Quote:but you feel it necessary to defend the Quran, even at the cost of intellectual dishonesty. Why? Why not just admit that it does seem to be a contradiction but faith leads you to believe that somehow its not. Isn't this more honest than making up an excuse?
I think i did admit there does seem to a contradiction at first glance but then i explained it fully. Which is satisfactory, if i had to make up an excuse then i would be lying to myself this isn't how i work. But you asked a question and was given an explination, to then call it making up an excuse makes you asking for an explination pointless anyway. No matter what response to your answer, it would be making up an excuse. Like i said...you want to go around in circles.
The explination is fine to me. I used to be Atheist then became agnostic and then found Islam. So for me, trying to explain Atheism was a direct contradiction with the evidence of creation. And this beleif in Atheism was leading me to belive that there is not a contradiction in the views of Athiests, when there is. If i found something in the Qur'an that convinced me after learning the Arabic that it wasn't the word of God, then i wouldn't be Muslim. There's nothing i have to continue being Muslim for if i thought the Qur'an wasn't the word of God. I have no Muslim family or freinds so i wouldn't lose anything. there's nothing to hold me back.
But there's nothing in it that has shown me this, and i've got three translations of the Qur'an here at home. And am now learning Arabic to read the original. <b>Nothing</b> in it has made me think this isn't the word of God. The exact opposite to honest, this is why i'm getting more passionate about my beleif as the months pass. If something did make me think this is not the word of God then i wouldn't be Muslim. I've no need to lie to myself what's the point? I'm not a proud person. There's nothing holding me back, if you look at it in this kind of context, it would be easier not to be Muslim to be honest.
Regarding excuses with religious people, i feel exactly how you feel except the other way around, i think Atheists make up excuses to try and disprove creation when it is all around them. Took me a long time. I'd always been a firm Atheist, but actually started looking into things for my self. Into science and everything i saw led me to creation, without a doubt, i just hadn't thought too much about Atheism i suppose, i just didn't accept there was a God or creation and was firm in this.
But after i actually looked for myself i came to beleif in a creator and then after looking into major religions. Islam stood out as the clear truth. Easily. Blatantly even. I know a brother who was in a situation similar to the one you described in your post. Grew up Muslim, only taught the basics, and as he grew older got tired of religion and the idea of it as you have. External influences family etc have a bigger effect on us that we think. But the fact you're here asking questions is interesting, it was how i came to Islam when i was an Atheist.
Maybe though coming to an Islamic board will not help you as an Atheist as obviously we all belive in God. Perhaps an Agnostic board would be a better place to start. But then if you're an Atheist, you shouldn't really have any questions about God anyway, because you don't belive in the idea of God. Agnostic is different, but as an Athiest you're happy with life being pointless right? Because this is the view of an Atheist, the moment you stray from that view, that there is some kind of point to life, then you're Agnostic. I know these things trust me, i was a proffesional Atheist at one time.
If there was something i didn't understand in Qur'an i would seek the Arabic and then find an explination, as using the english translations when seeking to find contradictions and then not being willing to accept the true Arabic original meaning is pointless. This is why i'm learning Qur'anic Arabic right now, so Insha Allah i can read for myself and hopefully answer questions i get asked easier, as i don't like relying on translations no more.
But as i said, you ask for an explination, i give you one, and then you call it "making up an excuse" whats the point in asking for the explaination in the first place? I don't understand that. Anyway hope you find your answers wherever you get them from. Not sure if it'll be from an Islamic board though?