"Its wrong, Its WWroonng!!!" isn't enough

Submitted by Matthew (United States), May 4, 2006 at 20:40

I agree with you at that Christians (who actually care about their religion) "put more emphasis on understanding their holy than just memorizing verses" as compared to many Muslims. But it’s definitely not true that asking questions about the Quran is forbidden. Some Christians as well as Muslims use similar threats to those who ask disturbing questions. But the truth is during the life of Prophet Muhammad people kept on asking questions all the time for them to understand the Quran. The Quran also says:

Chapter 3 Verse 159
"Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you; pardon them therefore and ask pardon for them, and take counsel with them in the affair; so when you have decided, then place your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who trust."

Richard, let me put this straight. "I worship not that which ye worship,Nor will ye worship that which I worship; To you be your Way, and to me mine" (Chapter 109). "There is no compulsion in religion" (Chapter 2, verse 256). If you want to be a Christian and worship Jesus, fine. I literally don't care. But don't make assumptions about others just to feel better about yourself and your religion.

When I said that the original version of the bible is lost, I said so because I heard the writer said so in an interview. That's why I mentioned the link to the interview; because I didn't read the entire book yet, all what I did is say what the guy just said. Now, you can claim this person is trying to make money out of lies; a claim that can be made on any book that was written on earth. You will feel better when you say that this guy is a lair, but did you tell us why? Did you tell us the lies in the book, or tell us someone else’s criticism of the book? Do you think you did a good job just by making such claims? The way you attacked Bart D. Ehrman is the same way some Muslims attack those who ask questions they can't answer. That doesn't mean there is no answer, but it means that the person himself lacks a convincing argument. Some one may tell you about drugs …. "Its wrong, Its WWWrrrrooooonnggggg!!!" simply because they lack a convincing argument. Does that mean that drugs are not harmful just because one failed to argue?

I asked questions about Christianity to my friends and most of them weren't so religious and lacked good arguments, but I would be lying to myself if I assumed that all Christians lack strong belief and good logic. I know that I don’t have to prove all people to be ignorant and stupid to have faith. Prophet Muhammad said if you want to talk about other’s sins/mistakes, talk about yours.

I only attack others when I feel that my religion is being unfairly compared. So while Christians know well how some parts of the bible can be misunderstood, and actions taken by Christians may seem as an act of faith while they are not, some assume that this is never the case in Islam. You talk about Allah using fear, and forget what Deuteronomy 28 talks about. I don’t know how you interpret this book, but why you force your interpretation of the Quran on us? And most importantly, it’s unfair to make claims about more than one billions people's faith based on the ideas of a handful of people. All what you know about Muslims is based on a handful of people and I can prove that. Not all Muslims act the same. Not all Islamic empires had the same policy, and sometimes they were extremely contrasting. In Islam, there are different opinions on the same subject, and different people see it’s in different ways. And the truth is on the side of those who follow the Quran from cover to cover, not those who take what they want to justify the unjustifiable. Don't assume what you don't like about Islam to be the truth.

You may have your own sources and reasons why you don't like Islam. It’s your choice, but so does others. But it’s pointless for us just to tell other's about our opinions. A lot of what you say about Islam and Muhammad are contradicting to what Muslims know base on their sources. Now, you can just shout and say that all what I am saying is lies, just as you said about the author of the book, or you can try to convince us why should we consider "your" sources more reliable than others. Just "cut and paste" your information will only make other Muslims want to offend Christianity in the same way you offended them. Not because it’s the right thing, but “because for every action there is a reaction”. What the readers will gain is waste of time!

So for now I got two questions for you:

- Why shouldn't I believe Bart D. Ehrman's Book that I just started reading?

Remember Richard, don't talk as those Muslims you criticize. Try to convince us why this person is nothing but a liar who wants to make money, and not as a person who used to be an Evangelical Christian and became an Agnostic after he found a distrubing truth. I am not saying the truth lies in his side, but I want to know why this book can be seen as great injustice to Christianity and its followers.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".