I AM 'THE LIGHT' ...

Submitted by Oliver (United States), Dec 29, 2008 at 16:38

Ali …

WELL … In what way have I taken the meaning of ‘the verse' wrongly? I indicated that ‘I'll believe what I'll believe and you'll believe what you'll believe' AND ‘there is no compulsion in religion' are in accord with each other. You indicated that these verses ‘suggest_ that every person has the right to what they believe' I find that ‘we' are in complete agreement – NO?

As to taxation – where are the amounts (percentages) of these taxes defined IN THE QURAN – you fail to mention that the tax paid by ‘the people of the Book' is to be paid in subjection and (oftentimes) humiliation and is nothing more than the ‘buying off' of the threatened persecution – I am well aware of Zakat, but what is the ‘name' of this other ‘tax' that Muslim's are obliged to pay? Could it be the spending of their wealth toward the propagation of Islam through JIHAD? I envision Islam as the ‘roof' of a structure that is supported by the so-called ‘5 pillars' – but hardly anyone mentions the ‘foundation' upon which the ‘5 pillars' are anchored – JIHAD!

I will ask you the same question I asked Noor – "Instead of telling me that I don't understand 'true Islam' - 'the Religion of Peace' - how about explaining it to me - in this thread, you must begin with JIHAD - what it really means - how it is really to be applied toward 'the people of the Book' as well as 'infidels and idolaters' - reveal to all of us 'the true religion of peace' ..."

I said; "I have a half dozen English translations of the Quran (there are many more to be sure) and once I get past Sura 1 (in an 'uncommented' volume) I am greatly dismayed by the attitude of Allah/Mohammad toward 'the people of the Book' let alone 'infidels and idolaters'" When Jesus proclaimed His words, He did not get ‘all puffed-up and red-in-the-face' yet those who heard Him were amazed for He spoke with an authority that was greater than that of the priests and scribes. And He backed up His words with ‘signs and wonders' – that is; He performed miracles to witness to who He was (IS).

As to ‘seeing the light' … in the Gospel of John, Jesus is ‘the light' that came into the world to enlighten men … in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus called His followers ‘the light of the world' (because His teachings were in them) … therefore, I have no need to ‘see the light' – for I am ‘the light' – because His teachings are in me …

Peace and Love

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