It suggests nothing of the sort. Are you trying to see how many times you can ask the same question before I finally slink off, droopy eared and tail between legs? Can't be far off now!

 

I'm sorry, Paben, but how can something be "distorted" if there is no true yardstick to measure against? Why not just cough that you've been cornered?

 

Oh dear, is English your second language? You should have said! I made it perfectly clear what I was saying, but I can repeat it in French, German, Russian or Arabic if that would make it any easier for you to understand.
And it would take more than one Christian or even a whole church full of them to corner me, especially if I was armed!

 

Anyone with the capacity to think critically and forensically will, when reading the last dozen or so posts, see that you've made incongruent statements and, being acutely aware of this, you're now trying to make light of it. I can forgive this, it's just your pride getting in the way of truth.

I'm interested in your ontological position, sir, as you are in mine. What are the foundations for your being? Are you a nihilist?

 

What utter rot. You're confusing lightness with tedium. And if you believe your first paragraph why would you be interested in any response I might give to your second? Now that would be incongruous.

 

Don't get me wrong, whilst you may find it tedious, I actually enjoy sparing with you. I'm afraid, however, that you made a value judgement about IS in relation to Islam and when questioned you floundered. That's what happened. It's on record.

 

Ok, if you say so. I disagree and blame your misunderstanding of the written word, and that's on record too as if anyone cares. But it might explain why you accept the Bible literally.

 

Just clear it up for me then? How are you able to make value judgements about IS having a "distorted version of Islam"? If you could simply point me to the measure, please.

 

Right, last try.

It's accepted by Western & many Muslim scholars that, like the Bible, the Koran is not the word of God but a contrived text composed from a number of texts covering hundreds of years. This is rarely openly expressed for fear of reprisals. However, despite the evidence the Koran is firmly believed by Muslims to be the word of God transmitted to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. Remember him? With me so far?
Isis has misinterpreted the texts of the Koran. 'It is forbidden in Islam to kill the innocent' being one obvious example that they have rather ignored. How is that not easy for you to understand? It's not a value judgement on my part but a simple statement of fact.

Now if you respond quickly you can be No: 1,000.

 

Typing furiously. How is Surah 9:5 to be interpreted, then?

 

Woo hoo! There is a God.I get to make the post 1000

 

Oh

 

 

Swine,lol

 

The old interpretation is highly debatable and reinforces your previous claims that Islam is an evil in the world.
While 'modern day' Muslims are honour bound to attempt to convert the infidel (that's us) to Islam at every opportunity they are not obliged to kill us when they fail. I have spent too much time in their company in foreign parts and know this to be true. That I have survived to tell the tale suggests that instant death is not guaranteed when you remain a non believer.
Their scholars are at pains to point out that Jihad is purely defensive and they are quick to defend the Koran against the excesses of Isis. However I wouldn't trust any of them further than I could punch them and am always on my guard when working with them abroad.

 

Well, you to be precise. Otherwise, I think we're in broad agreement and thanks for the considered response. So why is Salafism a distortion of Islam?

 

Here's my previous rant about Salafism for what it's worth; a couple of pages of ranting to be fair.

https://www.scoobynet.com/1031858-fr...l#post11761864

 

To be precise I meant infidels from the Muslim standpoint. Although not a Christian infidel you would not be excused that title by a Muslim.
So why don't you tell me why Salafism is a distortion of Islam? Sunnis wouldn't agree with you and would surely strike you down!

 

As I understand it the perjorative 'infidel' is reserved for atheists and polytheists etc. I think even the Salafists would describe me as a 'person of the book', but these are just details, right? Secondly, I don't think Salafism is a distortion of Islam; on the contrary. I lay out my case in the link above.

 

Sorry to disappoint you but you are in infidel in the eyes of a Muslim, as are all Christians, casual or totally committed.

Generally, living in the Middle East, you will not encounter infidels. This is because Allah the merciful, the compassionate, the loving, has set apart the sandiest, hottest, most uncomfortable place on earth for his chosen people. Occasionally however, you may spot an infidel purchasing oil for his nation, America. A way to know if the man you see is an infidel, is to look for white skin, blond Hair, calm attitude, lack of turban, lack of suicide bomb, crucifix necklace, and enjoyment of bacon.

 

Good stuff. Anyway, I present my case clearly in the link as to why I think and feel Salafism is true Islam and you've made an explicit claim to the contrary. Are you going to explain why? I just want to get to the bottom of it.

 

The thing that perplexes me is where was God and Religeon when our Neanderthals cousins were sh!tting in caves and ebbing out a existence for 60,000 years till Jesus or Mohammed came to the party ? Created the earth in 7 days then took 60,000 years off

 

I'm sure you're already at the bottom of it, you just want to nail me for disagreeing with you. My claim, if such it was, is that Islamic scholars are trying to keep the lid on things (in the face of much anti Muslim feeling) and in so doing have attempted to defuse the notion of Jihad as entirely warlike. As for explaining anything I'm a simple ex soldier with hands on experience of Muslim attitudes but I'm no scholar. Interpretations of texts are exactly that, with all the variations in meaning thus implied.

 

So do you retract the claim that IS have "distorted" Islam or do you stand by it? This is not clear from your post. If it's the former I think we can draw a line, if it's the latter then it really would be deserving of something more than disclaimers and false modesty.

 

How many more times? See my post 999. That's my last word on the subject, and don't confuse false modesty with fact.

 

Goodnight, Paben.

 

I ought to clarify.

I did not attest that 97.5% of the Indian Indians 'worship' Jesus. My dad did, but that doesn't mean that the rest do.

India is very tolerant (to other religions) and a God-obsessed country. They'd worship almost anything there. From cars to animals, from sky to rocks! More so, if the object has any religious importance from any religion of the world, whatsoever. However, I'd say that almost 95% of the population (excluding 2.5% Christians) recognises Jesus Christ as prophet for Christianity and most (if not all of that 95%) may revere him as an avatar (incarnation), but they do not worship Jesus Christ. They worship their own prophets and avatars, related to their own religion. Unlike my home, it's not that usual to find Jesus's poster of framed image in a Hindu home, although wearing a holy cross around the neck became very fashionable among the young Hindus in the 80's. I'd still say you have more chance of finding Jesus's image in a Hindu home than finding any of the Hindu Gods' image in an Indian Muslim's or Indian Christian's home. I'd say '0' chance, to be honest.

It doesn't matter, though. With all the respect and recognition to all other religions and sects, the country remains predominantly Hindu and the Hindus worship Ganesha, Lakshmi, Shiva, Buddha, Sai and many other thousands of incarnations / avatars that they deem preferable to their own practice.

2.5% Indian Christians of India's total population certainly worship Jesus and they're entitled to worship the figure of their preference.

I'm wide awake at this odd hour because my one cat God is out galavanting. I've been whistling through my front door intermittently as my 'call in' to him since 12:30am but he's giving me a deaf ear. I can't rest until he returns. I should put the kettle on.

 

I'm awake too.One sugar please :-)

 

They were basking in blissful ignorance of a guilt free existence

 

I'll come back to this now. When you say "the Bible", which part of which book do you mean? And what genre is the book?

https://www.scoobynet.com/1034784-sc...l#post11801146