Post by abisai on Nov 13, 2006 18:58:08 GMT -5
Yeah, I read the whole thing. Unlike the preceeding Old & New Testaments, the Koran is entirely one voice. It is very reasonably consistant throughout I thought. The war is not the focus of the book. It is entirely a warning to people that God is going to come and kill everyone who is evil and reward everyone who is good. Evildoers is a word found throughout. I did not read anything about there being 72, but virgins are promised. Women are crapped on.
The war bit: repeated is the point to stand for God's will and fight for Islam. It's unclear on who decides this demand after Muhammad, or why it would be evoked. But the book says God hates the aggressors. Then it says a few times over to do the opposite of turn the other cheek and says to enact justice & revenge. That much is clear. Many passages deal with fair treatment of orphans, widows, and travellers. Thus, hijacking a vehicle full of travellers to create orphas and widows in implicitly evil according to the Koran. Repeatedly it makes the point that only God calls people to Islam and warns against even trying to do this, and mentions offering it to slaves and hostages but not demanding it, so the Iraqi videos are directly opposing Koran directions.
Overall, I found Islam in the Koran as really similar to evangicals on TV screaming about Hell. The theme of the book is that we suck and we need to be warned before the Rapture. It says the Jews were wrong for not beleiving in the Resurrection and says the Christians were wrong for believing in the Holy Trinity and that Jesus intercedes to God for us - in the Koran all men have a personal relationship with God and no one intercedes. I read stuff about leaving judgment to God and that they admit there are some among us infidels who are good people. It is not a hateful book, it is close to it when discussing the Jews though. It is a violent book of course and brutal in sections. For example, sinners in hell will eat devil heads for food and drink scaulding water according to the Koran.
I bet it was nice in its original language as it often cites the language used and the beauty of it as a proof the book came from God. Instead, we have this butchered translation that is annoying to read, does not explain referenced battles and cultural references (like a sacred she-camel), and repeats itself almost every third chapter. I did not enjoy reading it and basically checked out one quarter of the way through, at a point where I stopped considering the messages and realizing I disbelieved almost all the 40% of it that diverges from Judeo-Christian beliefs.
The war bit: repeated is the point to stand for God's will and fight for Islam. It's unclear on who decides this demand after Muhammad, or why it would be evoked. But the book says God hates the aggressors. Then it says a few times over to do the opposite of turn the other cheek and says to enact justice & revenge. That much is clear. Many passages deal with fair treatment of orphans, widows, and travellers. Thus, hijacking a vehicle full of travellers to create orphas and widows in implicitly evil according to the Koran. Repeatedly it makes the point that only God calls people to Islam and warns against even trying to do this, and mentions offering it to slaves and hostages but not demanding it, so the Iraqi videos are directly opposing Koran directions.
Overall, I found Islam in the Koran as really similar to evangicals on TV screaming about Hell. The theme of the book is that we suck and we need to be warned before the Rapture. It says the Jews were wrong for not beleiving in the Resurrection and says the Christians were wrong for believing in the Holy Trinity and that Jesus intercedes to God for us - in the Koran all men have a personal relationship with God and no one intercedes. I read stuff about leaving judgment to God and that they admit there are some among us infidels who are good people. It is not a hateful book, it is close to it when discussing the Jews though. It is a violent book of course and brutal in sections. For example, sinners in hell will eat devil heads for food and drink scaulding water according to the Koran.
I bet it was nice in its original language as it often cites the language used and the beauty of it as a proof the book came from God. Instead, we have this butchered translation that is annoying to read, does not explain referenced battles and cultural references (like a sacred she-camel), and repeats itself almost every third chapter. I did not enjoy reading it and basically checked out one quarter of the way through, at a point where I stopped considering the messages and realizing I disbelieved almost all the 40% of it that diverges from Judeo-Christian beliefs.