Religion & Spirituality - 14 June 2006

And don't say faith as if you believe in something enough to have faith in something you want to be real too badly so your mind makes you think it is real. And don't say the bible as that is just a book not only that but a book which has been changed over time and no one knows when it was written or edited so it is no longer a reliable piece of evidence. Oh and whatever you say prove it.

2006-06-14 01:34:08 · 52 answers · asked by Anonymous

I heard it somewhere that JWs use their magazine as indirect reference to the bible instead of directly reading it. Please correct me if Im wrong.

2006-06-14 01:24:24 · 7 answers · asked by samdragonsfire 2

lets say...u are a Buddhist asian girl and he's an arabian(muslim), but both of u are in united states. He is a very family oriented person, and rarely talks to girls( ithink its because of his very strict culture).He has feelings for that asian girl but he knows that it will never work since his parents wont accept her coz she's buddhist. so, he told that girl that he's engaged(it might be arranged by his parents).This is my true story, and i really want to know if ithe religion really matters in relationships. I know how most people from arabian countries are...they only like people who r same religions as they r...im depressed

2006-06-14 01:23:01 · 21 answers · asked by crazy08 2

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims

HIJAAB FOR WOMEN


Question:

Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?

Answer:

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media. The ‘hijaab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the ‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us first study the status of women in societies before the advent of Islam


1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust


The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity:




Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.

Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.

Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.


2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them to maintain their status.


Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.


Hijaab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for men before ‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:

"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do."
[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijaab for women.

The next verse of Surah Noor, says:

" And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons..."
[Al-Qur’an 24:31]


3. Six criteria for Hijaab.


According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing hijaab:

Extent:

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.

All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.

The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the unbelievers’ religions.


4. Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things


Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and ‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.


5. Hijaab prevents molestation


The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:

"O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.


6. Example of twin sisters


Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that hijaab prevents women from being molested.


7. Capital punishment for the rapists


Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double standards?


8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women


Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.


9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape


United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijaab is followed in America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijaab, that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?


10. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes


Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijaab does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

2006-06-14 01:22:38 · 13 answers · asked by Mr Justice 2

How do you study the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation or random? What is your favorite vesre or book in the Bible?

2006-06-14 01:21:50 · 14 answers · asked by BlueAngel 5

I have heard the statement "Mormons don't believe Jesus is God" several times, yet in the Book of Mormon it says otherwise.

Helaman 8:22-23 ...yea they (the prophets) have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come. And behold, he is God, and he is with them, and he did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him; and they gave unto him glory, because of that which is to come.

2 Nephi 11:7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

If people continue to say this is it false witness, or is it due to ignorance, or is there another reason?

2006-06-14 01:19:41 · 12 answers · asked by flournoi 3

2006-06-14 01:16:31 · 26 answers · asked by idspudnik 4

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager

This very poorly thought out idea of Pascal's does bring up an interesting point. Suppose god rewards the atheist, the agnostic and the skeptic. What if he punishes people who don't even bother to try to think for themselves and only follow dogma?
This would make god a much more rational being.
Would the creator of everything dump his humans on a planet, provide no answers for their existence, (other than the mad ramblings of so-called 'holy men') and then expect them to follow a book written by man to explain himself? Or is it more logical that he would create humans, dump them on a planet, provide no answers for their existence and hope that they would continually question and doubt his existence?
There is also the problem of his creating pain and suffering. But that isn't what I'm asking.

2006-06-14 01:14:04 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

What makes you say that?

2006-06-14 01:13:47 · 17 answers · asked by corpuscollossus 3

Or must one belong to your chosen denomination (LDS, Catholic, JW, Lutheran, Scientologist, etc.) in order to reach heaven?

2006-06-14 01:12:22 · 15 answers · asked by idspudnik 4

2006-06-14 01:12:11 · 12 answers · asked by rashad h 1

I am not asking about the movie i want to know what the Davinci code is saying. Like what did the code say about Jesus or anyody else.

2006-06-14 01:11:27 · 9 answers · asked by LUV-ME-OR-HATE-ME 1

2006-06-14 01:09:30 · 8 answers · asked by Linda 7

Im not muslim so i have no idea but you can kind of sense that in the way that thye marry 4 women and have all these privelegs?

2006-06-14 01:07:27 · 16 answers · asked by carla h 2

i can challenge you all believers who beleive in the so called superpower(God) has never existed ,doesnt exist and will never exist , the human race is evolved through animals i.e monkeys and just evolved with a more functioning brain than the rest of the animal kingdom , but still his instincts are of the animals , just study the animal kingdom and our life and will get ur answers ,

so just as a warning to all the time wasters just stop wasting money and time on religions and live ur life logically as in the end the humans are the ones who are going to punish u 4 the bad deeds and not God , want ur comments for this one and dont be surprised to get punished even if u dont do a bad deed as ur are born with an animal brain and nothing follows logic in the animal world and stop blaming or cheering god for bad and good things respectively......Period

welcome to the jungle

2006-06-14 01:06:55 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-06-14 01:06:41 · 18 answers · asked by mai-kee 2

2006-06-14 01:01:48 · 40 answers · asked by itsme 3

im thinking of a number whoever comes the closest wins my 10 points

2006-06-14 01:00:11 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-06-14 00:59:51 · 12 answers · asked by Mouse999_1999 Y 1

2006-06-14 00:53:27 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-06-14 00:52:43 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

The holocaust, 9/11, 7/7, in fact every terrorist attack since the 1st one on the 5th of November has had something to do with religion, catholic and protestant riots in Northern Ireland, the middle east conflict, Bradford riots, IRA bombings, Queen Mary burning protestants, witch hunts, almost every war ever and many more. And the theists have the cheek to say without god there would be no morals. Har! That’s a laugh. If we got rid of religion think of how much evil would be gone from the world.

2006-06-14 00:49:44 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

I think there is a spirit in my home. I get bad feelings, as if somebody really angry is watching me. I have also experienced physical pushing. One time was on my stairs while pregnant and I fell from top to bottom. Another time it was my daughter. I will be standnig and all of a sudden feel a push as if I'm about to lose my balance. I've felt cold spots and have literally had a cold breeze in one spot coming from nowhere. Any idea what this is and how to get rid of it? Sounds nuts, I know, but I can't deny what I'm experiencing.

2006-06-14 00:47:40 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

Isnt your religgion what you belive in? if they dotn belive in islam shouldnt they be able to convert?

2006-06-14 00:44:25 · 11 answers · asked by carla h 2

see my last question

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060614041126AATkNtf

or check out some ruder questions!!!

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/my/my;_ylt=Aj1S8YY5Jo0eQUZbW92JKMUgBgx.?link=question&more=y&cp=2&tp=5

2006-06-14 00:37:53 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

??

2006-06-14 00:35:13 · 23 answers · asked by Littleme 2

when unable to answer questions based on reason muslims always come up with the same old boring lie that millions of western women are converting to islam like bees attracted towards honey. while only an insane person will believe this lie, however i have a question for muslims,
why are muslims hell bent on talking about converts? islam to me is the only religion that has gone mad about converting others. to me a religion that is hell bent on converting others has no truth in it at all. its based on fear of dying out and thats why they worry about converts.
to me allah sounds a weak god. he is afraid that islam will die and so he is hell bent on converts.
hahahahahahahhahah
am i right?

2006-06-14 00:32:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-06-14 00:29:58 · 12 answers · asked by jesus_freak557 2

2006-06-14 00:29:53 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

(A) god is a transcendental, personal, conscious, independent being
(B) god the essence/ground/fact of human existence
(C) god is nature and all natural things
(D) god is a product of the human brain
(E) god does not exist
(F) none of the above

2006-06-14 00:29:50 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous