All religions discussion forum, i would love to hear from some Muslims

**Pontifex Maximus** · January 04, 2008, 10:47 PM

I thought it would be fun if we could discuss the differences between our faiths (Islam and Christianity) because the more I look at it the more I see distinct differnces and strikingly similiar qualities. And please explain the concept of Jihad. I have heard at least 20 forms and i dont know which is correct.

**Primvs Sextvs Loverlord** · January 04, 2008, 11:21 PM

"Jihad" literally means "to strive". According to a saying by Mohammad, if one finds something disturbing, he should use his hands to remove it. If that is not possible, he must speak out against it and if that doesn't work, the least he can do is that he should consider it as evil.

There are four types of Jihad:

- Jihad with self (or with the soul)
- Jihad with knowledge
- Jihad with wealth
- Jihad with sword

Jihad with one-self means quite literally that if you wanna watch porn but you convince yourself not to, you've effectively striven for the goodness in you and that's your Jihad. The rest are self-explanatory - Jihad with knowledge means to teach the illiterate to read and write, Jihad with wealth means to fund other Jihads and the so-called "lesser" Jihad is the one with the sword, which means to fight infidels in a defensive war.

That's the Sunni perspective on Jihad. The Shi'ite view differs very little from this.

Now there are many saying of Mohammad on Jihad including the one in which he said something like, "the greatest Jihad is when one goes up to a tyrant and calls him so" which means Jihad against persecution and injustice. Then there's a saying in which he says, "if it were possible, I'd die in the way of Jihad, be brought to life again and be killed again..." and so on.

Just as a side-note, I consider myself an atheist because I can't bring myself to believe that there's an Almighty, Omnipotent and Omniscient God sitting up there, controlling the world. I know about Islam through my background and my studies - I have Islamic Studies as one of my major courses in college.

**Pontifex Maximus** · January 04, 2008, 11:34 PM

I understand and respect your views, but, in my opinion (being a rather "free thinking" Christian) God chooses not to control things on earth, he is just there to be a sort of moderator. I by no means think God is controlling the world. (though he could if he wanted to). I wish I could fully understand Islam better. I dont understand why they hate christians so much. Personally I only have problems with extremists that want to hurt people.

**jankren** · January 05, 2008, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by pontifexmaximus101

I dont understand why they hate christians so much. Personally I only have problems with extremists that want to hurt people.

I cant understand why Christians hate Muslims either ...

As for 'Jihad' it literally means 'To strive' while the interpretation of what to strive for is up to every individual. I for example is jihading against playing games too much while neglecting my college works.

**boofhead** · January 05, 2008, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by jankren

I cant understand why Christians hate Muslims either ...

I don't hate you jankren, despite my best efforts to do so because of your religion

No seriously my problem is with the religion itself. It is incompatible with me, and I would warn my children away from it. My dislike in this regard does not extend to the practitioners of the religion (unless of course you are talking of extremist religious murderers etc, who make up a tiny number of the majority - I would despise a Christian who did such barbaric things equally).

My religion tells me to love you

, so don't get too close to me

**Burnum** · January 05, 2008, 05:16 AM

No seriously my problem is with the religion itself. It is incompatible with me, and I would warn my children away from it. My dislike in this regard does not extend to the practitioners of the religion

That's a stupid thing too do. It's like when I was kid, the white middle class parents too stay away me because I was poor Aboriginal with weird beliefs.It never stopped them of course, but let's put it this way, Gubbah, I found it hurtful. Unless your a Mormon, than I'm cool.

Edit: I also dislike Christian Church, lot's reasons. Stolen generations is one and forced conversions another.

**boofhead** · January 05, 2008, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by Burnum

That's a stupid thing too do. It's like when I was kid, the white middle class parents too stay away me because I was poor Aboriginal with weird beliefs.It never stopped them of course, but let's put it this way, Gubbah, I found it hurtful. Unless your a Mormon, than I'm cool.

Edit: I also dislike Christian Church, lot's reasons. Stolen generations is one and forced conversions another.

Burnum, I am Aussie adopted at birth in 1971 to a red-headed, freckled, bunch of pommy-descended upper-middle-class Aussie Anglican great people. I am not gubbah 100% and my birthplace was Narranderra.

Originally Posted by LestaT

p/s: Just curious, besides Islam belief that Jesus is nothing but a prophet of God, what other things that you've found despicable to make your children stay away from it ? :hmmm:

It is brainwashing and muscle memory. Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. Questioning anything seems to be discouraged.

Also, it is an Arab imperialist doctrine considering the insistence upon the superiority of Arabic translations. Exactly like RC church demanded the Bible was in Latin for centuries. See also how non-Koranic Sharia **** is attempting to influence the muslim world.

Also, the fruit of a belief is in its works. And overall, recently, the works of Islam seem a little negative.

Also, I won't wear a silly hat or a dress.

I won't wipe my bum with my hand.

And let's not forget the entire basis for the religion was stolen from the Jews.

**AngryTitusPullo** · January 05, 2008, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by boofhead

No seriously my problem is with the religion itself. It is incompatible with me....

Christianity is incompatible with me too but that didn't stop me from getting 'close' with one Catholic girl...

p/s: Just curious, besides Islam belief that Jesus is nothing but a prophet of God, what other things that you've found despicable to make your children stay away from it ? :hmmm:

**~~removeduser_487563287433~~** · January 05, 2008, 07:01 AM

Billabong kangaroo Bruce Emmanuel Kant.

What is 'gubbah'?

**boofhead** · January 05, 2008, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Ferrets54

What is 'gubbah'?

lol AFAIK "white boy"

**Pontifex Maximus** · January 05, 2008, 02:35 PM

Well I don't believe in Islam, I am going to hell? Christians believe there are many oaths to heaven, you dont have to be Christian to obtain salvation.

**green tea** · January 05, 2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by pontifexmaximus101

Christians believe there are many oaths to heaven, you dont have to be Christian to obtain salvation.

I have read a different opinion on this from a christian in this forums. Lucius Julius, where are you?

**Pontifex Maximus** · January 05, 2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by green tea

I have read a different opinion on this from a christian in this forums. Lucius Julius, where are you?

Take it from a hard core white knuckled Catholic.

**jankren** · January 05, 2008, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by pontifexmaximus101

Well I don't believe in Islam, I am going to hell? Christians believe there are many oaths to heaven, you dont have to be Christian to obtain salvation.

Oh nigeria please ...

Back up your new teaching of Christianity with scriptural proof. And you speak as if all Christians believed in the same thing.

I don't hate you jankren, despite my best efforts to do so because of your religion

I dont hate you either yo. But I too only dislike some Christians like my aunt who is an intolerant Pentecostal Christian extremist.

True. But those things occurred in old history books. I live in the current world and as far as I know Christians have ceased this kind of behaviour. Should we not focus upon those committing modern crimes first?

Mob Sets Kenya Church on Fire, Killing Dozens

NAIROBI, Kenya — Dozens of people seeking refuge in a church in Kenya were burned to death by a mob on Tuesday in an explosion of ethnic violence that is threatening to engulf this country, which until last week was one of the most stable in Africa.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/wo...a/02kenya.html

Christianity does not only exist in Europe where everybody is more civilized my friend. Apparently in other parts of the world there are Christians who still enjoy burning churches and killing those of different ethnicity or faith ...

(Kenya is 80% Christian)

**boofhead** · January 05, 2008, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

I dont hate you either yo. But I too only dislike some Christians like my aunt who is an intolerant Pentecostal Christian extremist.

Fair enough. I dislike the same kind of arrogance from any religion. Unfortunately with regards to Islam the tiny minority who are massively extremist just happen to share several qualities in common: they are evil and murderous, and they would kill babies in the name of God.

Christianity does not only exist in Europe where everybody is more civilized my friend. Apparently in other parts of the world there are Christians who still enjoy burning churches and killing those of different ethnicity or faith ...

(Kenya is 80% Christian)

I haven't heard of anyone in Kenya calling the troubles there religious in nature.

@Lawrence: please relax mate, you have been around long enough to know I am not attacking you

I certainly do not think most muslims are bad, and my disrespect of the hadiths is only backed up by the obvious controversy over them among muslims themselves.