: Most recent year

            http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind06/append/c7/at07-10.pdf

            You are using the same arguments the Catholic Church did in the 16th century against Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and others, despite the facts, because they were blinded by the revelation in the scriptures, because it was faith and MYTH that got them there in the first place.

            So, there is no need for Amarasiri to do original research when others before him have done it and proven the facts and the given the reasons. Amarasiri is simply a narrator, a story teller reminding readers, reminding myth holders, that others have been there before and give citations and references for further study in seeking facts and truths. If you have a counter opinion, come with with your facts.

            Examples:

            1. Copernicus and Galileo cited the retro-motion of Mars and phases of Venus in support of their hypotheses. The Church cited scriptures and Joshua, STILL currently believed by 22% of Americans according to an National Science Foundation study.

            2. Scientists cite fossil data, changes in the evolution of species and molecular biology data in support of evolution, and the Intelligent Designers cite Scriptures.

            DeJa Vu…

  • 1
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    The interviewer is a fool. Reza Aslan is an academic first, who just happens to be a Muslim. Why shouldn’t he write about his opinions and arguments on Jesus?

    • 0
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      Taraki,

      “Why shouldn’t he write about his opinions and arguments on Jesus?”

      1. This is one of the CORE PROBLEMS People have. They want to look at things by using their rose colored beliefs, the history and and myths.So Martin Luther can only be Christian. Is it all right if the Author is an Atheist Scholar?

      2. However, in science and history, where facts and data, not faith, determines analysis, should be independent of the authors background.

      3. People should support or rebut issues, ideas and opinion based on facts and support. When defenders of alternate views and Myths attack THE AUTHORS, AND NOT THE Ideas, then, it means that the Myths are on thin ground.

      4. Trinity, virgin birth, original sins that can be expunged by Jesus etc. may have been acceptable 2,000 years ago, just like the Sun going round the Earth. However, these ideas are untenable, in light of new knowledge, thanks to the development of natural Philosophy (science) and the separation from Theology.

      5. Islamic Science went backwards, when the Greek-Islamic Philosophy was demoted. Revelation was superior to reason and facts. The theologians and the Ulema prevailed over reason.

      You can’t eat Sharia.

      It is technology that advances and feed people.

      Since the Interviewer has the problem with the Religion of the Author, here is case of a former Christian and some other information for comparison.

      Atheism is NOT a religion – Sam Harris

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKNNCfyXaps

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V465msZXYw

      Priests and Preachers Entering Islam By Yusuf Estes

      How I came to Islam – Jim Softy- A Pretty Girl?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gr54pYc3Ak

      • 0
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        Taraki.

        Continued. Here is the full interview.

        Published on Jul 18, 2013
        In this exclusive, unedited interview, Reza Aslan provides an answer to the question of what Jesus would actually do were he alive in modern times.

        Reza Aslan – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – 07/17/13

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oslV3wlAoF0

        Exclusive – Reza Aslan Extended Interview Pt1 – The Daily Show with

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYOm_GrzFVI

        Exclusive – Reza Aslan Extended Interview Pt. 2 – The Daily Show

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-X2ATh_3k4

        Exclusive – Reza Aslan Extended Interview Pt3 – The Daily Show with

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=816dHpqDDjQ

        • 1
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          Taraki,

          Continued, Part 3 comments

          “Aslan holds a Bachelor of Arts’ degree in religions from Santa Clara University, a Master of Theological Studies’ degree from Harvard Divinity School, a doctorate in the sociology of religions from the University of California, Santa Barbara,[8] and a Master of Fine Arts’ degree from the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop, where he was named the Truman Capote Fellow in Fiction.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R….

          http://www.loonwatch.com/2013/07/reza-aslans-zealot-has-islamophobesfox-news-outraged/

          Reza Aslan’s “Zealot” Has Islamophobes/Fox News Outraged
          Posted on 27 July 2013 by Garibaldi

          By Garibaldi
          (Video Below)
          Reza Aslan is one of my favorite authors and religion scholars. There aren’t many who are as capable as Aslan of igniting religious debate and dialogue within our broader culture today.
          Aslan’s most recent book, Zealot, is a look at Jesus in light of the historical context in which he lived. Zealot posits the very interesting thesis that Jesus was actually a revolutionary Jewish nationalist who sought to cleanse the Holy Land of pagan Roman rule.

          The book has outraged Islamophobes such as Rev. Deacon Robert Spencer, the Fox News propaganda machine and some Christians who can’t believe a Muslim scholar of religion has the temerity to pen a book on Jesus. Legions of Christians have taken to the Amazon page for Zealot where they are submitting rather reactionary, petulant, and mean reviews that have the embarrassing common feature of deriding Reza’s faith, a lack of awareness about Islamic theology regarding Jesus and ignorance of the actual content of the book.

          Many of the one star Christian reviewers are simply copying and pasting from a Fox News opinion piece by senior pastor John Dickerson of Cornerstone Church in Arizona titled, Liberal Media love new Jesus book, ‘Zealot,’ fail to mention author is Muslim. Despite the fact that some media outlets, including the very liberal Salon.com have pointed to Aslan’s Muslimness, Dickerson’s article is high on rhetoric and low on substance, it’s central point is the stupefying and groundless assertion that,
          “Zealot is not new work from a historian. It is a sophisticated presentation of views that Muslims have held about Jesus for more than 1,000 years. [It is] selling to America the core Muslim beliefs about Jesus—that he did not claim to be God, that Christians made up his divinity, that the Gospels are ‘myth,’ and so forth.”

          This is especially stupefying because Dickerson does not seriously attempt to back up his assertions with a serious engagement of either Aslan’s work or Islamic theology regarding Jesus.
          Reza Aslan’s book on Jesus is purely academic, as was his previous work, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam; a work that by no stretch of the imagination can be viewed as hewing to “Orthodoxy.”

          Pastor Dickerson’s ignorance is revealed in the fact that there are major differences between the historical Jesus presented in Reza’s work and the Orthodox Islamic Jesus. Aslan’s Jesus is born of a man and woman and dies on the cross whereas the Orthodox Islamic Jesus is that of a great Prophet of God, born of a virgin, who did not die on the cross but instead ascended to heaven.
          On a side note, is it really surprising that Dickerson exposes his own biases when he presents the “Christian” view of Jesus? In fact, as Dickerson should know quite well, early on and for many centuries Christians also disputed about the divinity of Jesus, the status of the various gospels and the role of Paul–such controversies are still a part of Christian scholastic debate.

          • 1
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            Taraki,

            Continued Part 4

            Religion Vs. Reason

            Sam harris vs Reza Aslan Full Unedited Video

            Published on May 27, 2012
            Improved video starting at 40:45.

            This Channel is completely devoted to Sam Harris. It has a complete list of every video he has ever appeared in. As well as versions of every debate he has been in that are edited to be only him speaking. So if you like Sam Harris why not subscribe?

    • 1
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      Taraki,

      Poll on What Muslims Think and Believe.

      Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn12s19X8xU

      Uploaded on Oct 27, 2009
      In a roundtable discussion, host Ray Suarez interviews author Reza Aslan (No god But God; How to Win a Cosmic War) and Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and co-author of the groundbreaking book Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.

      This program draws upon Ms. Mogahed’s book and reveals major findings of the unprecedented Gallup World Poll, which represents the views of more than 90% of the worlds Muslim population, making it the largest and most comprehensive ongoing study of contemporary Muslims being conducted. The results are fascinating, and often counterintuitive. This Link TV original program will address the questions many are pondering: Why is the Muslim world so anti-American? Who are the extremists? Is democracy something Muslims really want? What do Muslim women want?

    • 1
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      Taraki,

      800 years ago….

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4obaC7ncY

      Imam Al-Ghazali – On Seeking the Truth

    • 0
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      What is overlooked in all these arguments is that Dr Aslan is a new revert to Islam having been a Christian. His entire family including his wife remain Christian. He is definitely not writing from a Muslim angle as his views differ from the Islamic view of Jesus to a good extent.

  • 1
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    Mathew 19:16-17 KJV
    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.

    This is the true religion of Jesus.

    Mathew 5:17
    “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

    Jesus says the path to paradise is following the commandments of Moses.

    If you see, it is Islam. Believe in One God and worship God alone and nothing else.

    God is the creator and everything else is a creation. Do not worship creation but the creator alone. This is the religion of Jesus and Muhammad. No difference.

    BELOW IS JESUS IN THE QURAN

    O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to God.
    Quran 3:45
    Quran confirms that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the messenger of God calling people to mmonotheism.

    MOTHER OF JESUS IS THE GREATEST WOMAN EVER IN ISLAM
    “O Mary! gOD hath chosen thee and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations.”
    Quran 3:42

    It is Paul who says that you must believe Jesus died for you sins to get eternal life but why listen to Paul? Listen to Jesus.

    From the time of Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses, the religion of God has been worshiping God alone and keeping the commandments so obviously God wont completely change the religion.

    Writing this so that my Christian friends can understand our Muslim standing on Jesus. We are not enemies. We love Jesus too and in Islam we love Jesus and Muhammad equally.

    Peace.

    • 0
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      This Steel character displays INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY by his selective chopping of the essentials of verse from BIBLE. Read the Passage fully.

      Mathew 19: 16 – 28

      16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

      17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

      18 “Which ones?” he inquired.

      Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’

      20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

      21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

      22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

      23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

      24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

      25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

      26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

      27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

      28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

      29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

      30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

      And Steel didnt read this I believe, it is also in the Same bible.

      John 14: 5 – 6

      5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

      6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

      • 1
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        Yes, my friend. I do follow Judaism. But it is Judaism (plus Jesus and Muhammad) which is Islam. I can’t follow today’s Judaism because it rejects Jesus. I accept Jesus.

        I did read the rest of the passage. Jesus says love God and follow Jesus. Which is exactly what I do. Jesus was circumsized, did not eat pork, did not steal etc. I mean the commandments. You will see all his commandments in Islam.

        I agree 100%. Jesus was the truth, way and life during his time. Moses was the truth the way and life during his time. All Prophets were the way. Where does Jesus say we must believe he died for his sins?

        You say Jesus is god and all knowing and he came to die for us. In the cross, Jesus cries, “Oh God, why have you forsaken me?”

        You mean Jesus did not know why he was dying?

        All I am saying is, follow Jesus, not Paul. The religion of God is always the same. If believing Jesus died for our sins is the way, then what about the people of Moses or Abraham? What was their religion?

        Finally you say, Jesus is god. But isn’t calling Jesus a god, idol worship against which all prophets in the old testament preached against?

        Numbers 23:19 NIV
        God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

        Bible says explicitly god is not a man or son of man but Jesus calls himself son of man 79 times in the bible.

        I just ask Christians, why have you left the religion of Abraham?

        No offence. I love Jesus as my Quran confirms Jesus is the Christ and Mary is the best woman of all time.

        Peace.

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          You seem confused, Steel. You say you follow Judaism, but accept Jesus; and that Judaism + Jesus and Muhammed = Islam. What do you accept Jesus as? That is the crux of the matter.

          Christians believe Jesus to be God, not a god. So your comment about calling Jesus god equalling idolatry is nonsense. To Christians Jesus is THE God, the ONE God.

          Christianity isn’t a single event, proclaimed by a single man, as Islam is. Christianity is a progression. So when you ask what was the religion of the people of Moses and Abraham, the answer is Judaism. Jesus came to fulfill the prophesies and continue the religion. So if you like, Christianity is the true Judaism of today, and Christians are the New Jews. Those who rejected Jesus continued on their own paths. So the question shouldn’t be to Christians, “why have you left the religion of Abraham,” but to Jews and Muslims, “why haven’t you continued the religion of Abraham?”

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            Hi David, just a few points of clairification. Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. The Unitarians believe Jesus was begotten and can never equate to GOD who has no beginning and no End! This was the bone of contention between Bishops Arian and Athanasius. It was at the council of Nicea that the Trinitian Dogma was expounded and accepted by a majority.
            Christianity isn’t a single event, proclaimed by a single man, as Islam is. Christianity is a progression. So when you ask what was the religion of the people of Moses and Abraham, the answer is Judaism.

            To the above question my answer is the religion of Moses and Abraham was Monotheism, same as Islam and hence in my humble opinion Islam is a progression. Hence it is more appropriate to ask the Christians why have you left the monotheistic religion of Abraham?

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              Jamal, You are confused person, We are talking about ‘Islam the Religion’, not ‘Islam (which meaning “Submit to the will of God”)’,

              Islam Religion which is based on Quran, Sira (Muhammed’s Biography) and Hadith. If you speak about One God there are MANY Religions believe on that. But all Religions dont follow the Quran, Sira or Hadith.

              We are not talking about Submission to One God, We are talking about RELIGION OR TOTALITARIAN IDEOLOGY ISLAM.

              ISLAM which was founded by Muhammed, and followers of Islam who started calling their Names as Muhammed, If ISLAM was from the BEGINNING, then we would have had only NAME for all people :P

              Islam based on Quran written 1400 Years old
              Islam based on SIRA and HADITH 1400 Years old
              The Islamic Law which is 1400 Years old,
              The Islamic Calendar 1400 Years old,
              The Islamic Finance System 1400 Years old,
              People started fast for 30 Days based on Moon is for 1400 Years
              People stared eating food which is considered Halal to them
              People started calling others Kaffirs / Infedels 1400 Years old
              People started worshiping Kahah or Black rock 1400 Years old
              People stared doing JIHAD 1400 Years old still doing now…

              These all started from 1400 Years.

              That is what we are telling nothing else. Don’t mix the word meaning of Islam or What is written in Quran to What we are telling about Islam Religion.

            • 1
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              Dino,
              Sorry it is you have got things mixed up by dabbling in a subject which you have displayed gross ignorance.
              You have been repeating parrot wise about 3 sources when it is universally accepted to be two! In any case
              what is your accreditation to pontificate to me on my religion. Average communication skills and an ability to browse the web? So you belong to the new crop of Internet pastors? The brief you support on behalf of your Christian and anti Islamic coterie has been presented many times before and has been countered by eminent scholars of Islam and I do not wish to embroil myself with an amateur in this field. If you feel that the puerile rubbish you write gives you the satisfaction of having completely demolished the tenets of Islam which holds sway to more than a billion adherents then be it so! I can only say THE DOGS BARK BUT THE CARAVAN MOVES ON

            • 1
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              Jamal, in all religions there will remain a few who have their own viewpoint which is not consistent with the vast majority. When I referred to Christians, I am referring to the “Christ Ones”, the mainstream of Christianity that believes that Jesus is God, a part of the Trinity, and not created, and “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God” — John 1:1.

              Monotheism is not a religion; it is a form of religion in which the adherents believe in a single deity. So monotheism isn’t the “same as Islam” as you claim; it IS Islam, just as it is Judaism and Christianity. They are all monotheistic religions. So, no Christians haven’t left monotheism, and neither have Jews and Muslims, but monotheism wasn’t the religion of Abraham and Moses; it was the FORM of the religion they adhered to.

              Yes, I can accept your point that Islam is also a progression of Judaism, just as Christianity is, and not stemming from the single event — or person — the Prophet Muhammed in the case of Islam, and Jesus Christ in the case of Christianity. But my point in reference to Steel’s question on why Christians have left the religion of Abraham and Moses is this: Christians believe that they have stayed true to that religion, that the teachings of the Old Testament prophets was a prelude to those of Jesus, and that Jews and Muslims have misinterpreted those teachings and thus not accepted that they foretold the fact that Jesus was the Christ and God.

              Now Muslims and Jews may well feel the same in relation to Christians, but that is a subjective opinion (as is the one of Christians) and is pointless in an objective discussion such as this. I’m sure we all agree that it is objectively impossible (and pointless) to discuss whose religion is right and whose is wrong.

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              David, I do not wish to engage in religious polemics. Monotheism is a belief or doctrine (OED) and Islam is a monotheistic faith. That’s OK with me. The trinity however clouds the issue somewhat. However it is generally accepted that the three religions are monotheistic. I wonder why the likes of Dino / Francis should involve themselves in blaspheming and interpreting Islam to Pamela Gellers agenda whilst preaching the Bible. As I said before, Islam is the only religion which accepts Jesus, on whom be peace, albeit as a noble Prophet, accepting his virgin birth and his second coming. We also believe Mary, on whom be peace, to be in the foremost of the Ladies in Heaven and in this sense Christians are close to the Muslims. The slurs hurled on Muhammed, on whom be peace, and on Islam by these ignoramus’ can hardly be defined as Christian!

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    Steel, yet again trying to fool people with your 6th Century Arabic Religion (1400 Years old started in Saudi Arabia) with Hebrew Religion (Isreal) which older than 2000 Years.

    Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David, Solomon, Isaiah to Jesus all speak Hebrew language (all Jewish People). Torah and Bible is written in Hebrew (Israelites) (not Arabs and certainly not Muslim people with beards)

    If you want to read about early Prophets read Torah and Old Testament. If you want to read about Jesus life read Bible. New Testament is written in the 1st Century AD with original Scrolls. (Not Quran written in 6th Century in Arabic)

    If you worship one god why don’t you convert to Judaism why you following Islam ??? Judaism is the founding father of Christianity and Islam. JUDAISM (5500 Years old), CHRISTIANITY (2000 Years old), ISLAM (1400 Years old)

    We Christian believe Jesus the Christ (Messiah) Lord will come back and in his second coming for Judgement. If he just prophet and human why he needs to come back… He is the Christ Messiah and he will come back for Judgement for 2nd Time as per Christian belief. (even muslims belive Jesus will come back not Muhammed last prophet I dont know why…)

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      Abraham was from Iraq and most probably spoke Akkadian. The language of Iraq changed three times over the last six millennia: Sumerian (3500 BC) > Akkadian (2000 BC) > Aramaic (700 BC) > Arabic (300 AD).
      Jesus spoke Aramaic NOT Hebrew.
      It is the belief of the Muslims that all Prophets of God taught the concept of total submission to God which is Islam. In this sense Islam preceded the period of the Prophet Muhammad. All serious students of Religion understand this quite clearly!
      The earliest Gospels were written in Greek which is not a Semitic language at all! Peter the disciple of Jesus is not his real name at all. His name is Shimon and as his faith was solid as rock he was nick-named as Cephas ( meaning rock). Now Cephas when translated to Greek is Petros. Further anglicized to Peter, which, if Peter were alive wouldn’t recognize! One can imagine that in translation how much of the Original message could be lost or misconstrued!

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        Jamal, If we speak of Original Message then even Quran posses such examples too,

        Quran is claimed to be a revelation from Allah to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. It was revealed to Muhammad in stages, taking 23 years to reach its completion. So for 23 Years how many messages could have been changed ???

        And at No Time during Muhammad’s life did he ever order these alleged revelations to be compiled into a single book. If Muhammad was, as he claimed, a messenger to all mankind, it is perplexing as to why he never gave thought to the preservation of his message.

        His followers must solely take the credit of the Quran’s existence today and its spreading to people beyond those which Muhammad had initially subjugated. Muslims however would argue that the Quran was preserved by Allah as he had promised.

        Quran was corrupted through many sources, but what is most striking is the evidence from the Quran itself. The Quran tells us “There were some among the Jews who pervert words from their proper places…” The word “pervert” in Arabic is Yuharifoon, which means “corrupt”. Therefore, according to the Quran, al-Tahreef (corruption) is achieved through changing words from their proper places.

        Has the Quran been subjected to such changes? Beyond a shadow of doubt, it has. If we read surah 5:3, it says “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion.”

        This was quoted from chapter 5, and the Quran contains 114 chapters in total. How can the religion of Islam be completed by chapter 5, when there are 109 chapters yet to come? If it was completed in chapter 5, then there is no need for the 109 chapters ahead.

        Some Muslims argue that this verse was the last verse revealed. If that is so, why then is it not placed at the conclusion? This proves that Muslims have changed the words from their right places, and according to the Qur’an, that is Tahreef

        The first surah to be revealed was al-Alak, yet it is surah al-Fatiha which we find at the beginning of the Qur’an. Instead, Muslims have placed the first chapter to be revealed (al-Alaq), as chapter 96, towards the end of the Quran.

        How is this not the changing of words from their right places? This is indeed ‘Tahreef’. Muslims have not arranged the surahs chronologically. They have took it upon themselves to organize the revelations instead of Allah completing this task himself.

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          Dino, what is your accreditation to pontificate to me on my religion. Average communication skills and an ability to browse the web? So you belong to the new crop of Internet pastors? The brief you support on behalf of your Christian and anti Islamic coterie has been presented many times before and has been countered by eminent scholars of Islam and I do not wish to embroil myself with an amateur in this field. If you feel that the puerile rubbish you write gives you the satisfaction of having completely demolished the tenets of Islam which holds sway to more than a billion adherents then let it rest at that. I can only say THE DOGS BARK BUT THE CARAVAN MOVES ON

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            HAHAHA… Pontificate ? LOL The SAME Accredition You have to Denounce Christianity and to speak of Original Message lost in your previous comments… When we say TRUTH about Tahreef in Kuran, then we are Anti elements… Then doesn’t YOUR COMMENTS REFER TO You as Anti-Christian… The same I say for you, THE DOGS BARK, BUT THE CARAVAN MOVES ON

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              I have never engaged in CHRISTIANITY bashing neither have I said anything against JESUS on whom be peace. Whom every Muslim reveres. As a tenet of my religion I never have and never will ridicule Religious leaders nor their Religions as you have done. Read my contribution above and their is no denouncement there, that is if you understand plain English. Without a knowledge in Arabic, far less in the Sciences of Quran Studies you repeat from other ignoramuses’ their biased thoughts. The fact that you lack originality is evident in your repeating phrases from my contributions.

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      Dino.

      For Your Reference.

      Read and Watch, the Story of God and Alternate views.

      Richard Dawkins: The Arrogance of Religious Persons

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC58vglNOOo

      Atheism is NOT a religion – Sam Harris

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKNNCfyXaps

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        Amarasiri,

        Thanks for the links.

        This, For your reference, We have no issue with Peace loving Muslims, But because of the Violent Passages in the Kuran which is used by Radical Muslims around the world to carryout and claim they did it in the name of God which cannot be accepted.

        Islam doesn’t come with just Religion, it comes with a full System which is the Problem. Sharia Law, Sharia Courts, Jizya tax, Intolerance to other Religions all mentioned in Kuran / Hadith.

        Full Video – Political Islam, a Totalitarian Ideology how it started in 625 AD how they captured the lands of Christians / Jewish people from Isreal / Palestine / Syria / Egypt till Spain and how islam spread.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Qpy0mXg8Y

        RADICAL ISLAM DOCUMENTARY (in 21st Century) – MUST WATCH

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AediQLpoGGM

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          Dino,

          The two videos are more propaganda and they scale up a few incidents to All Muslims. They did not do that with the Oklahoma Bombings, and other atrocities, that were committed by people who were born and raised as Christians.

          I suggest that you see these two videos, so that you can separate, radical political Islam with an agenda, Western Imperialism, democracy and what Muslims think from a gallop Poll.

          It is political Islam, piggy backing off Islam, just the same way LTTE Tamil nationalists, carried out their suicide missions. It has little to do with Islam, especially suicide.

          Tamil Tiger Navy Rebels Vs Sri Lanka Sinhalese Only Navy

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyRSnnOLYk

          Tamils were fighting the hegemony, discrimination and double standards of the Sinhala Buddhists. It had little to do with Hinduism and Christianity.

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn12s19X8xU

          Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

          Uploaded on Oct 27, 2009
          In a roundtable discussion, host Ray Suarez interviews author Reza Aslan (No god But God; How to Win a Cosmic War) and Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies and co-author of the groundbreaking book Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think. This program draws upon Ms. Mogahed’s book and reveals major findings of the unprecedented Gallup World Poll, which represents the views of more than 90% of the worlds Muslim population, making it the largest and most comprehensive ongoing study of contemporary Muslims being conducted. The results are fascinating, and often counterintuitive. This Link TV original program will address the questions many are pondering: Why is the Muslim world so anti-American? Who are the extremists? Is democracy something Muslims really want? What do Muslim women want?

          Religion Vs. Reason

          Sam harris vs Reza Aslan Full Unedited Video

          Published on May 27, 2012
          Improved video starting at 40:45.

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            Amarasiri (slave of Allah)

            How can you say it is Propaganda ??? IT IS REAL HISTORY !!!

            Full Video – Political Islam, a Totalitarian Ideology how it started in 625 AD how they captured the lands of Christians / Jewish people from Isreal / Palestine / Syria / Egypt till Spain and how islam spread.

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Qpy0mXg8Y

            RADICAL ISLAM DOCUMENTARY (in 21st Century) – MUST WATCH

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AediQLpoGGM

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      Another Brainwashed Person ‘Steel’ trying to attack other Faiths. All his questions are answered below :-

      1) Yes Jesus was circumcised as per Jewish Tradition, But Jesus didn’t start his Mission of giving the Word of God till JESUS RECEIVED BAPTISM FROM JOHN

      Matthew 3:13-17

      Verse 13: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

      Verse 14: But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

      Verse 15: Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

      Verse 16: As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

      Verse 17: And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

      That is why if you want to become Christian you have to be BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ALL 2.1 BILLION CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD ARE BAPTIZED AS LIKE JESUS.

      2) Yes JESUS SAID “I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” He didn’t say I have come to FOLLOW the Same OLD RULES, he said I HAVE COME TO FULFILL (AS IT IS NOT COMPLETE / NOT CORRECT / HE WANTED TO GIVE NEW LAW)

      Critics of the Bible often cite Old Testament instances of slavery, violence against homosexuals, wiping out nations, etc., as evidence of a morally inadequate set of rules. They will also often ask why present-day Christians don’t follow these “barbaric” teachings today (like islam).

      The reason we don’t is because the Old Covenantal system, that involved such harsh punishments, has been done away with. We are under a new covenant as given to us by JESUS CHRIST (MESSIAH)

      Jesus said in Luke 22:20, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

      This new covenant was prophesied in the Old Testament in Jer. 31:31, “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”

      It is referenced in 1 Cor. 11:25, 2 Cor. 3:6, Heb. 8:8, 9:15; and 12:24.

      The New Testament covenant system says that we are to “be at peace with one another,” (Mark 9:50) and “with all men,” (Rom. 12:18). Rom. 14:19 says, “pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” After all, “God has called us to peace,” (1 Cor. 7:15).

      However, this does not mean that we are to approve of such sins as homosexuality, adultery, lying, and stealing. We are to not participate in the sins of the world. Instead, we are to avoid them. We are not to be violent to anyone since the old theonomic, covenantal system has been done away with (Heb. 8:13).

      So the truth is Islam is still holding on to the old Covenant of Judaism and in a very violent form.

      3) Yes Jesus told this during Crucifixion, “Oh God, why have you forsaken me?” This is the HUMAN CRY OF JESUS Proving Yet again He is still in Human Form.

      But Jesus was Resurrected on the 3rd Day (not 3 days) and later He appeared to his Disciples and appointed his disciple “Simon Peter” as the 1st POPE and now we have the 266th POPE FRANCIS.

      John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”
      “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
      Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
      16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
      He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
      Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

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      Dino, you are AOG, carrying Blue Falgs in your offices and homes. So your head is blank, learn from a guy below you.

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    Steel, I beg to disagree that All Muslims are Friends, this not about the Peace loving Muslims, This is about Radical Muslims in the world who do horrendous things to Christians and Churches.

    These countries, Majority Muslim, Minority Christian and other Religions :-

    Pakistan Islamist impose Jizya tax on Christian Minorites 2012
    http://weaselzippers.us/2012/09/02/pakistani-islamists-impose-jizya-tax-on-christians/

    Pakistan Islamists attack and kill Christians in the name of Allah, one example
    http://www.fides.org/en/news/32122?idnews=32122&lan=eng

    Malaysia the non-Muslims have been subject to the disguised Jizyah of the Bumiputra system, which favors economically the Muslims, and essentially involves a transfer of wealth from the more industrious and entrepreneurial non-Muslims (Chinese and Hindus) to Muslims (Malays, but not the members of the indigenous tribes, which were christianized, or remained pagan — and only now are being islamized through intense pressure and Da’wa campaigns).

    Nigeria – Boko Haram Killing Spree in Nigeria on Christians and Churches
    http://morningstarnews.org/2013/05/anti-christian-hostility-behind-boko-haram-killing-spree-in-nigeria/

    Indonesia – Violent attacks on Church and Christians
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgpHHoIvU2I
    http://www.charismanews.com/world/38729-decade-after-maluku-massacre-indonesia-still-dangerous-for-christians

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      I Agree Sha, Islam is never a peaceful religion nor it is tolerant to any other Religion. It always tries to Dominate other Religions by any means necessary as it is preached by their prophet.

      Christianity is not about Rules and Regulations, It is about Love, Relationships and Forgiveness.

      Peaceful and Tolerant Religions order :-

      AEITHISM, BUDDHISM >> HINDUISM, CHRISTIANITY >>>> ISLAM

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        ALL of the monotheistic religions (primarily Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) are intolerant of other religions, and believe those of other faiths to be doomed. Islam itself isn’t particularly worse than the Old Testament in its view of other religions. The point is whether the followers of these religions are intolerant today. Both Christianity and Judaism today are controlled and led by hubs and influence centers in the developed world, where tolerance and secularism is the norm. To the contrary, Islam isn’t influenced from the west, and the atrocities attributed to Muslims today are almost all exclusively in the developing or underdeveloped world, where views on women, other faiths, etc are dictated by cultural as much as religious factors.

        Buddhism itself is a peaceful and tolerant religion; but here and in Burma we are seeing its followers practicing absolute intolerance. It’s not the religion; it is the interpretation of it by its adherents.

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    This is typical Fox news (a.k.a Faux News) reporting. This woman did not have a clue about his book, had not read it, and instead of interviewing on the content, kept showing her ignorance by attacking him personally.
    Reza Aslan is a well known scholar, and has never hidden his personal information regarding religion.
    Research has shown that Fox News viewers are uninformed, some still believe Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11.

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      Dhaksha,

      Probably the Majority of Fox news audience are Christian religious conservatives and fundamentalists and the republican right.

      If it was MYTH that go them there in the First place, REASON will not get them out of that MYTH position.

      So they, Fox News, believe in

      1. The Sun goes around the Earth. ( 22% of the US Overall population believes that)

      2. 44% of Americans believe that Evolution is not true, and it is by design. ( Muslims believe that too- The Abrahamic Religions).

      3. The Fox News and their audience believes all what is in the Bible, including Joshua Stopping the Sun.

      http://biblehub.com/joshua/10-13.htm

      New International Version (©2011)
      So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

      New Living Translation (©2007)
      So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in [The Book of Jashar]? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.

      English Standard Version (©2001)
      And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

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        Dhaksha,

        The Fox news Christian audience believes these as well.

        http://dwindlinginunbelief.blogspot.com/2009/09/gods-35th-killing-god-makes-sun-stand.html

        God makes the sun stand still so that Joshua can get his killing done before dark

        The LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. 10.11
        Then God made the sun and moon stop moving for 24 hours so that Joshua would have plenty of daylight to finish killing off the Amorites. (It was this verse, among others, that got Galileo in so much trouble. If God stopped the sun from moving, then the sun moves around the earth.)

        Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites … Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. … So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 10.12-13

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    Thank you, Reza for writing this book. I call myself a christian and am grateful for the kind of scholarly interpretation given by people like you on jesus of Nazareth.My christianity is based on faith and is not blinkered. Fox news definitely has ‘egg on its face’ after this interview.
    The lady is inept and ignorant-obviously!

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    @Talk direct – Ignorant Fools like you do exists among us – first learn to respect others feelings and beliefs before you can be a Muslim, people like you are disgusting ,its fools like you who are the reason for what Muslims are going through today ..

    You are a shame on the whole community..

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    @ Talk direct with your brains located in the wrong place, were you in Mahiyangana- Insulting other religions ?
    ——————————————————–
    Raw Pork Was Thrown Into The Mahiyangana Mosque
    July 28, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/raw-pork-was-thrown-into-the-mahiyangana-mosque/

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    I recommend readers log into
    http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/is-this-the-most-embarrassing-interview-fox-news-has-ever-do#responses
    to see the response to this idiot of an interviewer.

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    Thank you Mr. Reza Aslan, even though book is against the fundamental teachings of Doctrine of Christianity (being a Muslim, as most Muslims claim Jesus didn’t die on Cross) for proving again which is already proven with Historical Records many times…

    “JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED IN THE CROSS” – Which is Historical Event!!! – 100% Happened to Jesus by Roman Soldiers (even the number of Lashes hit on Jesus is on Record) under the accusation of Jewish Religious Leaders.

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    Try writing a book about Mohamed and see what happens, however good it might be. There will be a fatwa on the author’s head. Any lunatic, a scholar or otherwise can write any sh… about Jesus and get away with it because Christians can be called a lot of things including the much maligned conversion accusation but they cannot be called a people who will ask for the blood of the individual who wrote about their Master. I honestly would like to see this scholar write about Mohamed and sit back and watch the fun as he goes into hiding. These are the last days and we as Christians who await the Lord’s second coming, know that there will be many false prophets. There’s nothing to be surprised about any of this.

    “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Maththew 24 : 24 – NIV – The Bible

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      Lanka,

      ““For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Maththew 24 : 24 – NIV – The Bible”

      Here is a comparison of the Beliefs of the Abrahamic Religions, and some quotes from the Bible.

      http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islam_judaism_christianity.htm

      Who Speaks for Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn12s19X8xU

      What two Billion Christians Really Think?

      http://biblehub.com/joshua/10-13.htm

      Joshua 10:13
      New International Version (©2011)
      So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

      New Living Translation (©2007)
      So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in [The Book of Jashar]? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.

      English Standard Version (©2001)
      And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

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      Karen Armstrong has written about Muhammad. Newby has written a biography, Maxime Rodinson has written, Betty Kelen, Peters etc. A quick look through Amazon will reveal that many people Muslim and non-Muslim have been writing on Islam and Muhammad. So perhaps its best if you check facts before you write untruths.

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    @Dino , is not the case with everyone who wants to prove thier case to be contextual? comeon ,, you do not expect Steel to write down the whole of the Bible or the Quran in a Comment- he has covered what is necessary , what you need to do here is to prove that the statements he has made do not exist-

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      Not quite. Context is important in understanding.

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    Its horrible. I mean can we stop making a big deal about religion all the time. Its a pity that the reporter couldn’t think of any better questions than all of this. Real shame

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    @ Amarasiri

    Ex-Christian -Reza Aslan, a religious scholar with a Ph.D. in the sociology of religions from the University of California

    ==========================================
    “…and nearest among them in love to the believers will you find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant” (5:82).

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    The Christian King of Ethiopia- (Refuge)
    Click here pls:

    http://youtu.be/PfpGrw7V1Yo

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    [Edited out]

    Read our Comments Policy;
    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/

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    @-Puja -understandable ,one man’s food is another man’s Poison- no one is forcing anyone to waste thier time or money on using thier bandwidth – simple pls avoid anything that is do with religion – why do you want to get yourself stressed over it.. ? no one is forcing you or anyone, everyone has the right to defend what he or she believes in – even an atheist, why in today’s modern world even the Homosexuals have the right to defend themselves its increasingly becoming legal all over the world ,while Switzerland a group has been fighting to legalize incest for years now- so what so wrong about people who believe in whatever religion trying to defend what they believe in? Live & let live!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Very soon when things get hotter and hotter in Sri Lanka, you will have your hands full of worst unethical issues to face once the Casino comes up ,just buckle yourself & be prepared to handle no the issue ,but yourself when it happens and believe most people won’t have time for any religious fanatics – they will be worrying themselves day & night about more serious matters..wait ,you are waiting , so am I and the rest,,, Sri Lanka will change drastically in the near future , Priests & scholars of all religions may have to get themselves a part time Job just to eat & live for the day ….

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    CT fair enough, my apologies..

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    @Lanka – this I bow my head as a Muslim & admit is quiet true with a number of Muslims , I know that they become outrageous- but what is the content . that is what matters – does Reza use vulgarity and insults at Jesus in his book ? no right.?. so where is the problem ? there are tons of literature by various authors trying to prove that Prophet Muhammad was not a prophet but an imposter ,same was with what the Jews believe about Jesus Christ to date, no problem,,

    But the issue here is when you start abusing people , if someone calls your Uncle ,Aunty ,your father or mother names ..will you keep mum? that is how not just Prophet Muhammad , but all Gods Prophets and thier family members are to all muslims , in fact they are profoundly honored even above thier own family – so what do you expect ? someone uses the F —language on you or your family-you are going to respond as darling my love and kiss his but?

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    @Lanka – if you are so serious about Reza’s book –

    I recommend you should worry about this more & take action:-
    Search in site…
    Another Church Attack To Be Swept Under Carpet – HC Judge Pressures Church Attack Victims To Settle With BBS Gnanasara
    July 13, 2013 | Filed under: Colombo Telegraph,News,STORIES | Posted by: COLOMBO_TELEGRAPH

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    Wonder where this guy was when Anwar Al Awlaki presented the extremely popular discourses on Prophets of Islam…truly amazing but unfortunately swept under rug by the US after his assassination. He spoke out and was framed and harassed. If Reza Aslan had the good fortune of listening to any of this scholar’s lectures he would know…

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    What a disgracer this woman is!! She has not read the book, nor has she researched his background!!! This is typical Fox News garbage…it simply foxes you if you are in your senses!

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    If as claimed above by those proponents of Islam, that Islam started with the creation of Adam and Adam and Eve together in their life time could not have produced more than twenty five offspring for them to multiply to the present numbers in the world population, forgetting the issue of incest to begin with, I wonder why only Islam did not survive but man went on to find many other Religions since. Besides there have been that number of languages since and many are dead including the ones that were in use then. It is said that God spoke to Adam. Could someone enlighten the readership what was the language they spoke? If the Koran is God’s message why did man have to write it? God having spoken to Adam, he could have given the script of the Koran to Adam himself. But what we read in History is that man did not have a Lingua Franca to communicate for a long time. Then it took another length of time for man to inscribe on Stone. The writing material of paper, pens and pencils used to compile the Koran were recent discoveries compared to the time God is supposed to have created his first artifact Adam. We can argue till the cows come home but there is nothing significant to prove the theory of Islam/Christianity of a God being responsible for Humans and this limitless Space as there are many inconsistencies that can not be proved easily but could be denied easily.

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      Gamini,

      The “Adam and Eve” of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, lived 70,000 years ago in East Africa. However, according to the Bible the Earth is 6,000 years old.

      This is not the only myth. There are myths of Nirvana, Nibbana, Rebirth, Sansara, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Limbo, 330 millions Gods as well, with no proof yet. Still, the Earth goes around the Sun, contrary to Joshua stopping the Sun for one whole day.

      https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/

      Since its launch in 2005, National Geographic’s Genographic Project has used advanced DNA analysis and worked with indigenous communities to help answer fundamental questions about where humans originated and how we came to populate the Earth. Now, cutting-edge technology is enabling us to shine a powerful new light on our collective past. By participating in the latest phase of this real-time scientific project, you can learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

      http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0054616

      Y-Chromosome and mtDNA Genetics Reveal Significant Contrasts in Affinities of Modern Middle Eastern Populations with European and African Populations

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      Gamini trying to disprove religion and to convince its falsity is an exercise recurring from time immemorial. Realizing its futility is something that man can never come to terms with. On one hand we have Richard Dawkins, the atheist who requires scientific proof for the existence of God, and in another the likes of Pamela Geller, Geert Wilders, and our own comedy twins Lester and Leela ( of Lee Potter, ill-fame) who are sworn Islamaphobes on whom rhyme or Reason will not pervade their thick skulls in their pursuit of Islaam bashing. There is still another set like Lesley Hazleton, a Jewish agnostic, who acknowledges the positive impact of Islam though not a believer in it. I like to categorize you with Lesley and I sincerely hope that my conclusion is correct. I will try to answer to the best of my ability, knowing well that I am no scholar of Islam, but a humble student of religion with an ocean separating me from attainments of our religious scholars!

      Adam and Adam and Eve together in their life time could not have produced more than twenty five offspring for them to multiply to the present numbers in the world population,

      Adam as recorded in the scriptures lived to over 900 years. His progeny also lived for very long years. You must have heard the phrase ‘ as old as Methuselah’. Methuselah is purported to have lived up to 965 years! So these oldies produced more than your estimated 25 offspring, and BTW there being no BBS and Gnanasara around they must have pro created to their hearts content! As for the incest they must surely have gone by that maxim ‘necessity has no rules or laws’. Scriptural works state that all Adams offspring were twins and marriage took place between alternate twins, the twins being one male and one female!

      I wonder why only Islam did not survive but man went on to find many other Religions since.

      This is not difficult to fathom. Look at all the religions of the World. They have all split in to sects and sub sects. Buddhism followed its forerunner Hinduism and so on…

      Besides there have been that number of languages since and many are dead including the ones that were in use then. It is said that God spoke to Adam.

      As the population increased and communities formed, moving to new pastures, it is not difficult to understand the growth and death of languages. I think Sociologists must have covered this in their field of study and hence this is the proper channel to divert your query.
      Another source of information is the link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_first_written_accounts

      If the Koran is God’s message why did man have to write it? God having spoken to Adam, he could have given the script of the Koran to Adam himself.

      Sorry, Gamini, but this statement displays complete ignorance of the basic concepts of Islam and it would take a lot of time and space to cover the full topic. Suffice it to say that Islam means total submission to the will of God. It was this simple message that Adam and the Prophets of his progeny believed in and disseminated to their followers. Each of the Prophets had their communication with God. The Psalms, the Torah and the Gospel are records of this communication albeit not with perfect preservation. The Muslims ( I refer to the followers of Prophet Muhammad) believe that whilst we believe these scriptures were of divine origin, the preservation lacked divine guarantees. Hence errors and manipulation of the text occurred tainting its purity. The Muslims have the guarantee in-built in the Quran and even its most harsh critic of yore, Sir William Muir admits that the original text remains unchanged. I wonder if you know there are over hundred of thousands of Muslims who have memorized the full text, some as young as six years! This has been the practice from the earliest times till today! Is this not proof of its preservation?

      But what we read in History is that man did not have a Lingua Franca to communicate for a long time

      Gamini forget Lingua Franca, there was a period of time when MAN did not exist during the Palaeozaic and Mesozaic eras. Perhaps the following verse in the Quran refers to this period.

      Has there not been over Man a long period of Time, when he was
      nothing – (not even) mentioned? S 76 V 1

      You see the Quran declares
      “Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things? ” S 41:V 53

      And among the signs are some of mathematical amazement. The following are just a very few of these.

      There are 114 Chapters and a total of 6236 verses. The sum of the chapters in arithmetic series is 6555. When each chapter is added to the number of verses and separated to even and odd totals, we get an amazing result of 6555 for the odd total and 6236 for the even.

      The moon occurs 28 times in the Quran and this is the period of time taken for the moon to go around the earth and the time it takes to rotate.

      Day occurs 365 times and month 12 times.

      What I have quoted is just the tip of the Iceberg. Many more things have been found which will shake the myth that this is the work of human hands.

      Prophet Muhammed did not read or write. The revelations were repeated by him for the scribes to write it on leather, bones etc and were quickly committed to memory. The revelation did not come in sequence but was arranged by divine guidance over period of 23 years. Hence Muslims regard these observations as a miracle apart from the Quran’s unsurpassed literary composition.

      In conclusion, I do not expect you or other agnostics to jump into the wagon of belief merely on the above facts. If by reading this you learnt something that your knowledge of Islam lacked, then I can be satisfied that I have spent this time fruitfully. To those who disdain I have only this to say “The barking of the dogs will not disturb the clouds “

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        ‘Gamini trying to disprove religion and to convince its falsity is an exercise recurring from time immemorial.’

        Jamal, my contribution was to question the authenticity, credibility and not an attempt to disprove Religion, although it may point in that direction. Religion is based on mere belief and cannot be sustained with proof. This is a FACT. Therefore something that is non-existant can not be disproved either. This is my contention. I have no qualms anyone believing in any Religion. The issue is the resultant division and conflict that leads to destruction of life and property in multi Religious societies as the world has shrunk today to a global village. Further societies then would have believed in Religions when not permitted to question and the masses being mostly illiterate compared to today’s society. In comparison with the growth of Education and the thirst for Knowledge man has developed a better understanding of his surroundings, which earlier he would have attributed to Karma or the work of God. Not any more. So many things that would have been attributed earlier to unseen God/s and Karma, today have been resolved by knowledge acquired by mankind. Yet, what we possess as knowledge is a pebble’s worth and what we do not know is the rest. Merely because we do not know or understand, I as one do not blindly attribute it to some God, while you may do so because you continue to follow your predecessors. However there is no difference in myself not believing and you believing in a God to have influenced our lives differently at all, in health, wealth and longevity. I can cite many a believer as yourself in a Religion, subject to sufferance, ill health from birth, Poverty stricken with no food and shelter, continuing to pray to God for redemption. These gullible, ignorant will also not be easily let off by the Mullahs/Priests either. These Mullahs/Priests will not accept that man can achieve redemption without Religion. Take for instance for someone suffering from a sickness that needs surgery to extend life or a person living in poverty to enhance himself, no amount of Religion worshiping is going to help unless surgery is performed and employment found to alleviate poverty.
        Speaking on longevity, you state that Adam lived up to 900 years and Methuselah up to 965 yrs. Now this artifact of God Adam was never born. He was created as an adult and immediately copulated to produce every individual thereafter according to your belief which you claim lot more than the 25 nos that I quoted. Any human born, there is no record of having lived so long, ever. On the contrary life expectancy has increased with passage of time compared to early life, with medical discoveries and improved health facilities which no one can deny. To believe in such fibs as man had lived such lengths of time, is as bad as the belief of the Religion itself.

        As for my query, how there could be so many Religions, if God created Adam, from whom we all have descended and he was the first Muslim, you say,
        ‘This is not difficult to fathom. Look at all the religions of the World. They have all split in to sects and sub sects.
        Buddhism followed its forerunner Hinduism and so on’.

        When Islam itself have had no cohesiveness from the beginning, it is difficult to believe other Religions are splinter groups of the former, when one sees the glaring differences between Religions, for today’s man to kill each other in the name of a Religion. I shall not dwell into other areas you have touched in the Koran, to keep this discussion civil, without leaving room for any bad taste. Good day to you Jamal, take care!

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          Gamini,

          Two points I would like to mention,

          1) Islam is not the First Religion as claimed by Jamal, from which Sects came, Islam came after only JUDAISM (5500 Years old) and CHRISTIANITY (2000 Years old). ISLAM RELIGION is only 1400 Years old which started from Prophet Muhammed. Which is HISTORICAL FACTS.

          in Judaism, there is information about How world was Created in 7 Days, About Adam, Eve Oral and Written in Stone Tablets (Ten Commandments if you have heard) 3000s of years ago according to the knowledge they had at that time, the same is followed with Christianity with Old Testament 2000 Years ago. Then which is the same used in the book Kuran in 625 AD.

          So a Book which is trying to explain the Origin of Mankind which is written in 625 AD cannot be instituted to real HISTORY.

          2) Biggest problem with this Origin concept is we don’t know whether ADAM is whether WHITE, BLACK, CHINESE or ASIAN.

          But I could explain to you about this ‘Judaism’ which is father to Christianity and Islam, This Religion, which is about Israelites people.

          When different Religions in Many parts of the World, Ex: Hinduism, Mayans, Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks etc. and so on… at the same time, tried to explain the Origin of Man kind.

          There are different Tribes explain about Their History of Man differently. Also Sumerians (5000 Years ago) tells it differently. And Egyptians in Pyramids, 4000 Years ago explains it differently.

          So Judaism at the time of 3000 Years, could be assumed trying to explain about the History of their People. So I would say, Adam and Eve could be assumed as First People of Jews.

          What I am saying is, You cannot prove the Existence of One Deity nor prove there is no God (Deity).But you can disprove certain things about the History of Man kind in these Religious books with Historical Artifacts. For example, People of those days didn’t know about Dinosaurs which was there for Millions of Years and so on, No where it is mentioned in any of the religious books and so on…

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          Gamini, the truth of a religion cannot be experimentally proved. Belief is sustained and confirmed by EXPERIENCE and REASON. I agree that this is mostly an individual affair and the skeptics will disdain. However as civilized people we all have to be accommodating. We have to respect each others beliefs, even if it seems irrational to us, as long as it does not infringe on the privacy of others. It should be left to the individuals to rationalize, on what to believe and what not. Gamini, no I am not blindly following my forefathers. Maybe in my younger days I did so. However I have studied and researched and have corrected my perception maintaining my hold on my religion as I think I should.

          to keep this discussion civil, without leaving room for any bad taste
          I am at a loss as to having said anything to warrant this. If I had said something not civil i apologize sincerely. If it was the proverb at the end – no offense was meant. It was an old Arab expression that things will move on irrespective of the differences of opinion! As always I wish you peace and good health.

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        ///////////////////////
        The following are just a very few of these.

        There are 114 Chapters and a total of 6236 verses. The sum of the chapters in arithmetic series is 6555. When each chapter is added to the number of verses and separated to even and odd totals, we get an amazing result of 6555 for the odd total and 6236 for the even.

        The moon occurs 28 times in the Quran and this is the period of time taken for the moon to go around the earth and the time it takes to rotate.

        Day occurs 365 times and month 12 times.
        ////////////////

        Earth, Moon, Sun, Rotation of Planets, Stars, even Galaxies, Big Bang, Evolution Theory all have been foretold several thousand Years before by Famous Greek Philosophers (Aristotil, Socraties, Bythagaras etc) Muhammed (600 AD).

        They had advanced knowledge on Mathematics, Astronomy, Evolution, Science etc. Most of the things u mentioned which is in Kuran is already included in Judea Christian Biblical Records as well.

        Please do some research on “Ancient Greek Science and Astronomy” (600BC – Jesus time) and “Ancient Egyptian Science” etc.

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    Why do people react so silly? they are always trying hard to find a way to link every new technology with the prophecies they believe in ,how can people be so dogmatic ?

    http://youtu.be/Rbznqj8LP9I

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    Oh yes I can be sure of my confidence in the Gospel that Christ came in the flesh, was crucified for my sins and resurrected that I might be righteous with God. You see the Torah and the Gospels came way BEFORE the Quran came along. According to THAT I am saved indeed! YOU are the one who is not only disobeying the Gospel, but also the Quran because Mohammed admonished the world to read the Bible, saying:“You stand on nothing if you do not uphold the Torah and the gospel” Surah 5:68

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