March 21, 2009, 7:49 pm by dc-agape.

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Surāh 114: Al-Nās (The Men)

I have been allowing my posts to get longer and longer.  Hopefully at least my posts on reading of the Holy Text from the Abrahamic Faiths will be much shorter as I read through some of the surāhs in the Holy Qur’an.  The Prophet was kind enough to make many of the surāhs quite direct “without beating around the bush”.

I hope that my Islamic readers will be more kind to my interpretation of their Holy Book compared to my Christians readers (The Usual Suspects).  I will hope that they will point out my error (as kindly as possible) and correct my misunderstanding with references from the Holy Qur’an (or further readings).  But I will make a statement up front.  As I pointed out in my introduction to the Holy Qur’an, when the Traditions of Men change or nullify the revelation of the Lord of the worlds (26:192) I will point out that there seems to be an error. 

My plan is to work my way back to surāh 78: Al-Naba’: The Announcement from this Surāh.  My reason for working back from the last surāh to the 78^th one is some what arbitrary.  Maulana Muhammad Ali did not explain the parts of the holy Qur’an.  But this section from Surāh 78 to Surāh 114 is marked as part 30.  You know what, it just dawned on me the significance of the Parts.  This part 30 should take one single day to read and be recited during a single month.  Well, I am going to go much slower.  In fact, this will take me 36 posts, slightly over one month. I hope that my readers will be patient with me. 

As I pointed out recently, there are a number of tractates in the Dead Sea Scrolls that deal with the stories in the Book of Genesis.  That will be the next source of my posts, after finishing Part 30 of the Holy Qur’an.  Remember you can read each of these surāhs with commentary on this page.

This surāh is very simple and direct.  The gist of the revelation is that humankind should seek refuge in the Lord (Allāh).  The reason for this is that evil comes to the human heart and to the jinn’s heart from the devil.  The meaning of jinn in the Holy Qur’an is slightly confusing.  At first, it has the meaning of evil spirits or at least beings hidden from human eyes (6:128).  But in this surāh that does not seem to be the case.  In another surāh the meaning is still hidden beings, but this time it refers to leaders of the people who are separate in rank or power (6:128).  In both meanings the jinn are evil in nature, either evil spirits or evil men who deny the “Truth”.  In other surāhs, the commentary mentions that the jinn are either Jews or Christians (72:1). 

It is difficult for a gay Atheist to not see the connection between the different meanings of the word jinn.  What is even more difficult to not recognize is that the use of the word men imply followers of the Prophet.  All other people are jinn.  This would be the same as the Mexican use of the word gringo (Urban Dictionary) or the Hawai’ian use of the word haole (Urban Dictionary).  In both of the modern day examples these words can be used as descriptors, white people, or as insults.  Why do I have a feeling that it is the same in Islam?  At least the last verse makes “men” and “jinn” equally susceptible to evil thoughts.

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Posted in Holy Qur'an, Readings | Print | 2 Comments »

March 21, 2009, 12:36 pm by dc-agape.

YHWH comes down to talk with Abram. I guess YHWH did learn something in the last 4000 years…not to bother talking to us in person (since no one has seen him since about the time of Moses). YHWH again makes the promise that is so easy to keep, that of greatly increasing Abram’s offspring. This one is even easier than the previous ones in chapter 1, 9, 12, 13, and 15. I say that it is easy because when your number of offspring is 1 even a second child will be 100% increase. Now that’s greatly increasing Abram’s numbers. Any grandchildren will be exponential increases in number!

In this chapter we find YHWH’s command of genital mutilation that is still practiced today. YHWH wants Abram to circumcise all of Abram’s men folk immediately. This includes all slaves, free menservants, children, and even himself (at the age of 99 years). I must admit, if we have to do such a stupid ritual, I would prefer to do it at the ripe age of 8 days instead of 13 years! Ishmael got the worst punishment for his father’s disbelief in YHWH. But that seems to be the way religion works, punish those not responsible.

In this chapter we also find Abram again not trusting YHWH. Over and over we have seen him scoff at the promise of a son. Here Abram again laughs in the face of YHWH. How can anyone say that Abram was faithful to YHWH? The only interaction between YHWH and Abram so far has been about the promise of a son late in Abram’s life. Each time this promise has been made Abram has not believed. Abram was not faithful to YHWH! In fact, Abram’s disbelief causes Abram to ask for YHWH blessing on Ishmael. We all know the result of this promise; the Islamic nations are blessed by YHWH. So remember that christians, your god has blessed the Islamic nations! YHWH has a direct plan that unrest continues in the Mid-east, so quit trying to interfere. It is YHWH desire!

Here is also where we see YHWH breaks two promises to Abram. The first is that the land of Canaan will be the property of Abram’s descendants forever. Numerous times Israel lost parts of or all of Canaan in the past. Even at the present time part of Canaan is possessed by the Palestinians. You can put the blame on the Israelites for their sinful nature, but in the end it is YHWH who has not kept his promise. The second is that of making Abram the father of nations. The only nation Abram is the father of is Israel. Only the US is even close to fitting the concept of having a direct link to being founded by descendants of Abram (if you use that christians started the country). All of the European nations were in existence in some shape or form prior to or during the Roman Empire. In the end YHWH has not kept either of these promises to Abram.

This is the place in the Word, and I will follow the lead, where Abram and Sarai name is changed. YHWH changes Abrams name to Abraham. He also changes Sarai name to Sarah. No rational explanation is given as to the point of this name change, but we will take it for what it is, YHWH just likes these names better than the ones given two Abram and Sarai at birth. This name change is a sign of the covenant between YHWH and Abraham, but you would think that an all-knowing, all-powerful creator god would have learned by now that he cannot make covenants with his creation. Look back at the mistake of Adam and Noah, but maybe the third times is the charm!

Posted in Genesis, Readings | Print | 4 Comments »

March 21, 2009, 9:30 am by dc-agape.

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This is my post about the errors that my second “Christian” commenters made.  This comment comes from a post on the Apocryphon of James.

21.  William Cody Bateman |  codybateman.org |

Your theology is terrible!

1. James and Peter, you correctly point out - were not “born of the Spirit” until AFTER Jesus’ ascension to heaven! They knew of Jesus Christ by words and deed but not kept by the Spirit Himself!

2. As the Son of Man (God in flesh) Jesus Christ came to the will of the Father (God the Father). But, He NEVER put off his Godhead as the Son of God! Therefore, it makes absolute sense that, speaking as the Son of Man - He would pray to God the Father and also, do the Father’s will.

3. Both James and Peter were warned by Jesus Christ PRIOR to Pentecost (God the Spirit coming and inpowering them) that they would be persecuted and inventually, put to death - though they were as innocent of any crimes like He, the Son of Man was.

4. Though you use a very liberal interpretation for your scripture references, it doesn’t change the fact that, as followers of Jesus Christ (born-again Christians by the working and indwelling of the Spirit Himself), no man or circumstance can separate them from the Love of God!

5. But, as believers - those adopted by God the Father through the blood of God the Son, Jesus Christ and kept by the power of God the Spirit unto the day of salvation - we are now become the enemies of this world!

6. I would suggest you read Hebrews 10, 11 and Acts 1-3 on these matters.

7. Lastly, those who claim to have been Christians at the start but now, reject Him as the Son of God and the only propiation for sin - were never born of the Spirit to begin with… or as Christ Himself proclaims; “I NEVER knew you!”

I will start with my reply:

21.  William Cody,
I was wondering if Zemanta would have this effect. I noticed a lot of your posts are recommended by Zemanta.

We agree on #1, but the problem is when did Jesus ascend? In the Book of Acts it was 40 days after his resurrection. In the Apocryphon of James (one of two Holy Texts ascribed to the brother of Jesus) it was 150 days. And Jesus did not appear to Paul until 6 months after his resurrection.

In #2, I think the comment that you are referring to is my analogy of YHWH to the head of a corporation, where the little guy (us) is replaceable.

In #3, Pentecost had already arrived when this story occurred. The contradiction is that in one section of the Apocryphon Jesus tells them that they will not be persecuted and then later tells them that they will be persecuted.

In #4, you are forgetting Heb 6:4-6 NIV translation. Followers can fall away, but they can never return! 

In #5, how I wish Christians were enemies to the world. In the US it is the exact opposite. Christians are the world, everyone else is the enemy. Christian control the world, they make the decisions in govt, schools, and even the military. And I thought they were supposed to “turn the other cheek”, “be feed and clothed like the sparrow by God” and “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”.

In #6, how I wish Christians would read Hebrews 10:24, 11:26, and Act 2:42-47. Then I would see TrueChristian(TM).

In #7, I will only say that that is contradicted by Heb 6:4-6 and Luke 19:10 (seeking and save what was lost). Obviously, not everyone was lost or there would have been no need to seek.Please, remember, I am reading from the Nag Hammadi Library, it is not your conical Word of God. I am reading it to see how other Christian sects of the 1st century created and held their beliefs that became heretical.

I will do the same thing in each of these “usual suspect” posts.  I will use 2^nd Tim 3:16 as Paul recommends. I will admit that William Cody Bateman did attempt to do this.  But instead of giving direct verses he recommended reading entire chapters of the NT without emphasis on specific passages.

Let me put some color into what Cody has said.

#1)  The Holy Spirit had not entered James and Peter yet because Jesus had not ascended to heaven.  This boils down to the fact that James and Peter did not have freewill.  Only by having the Holy Spirit would they understand.  If that works for the apostles it must also work for us!

#2)  The passage from the Apocryphon of James describes how the Father does not need the Son and the Son does not need us peons.  But that we little morals have a need for the Son just like the Son need the Father.  This is exactly like Corporate America.  The boss does not need the workers, and thinks that the worker is easily replaced.  Yet to the worker he must please the boss or be fired.  With that analogy we see that Christianity’s concept of freewill is bogus.

#3)  In this section of the Apocryphon of James, Jesus at one point tells the apostles that they will not be persecuted and then he turns around a little later and tells them they will be treated just like he was.  This is a contradiction within only a few rows of each other.  Both statements are attributed to Jesus.  But remember, this is the Apocryphon of James…a Holy Text that was destroyed by “mainline” Christians over 1600 years ago. 

#4) Cody claims that we cannot be separated from YHWH.  Yet this statement is in direct contradiction to:

Heb 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of Man all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

This set of verse is quite clear.  Anyone can fall away from Christianity.  Unless you want to cherry pick which Bible verse you follow.  Then there is this one:

Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.

”So not only does the Word of God make it clear that Cody is wrong, but Jesus himself is quite blunt about the subject.

#5)  I will leave my remarks in my post as enough about Christians being the enemy of the world.  Other than starting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I have seen no proof that American Christians are the enemy to the earth.  Unless, you trust scientist and agree that global warming is real.  Then I can see how Christians are enemies to the earth, but not taking care of it!

#6)  Let’s read some of the chapters that Cody recommends.  Starting with Act, it is a favorite of mine, the whole section is worth are read (Acts 2:42-47), but focus on this:

Acts 2:44-45 All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

You just don’t see that today!  But I sure wish we did.  Instead, we see power corrupt “christians” making bad decisions in business, govt, and education. They are not sharing anything with anyone!

How about the passages from the Book of Hebrews? In chapter 10 we can read about how the author(s) of the Book of Hebrews suggests this:

Heb 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Instead of following this verse, we see “christians” doing the exact opposite.  The Phelps family is a great example, the California Prop #8 is another example.  Both these cases are examples of Christians treating other people with hatred and spurring their own followers to do evil deeds.  In the past “christians” have done the same thing with mixed racial marriages and with slavery.

In a few verses down from that last one we read this:

Heb 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

We certainly do not see many “Christians” following this verse.  How many continue to sin after being “saved”?  How many use the cop-out “it wasn’t deliberate”?  Come on Christians, us Atheist, especially us gay Atheist, need to see some real change.  Otherwise, your religion is a lie.

7) I think I have covered this one well enough.  It’s the old, and moldy, “you just never really knew Jesus” line that the believer will use on any of us that have converted from Christianity to Atheism.  Between my points on freewill and being able to fall away….that just about covers it.

In the end, any comments made on this blog that disagree with a gay Atheist interpretation of the Word of God needs to have some heavy back-up.  That back-up had better be specific verses.  Those verse had better be to the point and clearly not in contradiction to another verse in the Word of God.

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Posted in Comment Policies, The Usual Suspects, Apocryphon of James, Inerrancy - My Ass, correcting, Freewill | Print | 1 Comment »

March 21, 2009, 8:13 am by dc-agape.

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In my posting comment policies I have made it quite clear that anyone who posts should check their references.  Twice this week I have had “Christian” commenters that did not bother to do just that.  I will make two posts about this error.

1.     A strong believer in Christ

We all have a free will God cannot make us do anything, we are the one’s who choose to do evil or good. God has to let us choose for that is why he created us to serve HIM he did not want to force us, so please next time you try to say that someone or something forced you to do something just know that one day we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ alone with no one else to blame but ourselves. May God Bless you and may He show you how to see through your blindness and ignorance.

Can anyone see where this “strong believer” has made three faux pas?  First, this “strong believer” knows nothing about freewill.  Second, this “strong believer” knows nothing about why their god created them.  Lastly, this “strong believer” has made the grave sin of being judgmental.

I will point out the verses where I can back-up these statements.  The concept that YHWH will not force us to do anything is a bunch of bull.  I have pointed out in the past how YHWH played the Pharaoh of Egypt like a puppet (Exodus 10:1).   I have also put it out there that Judas had no choice in betraying Jesus; otherwise the whole plan would collapse (John 13:27-8 and Mat 26:56). In these two verses alone, YHWH has taken freewill away from Judas and from all the other Apostles.  But this verse is the key to “strong believers” first faux pas (read all of John 12:37-41):

John 12:39-40 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, not understand with their hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them.”

Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10.  It is YHWH himself (and Isaiah under orders from YHWH) that is doing the blinding and the deafening.   This in turn, stops Jesus from being able to “heal” some people.  As an aside, Jesus did take liberties with the verse from Isaiah.  Take a closer look at the verb form.  So where is the freewill?  YHWH took it away from the Israelites in Isaiah’s time.  Here Jesus is explaining that YHWH is still doing it.  Why should we believe that YHWH has changed?  There is, in fact verses, which claim he does not change:

James 1:17-18 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

But that was “strong believers” first mistake.  What about the second?  What purpose did YHWH make us for?  Simple as pie, read Genesis 1.  But to be completely specific:

Gen 1:26 then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

This was YHWH purpose for us.  There was no other purpose.  We were not created to “God has to let us choose for that is why he created us to serve HIM”.  There was no thought of “free choice” when YHWH created us.  In fact, I believe it came as a complete surprise to him when Adam and Eve did choose something other than what he wanted.  But that is another topic. 

But the third mistake is the most telling.  “may He show you how to see through your blindness and ignorance” these are the exact word I have used in describing the first mistake.  But that was about YHWH influence on freewill.  No the mistake here was to be judgmental.  I have been called blind and ignorant.  If that is not judgmental, what is?  And what does the Word of God have to say about being judgmental?

Luke 6:37 “do not judge, and you will no be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Jesus goes on to say this:

Luke 6:41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

The third mistake that “strong believer” has just made is to be judgmental.  This shows just how “strong” this persons belief is.  They are the hypocrite that Jesus so despised in his lifetime.  Worse, this “Christian” is attempting to judge a non-believer!

In the end, we see that “strong believer” is mistaken about the strength of their belief.  Otherwise, they would know the proper way to teach, rebuke, correct, and train:

2^nd Tim 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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