6 Things I Love the Most About the Quran (And Why I Choose to be a Muslim)

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Too often in the news, Islam is only associated with terrorism and fanaticism. An uninformed viewer may think to himself: How could anyone in their right minds find inspiration and solace from such a faith? But, to billions of people, Islam is their avenue for seeking liberation and peace.

To read more of a somewhat long article:


http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quranalyzeit/2015/04/09/6-things-i-love-the-most-about-the-quran-and-why-i-choose-to-be-a-muslim-ro-waseem/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Muslim&utm_content=49

[guillaumeb]

1. And:

However, it was the Quran, with its repeated emphasis on questioning and contemplation, which made me realize the merits of free-thought. The profound statement, “Will you, then, not think?” appears numerous times in the Quran, and at regular intervals! Gradually, instead of simply believing everything I heard and read, I started analyzing things.

[Karadeniz]

2. I read the Patheos article

I read the article you referred to and it was enlightening! I agree with all the reasons you chose Islam. I lived in a Muslim country for a couple of years and loved it, as did the other Americans living there. In fact, I revisited it many years later. Perhaps I'll try reading the Quran again. I tried several years ago, but only got half-way through. The first half was, to me, full of violent imagery to which I couldn't relate. I read that the earlier writings are towards the back, so maybe I should start with the last half! By the way, I read that in translations of our New Testament into Arabic, the word for 'struggle' is translated as 'jihad.' Most people assume that a jihad is a violent confrontation, but I know Muslims who say it mostly refers to a personal struggle for self-improvement. "They" say that Muhammed may have had some influence from the Jews and Christians in Arabia. I don't know about the Jews, but the Christians in Arabia would not have been in the Western/Rome tradition, but in the Eastern/Jerusalem tradition. They would have been close to what today are called the Gnostics. I don't know if they would have revealed their belief in karma and reincarnation to Muhammed; they were not supposed to disclose their secret teachings to John Doe!

Thanks for putting us onto this link!

[guillaumeb]

6. To clarify, the author is a Muslim.

I am a Christian.

Your point about jihad is appropriate. Jihad refers to the struggle, the inner war, to live a godly life.

[Karadeniz]

3. catching up

I just read your add-on, Islam encouraging people to think. In the Gospels, Jesus often says that his message is for those who have the eyes to see, the ears to hear. Obviously...except to modern Christians/literalists...the message was to scratch around beneath the surface! Too bad so many people mess up perfectly good spiritual messaging!

[Voltaire2]

4. This is the koran Waseem loves:

Men are in charge of women by (right of) what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend (for maintenance) from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. But those (wives) from whom you fear arrogance - (first) advise them; (then if they persist), forsake them in bed; and (finally), strike them. But if they obey you (once more), seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand.

https://quran.com/4/34

[guillaumeb]

7. Whataboutism?

We can all pick things from every book, from every history, to show that people are not perfect.

[Voltaire2]

9. If I were discussing something other than the Koran

you might have a point. Instead we are discussing how great the Koran is by picking bits of text from it. Did you like the bit of text I picked?

[guillaumeb]

10. Again, you are engaging in whataboutism.

And I understand that you apparently feel the need to do so. If you do not wish to discuss the article, feel free to start your own.

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. No, he's not.

Good hustle. Better luck next time.

[guillaumeb]

17. And you obviously misunderstand it also.

[Act_of_Reparation]

20. Obviously.

[trotsky]

12. No he isn't.

You are absolutely wrong. Again.

[Mariana]

13. Gil's making up his own definitions for words again. nt.

[trotsky]

15. Yep.

His fancy new toy is to throw "whataboutism" at his detractors whenever they say something he doesn't want allowed. Same purpose as all the other pathetic ones in his toybox, like the "choir" or the "11th commandment" - to try and shut down dissent. His frustration with being exposed to other ideas and points of view is palpable.

[guillaumeb]

18. Considering that a misuse of the term whataboutism is standard for the choir,

your response was inevitable.

[trotsky]

22. I GOT A BINGO!!!

YEAH BOI!!!!

[guillaumeb]

19. You have proven that you also misunderstand the term.

Congratulations.

[Voltaire2]

16. So do you like the Koran as represented by the excerpt

I provided?

[brooklynite]

5. I'm I'm reading this correctly, you like the "message" of the Koran...

...but say nothing about why you think the underlying religion is "true".

[guillaumeb]

8. I thought that the article was very interesting.

And I am a Christian.

[trotsky]

23. Thank you for reminding everyone that you are indeed a Christian.

And your behavior is what you believe good Christianity is all about.

[Mariana]

14. Who cares if it's true?

I can't tell you how many times I've heard some religious person say something like, "Do you really want to believe there's nothing after you die?" or "Do you really want to believe there's no eternal justice?" or "Do you really want to believe everything is a matter of chance?"

And I think, what the hell does what I want to believe have to do with anything?

Apparently some religious people are able to decide to believe something just because they want it to be true. Maybe the author is one of those people.

[Act_of_Reparation]

21. I know, right?

The honesty of the article—that the author chooses to believe because they like it—is almost refreshing.

[Mariana]

24. Yes but ...

How the hell do religious people do that?

[Act_of_Reparation]

25. We all do it, to a degree.

We play video games, watch movies, read books... we consume media whereby we briefly experience the world as we'd like it to be (you knnow, fun) rather than how it actually is (well, shitty). Religion isn't any different. It's escapism, but without the reality check.