If I may be serious for a moment, I have a religious question. Now considering Islam came more than six hundred years after Christianity, what new moral teachings does it add? I know it adds news stuff you’re supposed to do which is reminiscent of Jewish law, but does it actually teach anything new or different about faith? For instance, Christianity had a number of big changes from Judaism such as making it a religion for all people, new teaching on salvation and eternal life, and a greater importance on faith versus acts (specifically the strict Jewish law). With Islam, I know the tenets which seems like a number of new things on top of Jewish law plus some borrowing of Christian concepts of universalism and the afterlife, but I don’t know of anything new or unique it teaching about religion or faith in general. So what significant new things does it teach us about religion and morality? Seems like a good question for any religion that claims to replace another.
It’s OK to ignore the required practices of the religion if you’re trying to deceive the infidel. Because deceiving the infidel is the extra-most-required practice.
All that sh*t Mohammed did? It was unprecedented.
I always thought their new teaching was………….
“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”
Alas, I may me mistaken and if we are to look at their performance against the military of the Israel, I am almost certainly mistaken.
Since the good lessions are all taken, perhaps Islam can ban flies that land on your ear when you’re still sleepy in your bed in the morning.
““To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”
Words I try to live by every single day.
“Since the good lessions are all taken, perhaps Islam can ban flies that land on your ear when you’re still sleepy in your bed in the morning.”
I’ll try to find something nice to say about Islam if they can ever get that one done.
I’m pretty sure Islam invented Carousel for when the light in your hand starts blinking.
The innovation was not religious, but political and military. Much of Sharia makes sense if one thinks of it as a field manual for a highly mobile desert bandit gang. Take the sexual prohibitions, for example. You don’t mess with the wimmen-folk in an extended combat situation. The real goal was political and economic conquest by military means. It’s as though the Mafia or the KKK became recognized as established religions and we couldn’t criticize them or even look mean at them for fear of being called bigots.
Islam pre and post Muhammad is very different. It would be like referring to America before and after European conquering as the same thing. It is the same location with even many of the same names and some of the same peoples but certainly not the same as it was.
The key is in the name…Islam.. Islamming a car bomb into your store, or Islamming a knife to your throat, or Islamming an airplane into your building. Wait, not what Frank had in mind.
Islam has nothing new to offer, and takes quite a few steps back. The rules for women, warfare, dietary laws, blasphemy, are all throw backs to Judaisim or other beliefs. It is a hodge podge of rules for rampaging pillaging tribes with the leaders getting th spoils, and a belief system set to enforce that.
Here is a few things about Arabs that I think get overlooked.
-A place like Iran you have part Persian gentiles from an old world Empire and part Arabs from Ishmael but they are now mostly all follow Muhammad Islam.
-Muhammad did to Arabs what Rome did to Christians.
-Abraham loved Ishmael and Hagar. After Sarah drove them away, at night Abraham would go off into the wilderness to bring them supplies and to visit with them.
-There are many accounts that a lot of what Mohamed taught was basically cherry picked plagiarism from one of his Christian advisers.
-To understand Arabs you have to understand Ishmael and Esau. Ishmael also had the twelve tribal descendants like Jacob did.
http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/topics/twelve_tribes_of_ishmael.htm
-So often people try and point to Jacob and Esau as the source of the Israel-Arab conflict but it actually started with a mother hen Sarah who freaked out and forced her husbands hand.
“An eye for an eye…………..” from the Torah.
If I may be serious in my response…
By adding the Five Pillars (trip to Mecca, alms to poor) as requirements for “salvation” and removing the idea that God loves us, Islam (as posited by Mohammed) is a danger to the soul.
Most significantly, Islam has at its core the idea that Jesus did not die on the cross. Everything else that could be beneficial (and all that is harmful) pales in the face of this lie. The physical threat that present-day Islam poses to Christians around the world (and to America’s citizens of all faiths) is increasingly serious, but as Matthew 10:28 says,
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
There was all of that disaster preparedness stuff in the Bible with that Ark thing – just what exactly does Islam add to disaster preparedness?
One big difference between modern Christianity and Islam is that Islam has not had their equivalent protestant reformation where they attempt to reclaim their religions religions teachings back from the a militant state that is why they are still stuck in the dark ages.
…and their Inquisition makes the European model look like a bunch of pansies.
Islamists never invented a comfy chair.
The Judeo-Christian God, Yahweh, has advanced and evolved through the ages with the growth of Western civilization. He has been studied and interpreted by hundreds of learned philosophers and theologians. His followers believe He is all-powerful and many people acknowledge that He has performed miracles. The Muslim moon-god Allah, on the other hand, seems to be stuck in the 7th century, an angry, tribal leader who commands his follows to kill or convert the non-believers. His memory is kept alive by “Imams” (an Arabic word roughly equivalent to “ivy league liberal professors”).
To make a long story short, Yahweh could beat the snot out of Allah, one handed.
add up comments 3, 6, & 8 and you get my answer – it’s all about militant enforcement of their twisted and misogynist beliefs.
that is also the key to why they never had, or can have, any “reformation”. any would-be al-luther would be stoned at the mosque before he had a chance to nail anything on it.
I’m pretty sure that whole killing any people who don’t believe everything you do was new.
@Buckhorn
Their modern Islam skill is not disaster preparedness but preparedness to make disaster.
Link to the telegraph uk about al qaeda who were found dead from plague
http://tiny.cc/xz4hu
Doesn’t islam translate into urinal in English?
” For instance, Christianity had a number of big changes from Judaism such as making it a religion for all people, new teaching on salvation and eternal life, and a greater importance on faith versus acts (specifically the strict Jewish law).”
Not really.
1. Anyone could be added to the Jewish (covenant) people. There was a procedure. Ruth is a famous example of this (she was a Moabite). Uriah the Hittite comes to mind.
[Yes, anyone can become a Jew, but it was a big difference in actually be commanded to spread the word to all people. -Ed.]
2. New teaching on eternal life: no, just a revelation of the details. Jesus’ coming was predicted at the Fall and He was prophesied of repeatedly throughout the Old Testament. Your works did not save you in Old Testament times. Your faith did. See Hebrews 11, “by faith Abraham, by faith the Hebrew midwives, by faith, by faith, by faith,” also, “Abraham rejoiced to see my day and was glad.”
[In a way, much of Jesus’s teaching was reemphasizing the important parts which existed in the Old Testament but weren’t practiced by many of the Jews at the time. -Ed.]
Christianity recognizes Jesus as the coming Messiah, and fleshes out a lot of details; also Christ’s coming bring the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which really enlivens God’s people. But, it is not a “new” religion. There is only one God and only one way of salvation and that’s been ever since the Fall when we needed salvation.
Islam is just a death cult.
if memory serves, from my reading of the koran it seems that every time a thorny moral question would arise:
Follwer: hey, M, is it ok to kill that woman poet who makes those satirical poems about you?
Muh: Just a minute while i have a revelation.
Follower: ok.
Muh: so long as it advances islam, allah forgives anything. cut her head off.
this happens a lot.
I’d second what Marie says. The Old Testament points to and leads to the coming and resurrection of Christ. The Bible is consistent throughout, and yes, the Israelites were the chosen; they were quite clearly commanded to be welcoming of foreigners.
The biggest difference between Christianity and the other three main world religions is that only Christianity worships Christ as the son of God. Unlike other folks of other religions, Christians believe that it is our acceptance of Christ which saves us and brings us into eternal fellowship with our loving God. Other religions emphasize the doing of specific works as the means to salvation. Christianity understands that God is all powerful. He needs not our actions, but desires our acceptance of his perfectly loving grace, and so, Christians choose to accept salvation instead of trying to earn it. Salvation for Christian happens upon acceptance. It is certain and permanent.
On the other hand, this is as best I understand Islam: Muslims believe that an all powerful god suffers the existence of humans. This is in great part why Islam is so highly concerned with the performance of specific acts. Muslims are guaranteed salvation for only for certain specific acts, such as martyrdom (I believe that killing an infidel also qualifies.) Thus, few Muslims are actually guaranteed salvation. Most do not absolutely know if they will have a place in heaven. They work and hope, but are never sure. From this, it is easy to see the allure of martyrdom. Martyrdom provides certainty.
Mohammed was, quite literally, a murderer, thief and rapist. He spent a time travelling with Jewish and Christian caravans, and from his time with them, he picked up the stories of the Old and New Testaments. These stories would make their way into the Koran; however, their contexts and details would not at all match those of the original scriptures. There is no building of Judeo-Christian theology in the Koran. Rather it was more of an appropriation.
Mohammed made his mark by creating a religion that decreed it acceptable to thieve during Ramadan. (Note that Ramadan, Mecca and other elements of Islam pre-date Islam.) At that time, Arab regions thrived on caravan trade, much of which travelled safely during during Ramadan, a period during which even thieves recognized a truce. The “revelation” that god permits attack during Ramada made the nascent religion rich. Mohammed would go on to slaughter Jews and Christians alike after they rejected Islam. He ordered men to be beheaded in front of their women, he provided theological acceptance of the rape of infidel women, and so on, and so on.
A quick read of the wikipedia entry reveals nothing to see here. They believe in God the Father Almighty, but not in the Trinity, obviously. Their only hope for redemption is playing by all the rules, which really must not mean much because (for me, the scary part) they believe in predestination. Good grief. New age Calvinists with a scripture that tells them to wipe the infidels from the face of the earth.
Better go pray, peeps.
#16 – Enemyofthestate,
Bravo!
Islam is relatively decentralized in its theology in many ways. You’ve got mainly Shiite and Suffi. One interprets things strictly and one not so strictly, and in their mosques they do more praying than teachings typically. The Quran actually almost repeats itself 3 times in terms of its content which thickens it a great deal. It doesn’t really give a whole lot more new stuff to religion theologically unless you include how they treat women and gays. It adds new prophecies I suppose. Ironically the Quran gives prophecy that Jesus predicted that there would be another final prophet to come in Mohammed. Talk about retroactive prophecy…
You’re actually asking the exact same question that the old Byzantine Emperor Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus said in 1391 when the Byzantines were struggling against the Muslims:
“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
The current Pope actually quoted this guy
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1534640,00.html
q-“Are you the Peoples Judean Front?”
a-“SOD OFF!!! We’re the Peoples Front of Judea!!!”
Fairy tales, all of em!
“just what exactly does Islam add to disaster preparedness?”
When we’re finally nuked back to the stone age by God knows who, they’ll have an advantage, they’re already there.
Jesus offered five loaves and two fishes. Islam offers 72 virgins. Big difference.
To me it all comes down to this for me. In the old testament God chose Jacob over Esau. Why? Because Esau was willing to sell his birthright (his priesthood) for money. Some how God did not think Esau was committed to him, he was not someone who would do what the Lord required of him. Those who aren’t Jews have been angry ever since because of this one salient fact.
What they don’t understand is that every person is either a Jacob or an Esau, we all get to chose. Some choose poorly, some well but we all chose.
What does this have to do with Islam, everything. Their prophet had to come up with doctrine that shows how God loves them more than the Jews. But riddle me this what god allows his prophet to marry a 9 year old girl. What father would be a party to prostituting half of his creations (ie 72 Virgins)? What god would disinfranchise more than half of his creations.
Sorry it just makes no sense to me. It’s just not right or correct
There are some booklets in pdf linked to here that have a good amount of background on islam:
http://www.cmmequip.org/purpose.htm#Anchor-Booklets
http://www.cmmequip.org/
“Corona says:
July 19th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Islamists never invented a comfy chair.”
Well, they did invent the ottoman.
[Well done. -Ed.]
Not to be a bore, but I lived in Qatar for some time and listened to public radio over there where they explain why islam is so superior, also read the Koran. I think that the question is a misunderstanding of what islam claims to be. In fact, they believe that first God revealed is Truth to the jooooooooooooos, who were fine with it for some time before changing it to their benefit, so God came again and gave is Truth to the Christians, who did the same thing. Finally God gave his truth to the muslims who are the only one faithful to it. Accordingly, jews and christians are evil liars. So it is not about adding anything, it is about going back to the original truth…
and of course the occasional shagging of smelly camels and 9 year old.
It is either finished as Jesus claimed on the cross, meaning he paid for all our sins with his death or we have to figure out a way to do enough good vs. the bad we do so that God is happy with us. I, for one, cling to the cross and rely on Jesus sacrifice on my behalf. Anyone who points a bony finger at me and tells me that I must DO ANYTHING apart from faith in Christ is wrong! Muslims have lots and lots and lots of such rules and regulations made up by man…
Stoning, the burka and “Allahu Akbar” as famous last words.. Those were their contributions..
Could someone please point out their contributions to the arts and science that Obama touted? I still can’t seem to find them…unless, of course, you consider smashing in the head of a 16-year-old girl with a rock to be “art” or “science”.
Son of Bob, the “contributions” actually came from Assyrians, who translated Greek and Latin texts into Arabic. The Assyrians were a conquered people, some living as Dhimmis, some converting to Islam. Interestingly, Islam specifically condemns science, as it is seen as limiting the power of God. Thus, “true” Muslims could not engage in any type of scientific pursuit, nor technically take advantage of any scientific advantages. This prohibition was (conveniently) overcome by forcing the Assyrians to do the science and Dhimmi Jews to do the medicine. In today’s hyper-sensitive political correct society, it is convenient for Western liberals to conflate Arabs with Muslims, thus allowing them to claim that Muslims contributed to world store of science 1000 years ago.
It allows people to ‘lie’ with animals. not an improvement but also its definitely not borrowed.
I will make the Ottomans your footstool.
Now that I’m hearing about how o is really into ‘liberation theology’ and ‘collective redemption’, I find I miss the days when we could all just assume he was a closet mooselimb.
Granny Boo,
I am a Calvinist and don’t understand why you would call Muslims new age Calvinists.
Many great Christians have been Calvinists, among them the George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon, just off the top of my head.
There has never been a Calvinist movement of murdering anyone that I know of. You do a disservice to some truly great Christians by your post.
Upon further reflection,
John MacArthur, John Gill, John Piper, Joshua Harris, R. C. Sproul, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., William Carey. . .
Come now.
Dear Marie,
I am so sorry to insult any Calvinists with my (apparently) lame attempt at humor. The reference to Islam’s philosophy of predestination brought strict Calvinism to mind, insofar as the teaching that God has predestined some to salvation– “unconditional election”. I in no way meant to truly associate Calvinism with radical Islam, and please believe that I meant no offense. My remark was flippant and unthinking. Please accept my apology.
There was all of that disaster preparedness stuff in the Bible with that Ark thing – just what exactly does Islam add to disaster preparedness?
The disaster!
From what I know, when Mohammad first rejected the tribal religions he was raised in, he considered Christianity and Judaism for a while. However, he rejected Christianity on the basis of it’s being impossible to complete. The Christian God is perfect, and wants perfection from his children. Mohammad couldn’t accept this, and this is why Islam has it’s five pillars–because there has to be something specific to do, right?
Alas, he entirely missed the point of Christianity. Yes, God is perfect and yes, we would have to be perfect to achieve salvation through deeds, but God knows all too well that “there is no man righteous.” He sent his Son to pay our penalty for sin, freeing us from the guilt of the Old Testament Law. For Christians, salvation isn’t about DOING anything, simply acknowledging your own brokenness and asking forgiveness. Living virtuously (not the same as salvation) would require us to be perfect, but living virtuously is not a requirement for salvation. This is something very often misunderstood about Christianity: the expectations for salvation are incredibly low, the expectations for how we should then live are impossibly high. I like to quote C.S. Lewis on the matter:
“Aim for heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim for earth and you will get neither.”