Why?

[Pedrito]

In Post #35 on Page 4 MoreCoffee stated:

The Qu'ran starts every sura with "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful" so I reckon there's a rather strong bias in Islam towards mercy even if some in ISIS and other Salafist movements in Islam say otherwise.

As Pedrito understands it, Allah is indeed merciful – to those who surrender their wills to him – i.e. to Muslims – not to people in general.

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Fiji has a significant Muslim population due to British-sponsored migration from the Indian sub-continent in times past. In hotel rooms, next to the Gideon Bible, is to be found a copy of the Qu'ran.

When Pedrito was on assignment in Fiji for some weeks many years ago, he took the opportunity to read the Qu'ran from cover to cover. He remembers being somewhat confused by the apparent conflict between intermixed expressions of peace and hostility. Years later, he was informed that if the contents of the book are read in the sequence of writing (as opposed to the sequence as published), a progression from one to the other becomes apparent. Pedrito has not re-read the book to confirm that, but the idea possibly makes sense.

If it is so, then the average follower of Mohammed chooses to follow either the earlier-written thoughts or the later-written thoughts presented in their holy book.

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Does that not parallel to some degree the way some churches give allegiance to various early church councils only, while at least one church considers later church councils to be of importance?

(And mightn’t that also parallel in some manner, the way some churches even choose to ignore a particular component of teaching within one of the “acceptable” councils? Or twist its meaning to take the sting out of its tail?

It would be refreshing were a person well informed about church councils (such as, but not limited to, Josiah), to identify for us the particular church council Pedrito is referring to, and also the troubling-at-face-value pronouncement that is normally swept under the carpet or explained away.

Or would that be too revealing?)

 

[Cassia]

Those who are well informed know better than to make the assumptions your post makes about Australia. Nevertheless I will not treat other human beings badly merely because they profess a religion that differs from my own. At the same time I will not comply with the prejudicial views your recent posts have expressed towards Muslim people. It ought to be remembered that God blessed the progeny of Ishmael saying concerning Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I will bless and enlarge him, and I will multiply him greatly. He will produce twelve leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. These words apply to the Arab people from whom Mohammed and the religion of Islam come.

It's of interest to note that in the world scheme of things of the timeframe of the rise of that Arab religion. Christianity was an embarrassment. I'd like to hear more about this topic also from those who seem inform.

 

[Pedrito]

In Post #14 on Page 2 MoreCoffee stated:

Those who are well informed know better than to make the assumptions your post makes about Australia.

That was in reply to Psalma 91's statement in Post #13 on the same page:

I hope your country never experiences the terror or you may just have a different point of view. Ask People in France how they feel and what they see as Islam, like with the election unless you are involved you really cant comment although that did not stopyou

Pedrito, in his Post #40 on Page 4 and Post #41 on Page 5, attempted to present a balanced view and explanation on the subject. Could that be representative of the average Australian?

It pays to be wary.

There are already recorded bashings of non-Muslim students in schools with a significant Muslim enrollment – bashings for such "horrible" transgressions as eating a sandwich containing pork, and eating lunch during the fast of Ramadan. The kids doing the bashing reveal the level of anti-social conditioning that prevails in some families. Some. Not all. But it's definitely there.

Is Pedrito tarring all with the one brush?

Definitely not.

But Pedrito considers it sensible to be consciously aware of, and to be on the alert for, the seriously malcontent few.

 

[atpollard]

In Post #35 on Page 4 MoreCoffee stated:


As Pedrito understands it, Allah is indeed merciful – to those who surrender their wills to him – i.e. to Muslims – not to people in general.

==============================================================================================

Fiji has a significant Muslim population due to British-sponsored migration from the Indian sub-continent in times past. In hotel rooms, next to the Gideon Bible, is to be found a copy of the Qu'ran.

When Pedrito was on assignment in Fiji for some weeks many years ago, he took the opportunity to read the Qu'ran from cover to cover. He remembers being somewhat confused by the apparent conflict between intermixed expressions of peace and hostility. Years later, he was informed that if the contents of the book are read in the sequence of writing (as opposed to the sequence as published), a progression from one to the other becomes apparent. Pedrito has not re-read the book to confirm that, but the idea possibly makes sense.

If it is so, then the average follower of Mohammed chooses to follow either the earlier-written thoughts or the later-written thoughts presented in their holy book.

==============================================================================================

Does that not parallel to some degree the way some churches give allegiance to various early church councils only, while at least one church considers later church councils to be of importance?

(And mightn’t that also parallel in some manner, the way some churches even choose to ignore a particular component of teaching within one of the “acceptable” councils? Or twist its meaning to take the sting out of its tail?

It would be refreshing were a person well informed about church councils (such as, but not limited to, Josiah), to identify for us the particular church council Pedrito is referring to, and also the troubling-at-face-value pronouncement that is normally swept under the carpet or explained away.

Or would that be too revealing?)

The difficulty comes from the Hadith. The Qu'ran is like the equivalent of our 4 Gospels ... the words that everything is built on: the parables of Jesus type of sayings. The Hadith are the writings of the followers of Mohammad (like our apostles) that explain what the Qu'ran really means. The problem is that the Muslims who are indeed peaceful are more like the equivalent of Jehovah's Witnesses are to Christianity. They believe that the Hadith and Qu'ran has been misunderstood by everyone for hundreds of years and it is all symbolic. Therefore when the Qu'ran tells a Muslim to take the sword against those who reject Allah, and the Hadith explain things like a Muslim may pretend to be friends with an unbeliever, but must never truly have friendship with the infidel, since they will all be killed when the Caliphate of Islam covers the globe ... these peaceful Muslims must reject the actual words of their scripture and reinterpret it as only a symbolic struggle.

I approached Islam assuming that it was just another view of God, like Judaism, but what I discovered really was an evil religion that teaches hatred, situational ethics, theft and lying, and murder to accomplish the goals of Allah. It was eye opening to discover that the Muslim Fanatics were guilty of actually believing and doing what their scripture commands. They misunderstood nothing.

 

[MoreCoffee]

It's interesting that in 2017 Muslims & Islam are accounted wicked while in 1960 Muslims & Islam were accounted exotic & interesting.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2