I'll just put this here.....

[SM Rider]

Those books were written, and edited by men over many century's. Hence the King James version, and the other. Nobody can say there is any correct interpretation of the bible or the Koran. They are all interpretations.

When I was in the first grade the teacher had us sit in a circle. She then whispered something in the ear of one student who then repeated her words to the student next to him until it made a full circuit. The teacher asked the last student to say what they were told. It wasn't anything close to what she had told the first student.

In summary, God doesn't speak to us through books written by men. This being the case, then what else is there that reveals God to us? That would be nature and the universe.

 

[TerryMiller]

Those books were written, and edited by men over many century's. Hence the King James version, and the other. Nobody can say there is any correct interpretation of the bible or the Koran. They are all interpretations.

Not necessarily true. I know a Bible scholar who used to teach at Oklahoma Christian University that has worked with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus, he knows the original languages of the biblical manuscripts. When I mentioned to him that I had been told by others that the American Standard Version of 1901 was the closest translation of the original languages, he stated that it was true. He said that he could translate word for word from the original languages to the ASV. For any other translation/interpretation, he would have to paraphrase after making the actual translation from the original texts.

I personally know of two sources where one could purchase the ASV. One is online at Star Bibles. If one happens to be in Amarillo, A&D Bookstore was carrying some in stock when we were there in November.

 

[saddlebum]

Islam seems to be the only religion currently beheading and burning nonbelievers and believers alike

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

As you point out, it's only a portion who want to send you on to your next life. I'm sure that there are small portions of Jews, Christians and Muslims who would like to send a non-religious person such as myself to hades. Yet I don't take the position of claiming universally that it is all followers of those sects that wish ill upon me. There will always be a few who give the majority a bad name.

Five million active radicals and a billion supporters is more than a few.

 

[SM Rider]

Five million active radicals and a billion supporters is more than a few.

You've talked with all Muslims the world over to determine that they are all intent on doing harm to non-Muslims? Or are you simply repeating what you've been conditioned with these past fourteen years by your government? I've only met a couple of Muslims and though I didn't know their hearts (only God can do this), they seemed like decent people with no sign of malice towards me.

 

[SM Rider]

Islam seems to be the only religion currently beheading and burning nonbelievers and believers alike

Doing something in the name of religion doesn't equate that those doing the crime are disciples of the religion.

 

[donner]

Not necessarily true. I know a Bible scholar who used to teach at Oklahoma Christian University that has worked with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus, he knows the original languages of the biblical manuscripts. When I mentioned to him that I had been told by others that the American Standard Version of 1901 was the closest translation of the original languages, he stated that it was true. He said that he could translate word for word from the original languages to the ASV. For any other translation/interpretation, he would have to paraphrase after making the actual translation from the original texts.

I personally know of two sources where one could purchase the ASV. One is online at Star Bibles. If one happens to be in Amarillo, A&D Bookstore was carrying some in stock when we were there in November.

I respect your faith, but as dennis pointed out, there are still problems. While that might be the closest translation, the Bible still suffers from a picking and choosing over the years. How many Gospels did not make it into the book? How many years after the death of Jesus were most written? How many of the stories exclude historical context that can help shape and change the meaning? Would a newly discovered gospel even be considered today? Would it be added to the Bible?

Most historical references stuffer from these issues, but the case of the Bible is particularly worrisome because so many people want to find meaning and justification within its pages. So many people seem to consider it to be the literal word of God, an idea that lends the words within the Bible more weight.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

You've talked with all Muslims the world over to determine that they are all intent on doing harm to non-Muslims? Or are you simply repeating what you've been conditioned with these past fourteen years by your government? I've only met a couple of Muslims and though I didn't know their hearts (only God can do this), they seemed like decent people with no sign of malice towards me.

The last 14 years? You're either very young or very uninformed. Muslims have have been attacking Americans since our country was founded.

 

[Glocktogo]

When you battle, make certain you battle the correct adversary. It isn't Islam.

"Truth will do well enough if left to shift for herself. She seldom has received much aid from the power of great men to whom she is rarely known & seldom welcome. She has no need of force to procure entrance into the minds of men. Error indeed has often prevailed by the assistance of power or force. Truth is the proper & sufficient antagonist to error." - Thomas Jefferson

True, it isn't Islam. It's ideology.

You've talked with all Muslims the world over to determine that they are all intent on doing harm to non-Muslims? Or are you simply repeating what you've been conditioned with these past fourteen years by your government? I've only met a couple of Muslims and though I didn't know their hearts (only God can do this), they seemed like decent people with no sign of malice towards me.

Your "informed" opinion on the matter seems to disregard many facts in evidence. Meeting a couple of Muslims and saying they seemed decent, isn'e an objective measurement by any standard.

Keep in mind I'm not stating they aren't, just pointing out the flaw in your methodology.

 

[SM Rider]

The last 14 years? You're either very young or very uninformed. Muslims have have been attacking Americans since our country was founded.

How often did Americans think of Islam prior to 9/11? Most people never gave it a thought. Since that day, the government has been on a constant diatribe towards Islam and the complicit media has been their means of spreading hatred. This is conditioning and misinformation.

Although I have no use for any religion, to remain quite and not defend those not engaged in the actions of a few would make me no better than those advocating the destruction of Islam as many on this forum are inclined to do.