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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Normally, when I meet an atheist, the first thing I like to do is to congratulate him and say, " My special congratulations to you", because [b]most of the people who believe in God are doing blind belief - he is a Christian, because his father is a Christian; he is a Hindu, because his father is a Hindu; the majority of the people in the world are blindly following the religion of their fathers. [/b]An atheist, on the other hand, even though he may belong to a religious family, uses his intellect to deny the existence of God; what ever concept or qualities of God he may have learnt in his religion may not seem to be logical to him.

When a Muslim addresses this topic, we have to find our understanding from [b]Divine Revelation and not human speculation. [/b]Because human ....
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I think some of  this may be a little unfair. As part of my continuing effort to question my own belief, I have read the Qu'ran cover to cover. One of the issues I had is that some of the more difficult passages must be accepted with question precisely because they are seen as infallible revelations. For this and other reasons I choose to stay in my patents' faith, but this has not been without inquiry on my part.[/quote]

1. Leaving children of Muslim parents out of your "blind faith" equation involving Christians and Hindus.... No words.
2. I'm sure several of us could quote "divine revelation" in the Koran about what to do to polytheists like the Hindus. You really don't want to go there, you really don't.
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1- Children of Muslim Parents are also part of that equation, the same thing applies to them. 
2- Go ahead and quote whatever you want, I really do not care just like anyone can quote the bible and any other religious book for that matter about what they would do to non-believers. So again, your point it? And why are you so angry? Relax, take a deep breath, this is not a fight....[/quote]

I'm not angry, and I think you're mistaking me with the emoticon-using poster above.

You imply I have no point, that I'm merely venting my anger. I was trying to be gentle, but you want me to spell it out. My point is that it's hard to see a book as divinely revealed when it urges followers in no uncertain terms to kill Hindus. (Koran 9:5, "Kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and beseige them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.") Treatment of Christians and Jews (People of the Book) varies greatly in verses that vary by the context of the Muslims' relations to these other tribes on the particular day the verse was revealed, but in some verses the treatment is dire indeed. Again, my point is that claiming these words are God's own words is not as convincing as you were arguing above.

You go on to disparage other religions as "speculation that has no limits" which is untrue. Many religions are in fact based on sacred texts that are taken literally in some cases, and seen as divinely-inspired in other cases.[/quote]

Woow, what a huge leap!!!! Where did I disparage other religions???? In what part of "human speculation" did you get religion? the word religion was not even mentioned there? Do not put words in my mouth, and yes you do sound angry and I have no reason why.  Where did i write  OTHER RELIGIONS= SPECULATION??? just show me? smh

Now, when you do quote the Quran, please do your research first about what the verse is about instead of quoting blindly, every verse in the quran was revealed for a specific purpose at a specific time, it is just not a storybook. Every verse in the Qur’an must be read and interpreted against the background of the Qur'an as a whole. This is essential if we are to get a more accurate understanding of the Qur’an.

So lets look at the verse you've quoted here:

9:5 Kill the disbelievers wherever you find them.

This verse, often called “the verse of the sword”, has been misquoted in a manner similar to the previous verses. First, we shall provide the verse in its context and look at the verse that comes right after it, instead of just taking one verse and ignoring the context like this makes sense out of context :

9:5-6 But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. If one amongst the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah. and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge. "

This verse was revealed towards the end of the revelation period and relates to a limited context. Hostilities were frozen for a three-month period during which the Arabs pledged not to wage war. Prophet Muhammad was inspired to use this period to encourage the combatants to join the Muslim ranks or, if they chose, to leave the area that was under Muslims rule; however, if they were to resume hostilities, then the Muslims would fight back until victorious. One is inspired to note that even in this context of war, the verse concludes by emphasizing the divine attributes of mercy and forgiveness. To minimize hostilities, the Qur’an ordered Muslims to grant asylum to anyone, even an enemy, who sought refuge. Asylum would be granted according to the customs of chivalry; the person would be told the message of the Qur’an but not coerced into accepting that message. Thereafter, he or she would be escorted to safety regardless of his or her religion. (9:6).
Therefore, this verse once again refers to those pagans who would continue to fight after the period of peace. It clearly commands the Muslims to protect those who seek peace and are non-combatants. It is a specific verse with a specific ruling and can in no way be applied to general situations. The command of the verse was only to be applied in the event of a battle. As Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes:

The emphasis is on the first clause: it is only when the four months of grace are past, and the other party show no sign of desisting from their treacherous design by right conduct, that the state of war supervenes - between Faith and Unfaith.

This verse is quoted during a battle. ...We know that America was once at war with Vietnam. Suppose the President of America or the General of the American Army told the American soldiers during the war: “Wherever you find the Vietnamese, kill them”. Today if I say that the American President said, “Wherever you find Vietnamese, kill them” without giving the context, I will make him sound like a butcher. But if I quote him in context, that he said it during a war, it will sound very logical, as he was trying to boost the morale of the American soldiers during the war. ...Similarly in Surah Taubah chapter 9 verse 5 the Qur’an says, “Kill the Mushriqs (pagans) where ever you find them”, during a battle to boost the morale of the Muslim soldiers. What the Qur’an is telling Muslim soldiers is, don’t be afraid during battle; wherever you find the enemies kill them.

Now if you look at CHAPTER9 of the Quran as a whole, this chapter of the Qur’an was revealed in the context when the newly organized Muslim society in Madinah was engaged in defending themselves against the pagan aggressors. The major question dealt with here is, as to how the Muslims should treat those who break an existing treaty at will. The first clause in the verse refers to the time-honored Arab custom of a period of warning and waiting given to the offenders, after a clear violation. That is, they will be given four months’ time to repair the damage done or make peace. But if nothing happens after the expiry of these forbidden months, what should be done? This is what the present verse says. According to this verse, fighting must be resumed until one of the two things happens: Either the enemy should be vanquished by relentless fighting. That is what is meant by {then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem [of war]}; or they should repent, establish prayers and pay zakah, etc. This is one of those verses of the Qur’an which are likely to be misunderstood, if quoted out of context. We must understand that this fighting was against a people who forced the Prophet and his companions to leave not only their own homes but all their property and even their hometown of Makkah to Madinah. Once the Muslims were organized into a community in those lawless times, the rules to be followed by the Muslims were clearly laid down, even in the matter of war. Since Islam is a comprehensive system, no human activity could be ignored. And given the nature of mankind, we cannot imagine a situation where fighting is completely ruled out either. As can be seen, the above injunctions on fighting is not on an individual level, but only in the case of a society that strives to flourish and thrive as a nation. But even here the norms are clear: fighting is only in self defence or for the establishment of justice; and always fighting is the last option. And no one is allowed to transgress the limits set by God.

Now, you and I both now there are very violent verses in the Bible, actually the BIBLE has been proven to be MORE VIOLENT than the Qu'ran, but I have no interest in quoting those bible verses because I know that everything was revealed in a context at a different time. I kinda use my brain....sometimes :)

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