Religion & Spirituality - 2 December 2007

I have seen Christians write:

1. "The fires in California are god's punishment for gay marriage."

2. "Aids is god's punishment for homosexuals."

3. "Menopause is punishment for sin."

4. "Belief in evolution sends thousands to hell everyday."

5. "Schizophrenia is demon possession."



This is Christianity. Do you want any part of it?

2007-12-02 06:54:44 · 46 answers · asked by Anonymous

- when Christians keep saying that you will go to hell just because you don't embrace Jesus, what's your favourite and most witty response?!

The cleverest or most original/funny line gets 'best answer'!

2007-12-02 06:54:36 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-02 06:53:10 · 11 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

Do you thank them? If not, do they get mad? Then, what do you say? Also, do you tell acquaintances to abandon the practice with you? Do they get offended? I refuse to thank people for something I didn't ask for and don't particularly like.

2007-12-02 06:46:25 · 39 answers · asked by bsxfn 3

Is repentance fair?
Why do charitable loving people go to Hell while murderers receive forgiveness?

2007-12-02 06:46:12 · 30 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

i need answer for project on world history i need to know if they changed how they changed and why.

2007-12-02 06:45:38 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

i feel just as close to God, if not closer when im sitting in my room, just thinking about God then when im in church. church is good to get the message and learn about religion of the past, but i feel that God is with me at all times, regardless of where I am.

2007-12-02 06:44:37 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-02 06:44:31 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

... insulting Islamic Values?

Why do they have enmity against Muslims?

Definitely not all of them have it but plenty on this Yahoo Answer have it!

2007-12-02 06:43:46 · 34 answers · asked by Habib 6

do you think that cremation should become compulsary no matter what our faith, as we are running out of land.

2007-12-02 06:42:16 · 18 answers · asked by fozz 4

The rainbow is God's promise is anyone else with me on this?

2007-12-02 06:41:53 · 42 answers · asked by H F 2

But when you show them their sins in its judging?

2007-12-02 06:40:54 · 20 answers · asked by Od Ephraim Chai 4

Jesus in Islam
How does Islam view Jesus? The Islamic view of Jesus lies between two extremes. The Jews, who rejected Jesus as a prophet, called him an imposter, while the Christians, on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus to be one of the greatest and most forbearing of prophets, in addition to Noah, Abraham, Moses and Muhammad, may God praise them. Jesus is also considered to be the Messiah as well. This is in conformity with the Islamic view of the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Divine guidance, and the complementary role of the subsequent mission of God’s messengers.
The message of God to humanity, which is to worship God and God alone and to live according to His instruction, was revealed to Adam (peace be upon him), who passed it on to his children. All the subsequent revelations to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and, finally, Muhammad are in conformity with that message. Thus, Islam views any contradictions among revealed religions as man-made elements introduced into these religions. The position of Jesus in the three major creeds- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam- is not an exception.
Although the Quran does not present a detailed life-story of Jesus, it highlights the important aspects of his birth, his mission, his ascension to heaven. It also passes judgment on the Christian and Jewish beliefs concerning him. We will look at some of the truths which God revealed about Jesus in the Quran.
Born of a Virgin Mother
Like Christians, Muslims believe that Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus. Jesus’ birth in itself was a miracle in that he had no father. God describes his birth in the Quran as follows:
“And mention in the Book (the Quran), Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her a spirit from Us, (the angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (God) from you, if you do fear God.’ (The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’ She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man hath touched me, nor am I unchaste?’ He said: ‘So (it will be), your Lord said That is easy for Me (God): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by God).’” (Quran 19:16-21)
This fact, however, does not necessitate that Jesus is divine in essence or spirit, nor is he worthy of worship, for Adam’s existence was more miraculous than that of Jesus. If his miraculous birth were a proof that Jesus was God incarnate or His son, then Adam would have more right over this divinity than him. Rather, both are prophets who were inspired with revelation from God Almighty, and both were servants to Him living according to His commandments.
“Indeed, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said to him: ‘Be!’ and he was.’” (Quran 3:59)
Miracles
Muslims, like Christians believe that Jesus performed miracles. These miracles were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.
“Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! Recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! You bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the Children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’” (Quran 5:110)
God sent all prophets with miracles specific to the nation to whom they were sent to prove the veracity of their message. These miracles were not performed of their own accord; rather, they were only manifest in their hands by God's will. The miracles performed by Jesus were no different. The Jews were well advanced in the field of medicine, and the miracles which Jesus brought were of this nature, proving the truth of His message and in order to convince the Jews.
Jesus In Islam: His Divinity
Muslims believe in the Absolute Oneness of God, Who is a Supreme Being free of human limitations, needs and wants. He has no partners in His Divinity. He is the Creator of everything and is completely separate from His creation, and all worship is to be directed towards Him alone.
This was the same message brought by all prophets of God, including Jesus. He never claimed any qualities of divinity, nor did he claim that he deserved to be worshipped. He did not say that he was the “son” of God or part of the “Trinity”, but rather that he was only a servant of God sent to the Jews to bring them back to the true religion, worshipping One God and following his instruction. The majority of the verses in the Quran which mention Jesus discuss this aspect. They prove that he was only taken as an object of worship as a result of lies which people invented against him. It confirms accounts of his life where Jesus himself clearly denies that he deserved any worship, and it supports the notion that the parables and examples which God has given showed his mortal nature, not his divinity or filial relationship to God. God narrates of Jesus in the Quran:
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘God is the Messiah, the son of Mary’ while the Messiah has said, ‘O Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord...’” (Quran 5:72)
God says about the belief that Jesus is part of a “Trinity”:
“They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘God is the third of three.’ (Rather) there is none worthy of worship except One (God). And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment. So will they not repent to God and seek His forgiveness? And God is Forgiving and Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!” (Quran 5:73-75)
And also:
“O People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to God nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and in His Messengers, and do not say: ‘God is a Trinity.’ Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. For God is indeed (the only) One God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. And God is sufficient for a guardian.” (Quran 4:171)
God deems this belief as an enormity against His Essence:
“And they say: ‘The Most Merciful (God) has taken (for Himself) a son.’ Assuredly you utter a hideous thing, whereby almost the heavens are torn, and the earth is split asunder and the mountains fall in ruins; That they ascribe unto the Most Merciful a son, when it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Merciful as a slave.” (Quran 19:88-93)
On the Day of Judgment, Jesus again will free himself from this false attribution. God gives us a glimpse of what he will say when he is asked about why people worshipped him:
“And (beware the Day) when God will say, “O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as deities besides God?’” He will say, ‘Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what you commanded me – to worship God, my Lord and your Lord…’” (Quran 5:116-117)
In these verses, God proclaims that ascribing to Jesus the attribute 'son of God' or 'part of a Trinity' is indeed a great blasphemy. The reason for this returns to the key fundamental assertion that God is Unique and unlike any of his creation; as well as in His Essence, He is Unique in His Divinity, His Attributes and His Lordship. All of the above make up the strict monotheism which He revealed in His Scriptures, from them the first of the Ten Commandments:
“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1-3)
Ascribing a son to God is in clear opposition to that principle for which He created the Creation and sent prophets. God says in the Quran:
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)
He also said:
“And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, (saying), ‘Worship God and avoid all false objects of worship…’” (Quran 16:36)
His Mission
As discussed earlier, the Quran clearly affirms that Jesus was a prophet, as well as the fact that he was no more than that. Prophets are indeed the best of creation. They are those whom God chooses to receive His revelation, yet at the same time, they are mere emissaries of God and do not deserve to receive worship. Jesus, as mentioned in the Quran, is no different than any of them in this respect.
Throughout the Quran, Jesus is identified fundamentally as a prophet of God sent to the Jews who had over time deviated from the teachings of Moses and other messengers.
“And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary, said: ‘O Children of Israel, I am the Messenger of God sent to you, confirming the Torah (which came) before me...’” (Quran 61:6)
Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was the last in the line of Jewish prophets. He lived according to the Torah, the Law of Moses, and taught his followers to do likewise. In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus stated:
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the (way of) the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
In this aspect, he and his message was no different than the previous prophets chosen by God, who all called to the worship of God and God alone, as well as to obedience to His commandments. As he was miraculously supported by God in his conception, birth, and childhood, he was also supported by numerous miracles to prove that he was a messenger from God. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his prophethood.
Not only did Jesus affirm the scriptures revealed before him, but he also foretold of another prophet to come after him. God says:
“And when Jesus, son of Mary, said: ‘O Children of Israel! Indeed I am the messenger of God unto you, confirming that which was (revealed) before me in the Torah, and bringing good tidings of a messenger who will come after me, whose name is the Praised One.’” (Quran 61:6)
This fact is also mentioned in the New Testament. Careful study shows that Jesus, peace be upon him, refers to the same prophet in John 14:16-17:
“And I will give you another Counselor (the Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him), to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth.”

2007-12-02 06:37:08 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-02 06:36:14 · 7 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

I do consider myself christian but am not overly religous. The reason I am why I am is because I have alot of people in my family that pressure me into going to church and I am at the point I have no interest in it. But I still believe in God though.

2007-12-02 06:36:13 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-02 06:35:07 · 13 answers · asked by Od Ephraim Chai 4

Any ideas? I believe it's real, and being a Christain it's symbolic for His greatness.

2007-12-02 06:32:57 · 14 answers · asked by ? 2

There are many posters here who contend that the Bible never condemns the practice. Is this true?

2007-12-02 06:32:21 · 23 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

(This is in response to someone's answer to another question)

Don't you Christians who believe the Bible is inspired give your reason as "God has ways of protecting his word". ?

So you think God stopped that now? Do you think God would allow wrong footnotes to be printed? Why would he allow that now, when you believe he has never allowed an error in the Bible before?

**Note: If you don't believe the Bible is perfect, and that God has protected it this whole time, this doesn't apply to you.

2007-12-02 06:30:29 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

I also would like my avatar to have a Poopmobile.

2007-12-02 06:29:04 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-02 06:27:00 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

Qur’an says that Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet. This gives an indication that the earth is flat. Does this not contradict established modern science?

2007-12-02 06:26:11 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

And how many Muslims have done the same of the Quran? How many atheists have read both or either? Please state your affiliation and yes or no.
Example, I'm atheist, and have read both

2007-12-02 06:25:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous

she flips out on her son for denouncing his christianity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Aq00yJSxo&eurl=http://www.videosift.com/video/Atheist-comes-out-of-the-Closet

2007-12-02 06:23:08 · 18 answers · asked by Joox 3

I live in the Central Valley of California where we have a large population of Fundamentalist Christians. This particular religion (as well as others) is bigoted and prejudiced against the religious beliefs of others.

The Dictionary defines Bigotry as: Stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

That is exactly the behavior I witness from this particular religion. I am also told, by people who were once in that church, that is the ideology they are taught.

So tell me, what makes Religious Bigotry OK in a country where Racial Bigotry is so reviled and repulsive?

2007-12-02 06:19:22 · 25 answers · asked by Bye for now... 5

2007-12-02 06:18:49 · 19 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

Which is the true authority?

2007-12-02 06:17:50 · 31 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

Why Rome?
What set it apart as the center of Catholic/Orthodox power?
Constantine certainly did not recognize this at all.

Either the Emperor snubbed the biggest person in Christianity, or that position (Pope) did not exist.

Other documents from independent and even Catholic sources point to the fact that the first Pope of Rome was only declared in the 7th century.

But why not in Antioch or Jerusalem?

2007-12-02 06:17:07 · 7 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4

I'm just curious. I wondered what your views were on them..?

2007-12-02 06:16:23 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Does leaning on faith consist of ceasing to ask pertinent, possibly faith-disproving questions?

Can a person who depends on faith endure looking more closely at the source of that faith without cultivating stronger & stronger doubts in that faith?

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

2007-12-02 06:15:37 · 5 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7