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Intellectualme
07-26-2002, 08:43 AM
Originally posted by mizpah

One is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 21 v's 20 - 27. Jerusalem would be encompased about by many armies and the Jews taken captive and dispersed among many nations. Subsequently, Jerusalem was ransacked, the temple destroyed and the city trodden down by the Gentiles ---------- until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

This last statement is important as it suggests a time of revival for the Children of Israel. Gentile rule will cease and the land of Israel restored to its ancient people. I realise that this is contentious material and would cost me my life if said in the wrong place but prophecies of scripture have been accurate. Sceptical or not, it must be admitted that the accuracy of the prophets has been astounding.

In saying that, God promised Ismael (Father of the Arab peoples) that he would be a great nation of 12 princes Genesis 17 v 20. even though Issac was the child of promise Genesis 17 v 16. who was being used to bring forth the royal line of David. God heard the cry of Ismael and blessed him even though Abraham his Father had driven him and his mother the servant girl out because of the jealously of Sarah his wife. It did not work to have two mothers and two sons in the same household.

The main debate was over inheritance and still is like many other counteries. Because Ishmael was born first as an arranged pregnancy using a servant girl at the suggestions of Sarah, Abraham's wife and Issac was born later of Sarah who was past normal child bearing age Ishmael's mother Hagar thought that her son was entitled to Abraham's land and wealth.

A common Father but a serious problem of identity and position within the family. The passage gives the impression that Abraham felt sympathy for the position of Ishmael and this was supported by the promise from God regarding his future greatness. Nevertheless, it was not possible to divert from God's instruction that the son of promise, Issac, was to be used in God's divine plan.

Both have claim to greatness from Jehovah and the loins of Abraham. Irrespective of the different historical tracts and divine uses it must be said that in Abraham's household there was only one religion and relationship with God. Both Ishmael and Issac would have had the same influences and worshipped at the same alter. There was no such a thing as one following Islam and the other following Jehovah. These half brothers had to be separated not just because of female spite but also to ensure the fulfillment of Gods plan spoken to Abraham.

The Arab peoples have a lot in common with their half brothers the Jews but they have been separated by adopting a different religion called Islam which is intolerant and militant toward Jews and Christians. Personally, I think that the promoters of fundalmental Islam has a large part to play in addition to historical enemity.


You are right in quoting the Scriptures. According to the Scriptures, the Holy Land was God's promise to Issac. And you are also right in that Scriptures have been accurate.

However, when we talk about religion.. it is important for us to first understand what GOD wanted from mankind that HE sent Prophets and Messnegers to guide the peoples.

As you know.. ALL the Prophets of God had one Messege for the people: To Know that there is ONE GOD, and to do good and forbid the evil as is prescribed by the Holy Books sent on to man. This message is repeated by ALL monotheistic religions, and If we are to understand the message of GOD.. it is important that we look at all three religions to see what they believe. Now you have done that very well with Christianity and Judaism so I dont think I will repeat that. However... it is also important that you understand what GOD says about Islam and the message HE sent to the followers.

What is you definition of Jehovah? You are talking about the ONE GOD , correct? In you post .. you say Islam and Jehovah. Islam is the belief in ONE GOD. Let me tell you what is in the Islamic Scriptures. The term "Muslim" means "one who submits" or surrenders to GOD; it includes everyone who follows HIS guidance and performs HIS will. In Islam.. all the great monotheistic prophets are regarded as Muslims

Here, according to the Islamic Scriptures, Ismail was the one that GOD asked Abraham to sacrifice, so that GOD may test Abraham. Abraham, of course, passed that test.

So if Issac were told to follow GOD divine plan, he would be "one who submits". Ismail did the same thing. So as think that they are following two different ideals and faiths, in reality.. they are both submitting to ONE GOD, and both brothers were told to spread the message of GOD throughout. In this way, GOD is not being contradictory.


If you also read the Islamic Scriptures with the Judaic Scriptures.. you will see that they follow the same GOD... However, today we see two nations becuase the differences of the spread of the message and pratices of the people. Differences also arose from the interpretion of the message by later generation.

If your read about Islam.. it is not intolerant, or militant. It is clearly said that its every man for himself (i am not quoting). The actions of the people that we see now is not because Ismail relayed the message of GOD wrong or they beileve in another GOD, but because there is wrong doing everywhere in the world, and people who are not strong in there faith in GOD fall to satan. That goes for ALL people. One must not think that GOD sent the wrong message or that Islam is a bad religion. NO. All three monotheistic religions were sent by GOD. All at different times, and with different Prophets.

When I read the Hebrew and Latin scriptures, if I am correct, GOD sent the religion for a tribe or a people. When I read the Islamic Scriptures.. Islam is for ALL times and for ALL peoples.. it is not different from the messege of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.. However, it says it is the last message (biblical scriptres say otherwise) for mankind.

Howver.. I am not sure .. In the biblical scriptures.. does it not say that the next messiah will be called Ahmed?? Didn't Jesus say that Ahmed will be the last messiah??

Now.. in our days.. we have both people claiming the land.It is difficult both to try and convince the other party. Now I think the only way is to share the land.. knowing that it is for GOD's love that we are all striving for.

Micah
07-26-2002, 09:10 AM
Originally posted by Intellectualme
All three monotheistic religions were sent by GOD. All at different times, and with different Prophets.

Ok, this kind of discussion might not be appropriate for this forum, so one of the Mods can tell us to move the thread if need be, but my understanding is that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion, and infact preached Judaism. Christianity is practically made up.

danholo
07-26-2002, 10:28 AM
Well I'm a religious Jew (religious meaning I believe in God, but don't do deeds) and when non-Jews speak about Judaism it really fires me up.

"Here, according to the Islamic Scriptures, Ismail was the one that GOD asked Abraham to sacrifice, so that GOD may test Abraham. Abraham, of course, passed that test. "

Actually, in the Quran, it just talks about a son and it does not give a name. For me, the Quran is just a mutated version of the original Jewish scriptures. This is a "big" debate for Muslim scholars. I think this debate is nothing but stupid, since the Bible clearly tells us that the son was Isaac. If it wasn't Isaac, we wouldn't have had the land in the first place and gotten out of slavery. If it were Ishmael, they would've had the land. But he didn't. That's why Isaac was the chosen one.

The prophets of the Bible were to guide the Jews of that time, nothing more.
We have no more prophets and we are in a way "grown up", since we don't need a parent to guide us. We have to make our own choices.

elke
07-26-2002, 10:54 AM
I don't think that we should get fired up when other people try to understand our religion or our culture, with no disrespect intended. Instead, I think we need to explain and try to make sure that they understand clearly what we believe.

danholo
07-26-2002, 11:49 AM
Originally posted by elke
I don't think that we should get fired up when other people try to understand our religion or our culture, with no disrespect intended. Instead, I think we need to explain and try to make sure that they understand clearly what we believe.

You're right, but I just got the idea that these two were speaking of Judaism, like they were knowing what they were talking about.

Micah
07-26-2002, 01:46 PM
Was Jesus Jewish or not?

Ezra
07-26-2002, 06:24 PM
Intellectualme,

What do you know about Islam other than what you've just blindly copied and pasted from who knows where?!

richcrassus
08-05-2002, 06:03 PM
Are all the jews alive today direct descendents of the members of the 12 tribes of ancient israel?
thanks.

elke
08-05-2002, 06:32 PM
Originally posted by Micah
Was Jesus Jewish or not?

As described by the New Testament, Jesus was born Jewish. However, there is no mention of him in Josephus' writings, the Dead Sea Scrolls, or any other contemporary non-Christian source.

There were many different sects of Judaism in Judea at that time: the Pharisees, the Essenes, the Sadducees, and many more minor ones as well. My understanding of the situation is that one of these sects (I think, it was the Essenes) held some beliefs similar to those of Christians.

Much of the Christian doctrine was put together after Jesus' death, like 200 AD or something, in Greece. That's why the original version of the New Testament is in Greek, not in Hebrew. The Pharisees were the dominant sect, and the Christians didn't get along with them. Therefore, some of that doctrine was unfriendly to the Jews.

The Roman Emperor Constantine and his mother converted to Christianity and adopted it as the official religion of the Roman Empire. Most of the Christian holy sites in the Holy Land have been pointed out by his mother, 400 years or so after Jesus' death.

Simon
08-08-2002, 01:54 PM
What I do not understand is what gives Mohammad the right to come along and claim that all Jewish prophets are prophets of islam, so are Mary and Jesus and that now he has this new religion called Islam, which supercedes both Judaism and Christianity.


In other words, WHAT RIGHT DOES MOHAMMAD OR ANY MUSLIM HAVE TO CLAIM THAT JEWS ALSO WORSHIP ALLAH AND THAT JEWISH PROPHETS ARE NOW PROPHETS OF ALLAH AND ISLAM???

Do Jews accept the contention of some of the idiots posting on this forum claiming that the "God of Abraham is also the God of muslims? "

Do Jews accept that their prophets are now also prophets of Islam as claimed by some muslims on this forum?

richcrassus
08-08-2002, 05:44 PM
If it says that god is a spirit, and he has not 'body' and cant be 'hurt' etc... than why did he need to rest on the 7th day?
If he dosent have a body and cant be hurt why did he need to rest?
I though only 'physical' creatures need rest?

Acheron
08-14-2002, 12:07 AM
Manuel, surah 29 was revealed in Mecca, in those days Muhammad had few followers and had to preach peace and tolerance because of a hostile Meccan population. When Muhammad left Mecca and settled in Al-Madina he began to become stronger. As his power grew his preachings changed dramatically, they went from tolerance to aggression. Most of the "sword verses" that call for violence against disbelievers were revealed in Al-Madina. One of the biggest misunderstandings about Islam in the west is the difference between Mecca surahs and Al-Madina surahs. Unfortunately Al-Madina surahs abrogate (override) Mecca surahs. Here's an example of an Al-Madina verse compared to the Mecca verse you quoted.Qur'an surah 98:6 "Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur'an and the prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures."

Mediocrates
08-14-2002, 10:17 AM
But he is dead and buried and his children are somewhat more closed minded, bloodthirsty, ignorant and heavily armed.

Simon
08-14-2002, 10:48 AM
Manuel: It does us well to remember that in the eyes of Muhammad the Jewish, Christian and Muslim God are all one and the same.


Of course, Mohammad would say that. He had no history to begin with. So he claims that these gods are the same. What BS. It does not matter what Mohammad says or thinks, you fool, it matters whether the Jews/Christians accept this.

For example, What prevents me (other than sanity, a scarce commodity in Islam) from declaring myself the LATEST PROPHET, SIMON. And then generously adding that the prophets of Judaism/Christianity/Islam are all prophets of SIMONISM. In MY eyes, the eyes of the GREAT AND BENEVOLENT SIMON, The God of SIMONISM, JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM ARE THE SAME.

Verily, I will fart around, spewing contradictory BS, asking my followers to kill the Jews in one verse and then claim that they are also "of the Book."

Now, do you understand. Simon, the Johnny-come-lately, can claim any bloody thing he wants. He can generously help Himself to all the Gods and Prophets and claim to start a new religion. My guess is that Mohammad, realizing that, asserted himself to be the last prophet so that someone like me would not be able to pull the same caper that he did.

Ezra
08-14-2002, 11:05 AM
Manuel,

Would you please refresh my memory about where Jewish were called "pigs" in Islam?

Thanks.

Mediocrates
08-14-2002, 11:13 AM
I never realized prophesy was a right. Curious.

Simon
08-14-2002, 11:25 AM
Manuel,

So your point is that because Jesus did it, Mohammad did it as well.
And because Jesus got away with it, so should Mohammad.


So if Jesus got away with plagiarism, Mohammad should be allowed to do the same.


Very "intellectually", I, SIMON, aver: Two wrongs dont make a right.

Simon
08-14-2002, 11:27 AM
Manuel posted: He believed that Jews, Christians and Muslims worshiped the same God


Once again, mi amigo, it DOES NOT matter what Mohammad THINKS. He can think anything. IT DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT.

AGAIN, I GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE OF SIMON, THE BENEVOLENT, THE LATEST PROPHET.

Simon
08-14-2002, 01:32 PM
Actually, I never made an assertion as to what I personally believe. My assertion was that Muhammad, as related in the Quran, believed the three to be worshiping the same God.


And I am telling you, that it DOES NOT MATTER WHAT MOHAMMAD SAID OR BELIEVED. The three religions DO NOT WORSHIP the same god.

I have met a wide cross-section of the "Faithful," both Jews and Christians. And they recoil in horror when asked of their God is the same as that of Islam.

Mediocrates
08-15-2002, 05:03 AM
Originally posted by Manuel


Perhaps their reaction was based on misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the Quran. There are plenty of Jews and Christians who DO believe that the 3 great religions worship the same God.

Perhaps it's time for a Harris Poll...


That's pretty lame. It's dissembling. What you are saying is tantamount to claiming that Jews and Christians are muslims anyway, even if they don't know it.

Mediocrates
08-15-2002, 07:23 AM
Originally posted by Manuel



What's lame is to claim that the followers of a religion have no right to claim worship of a particular conception of god because the adherents to that religion's antecedents don't except them.


I don't know what that means or if it means anyting.

Mediocrates
08-15-2002, 07:26 AM
Originally posted by Manuel


Actually, no. What I'm saying is that Islam teaches that Muslims worship the same god as Jews and Christians.


So do Rastafarians, ergo?

Mediocrates
08-15-2002, 08:03 AM
I'm pretty sure that the Romans worshipped Jupiter and not Zeus and neither the Greeks nor the Romans would agree that they are the same thing. Whether or not they are is meaningless. Most religions claim everyting as their own or at least as an 'improvement' on something else. Greek Orthodox, Copts, Lutherans, Catholics, muslims and most of the others all claim to fully reveal the one true God.

Isn't that what the 30 years war was about?

Ezra
08-16-2002, 05:00 AM
Originally posted by Manuel


Actually, no. What I'm saying is that Islam teaches that Muslims worship the same god as Jews and Christians.

Do Jews believe that Christians are praying to the same God as they? Does it really matter to a Christian whether or not a Jew believes this to be the case? Should it matter to a Christian? What right do Christians have to claim the God of Judaism?

Manuel,

1) Are you saying that Muslims believe in the Bible between our hands?

PLEASE: DIRECT YES/NO..

Ezra
08-16-2002, 11:25 AM
Originally posted by Manuel


Please explain what you mean by believe. This is a very nebulous term and I cannot give a direct answer to such a vague question.

Hmmmmm…. Have you ever read Koran before? It says very clearly that Muslims are those who "… believe in His books, prophets, angles, and the last judgment day" .

So, my question again, according to your comment that Christians, Jewish, and Muslims worship the same God, and according to the script of your Koran, do you believe (with the same sense as your Koran use) in the Bible?

Mr. Pumps
09-18-2002, 09:54 AM
Why has no religion gone into the reason why Humans are the pinnacle of intelligence on the Earth.

Somewhere, somehow there has to be a reason why we evolved along a unique and special path.

ayesha
09-20-2002, 03:10 AM
Originally posted by Mr. Pumps
Why has no religion gone into the reason why Humans are the pinnacle of intelligence on the Earth.

Somewhere, somehow there has to be a reason why we evolved along a unique and special path.

to be held accountable for what we do and how we live ur lives. we've been given an intellect, a mind to choose - therefore we should be using that intelligence for good and the worship of God - whoever your God may be. from what I can see, all religions teach that our presence and the "pinnacle of our intelligence" here has a meaning. just MO

Mr. Pumps
09-20-2002, 09:03 AM
Sorry Alyesha, but I believe it goes beyond more than a "bright light at the end of the tunnel"after death.

Why are we truely the only intelligent things in the Universe, maybe one day we will find something with a reasonable I.Q out in the vastness of space, but until that day we are a enigma on this planet and in the Universe.

Give me one quote from any "holybook" why we are that enigma or why selective breeding occurs.

Religion was created to explain whatever comes after death, but until a day some Messenger or Prophet comes down or science knows, there is not a chance of ever knowing.

Mediocrates
09-20-2002, 10:18 AM
Well if you were William James (the brother of Henry James, and probably a better writer) you'd say for the sceptic no proof is sufficient and for the faithful no proof is necessary.

Anyway isn't it pretty arrogant to think we should warrant all that attention from some deity? What makes us so special we should be the center of the universe? What's smarts got to go with it? It's not like that's even an evolutionary advantage.

Actually Pumps - you might want to read logical positivism; Karl Popper and company. Even Godel. Also Spinoza and Hume (and Emerson) address a kind of transcendental brain.

Mr. Pumps
09-20-2002, 06:39 PM
Sure I will look up those people, but I do think Heaven and hell and "the light" is just a mainstream acceptable answer for death, nothing very complicated.

Israel98
09-24-2002, 06:24 AM
QUOTE]Manuel: It does us well to remember that in the eyes of Muhammad the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim God are all one and the same[/QUOTE]

As a Christian I agree with this in general, however there are huge theological differences between the three faiths. I think Jews and Christians generally accept that we are worshipping the same G-d (The Father). Our differences lie in who the Messiah is. As I understand the Muslim faith it follows the same G-d of Abraham , they just call him Allah. So to answer the question in its purest form, Yes, a Jew, Christian, and Muslim all believe they are worshipping the same G-d of Abraham. The important issue is which of the three is following G-d's written instructions on how to enter heaven.

McMurdo
10-11-2002, 08:52 AM
As described by the New Testament, Jesus was born Jewish. However, there is no mention of him in Josephus' writings, the Dead Sea Scrolls, or any other contemporary non-Christian source.

If I could correct you, here is a quote from Josephus' writings:

"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon their loyalty to him. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive. Accordingly they believed that he was the Messiah, concerning whom the Prophets have recounted wonders."

Much of the Christian doctrine was put together after Jesus' death, like 200 AD or something, in Greece. That's why the original version of the New Testament is in Greek, not in Hebrew. The Pharisees were the dominant sect, and the Christians didn't get along with them. Therefore, some of that doctrine was unfriendly to the Jews.

Most of the NT was written to either mixed Jew/Gentile churches or entirely gentile believers, hence the use of common (or Koine) Greek for the NT. However, it is widely believed that the Gospels of Matthew and Mark were written in Hebrew, due to the word-formation of the Greek.

McMurdo
10-11-2002, 09:03 AM
Originally posted by richcrassus
If it says that god is a spirit, and he has not 'body' and cant be 'hurt' etc... than why did he need to rest on the 7th day?
If he dosent have a body and cant be hurt why did he need to rest?
I though only 'physical' creatures need rest?

jcsd
10-11-2002, 10:24 AM
The christian old-testament is based on a 250 BC greek tranlation of the Hebrew Torah.

The first gospels to be written were Mark (based on the teachings of St. Peter) in about 65 AD and Matthew (based on Mark but written most probably in Hebrew for a Jewish audience) in about 65-70 AD.

The next are Luke and the Book of Acts which were both written by the same person sometime before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD and were based on the teachings of St. Paul and the personal experince of the author.

Next comes John which was written in about 100 AD, probably by followers of St. John the Apostle who were writing down what he had told them.

Letters is probably based upon various apostles personal correspondance, though some of it may well of been written by other early church figures.

The authorship of revelations is much debated but it was probably written by a Jewish author in about 95 -100 AD.

Bishop Iraneus of Lyons first started to the work of compiling the new testement in 180 AD when he decided that any work must be judged on how 'apostolistic' it was. He drew up the first list of canonical books at that time.

This list was finalized by Bishop Eusebius 150 years later. But it was not until 473 AD that the authoritive list of canonical texts was ratified in Rome by the catholic church (note: all the books on this list had already appeared on previous lists).

Most denominations of Christianity use slight variations on Bishop Iraneus' first canon today.