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In this time of "politically correct" it seems that there is a general good feel attitude about religion. "You're OK, I'm OK" pretty well expresses it. Folks say it doesn't matter how you serve God, because we are all His children. I submit for your consideration this: the God of the Bible is not the same as Allah. Discussion anyone?
I don't know anyone (certainly no one posting to this thread) who believes that "all religions are OK". Some are obviously worse than others, and the truly gruesome ones usually die out on their own. There probably aren't many Aztecs practicing human sacrifice any more.
However, there is one teaching that is shared by almost (but not quite) all religions, and that is the claim to be the only true and right religion, specially designated by God (or Allah, or Whomever) to convert all the heathens and unbelievers of the world to the one TRUE religion. This common shared belief is the source of untold suffering, cruelty and injustice. But those who hold it are blind to both the commonality of it, and its woeful consequences. Apparently the temptation to embrace beliefs that make us feel specially favored and superior to others is almost overwhelming.
I have done lots of research on religions in the past. I have read quite a few books that all say the same thing about the difference between Christian God and Allah. Here is a passage that I hope will be helpful.
"Muslims have "99 beautiful names" for Allah (which they memorize), and each one describes one of Allah's characteristics. You might be surprised to learn that love is absent from this long list of character qualities. The Qur'an doesn't describe Allah as loving. His character is defined more in terms of judgment than by grace, and in terms of power rather than mercy.
This isn't to say, however, that Allah doesn't love. He loves those who do good (meaning that they do good deeds and adhere to the required daily practices of the Five Pillars). But Allah does not love the person whose bad deeds outweigh the good things he or she has done.
The attribute of love is a huge difference between Allah and the God of Judaism and Christianity. That's why it is incorrect to believe that Allah and God are the same deity but are simply known by two different names, depending upon whether you sitting in a mosque or a church. Allah of the Qur'an only loves those he deems to be good; the God of the Bible lobes all humanity, none of whom are basically good.
If anyone ever asks whether there is a difference between Allah and God, tell them love is the answer."
Another big difference is the relationship between the two Gods and their followers. Christians believe that God is immanent, that he exists within the world and human nature. Where as Muslims believe that a person can never "know" Allah, but that He will make his wishes known. They also do not try to know Allah because He can't be known, so he remains distant and mysterious.
Passage from World Religions & Cults 101 by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
The name's of the Arab moon-gods were; Wadd, `Amm, Sin, Il Mukah & Aksum. Allah is a contraction of the Southern Semitic Al-ilah which simply means "The God." I refer you to the following site
Ray McIntyre
Priest
Anglican Church International
Well kiwimac, I didn't take the "moongod" that seriously either. However, I do not believe Mohammed was a true prophet. He claimed some visions & revelations from God then the Qur'an was written. NOT that my 1st husband was a Muslim do I hold an opinion (he certainly thought Allah was God) But after reading about Mohammed, I don't believe one man's imagination is credible to claim it as a true religion. In addition, Allah's attributes are different from the Abrahamic God.
So here's some more balance: True History of Islam, Mohammed and the Koran
Well, they should commit to something that is less invasive. If their god tell the to prostletyze, well, what a bummer for those of us who disagree and must listen to, sometimes ad nauseum, and see their prostletyzations everywhere. Like I said, religion is a problem, for me, and many others. That the religious feel more bound to please their god than their fellow man is problematic to me.
Car salesmen try to sell cars, because they are committed, Realtors try to sell houses because they are committed, insurance agents try to sell insurance because they are committed. Christians try to sell Jesus to you because they are trying to make you understand the fact that there is an afterlife, and they are so driven by their faith in the word that they want you to have that choice also.
Well kiwimac, I didn't take the "moongod" that seriously either. However, I do not believe Mohammed was a true prophet. He claimed some visions & revelations from God then the Qur'an was written. NOT that my 1st husband was a Muslim do I hold an opinion (he certainly thought Allah was God) But after reading about Mohammed, I don't believe one man's imagination is credible to claim it as a true religion. In addition, Allah's attributes are different from the Abrahamic God.
So here's some more balance: True History of Islam, Mohammed and the Koran
Car salesmen try to sell cars, because they are commited, Realators try to sell houses because they are commited, insurance agents try to sell insurance because they are commited. Christians try to sell Jesus to you because they are trying to make you understand the fact that there is an afterlife, and they are so driven by their faith in the word that they want you to have that choice also.
The key word there is "Choice".
Quote:
Originally Posted by ordinaryguy
I don't know anyone (certainly no one posting to this thread) who believes that "all religions are OK". Some are obviously worse than others, and the truly gruesome ones usually die out on their own. There probably aren't many Aztecs practicing human sacrifice any more.
However, there is one teaching that is shared by almost (but not quite) all religions, and that is the claim to be the only true and right religion, specially designated by God (or Allah, or Whomever) to convert all the heathens and unbelievers of the world to the one TRUE religion. This common shared belief is the source of untold suffering, cruelty and injustice. But those who hold it are blind to both the commonality of it, and its woeful consequences. Apparently the temptation to embrace beliefs that make us feel specially favored and superior to others is almost overwhelming.
I was referring to the statement posted by the person who asked the question where he states that today political correctness requires that we say that all other people's religions are OK. So assuming that scenario I gave the Aztec hypothetical situation.
Actually, as strange as it might seem, I have repeatedly come across the concept that all religious roads lead to God. I think that it's a platitude stated to convey religious tolerance and really isn't given much thought. If it were, then the statement wouldn't be used so frequently since it is obviously absurd.
About gruesome religions dying out on their own, when the Spaniards arrived in Mexico human sacrifice for religious purposes had been practiced for centuries and instead of diminishing had intensified under the Aztecs. It took a gruesome military campaign to put an end to it. Is that what you mean by dying out on its own?
About gruesome religions dying out on their own, when the Spaniards arrived in Mexico human sacrifice for religious purposes had been practiced for centuries and instead of diminishing had intensified under the Aztecs. It took a gruesome military campaign to put an end to it. Is that what you mean by dying out on its own?
Yeah, I guess I should have said "die out on their own or are defeated in a fight to the death with other similarly gruesome adversaries".
Quote:
Originally Posted by letmetellu
Christians try to sell Jesus to you because they are trying to make you understand the fact that there is an afterlife, and they are so driven by their faith in the word that they want you to have that choice also.
Rishy is right. If there is an afterlife, it can only be a fact to those who have already died. To the rest of us, it can be a hope, a hypothesis, and a belief, but not a fact. Trying to "sell Jesus" as a way to make somebody accept your belief as a fact is not salesmanship, it's arrogance.
letmetellu wrote: "Christians try to sell Jesus to you because they are trying to make you understand the fact that there is an afterlife..."
Here is the problem I, and other atheists have with proselytizing. In the quote above you say the afterlife is a fact. Sorry, it is NOT. It is your belief. Nothing more. Don't try to sell something as fact when it is not. False advertising. Please, stop acting like you have something on the rest of us. All you have is a belief that is unprovable, and from what I can see, also damaging to relationships between members of the same society.
As Americans, we need to leave our religion at home. The public spaces are not christian, and you cannot make them so (though I believe that is what you want. But, it is just my belief, I no way to prove it.).
I am very concerned about our country devolving. Your Christianizing of the country is not helping!
I didn't hear anyone here directly try to witness to you. And doesn't visiting the RELIGION category on a forum require someone to anticipate a certain amount of Religious tolerance?
Religion IS left at home and church.
The majority of Americans believe in God. If doomsday comes tomorrow- That's why He will save us(or his)
But that's ok, you have a free will not to believe.
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