The Theist Thread (TTT)

College Confidential Community
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<p>Hi, I just got interested in all the world's major faiths and I am always looking to seek similarities and differences between them. This thread is intended for us to know more about each-other's religion to clear confusions and perhaps enhance appreciation. I am personally Muslim, but I have several questions that have been bugging me for a long time. They are as follows:</p>

<p>Jews:
1.) What are your view on Jesus? Do you believe he is a Messiah?
2.) Why dont Jews eat pork?
3.) If Jews are the chosen people, what is the fate of non-Jews?
4.) Tell me more about the Jewish view regarding the Day of Judgement.</p>

<p>Christians:
1.) Jesus was a Jew, so why a whole new faith?
2.) Why are there so many sects when the doctrine in the Old and New Testaments is fixed?
4.) Mormons dont belive Jesus is God's son. Does that mean they're not really Christian?
5.) Tell me more about the Christian's perception on the Day of Judgement.
6.) Christian doctrines are contradictory to the theory of evolution, so why do Christians believe in the theory? Does that mean that the Word of God is unreliable?</p>

<p>Muslims:
1.) Why did Muhammed adopt Jewish and Christian concepts while still founding a whole new religion of Islam?
2.) Do you believe in "Jins?"
3.) How do Muslims percieve the "Day of Judgement?"</p>

<p>Hindus:
1.) Is Hinduism polytheistic, or is it monotheistic from one divine entity of Brahman?
2.) Why did India ban the caste system, given that doing so will lead to adverse consequences in reincarnation?</p>

<p>Buddhists:
1.) Siddharta Gautama never rejected the idea of a God. So why are Budduists atheist? How can you belive in nirvana but not a higher being?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>These are just some questions in my mind; I'll post more later. Please refrain from flaming.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
4.) Mormons dont belive Jesus is God's son.

[/quote]

Actually they do. One of the main differences between Mormons and other Christian sects is that Mormans believe that Jesus is God's literal son whereas others believe that Jesus and God (and the Holy Spirit) exist as one being aka the Trinity.</p>

<p>Depending on who you ask, Mormons are Christian. They believe in salvation through Jesus Christ, though the specific tenants of their doctrine may not match the more common themes of Christianity.</p>

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<p>this is an interesting thread- i was wondering a few of those questions as well</p>

<p>sorry i cant answer any of them
officially (as in, according to my parents), i am Lutheran, but i really don't know much about my religion</p>

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<p>For Hinduism...</p>

<p>1.) Too complicated for me to answer.... </p>

<p>2.) I personally believe that the caste system was placed by the Aryans who invaded India to keep the Dravidians and the offspring born to those who married Dravidians into a lower social order. I believe that it has no real place in the religion. I am sure you will find many others with differing viewpoints than mine. And the reason India banned the caste system is that the country is the largest Democratic nation in the world. You can't have one religion dictate the way everyone lives in the country. The caste system has been a terrible curse to many and those in the lower social orders have suffered a IMMENSELY from it. I am glad that the Indian government is seeing that there are new affirmative action type policies to help the so called 'untouchables' finally lead decent lives.</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong though, I love my religion, especially since it has been one of the most accepting cultures throughout its history. I just think that the Caste System is a bad dark spot on the religion, and I am glad that those practiciing Hinduism have also been disregarding it.</p>

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<p>Atheism not welcomed? :(</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Buddhists:
1.) Siddharta Gautama never rejected the idea of a God. So why are Budduists atheist? How can you belive in nirvana but not a higher being?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm Buddhist, and I'm not Atheist. Hence, your generalizing that all Buddhist are atheist, when that obviously is not the case.
Secondly, I cannot speak for other Buddhists. You're asking questions based on a broad perspective rather than personal experience and belief.</p>

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<p>I'm a Muslim. I'd be happy to help answer those questions:</p>

<p>Muslims:
1.) That is because the Jews and the Christians also had prophets sent to them by God. We believe in those prophets. However, we believe that the Jews and Christians had, over time, gone astray in following their prophets. Muhammad was simply another prophet sent to put people back on the right path. He did not found a new religion. He reminded people of God's way, and 'updated' it for any who lived from that time on (since he was the last prophet). This is why we say that every prophet who lived followed Islam (Islam is simply a combination of words that means submission to God). That is why we also believe in the Bible and the Torah, but that they were altered by their followers, who had also gone astray from the original teachings.
2.) Of course we believe in the Jinn. It's part of the Quran itself, and one must believe in them to be Muslim. Jinn, like humans, have free will. There are many different types. I recommend you read "The Jinn In the Qur'an and the Sunna" by Mustafa Ashour, it answers a lot of questions. If you want to know more, go ahead and ask. I'll answer with what I know.
3.) As Muslims, we believe that the Day of Judgement will come when the only people left on earth are the wicked and the bad. Everything in the Universe will be destroyed, shaken apart with unimaginable force. The Day itself will be several thousand or several thousand of our own days long. Each person's deeds and blessings will be recounted. Those who have more good than bad will receive Heaven (by receiving their so-called "book of deeds" in their right hand, in front of them) whereas those with more bad with good will receive Hell (in their left hand, behind them). The path there will have various obstacles, but it will be easier for those who were good. For example, there will be a canyon with a string connecting both sides. The good will have an easy time walking across, but the bad people will struggle to take one step, in constant danger of slipping. It will be extremely hot on that day. Those who did Wudu regularly (ablution... when we Muslims wash our arms, feet, face, mouth, nose, head, etc. before praying) will have shade and rain to cool them down. There are many such things, and I can't possibly remember nor recount them all, but this is a general idea of what we believe it will be like.</p>

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<p>I've got a question, do Buddhists pray to Siddharta Gautama or do they pray to Hindu gods?</p>

<p>also what is 'Jinn' in Islam?</p>

<p>pardon my ignorance</p>

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<p>Siddharta Gautama is not a god, why would anyone pray to him? Buddhism is not so much a religion as it is a philosophy or a teaching.</p>

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<p>Christianity:</p>

<p>I would like to answer the one about evolution. It is sad that in todays society, many Christians believe in evolution. This seems to be quite prevalent especially in the RC church. However, the Methodists and Baptists strongly oppose Darwinian philosophy and believe that God created everything in 7 days. In my opinion, one is not a Christian believer if evolution is accepted. May I also add that I am completely befuddled as to why many Christians accept evolution ideology when the Bible clearly states that the earth and the universe were created in seven days.
Sorry Vicissitudes, however this is the TTT not the TAT(The atheists thread) Good day, and good luck!</p>

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<p>I was raised Catholic. Here are just some short answers to your questions.</p>

<p>1.) Jesus was a Jew, so why a whole new faith?
Since Christians believe that Jesus is Christ--is God, then the belief system is immediately contradictory with the Jewish faith. Christianity obviously did not exist until Jesus lived and only seriously developed some years later.</p>

<p>2.) Why are there so many sects when the doctrine in the Old and New Testaments is fixed?
All Christian sects grew out of Catholicism, which developed first. After the Bible was translated into vernacular German and other languages, people took it upon themselves to interpret the Word in the way they felt was correct. There are many different Bible translations, and you will find that some translations are associated with certain sects. Some sects also developed because as the beliefs traveled around the world they became somewhat distorted from the original. Beyond that, the differences all arise in how to interpret and act on God's Word.</p>

<p>4.) Mormons dont belive Jesus is God's son. Does that mean they're not really Christian?
Mormons are Christian, although some Christians will try to tell you otherwise. The President of the Church says:
[quote]
We are Christians in a very real sense and that is coming to be more and more widely recognized. Once upon a time people everywhere said we are not Christians. They have come to recognize that we are, and that we have a very vital and dynamic religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.</p>

<p>We, of course, accept Jesus Christ as our Leader, our King, our Savior...the dominant figure in the history of the world, the only perfect Man who ever walked the earth, the living Son of the living God. He is our Savior and our Redeemer through whose atoning sacrifice has come the opportunity of eternal life.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>5.) Tell me more about the Christian's perception on the Day of Judgement.
This varies greatly by the particular Christian Church--as do many Christian beliefs. </p>

<p>6.) Christian doctrines are contradictory to the theory of evolution, so why do Christians believe in the theory? Does that mean that the Word of God is unreliable?
This, again, varies greatly by sect. Some people take every word of the Bible literally, while others take only the essence of the Word to heart. The weightings of the Old and New Testaments vary by Church, as well. Many more fundamental Christians do not believe in evolution at all, others believe in certain aspects of the Theory but not others, some believe that Evolution was put in place by God, and many trust in Evolution completely and follow a looser interpretation of the Bible.</p>

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<p>**"Strike terror (into the hearts of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies." Surah 8:60</p>

<p>"Fight (kill) them (non Muslims) and Allah will punish (torment) them by your hands, cover them with shame." Surah 9:14</p>

<p>"I have been made victorious with terror" Bukhari 4:52:220</p>

<p>"O Prophet! Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey's end." - Surah 9:73</p>

<p>"I will instil terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them. It is not ye who slew them; it was Allah." Surah 8:12-17</p>

<p>"O ye who believe! Fight the unbelievers...let them find firmness (harshness) in you and know that Allah is with those who fear Him." Surah 9:123</p>

<p>"Slay them wherever ye find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter." - Surah 2:191</p>

<p>"Fighting is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it." - Surah 2:216</p>

<p>"Seek out your enemies relentlessly." - Surah 4:103</p>

<p>"Muslims are harsh against the unbelievers, merciful to one another." - Surah 48:25**</p>

<p>Here's what they are told to think about us:</p>

<p>**"Allah is an enemy to unbelievers." - Surah 2:98</p>

<p>"On unbelievers is the curse of Allah." - Surah 2:161</p>

<p>"Allah has cursed the unbelievers and proposed for them a blazing hell." - Surah 33:60</p>

<p>"Unbelievers are enemies of Allah and they will roast in hell." - Surah 41:14</p>

<p>"No Muslim should be killed for killing a Kafir" (infidel). Vol. 9:50</p>

<p>"Allah will humble the unbelievers. Allah and His apostle are free from obligations to idol-worshipers. Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers." - Surah 9:2-3</p>

<p>"O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends is one of them. God does not guide an unjust people." - Surah 5:54</p>

<p>"The unbelievers among the People of the Book (Jews & Christians) and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of hell. They are the vilest of all creatures." - Surah 98:51**</p>

<p>Islam wouldn't be a threat to international security if the Quran didn't contain such instructions.</p>

<p>But there you have it in black and white, nobody can now claim next 9/11 that "thats not Islam."</p>

<p>Religion of peace my a$$.</p>

<p>But this doesn't mean that all Muslims are inherently evil or violent, most of em don't know that **** or that Mohammed was a child-molesting, slave-trading rapist. They are victims as well.</p>

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<p>I'm glad you've taken things ENTIRELY out of context Gumball. How about you actually study the religion and the Quran a little before searching Google for an anti-Muslim website that lists those verses? If you actually knew the reasoning and context behind them, they wouldn't seem so controversial anymore.</p>

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<p>Let me introduce myself first. I used to think of Islam as a respectable religion
such as Judaism, etc. One day, I decided to find out why those Muslims in Denmark were going "apelike." So I started reading the Quran, yes I've read the entire thing. Go ahead, I dare you to read it, I did. </p>

<p>And the truth shall set you free:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sinaprologue.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sinaprologue.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.jihadwatch.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.jihadwatch.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.islam-watch.org/articles.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.islam-watch.org/articles.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I suggest you spend a few hours or days reading the stuff at those sites, several of them are run by ex-Muslims and they are the best source of information when it comes to the true nature of Islam.</p>

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<p>Good post gumball. I have read a few books by Daniel Pipes. He insists that Islam is sort of a religion of peace, but much of his evidence points otherwise. Oh, ya, I can't wait for someone to rationalize those quotes. Theists are fun people :)</p>

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<p>W1cked,
The Bible is a very peace loving book. God never said to kill the infidels except perhaps the immoral Caananites of the the land of Canaan. This was because the Canaanites occupied the Promised Land which was destined for the Jews. The Bible and Quran are like night and day in most aspects.</p>

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<p>Thou surely jests, right?</p>

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<p>maybe you're taking it a little too far gumball... those sites aren't exactly bias in their stances of presenting Islam</p>

<p>yes, there is a number of violent muslim radicals in the world... possibly in higher proportion than other religions, and their actions are appalling</p>

<p>However, I am willing to bet that 95+% of Muslims would just be happy living in a society where all religions can peacefully co-exist</p>

<p>and I highly DOUBT the creator of the thread really wanted anyone attacking another religion... it was probably proposed to answer ppl's curiosities about the various religions</p>

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<p>No matter how you slice it, its still part of the Quaran. If you follow the book, then you follow all of it, not pick and choose. The peaceful Muslims are in fact the ones who reject this dogma and are comparable to "Cadillac-Christians"-i.e., the Christians who pay lip service to the relgion, attend Church on Christmas and Easter, and drive to Church in their luxury vehicles on Sunday to socialize. In both cases, they claim to be religious, but they are far removed from true religion, which demands violence, subjugation, blind faith, and abandoning reason.</p>