11-24-2004, 11:04 PM
Imam and Muslimah, we simply have different definitions of the word "father". The Christian God is Jehovah, but we refer to him simly as God because he is the One God.
It's in much the same way that Muslims refer to the One God as Allah, Christians refer to Jehovah as the One God and then we refer to him (sometimes) as Father. It is simply another order or level of referring to him.
Ultimately, why would it make a difference what we call him?
As a matter of fact, many times when a message or news story comes from an Arabic State, the word "Allah" if often translated into English as "God".
And I LIKE referring to God as "Father" because it evokes feelings of endearment and love. In common usage, I usually don't like to even use the word God because centuries worth of well-meaning believers, following perverted interpretations, have done horrible things in the namd of God.
As far as attacking INNOCENT Iraqi people or Afghai people, I don't believe we attacked ANY PEOPLE, we attacked the regime's of those people and the loss of innocent life is impossible in a war when your targets lurk in the shadows of homes and Mosques, hide behind women and children, and dare to call themselves Holy Warriors.
And I am at a lost, Muslimah, as to why you think we are trying to "topple" the Muslim world. Take a walk ANYWHERE in America and tell them you are Muslim and they DO NOT CARE. We don't care WHAT a person believes. We are a mixed-group of people believing a MULTITUDE of different things, living on the basis of mutual respect and Rule by Law.
The first example that comes to mind is how we actually RETURNED the remains of one of the terrorists of 9/11 to Afghanistan, in accordance with his families wishes, instead of simply wrapping him in animal fur, super-glueing the American flag to him and cremating his body. We had RESPECT for his remains. Not so for terrorists that behead their hostages.
There is even an established religion here that is known as "The Church of Satan". And we have laws enacted to specifically prosecute anyone that commits a "Hate Crime", which is any violence commited against a person that belongs to a faith that is a minority here in the US.
There are roughly 4 million Arabs living in the United States. There were only 785 "Hate Crimes" reported against Arabs after 9/11, and most people were outraged by that number.
And, no, I am not a 'Jehovah's Witness'. I would guess you suggested I am because you understand that the followers of that sect of Christianity believe they, themselves, will one day be gods. If that is the case, then you have failed to understand the teachings of their faith or you simply took propaganda for fact.
A mindless person BELIEVES everthing he is told and an intelligent person QUESTIONS everything he is told.
I am not a Jehovah's Witness, a Baptist, a Catholic, a Mormon, a Jew or a Muslim.
And why would you refer to my BELIEFS as a VIEWPOINT? A viewpoint is a statement that is true depending on the perspective from which it is observed. A belief is something held as absolute fact.
For every statement that I made, I provided documentation or example. If I did not provide enough, or you question the validity of what I provided, tell me and I will elaborate; or tell me where I am mistaken in my beliefs.
Consider these truths: Islam did not begin (as in a diversion from another established faith) until about the sixth century, 500 years after the death of Jesus, with the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. Jesus was, himself, considered... for lack of a better word... an infidel by the established church or religion. It was this religion that crucified Jesus, hoping to silence his followers. Some of the followers of this religion continued in their faith, others continued in the teachings of Jesus. Muhhamed comes along 500 years later and diverts from the established religion in much the same way that the followers of Jesus did. And in much the same way, some people followed Muhhamed and some continued with Jesus.
The religion of MY fore-fathers, as I am caucasian and of European decent, was Paganism. Along come the Romans with their State religion of Christianity, another DIVERSION and, again, some followed and some continued. Most pagans followed; although, even today, many of our traditions are Pagan and most of us don't even know it.
As for myself, I have re-discovered many of my fore-father's beliefs, incorporated them with the Christianity that was taugh to me as a child, and defined them with the teachings and philosophies of others.
Thanks you all for your time.
Child Of Nowhere