h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Salam to all.

Yes, we muslims do believe in Esa (Jesus). He is the Messenger of God. Therefore, his words are like God's words. He was born from a Virgin. She is called Maryam. Names like Mary, Maria, Mary-Anne etc are all derived from the name of Jesus' mother.

We also believe that Esa is still not dead. God took him up alive. He will return to Earth to establish peace and justice thoughout the world. Perhaps now is the right time for God to send him back. World is in a mess.

It could be worse though. I mean if god started telling people to kill their neighbours....

Hi Major, have not seen you around for a while. Guess cus we kinda travel in seerate circles. Hows your german sayings about purple monkeys going?

It is a good thing that God calls for peace and not war. Its a shame that mankind seems to ignore that part of their holy books most of the time.

Adib/Rik

Oooh major. Formal. Most people call me job or JB. Well anyway lifes ok. Kinda... Well...

The thing I notice about religious believers is that gods views always seem to conincide with their own.

Actaully, though coming from a relious person, I agree. But its not an idle thing, its one that builds up over time I think. First of all a religious book is not really about God as such, I mean it mentions God in it and gives his commands etc, but it does not really go on to give to much information about God himself. The main focus of religious books is to get man kind to obey God's law and so basically is just full of storys, rether true or myth in account can be debated but is not the issue in focus, and these stories resovle around two main themes I think. That being examples of Gods mercy and wisdon and the other being examples of Gods anger or punishment to those who commit evil.

The problem is that many people only will remember small portions of any book and they remember the bits that they like the most which is usually some thing they can relate to. An so they get their own personnal concepts of what God is like by it and use that as their excuse for every thing they do with out seeing the fuller picture and seeing that you have to read all of the religious book in question regulary and remember as much as possible as then you will be left with more Good than bad concepts of God in peoples minds. Or in other words I think that when people only read the sections they like and or never re read their religious book then they limite their ability to see God in his true form as they lack certain details that add to the personnal mental picture of who God is, which I think can be dangerous.

Thats probably not what you ment but its how I see it.

Adib

Well no, that was actually a quote from someone whos name escapes me at the moment but it is true what you said.

The thing about the two stories... the second type of story seems a bit... strange really when god is supposedly all forgiving and benevolent (is that the right word? Merciful?) Yet the book of Job in the christian bible suggests that god is malevolent. Whats that all about?

Don't ask me, thats christianity for you lol.

Actually I think another point that should be considered is the when and to whom and the why the story was sent down, revealed, made up depending on your views.

For instance a lot of things in the Qur'an is dealing with certain situations that happened and what God is telling the person to do in that situation. An for the most part it would be true for the bible to I think, cept that it has been added to so much over the years who knows what is origianal and what was not.

Or in other words I think most religious storys have to be kept in the context of whom the story was sent to, what its aout and invlolving and why, with out these the reader can not get the full picture of what is going on. For example the current war in Iraq would be say:

'Uk and America invade and kill Iraqi people as Saddham is evil and does bad. All people who commit evil to the world will be likewise dealt with.'

It tells you that Iraq is punished and that sadham is evil, but it does not say how or why and to whom this message is to. And in a thousand years time or so the sentance would probaably be seen as an example of America and Uk being malevolent unless you know all the back ground details.

Or thats my taking on such things.

Well yes but alot of people consider that to be the case now. Saddam might have nuclear weapons et al but we KNOW Bush has them. Anyway were off religion and onto politics now...

I was giving an example. Forget current issues, what I ment wa simply that you make up your own views on some thing when you don't have all the information you need to anaylise it properly.

But that could be said about the people back then as well though. When did moses try ruling over slaves?