Posted by splumer OK, here are your answers: 1. Not all Muslims hate Christians. Only a few. The reverse is also true. They do not have the same beliefs, just like Jews and the other two do not have the same beliefs, but believe in the same god. 2. See previous post 3. AFAIK, Islam has no concept of the messiah. They do believe, however, that Jesus was one of his prophets. 4. Because they don't follow Christ. More later.

Ok, so great. You are just reiterating the fact that they are NOT the same.
Please keep going.

Still though, how can it be the same god when one god is three entities and the other is just one, and one god has a son and the other doesnt? One god hates unbelievers, and the other god loves everyone. Explain

Posted by Mr_Fiend I'm sorry you feel that way, almost treating recorded history as some sort of conspiracy theory. That "theory" was just made up so as to give people just one more reason to discredit the bible. But again, choose what want to believe, I'm not gonna stop ya.

Its not a matter of feeling that way. Just because you base your decisions on what you feel to be true, the rest of us don't have that luxury. Constantine was apparently a pretty good guy by most accounts, but he didn't understand or particularly care about the specifics of religious doctrine. He just realized that establishing a single dogma, which could be used to unite people under one set of beliefs, would allow his empire to be more successful. As a result, they put together some of the most popular beliefs that were floating around - ideas from Judaism, some of the increasingly fragmented early Christians, paganism, and Greek philosophers - to make it appealing and palatable to people from various traditions. It was a government-formed religion.

It's not "conspiracy theory" to say that a powerful government, which attached itself to Christianity, and established the new standard and acceptable beliefs (casting a large number of previously pious and holy men as instant heretics) may not have necessarily been interested in anything other than its own self interests. Like I said, Constantine seemed to be a fairly decent dude, and if the various religions that he entertained (including his tributes to various Greek gods) helped people in any capacity, he would probably have been pleased.

Of course, he also institutionalized political persecution of Jews as a Christian policy. Go team!

Posted by Mr_Fiend Still though, how can it be the same god when one god is three entities and the other is just one, and one god has a son and the other doesnt? One god hates unbelievers, and the other god loves everyone. Explain

How can Florida and James Evans and their three children live in a rented project apartment while George and Louise Jefferson live in a high rise?

They are related, coming from the same source material, but trying to base any kind of decision or argument on those things, or establish a basis for living would be ridiculous, because it is all made up.

Posted by Mr_Fiend Ok, so great. You are just reiterating the fact that they are NOT the same. Please keep going. Still though, how can it be the same god when one god is three entities and the other is just one, and one god has a son and the other doesnt? One god hates unbelievers, and the other god loves everyone. Explain

I may need some help with my theology here, but isn't God one entity, manifested in the Holy Spirit and Jesus? I will point out that most theologians don't agree on what exactly is meant by the Holy Trinity. I think also that God doesn't "hate" unbelievers in Islam either, but exhorts followers to convert them, just like Christianity. I also suspect that if the Koran indeed does say "hate," that may be either metaphorical or a mistranslation: why would you try to convert someone you hated?

From Wikipedia's entry on Abrahamic Religions: In religion, Abrahamic religion is the designation used for monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham.[1] Judaism regards itself as the religion of the descendants of Jacob, grandson of Abraham, the direct descendant of Shem, the favoured son of Noah, who founded the human race following the Flood. Christianity began as a sect of Judaism in the 1st century AD and rapidly evolved into a separate religion with distinctive beliefs and practices, notably its replacement of the Jewish idea of an exclusive ethnic religious community with an inclusive, universal community, the Christian Church. Islam was founded by Muhammad in the 7th century CE upon the teachings in the Quran, which draws on Judaism, Christianity and native Arab traditions; its distinctive innovation was to retain the universalism of Christianity while replacing its complex concepts of the nature of God─a deity who is simultaneously one and three─with a clear monotheism.

Why dont christians believe or acknowledge muhammad?

I'm sure you could answer this one yourself, but here's my answer: I think Mohammed was either delusional and thought he was actually taking dictation from God, or he was deliberately trying to deceive people: "Hey, guess who I just talked to!" I tend to think the former.

Why is it called a mosque and not a church?

Because that's what they call their places of worship. I don't know if it's Arabic for "church," but one could also ask "Why do Jews call their places 'temples' or 'synagogues?'"

Why must muslims travel to mecca and not christians?

Because it is one of the five pillars of Islam, along believing that God alone is worthy of worship & Mohammed is his messenger; praying five times a day; fasting during Ramadan; and giving to the poor. Many Christians and Jews also make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other locations in the Holy Land, even though it is not required.

I'm sure you knew all this, though. The Wikipedia article on Islam is actually very interesting.

Posted by MutantMandias As a result, they put together some of the most popular beliefs that were floating around - ideas from Judaism, some of the increasingly fragmented early Christians, paganism, and Greek philosophers - to make it appealing and palatable to people from various traditions. It was a government-formed religion.

A lot of our current traditions came much later, though: eggs & bunnies at Easter (in fact the word "easter"), and the Christmas tree are all European pagan symbols. Feasting in honor of saints (a practice which seems to have diminished) was based on Roman feasts for certain gods. Saints Crispin & Crispinian, the patron saints of leather, may have been based on Celtic gods.

Sure. Christianity has always been an opportunistic religion, like a retro-virus, morphing as time goes to adapt to the current cultural weaknesses of its potential victims.

I would rather women burn their bras. That's something we could all get behind.

I'm making a giant scorpion out of books that is stinging itself with gasoline for this music festival. This event could not have happened at a better time for me.

Posted by Mr_Fiend The world burns the bible, and Christians just sigh and shake their heads and ask God to forgive them. Christians burn the koran and muslims get angry (some to the point of violence). Read the writing on the wall here folks.

Well.......

somebody burns a Bible, it usually does not make the press or turn into a media circus/publicity stunt. If it did, Westboro or the Army of God seem belligerent enough to attack the people that desecrated the Bible.

Posted by MutantMandias As a result, they put together some of the most popular beliefs that were floating around - ideas from Judaism, some of the increasingly fragmented early Christians, paganism, and Greek philosophers - to make it appealing and palatable to people from various traditions. It was a government-formed religion.

Where do you read this stuff? And how do you know that information is more solid than the bible/recently found dead see scrolls?

Posted by MutantMandias They are related, coming from the same source material, but trying to base any kind of decision or argument on those things, or establish a basis for living would be ridiculous, because it is all made up.

It really doesnt matter, what matters is that the two gods "Allah" and the Chrisitian God, have totally different intentions and commandments, how can that be true if they are the same God....

Posted by splumer I also suspect that if the Koran indeed does say "hate," that may be either metaphorical or a mistranslation: why would you try to convert someone you hated?

Simple, you dont. You blow them up with a bomb to get your virgins (which is just a fleshly desire, of which would not exist in heaven, or atleast thats what the bible teaches, unlike the very different koran)

Posted by splumer I'm sure you could answer this one yourself, but here's my answer: I think Mohammed was either delusional and thought he was actually taking dictation from God, or he was deliberately trying to deceive people: "Hey, guess who I just talked to!" I tend to think the former.

You would be correct in saying he tried to deceive people, and it worked, very well. As I said before, islam was the result of jealousy and annimosity, you can figure that out from history. It was created by one man-derived from the teachings of God, which according to history, obviously pre dates islam. This is why islam has such hate towards christians, because a man wrote it with his own false and twisted ideas. This is also why your heavenly rewards include virgins. Its all a lie, God, the real GOD, is not like that, at all.

Posted by splumer Because it is one of the five pillars of Islam, along believing that God alone is worthy of worship & Mohammed is his messenger; praying five times a day; fasting during Ramadan; and giving to the poor. Many Christians and Jews also make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other locations in the Holy Land, even though it is not required.

The more you dig up information, the more you are just saying that islam and Christianity are very different. The deeper you dig, the more you will find this out. It doesnt matter if you believe in God or not, once you figure out the real intentions behind each belief, you'll figure out whats what and see their true colors.

Posted by Mr_Fiend The more you dig up information, the more you are just saying that islam and Christianity are very different. The deeper you dig, the more you will find this out.

They are not different at all, you sad, little man.

Obviously I cannot reason with your flawless logic and reasoning, your insite and understanding into something you dont believe in is impeccable.

Posted by MutantMandias They are not different at all, you sad, little man.

Keep in mind that Muslims do not identify as Christians and Christians do not identify as Muslims. Regardless of how you may see them, they see themselves as quite different.

Posted by katwoman Keep in mind that Muslims do not identify as Christians and Christians do not identify as Muslims. Regardless of how you may see them, they see themselves as quite different.

You clearly did not understand what I was saying there.

Christianity-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason
Islam-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason
Judaism-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason
Mormonism-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason

I could keep going, but I think the point should be clear.

(except Scientology. That's just a big fat global scam.)

That's a little closer to my point.

Except that I was leaning toward "the crazy bullshit lies that THEY believe are no more ridiculous than the crazy fairytale bullshit that YOU believe."

Posted by underdark Christianity-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason Islam-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason Judaism-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason Mormonism-people following the rules of their invisible friend for no good reason I could keep going, but I think the point should be clear. (except Scientology. That's just a big fat global scam.)

++++++1.

Posted by Mr_Fiend Where do you read this stuff? And how do you know that information is more solid than the bible/recently found dead see scrolls?

Because it has evidence to back it up.

It really doesnt matter, what matters is that the two gods "Allah" and the Chrisitian God, have totally different intentions and commandments, how can that be true if they are the same God....

Of course they do, because those are from different religious traditions. It's easier for Christians to hate Muslims if they believe that Yahweh is not Allah. Being the same god doesn't mean that the philosophies around them are the same. No one ever said that. By your logic, the god of the Jews and the Mormons would also not be the same as the Christian god.

Simple, you dont. You blow them up with a bomb to get your virgins (which is just a fleshly desire, of which would not exist in heaven, or atleast thats what the bible teaches, unlike the very different koran)

Yes, because they are different books, and differnt philosophies, and, to an outsider, equally valid (or equally worthless). Is the virgins thing even in the Koran?

You would be correct in saying he tried to deceive people, and it worked, very well. As I said before, islam was the result of jealousy and annimosity, you can figure that out from history. It was created by one man-derived from the teachings of God, which according to history, obviously pre dates islam. This is why islam has such hate towards christians, because a man wrote it with his own false and twisted ideas. This is also why your heavenly rewards include virgins. Its all a lie, God, the real GOD, is not like that, at all.

So you say! Muslims don't all hate Christians. I think the evidence proves that. No more than Christians don't all hate Muslims. Thinking another group is wrong does not equal hate.

The more you dig up information, the more you are just saying that islam and Christianity are very different. The deeper you dig, the more you will find this out. It doesnt matter if you believe in God or not, once you figure out the real intentions behind each belief, you'll figure out whats what and see their true colors.

They are different! No one ever said they weren't! Have you been listening?

_{edited for clarity}

http://www.theonio...o-know-abou,17990/

The Meaning of the Koran

Which sacred text says that Jesus is the “word” of God? a) the Gospel of John; b) the Book of Isaiah; c) the Koran.

Which sacred text has this to say about the Hebrews: God, in his “prescience,” chose “the children of Israel … above all peoples”?

Which sacred book has God advising his followers that, regarding unbelievers, once He "gives them over to you, and you defeat them; then you must utterly destroy them; you shall make no covenant with them, and show no mercy to them... you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars... you shall save alive nothing that breathes"

Posted by Mr_Fiend God, the real GOD, is not like that, at all.

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