Religion & Spirituality - 21 February 2007

my brain is a chatterbox and wont be quiet.
any ideas on how to get it to shut up?
is there a special kind of muzzle i should buy?
or should i just stick to warm milk?

2007-02-21 12:19:01 · 10 answers · asked by kitty is ANGRY!™ 5

2007-02-21 12:18:57 · 17 answers · asked by panthers2316 2

2007-02-21 12:18:34 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

Given that God created everything, who created God?
Prophet Muhammad predicted that this question would one day be raised as he correctly predicted a great many future events of importance. On one occasion he said:

A day will certainly come when some people will sit with their legs crossed and ask: ‘Given that God created everything, who created God?’ (Bukhari, ‘I‘tisam,’ 3).

Those who put such questions are generally atheists or inclined to atheism and seek to lead others astray also. The purpose of their question is possibly to avoid the responsibilities owed by us to the Creator; belief and worship. At best, the question is derived from the observation of (what are taken to be) ‘cause and effect’ relationships. Every circumstance can be thought of as an ‘effect’ and attributed to an antecedent circumstance or ‘cause’ which, in turn, is attributed to some circumstance antecedent to it, and so on. In the first place, it is obvi­ous to anyone who reasons objectively that the notion of ‘cause’ is only an hypothesis, it has no objective exis­tence: all that objectively exists is a particular, often (but not always) repeated sequence of circumstances. Secondly, if this hypothesis is applied to existence as a whole, we cannot find a creator of it because each creator must have a creator before that creator, in a never-ending chain. (In fact, the futile notion of a never-ending chain of creators was one of the arguments used by Mus­lim theologians to explain the necessity of believing in God.)

The Creator must be Self-Subsistent and One, without like or equal.

It is self-evident that the Creator must be Self-Subsistent and One, without like or equal. If any created being can be said to ‘cause’ anything, that capacity to ‘cause’ was itself created within that being. Thus, no being in the universe can be said to be self-existent; rather, it owes its existence to the Creator who alone is Self-Existent as well as Self-Subsistent. It follows from the fact that the Creator alone truly creates that for each and every being He has determined all possible ‘causes’ and ‘effects’, all things whatever that come before or after it. Therefore, we speak of God as the Sustainer, who holds and gives life to His Creation from first to last. All ‘causes’ have their beginning in Him, and all ‘effects’ find their ending in Him. In truth, created things are no more than so many ciphers or zeros which, no matter how many we put in a series, add up to nothing, unless a positive ‘one’ is placed before the series to give it value. In just this way, the creation could have no real existence, nor any value, except by God.

What we call ‘causes’ have no direct or independent influence in existence, no direct or independent ‘effects’. It may be that we need to speak of ‘causes and effects’ in order to understand how, in a short space and over a lit­tle period of time, some part of the Creation is made (by the Mercy of God) intelligible to us and available to us for our use. But even this but confirms our dependence upon God and our answerability before Him. It is not God who needs ‘causes and effects’ to create; rather it is we who need ‘causes and effects’ to understand what He has created. He alone is the First and the Last, the Eternal, the Initiator and the Determiner—and all our busy little efforts after cause and effect are but veils between ourselves and His Majesty.

Let us then affirm once more: He, God, is One; God, the Self-Subsistent, Eternally-Besought-of-All; He neither begets nor was begotten; and nothing whatever is like unto Him.

2007-02-21 12:18:23 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

Seriously think about it. Some day you will die. This is fact.
I hope you understand this concept before your death, everyone should. Oh, and if you say yes, chances are you don't...

2007-02-21 12:17:46 · 38 answers · asked by angelus 4

My teenagers are interseted in the Jewish Laws. I have no answers for them except for the first few books of the Bible. And how does the old reflect with the new.

2007-02-21 12:17:28 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

However, when Jesus started preaching, he referred to Hinnom's valley
as a place of eternal punishment. The Hebrew words "ge Hinnom"
(Hinnom's valley) became "gehenna" in Greek, and this word is
translated "Hell" in most English bibles.

http://www.google.com/answers/threadview?id=564381

[Of hell] "The more enlightened sages of the Mysteries viewed such horrors as merely stories to encourage better moral behavior. Plutarch calls the terrors of the Underworld an 'improving myth'. The Christian philosopher Origen likewise argued that the literal terrors of hell were false, but they ought to be publicized in order to scare simpler believers"


Are you a simple minded believer.?

2007-02-21 12:16:54 · 5 answers · asked by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7

I'm curious why the cow is sacred and other animals aren't. Doesn't this religion believe in re-incarnation? If so, is being a cow like the highest level or something? I'm not mocking, I'm just curious.

2007-02-21 12:16:25 · 12 answers · asked by Ilene W 4

please make him prove it. scientifically. He can't, no one can, and he doesn't know anymore than anyone else on Earth.

2007-02-21 12:13:57 · 7 answers · asked by William K 1

2007-02-21 12:12:27 · 22 answers · asked by Blessed 5

not a sarcastic hate question, being serious.

was it in a dream, did you see a "sign" that you made out as god communicating with you? what was it? and please dont be poetic about, just tell me straight out what happened.

2007-02-21 12:12:03 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-02-21 12:11:12 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

it seems that sometimes when u give them a track people dont want them and sometimes throw them away.

2007-02-21 12:11:05 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

I mean, why not just have a Creator of the Universe who has no idea what the future holds nor what we are doing?

2007-02-21 12:10:18 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Islam's Unique Features






Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and intelligible. It is free from superstitions and irrational beliefs. The oneness of Allah, the prophet hood of Muhammad, and the concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic.



All of the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no farfetched abstractions, no complicated rites or rituals.



Everybody may approach the Qur'an directly and translate its dictates into practice. Islam awakens in man the faculty of reason and exhorts him to use his intellect. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Qur'an advises him to seek knowledge and invoke Allah to expand his awareness : "... My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." (20: 114) Allah also says: " ... Are those who know equal to those who know not? It's only men of understanding who will remember." (39: 9)



It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that: "He who leaves his home in search of knowledge (walks) in the path of Allah." (Reported by At-Tirmidhi) and that "Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." (Reported by Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi) This is how Islam brings man out of the world of superstition and darkness and initiates him into the world of knowledge and light.



Again, Islam is a practical religion and does not allow indulgence in empty and futile theorizing. It says that faith is not a mere profession of beliefs, but rather that it is the very mainspring of life. Righteous conduct must follow belief in Allah. Religion is something to be practiced and not an object of mere lip service. The Qur'an says: " ... Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah) and work righteousness, Tuba (all kinds of happoiness or name of a tree in Paradise) is for them, and a beautiful place of (final) return." (13: 29)



The Prophet (peace be upon him) is also reported to have said: "Allah does not accept belief if it is not expressed in deeds, and does not accept deeds if they do not conform to belief." (Reported by At-Tabarani)



Thus Islam's simplicity, rationality and practicality are what characterize Islam as a unique and true religion.



Unity of Matter and Spirit
A feature of Islam is that it does not divide life into watertight compartments of matter and spirit. It stands not for denial of life but for the fulfillment of life. Islam does not believe in asceticism. It does not ask man to avoid material things. It holds that spiritual elevation is to be achieved by living piously in the rough and tumble of life, not by renouncing the world. The Qur'an advises us to pray as follows: " ... Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good ..." (2: 201)



But in making use of life's luxuries, Islam advises man to be moderate and keep away from extravagance, Allah says: "… and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance) ." (7: 31)



On this aspect of moderation, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said : "Observe fasting and break it (at the proper time) and stand in prayer and devotion (in the night) and have sleep, for your body has its right over you, and your eyes have rights over you, and your wife has a claim upon you, and the person who pays a visit to you has a claim upon you."



Thus, Islam does not admit any separation between "material" and "moral," "mundane" and "spiritual" life, and enjoins man to devote all of his energies to the reconstruction of life on healthy moral foundations. It teaches him that moral and material powers must be welded together and that spiritual salvation can be achieved by using material resources for the good of man in the service of just ends and not by living a life of asceticism or by running away from the challenges of life.



Islam seeks to establish equilibrium between the two aspects of life - the material and the spiritual. It says that everything in the world is for man, but man was created to serve a higher purpose: the establishment of a moral and just order that will fulfil the will of Allah. Its teachings cater for the spiritual as well as the temporal needs of man. Islam enjoins man to purify his soul and to reform his daily life - both individual and collective - and to establish the supremacy of right over might and of virtue over vice. Thus Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a moral man in the service of a just society.



Islam, a Complete Way of Life
Islam is not a religion in the common and distorted sense, for it does not confine its scope to one's private life. It is a complete way of life and is inclusive of every field of human existence. Islam provides guidance for all aspects of life - individual and social, material and moral, economic and political, legal and cultural, and national and international. The Qur'an enjoins man to embrace Islam without any reservation and to follow Allah's guidance in all areas of life.



In fact, it was an unfortunate day when the scope of religion was confined to the private life of man and its social and cultural role was reduced to naught, as has happened in this century. No other factor, perhaps, has been more important in causing the decline of religion in the modern age than its retreat into the realm of private life. In the words of a modern philosopher: "Religion asks us to separate things of God from those of Caesar. Such a judicial separation between the two means the degrading of both the secular and the sacred ... That religion is worth little if the conscience of its followers is not disturbed when war clouds are hanging over us all and industrial conflicts are threatening social peace. Religion has weakened man's social conscience and moral sensitivity by separating the things of God from those of Caesar."



Islam totally denounces this concept of religion and clearly states that its objectives are the purification of the soul and the reform and reconstruction of society.



Thus even a cursory study of the teachings of Islam shows that it is an all-embracing way of life and does not leave out any field of human existence to become a playground for the forces of evil.



Another unique feature of Islam is that it establishes a balance between individualism and collectivism. It believes in the individual personality of man and holds everyone personally accountable to Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "Everyone of you is a guardian, and responsible for what is in his custody. The ruler is a guardian of his subjects and responsible for them; a husband is a guardian of his family and is responsible for it; a lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it, and a servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it." The Prophet also said, "A man is a guardian of his father's property and is responsible for it, so all of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and things under your care ."(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)



Islam also guarantees the fundamental rights of the individual and does not permit anyone to tamper with them. It makes the proper development of the personality of man one of the prime objectives of its educational policy. It does not subscribe to the view that man must lose his individuality in society or in the state.



In Islam, all men are equal, regardless of colour, language, race, or nationality. It addresses itself to the conscience of humanity and banishes all false barriers of race, status, and wealth. There can be no denying the fact that such barriers have always existed and continue to exist today in the so-called enlightened age. Islam removes all of these impediments and proclaims the ideal of the whole of humanity being one universal family.



Islam is international in its outlook and approach and does not admit barriers and distinctions based on color, clan, blood, or territory, as was the case before the advent of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Unfortunately, these prejudices remain rampant in different forms even in this modern age. Islam wants to unite the entire human race under one banner. To a world torn by national rivalries and feuds, it presents a message of life and hope and of a glorious future.



Complete Record of Teachings Preserved
Last, but not least, is the fact that the teachings of Islam have been preserved in their original form. As a result, Allah's guidance is available without adulteration of any kind. The Qur'an is the revealed book and word of Allah, which has existed for the last fourteen hundred years. It is still available in its original form. Detailed accounts of the life of the Prophet and of his teachings are available in their pristine purity.



There has not been even one change made in this unique historical record. The sayings and the entire record of the life of the Prophet have been handed down to us with unprecedented precision and authenticity in works of the Hadith and the Sirah (the Prophet's Biography). Even a number of non-Muslim critics admit this eloquent fact.



These are some of the unique features of Islam that establish its credentials as the religion of man, the religion of today, and the religion of tomorrow. These aspects have appealed to millions of people in the past and the present and have made them affirm that Islam is the religion of truth and the right path for mankind.

2007-02-21 12:08:52 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

Note: angels of God wouldn't even alow anyone to worship them.
8:2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord,
if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be
thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him.
28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them.
28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

I have many more verses that show Jesus allowed and even commended worship of himself.
this is mainly for those who say Jesus was not worshiped.

2007-02-21 12:07:29 · 16 answers · asked by scrubitizm4life 1

2007-02-21 12:07:13 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

If you don't belive in god because there is no evidence of him,
why do you belive he doesnt exists if there is no proof that he dosent exist? I don't get your logic, if you even have logc.

2007-02-21 12:05:01 · 33 answers · asked by Rosaline W 1

:"allah's apostle was on a journey and he had a black slave called anjasha, and he was driving the camels" http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/073.sbt.html#008.073.182

“i came and behold, allah's apostle was staying on a mashroba (attic room) and a black slave of allah's apostle was at the top if its stairs.” http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/091.sbt.html#009.091.368

“…'aisha further said, "once the prophet was screening me and i was watching the display of black slaves in the mosque and ('umar) scolded them.” http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/sunnah/bukhari/015.sbt.html#002.015.103

Ok, so Muhammad kept a black slave in the attic, another to drive his camels in the desert heat, and would display his slave properties in the mosque, like a used car show room or something.

Hey, Muhammad commaned a major army....why did he need any slaves? He could have had his soliders do the labor he was to lazy to do.

2007-02-21 12:02:40 · 13 answers · asked by Asmodeous 1

what are you giving up this year

2007-02-21 11:59:27 · 9 answers · asked by steve 4

In other words, You have often ask those of the christian faith ,to prove their God exist. My question is simple, What is your belief based on, i mean where did it originate from? What is the purpose of your belief? What is the meaning of it, other then to discredits others beliefs? What is behind your belief, and wheres isit going to take you?
What is the soul purpose for your belief? what makes you belief so strong that you are willing to stand by it? And why is it needed, and why is it so great,
that you need to convince others that God does not exist? What is the soul meaning behind you belief? In other words what makes it so convincing to you? And why are some of you so set on destroying others beliefs? What is your soul purpose for dis-believing, That God does not exist? What is it about your belief that makes you so sure God don't exist?

2007-02-21 11:59:14 · 33 answers · asked by ? 3

lucifer beealzbub

2007-02-21 11:58:55 · 21 answers · asked by Joe mac 1

2007-02-21 11:58:43 · 7 answers · asked by sleepless in irvine 2

I'm almost afraid of the answers this one will generate!

2007-02-21 11:58:38 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

What could be the reason.?

2007-02-21 11:57:44 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

Was god sitting there in the universe all by himself for millions of years then, all of a sudden thought to himself: ''hey i'm gonna make heavens and seas and earth and animals and people and stars and the sun and the moon'' just like that...and began with ''Day 1''...why does the bible speaks of a 'begining' if god has no begining or end...?

2007-02-21 11:57:39 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Please can some one point me in the right direction for me to learn more about this religion...not only just web sites but made some advice and tips

2007-02-21 11:57:24 · 14 answers · asked by far_from_great 1

why doesn't god answer my simple things i trust in him to do? like have my friend come back to school today and she was sick yesturday. he can cure her can't he? and have her come back [im only 14] i don't know much.

or help me get my 3 chapter reading done. but i got yelled at for reading till 9:00. that's my bedtime. i was hoping to get done with a little three chapter. i started an hour and a half ago. i even read it in class before language arts came and still didn't finish. i had a test on it. im a slow reader and others can zoom through the thing within minutes.


what does it mean for god to answer prayers? does it mean to help me or just atleast listen?

how do i know if he's answered my prayers of if it just happened?

2007-02-21 11:56:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

All right. I received a lot of feedback. Most people said those who do not believe in CHrist go to Hell. Are you telling me that before the existence of semitic religions (it came FAR after early civilisation) everyone went to hell? Or that all of The Americas went to hell before the conquistadors enslaved them? Or the VAST majority of Africans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders went to hell. These people had never even heard of Christ. And in a predominantly Hindu country like India, how can everyone convert to Christianity? While Christians have the Bible, Hindus have far older scripts supporting their religion. Most Indians are born Hindu and will die Hindu, simply because their society is not Christianized. Are you saying God purposefully sent The majority of the Human race to hell, never giving them a chance into your Kindom of Heaven? I want a full explanation, not just a "you're going to hell." And I'm not Atheist.

2007-02-21 11:55:48 · 12 answers · asked by Jedi 4

i want to know because i have seen people with it on today i wanted to know.

2007-02-21 11:54:20 · 6 answers · asked by hello peps 1