The God, Religion, Questions & Answers thread!

[Nique.]

"these cultural and historical facts, it's surprising Scripture has so few references to homosexual acts. What's not surprising is that these references always condemn homosexual behavior.

But Scripture never condemns homosexual behavior by itself. It is condemned when practicing idolatry or sacred prostitution. It is condemned when promoting promiscuity. It is condemned when forcing violent rape or seducing children. And it is condemned when violating a guests' right to dignity as a male.

Also, Scriptural references only speak of homosexual acts - not homosexual people. Not until the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (revised from the King James version in 1885) do we find references to homosexuals themselves. These occur in translating the Greek words "malakoi" and "arsenokoitai" in Paul's letters.

Never is the issue of homosexual behavior between loving, homosexual partners addressed in Scripture. The reason is simple: biblical cultures did not have knowledge of homosexuality as a psychological identity. In biblical times homosexuality was known only by the acts people committed, not as a sexual personality. A person born heterosexual assumed homosexual acts to be something people did for dominance or in perversion of their inner identity.

Scripture and Homosexuality"

I mean, there's very few references to this subject.

Note: My point isn't that Homosexuality isn't wrong, but that people shouldn't judge.

[Opie M.]

I agree with nique about the Jesus/Michael issue. The ideas SMZ is expressing are that of Jehovah's Witnesses. They deny the existence of the trinity. They also don't recognize Jesus as the son of god. They use the quotes he has posted to support that claim. But the bible also says the following:

"no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3)
This passage is an explanation of the holy ghost and the trinity. Basically, no man is to acknowledge Jesus as the son of man without acknowledging and accepting the holy spirit. It clearly implies that Jesus is in fact the Lord.

"we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9)
Here we see Jesus being made into man by being "made a little lower than the angels" but still "crowned with glory and honor." The angels were ordered to worship Jesus even tho he was made into man. This is also shown in another quote from Hebrews:

"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Let all God's angels worship him" (Hebrews 1:5-6)
God clearly separates Jesus from any angel and proclaims him to be his son.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)
This is str8 forward...

Basically, the Jehovah's Witness view of Jesus as Michael is a self-fulfilling prophecy to give credibility to the notion that Jesus is not God despite biblical scripture which contradicts such a belief.

But I disagree with both of you about hell. I disagree with SMZ because I believe hell does exist. But I also disagree that it's a fiery hole in the ground. This is a description of physical danger, which I don't believe one could be subject to after death. I believe Bible uses this reference to relate to us the pain of being in hell. It isn't actual fire. Hell is simply the eternal separation from God. We are judged by God and see his glory for the first time. Then we are cast away from him for all eternity. The absence of God is equivalent to an eternal life of burning fire and torture. There have been saints who were given the gift of seeing the face of God and they all lived the rest of their lives in torment because of the absence of His presence.

SMZ's view on hell is another Jehovah's Witness belief (I'm guessing you are a Jehovah's Witness). They often use the story of Genesis to show that when you sin you don't go to hell, but you simply "die." this is a far stretch from what the scripture actually says. Death as it is used in Genesis refers to the spiritual removal of God because of their sin. They experienced a spiritual death because they turned away from God. This is obviously figurative language. Even after ths "death" they continued to live and have children. This negates the possibility that the "death" they experienced was actual death in the grave. The story is an explanation of humanity and free will. It is not a story describing what happens when you die.

(As SMZ stated, I'm sorry if i offended anyone, but these are my beliefs based on my interpretation of the bible. To me, none of this really matters if you just live your life by trying to be the best person you can possibly be. Don't take offense to any differences in beliefs that we may have.)

I don't wish to turn this into a debate. I just want to give another viewpoint to some of these questions. SMZ has dedicated himself to answering these questions, but his beliefs aren't shared by many and (in my opinion) are sometimes contradictions.

[Opie M.]

"these cultural and historical facts, it's surprising Scripture has so few references to homosexual acts. What's not surprising is that these references always condemn homosexual behavior.

But Scripture never condemns homosexual behavior by itself. It is condemned when practicing idolatry or sacred prostitution. It is condemned when promoting promiscuity. It is condemned when forcing violent rape or seducing children. And it is condemned when violating a guests' right to dignity as a male.

Also, Scriptural references only speak of homosexual acts - not homosexual people. Not until the Revised Standard Version of the Bible (revised from the King James version in 1885) do we find references to homosexuals themselves. These occur in translating the Greek words "malakoi" and "arsenokoitai" in Paul's letters.

Never is the issue of homosexual behavior between loving, homosexual partners addressed in Scripture. The reason is simple: biblical cultures did not have knowledge of homosexuality as a psychological identity. In biblical times homosexuality was known only by the acts people committed, not as a sexual personality. A person born heterosexual assumed homosexual acts to be something people did for dominance or in perversion of their inner identity.

Scripture and Homosexuality"

I mean, there's very few references to this subject.

Note: My point isn't that Homosexuality isn't wrong, but that people shouldn't judge.

The Catholic belief about homosexuality is simple. Homosexual acts are a sin because ANY sexual act outside the sacrament of marriage is a sin. BUT this sin is not a mortal sin that will send you to hell. It is on the same level as any other sin that people commit on a daily basis. Personally, I have a hard time believing in this idea all together tho because of what marriage has become. Not just that marriage has been trivialized in a number of ways, but the fact that marriage is no longer a necessity in society as it was when these laws were created. I think there is a huge grey area here, and I think people take the topic way too seriously. BUT, don't confuse my beliefs as supporting promiscuity. Degrading ones self is a sin regardless of marriage.

[Asaph]

cussing is sinning

not actually true.

[Prince Adem]

Ahh dickhead you already made a thread.

/vote mine is more popular, if they dont close it

[Prince Adem]

Also let me emphasize the incorrectness of many Christians belief that Muslims "worship Mohammed". It is simply not true.

Christians WORSHIP Jesus, as they consider him divine, the son of God. They refer to him as "Lord".

Muslims DO NOT WORSHIP Mohammed. He is recognized as a prophet, a messenger of God's word, and an important figure in our religious history, and is given much respect. But he is in no way worshipped, or seen as anything more than an enlightened man.

[Prince Adem]

mary magdeline is said to have married jesus and had a kid. yet the muslims and any other bible say its not true. do u think the quran could have possibly been changed so make men to be more supperior or something around those lines. also why is there no female prophets?

thanks.

You've read the Da Vinci code, and you think that it's fact?

I've no doubt that it has some truth to it, but vastly exaggerated. Dan Brown is one of my favourite authors, but he provides no proof or source for any of his claims, unless I'm mistaken.

And in Islam, we don't believe Jesus was God's son, he was just a man. Even if he did have children, it wouldn't matter. In fact, its possible he did since all prophets in Islam are related via bloodline, unless the Qu'ran says specifically that he didn't.

[Charging Soldier]

Homo sexuals can't help the way they were born. There's nothing wrong with that, just like you can't help the color of your skin or who your parents are. Saying homosexuals are sinners is a form of prejiduce. There are people born all over with both female and male parts- Are they sinners? They have a choice to be either male or female- does it make them homosexuals? Some people are born men but feel female inside and some women feel like they're men inside. These people shouldn't be told they are going to hell because of they way they were born.

Then there's hell. Would you throw your children in a fiery pit for all eternity? There's no such thing as hell, it's made up to control the feeble minded people.

Vote on this battle!!!!!!!!!



http://www.rapbattles.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253886

[Nique.]

I agree with nique about the Jesus/Michael issue. The ideas SMZ is expressing are that of Jehovah's Witnesses. They deny the existence of the trinity. They also don't recognize Jesus as the son of god. They use the quotes he has posted to support that claim. But the bible also says the following:

"no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3)
This passage is an explanation of the holy ghost and the trinity. Basically, no man is to acknowledge Jesus as the son of man without acknowledging and accepting the holy spirit. It clearly implies that Jesus is in fact the Lord.

"we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9)
Here we see Jesus being made into man by being "made a little lower than the angels" but still "crowned with glory and honor." The angels were ordered to worship Jesus even tho he was made into man. This is also shown in another quote from Hebrews:

"For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Let all God's angels worship him" (Hebrews 1:5-6)
God clearly separates Jesus from any angel and proclaims him to be his son.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)
This is str8 forward...

Basically, the Jehovah's Witness view of Jesus as Michael is a self-fulfilling prophecy to give credibility to the notion that Jesus is not God despite biblical scripture which contradicts such a belief.

But I disagree with both of you about hell. I disagree with SMZ because I believe hell does exist. But I also disagree that it's a fiery hole in the ground. This is a description of physical danger, which I don't believe one could be subject to after death. I believe Bible uses this reference to relate to us the pain of being in hell. It isn't actual fire. Hell is simply the eternal separation from God. We are judged by God and see his glory for the first time. Then we are cast away from him for all eternity. The absence of God is equivalent to an eternal life of burning fire and torture. There have been saints who were given the gift of seeing the face of God and they all lived the rest of their lives in torment because of the absence of His presence.

SMZ's view on hell is another Jehovah's Witness belief (I'm guessing you are a Jehovah's Witness). They often use the story of Genesis to show that when you sin you don't go to hell, but you simply "die." this is a far stretch from what the scripture actually says. Death as it is used in Genesis refers to the spiritual removal of God because of their sin. They experienced a spiritual death because they turned away from God. This is obviously figurative language. Even after ths "death" they continued to live and have children. This negates the possibility that the "death" they experienced was actual death in the grave. The story is an explanation of humanity and free will. It is not a story describing what happens when you die.

(As SMZ stated, I'm sorry if i offended anyone, but these are my beliefs based on my interpretation of the bible. To me, none of this really matters if you just live your life by trying to be the best person you can possibly be. Don't take offense to any differences in beliefs that we may have.)

I don't wish to turn this into a debate. I just want to give another viewpoint to some of these questions. SMZ has dedicated himself to answering these questions, but his beliefs aren't shared by many and (in my opinion) are sometimes contradictions.

The funny thing about this is that SMZ is in fact Christian. That's what he told me at least, which is why I don't understand.

[Opie M.]

Bismillah Hirrahman Nirahim

In the name of God, the most gracious, and most merciful.

Drop a question and i'll attempt to answer it. Please make sure you are respectful so behave yourself. Don't go asking about why you think Osama is the antichrist or ish like that. If i don't know the answer to your question, i will wikipedia it, and give you a summary.

Eg. What's Islam's view on Jesus.

The main difference is that we believe Jesus is only a prophet or Rasool, albeit a very important one. Christians tend to over glorify Jesus putting him in the same level as God, which is wrong. Just like Muhammad, Jesus is only a messenger of God, nothing more nothing less.

There have been about 124,000 prophets (or around that figure). These include Buddha, Zoroaster and a bunch of others. Most of them are unsuccessful at delivering the word of god since as can be expected it is a huge responsibility. Prophets are men who are literally perfect.

In the Quran, it only mentions 25 prophets. These are the important messengers who made a big difference to history hence they're referred to as Rasools. However out of all these men, only 5 are given the title Ululazmi which means something like important leader.

These include: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon em), Jesus, Ibrahim, Moses, and Noah. These guys are the elites. They're also related hence why Muhammad refers to Jesus as his brother since prophethood travels through a specific bloodline of one of adam's sons. Ideally, if you do not believe in Jesus, you cannot call yourself a Muslim. However, if you believe he was God's only 'begotten' son you are also in error.

Anyway, Jesus is referred to in the Quran as Isa or Masihi. Masihi ofcourse translates to Messiah. We believe he will be coming back. However the one coming back will be the same Jesus 2000 years ago, and NOT another Jesus reborn as in the Christian belief.

Anything else?

First, christians believe that the jesus that comes back is the same jesus. what you said is not true. Let's not compare religions because we obviously don't know enough about each other's religions to make such comparisons. Let's just answer the questions refering to our own beliefs and mhopefully some scripture or references of some kid showing where the belief is coming from. I think that will help people a lot more than reading false accusations about other religions.

Secondly, the question I asked was about the life of Jesus. What is the muslim belief about the chronological life of Jesus. Obviously the actual events and teachings during his life must differ somehow from christian beliefs. I'd like to know any information about the muslim belief of Jesus' birth, life, and death. Also, since you mentioned it, for what purpose is Jesus coming back? please give me some resources so I can see where this info is coming from. I only want information based on actual religious doctrine, not personal renditions of the truth (not saying you have any).

[Opie M.]

Jehovah's witnesses see themselves as christians as far as I know.

[Ruthless.]

there has been many breaks between the muslim community worldwide. these involve sonnah, allawi, shiya etc... can u tell me the main differences in their beliefs, why the break happened? and any linking info. im familiar that some of it has to do with abu bakr and ali.

[Zed Peace]

To Record:

Like Christianity, Islam has many sects. The mainstream or the one which directly follows Prophet Muhammad and his chosen calliphs is Sunnah Wal Jamiah, meaning if i'm not mistaken something like majority. We have confirmed that the Shiite sect is NOT Islam since they do not believe in Muhammad's prophethood.

To Opey:

lol i admit i don't have much credibility in this topic. but i did go through 6 years of IRK (islamic religious knowledge) but still i have a lot to learn about my religion.

http://www.soundvision.com/Info/Jesus/inIslam.asp
^here's an easy one to follow. i'll just pull of the important bits.

2. Do Muslims believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES

Like Christians, Muslims believe Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus.

"Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family, to a place in the East. She screened herself from them; then We sent to her Our spirit (angel Gabriel) and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: I seek refuge from you in God Most Gracious (come not near) if you do fear God. He said: Nay, I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a pure son. She said: How shall I have a son, when no man has ever touched me, and I am not unchaste? He said: So it will be, your Lord says: ‘That is easy for Me; and We wish to appoint him as a sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It was a matter so decreed" (Quran 19:16-21).

3. Do Muslims believe Jesus had a miraculous birth? YES

The Quran says:

"She (Mary) said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.' He (God) said: ‘So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: ‘Be!'- and it is" (3:47).

It should also be noted about his birth that:

"Verily, the likeness of Jesus in God's Sight is the likeness of Adam. He (God) created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!'-and he was" (Quran 3:59).

5. Do Muslims believe he performed miracles? YES

Muslims, like Christians believe Jesus performed miracles. But these were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.

"Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic' (5:110).

7. Do Muslims believe that Jesus was the son of God? NO

"Say: "God is Unique! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him!" (Quran 112:1-4).

The Quran also states:

"Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be' and it is" (Quran 19:34-35).


8. Do Muslims believe Jesus was killed on the cross then resurrected? NO

"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156) “God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .

Wallahualam (only god knows best)

[Zed Peace]

First, christians believe that the jesus that comes back is the same jesus. what you said is not true. Let's not compare religions because we obviously don't know enough about each other's religions to make such comparisons. Let's just answer the questions refering to our own beliefs and mhopefully some scripture or references of some kid showing where the belief is coming from. I think that will help people a lot more than reading false accusations about other religions.

Secondly, the question I asked was about the life of Jesus. What is the muslim belief about the chronological life of Jesus. Obviously the actual events and teachings during his life must differ somehow from christian beliefs. I'd like to know any information about the muslim belief of Jesus' birth, life, and death. Also, since you mentioned it, for what purpose is Jesus coming back? please give me some resources so I can see where this info is coming from. I only want information based on actual religious doctrine, not personal renditions of the truth (not saying you have any).

Christianity believed that Jesus died in the cross, correct? I'm assuming this, so correct me if i'm wrong, but God lifted his spirit to the heavens...but left his body here on earth? How can it be the same Jesus coming back? it maybe the same spirit but would have to be resurrected into another eartly body. it physically won't be the same person.

In Islam, it is physically the same Jesus. All the prophets have died except for Jesus. Muhammad died peacefully at the age of 63. Nevertheless Muhammad is the LAST prophet, he is referred to as the seal of the prophets. Even though Jesus outlived Muhammad, it does change this fact. Get me? Now if Jesus we're to have died, that would mean there would be another prophet to succeed Muhammad, hence why we cannot accept the belief that Jesus died in the cross. Jesus is 'Unique'. He was lifted by Allah to shelter in the heavens, perhaps because his burden was far too great.

"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156)

“God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .

He still hasn't saved humanity. But he will. Thats why he's coming back. He will lead mankind to victory by defeating the antichrist. Then finally Jesus will die, since that is the fate of all human beings.

this is a cool article i found

http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/jesus.html

wallahualam

[Nique.]

I'll answer the rest of the questions tomorrow. I just took an exam and I have a headache = /

Communication=blah.