@ ALM
1. Were you joking about "19-ologist" approach being less valid than any other personal, honest approach? If not, then why is it any less valid, can it not be personal and honest as much as any other understanding of the Koran? After all, a personal interpretation implies no final authority, no outside rules (e.g. a rule of no 19-ers). Don't you think that if a million interpretations are allowed equal status, this leads to religion being a personal thing, rather than having a role to play in community?
Was I joking? Yes. Do I believe all interpretations are equally honest? no.
2. Was your story cute? - No.
That was expected.
Did it answer my question? - No.
This one wasn’t. Here’s a direct answer: God simply makes it possible for 8 angels to carry the throne. In fact, God doesn’t need any angels, all He has to say is Be! And it becomes! Being a creator, He chooses to create angels capable of carrying His throne. Think of those able angels as God’s “Be!”.
What I can't understand? - 8 is a definite number and I have no reason to believe that angels would be infinite if they existed. You say God is infinite... Wait, we also can't understand infinity... Never mind then.
OFF TOPIC: do you think it’s impossible for every single angel, to be infinite, assuming angels existed?
Back to topic: See above.
So what do you not understand about my question: God sends people a message; the message is limited in size, not infinite;
Indeed, God even says in the Quran, that not even endless Seas of Ink can be sufficient for all His words.
why then fill it with cryptic puzzles and repetitions,
I personally believe the (main) message of the Quran can probably be summarized in 5 (five) pages. All else is indeed basically repetition (and imagery). So one would expect after
all this repetition, people would finally get it and at least do one thing right: worship no deity, besides the creator. How many Muslims can grasp this simple command? I’d say exceedingly few. Assuming they’re not worshipping other deities, the majority of Muslims are actually busy worshipping themselves. With repition, in different contexts, using different stories and images, makes it hard to deny
the message was vague.
instead of useful advice that people could have implemented for 1400 years already?
Like who should be leading, after Muhammed? And after, after Muhammed? Shall it also address all their possible future problems, basically babysitting them all the way through?
Would it not be a better guidance?
Yeah, but only if that was the purpose of Quran. The Quran, as I view it, is mainly a book giving a limited glimpse on the nature of God. It’s a book that attempts to define God, and man’s relationship to God. Sure, there are all those verses about divorce, war, rituals, etc, but they’re not many.
Would it not make the ummah more blessed?
No, not necessarily. If the “ummah” is so divided regarding as simple a command as worshipping only God, then I can’t see why one should be optimistic they would have been better off if they received commands on future living related issues.
Would it not show clearly the difference between the straight path and error (i.e. non-Islam)?
No, not necessarily, people basically believe what they want to believe.
3. Was I sarcastic about a rock? - Yes. I do believe you started the shit.
let’s just say, I wasn’t sarcastic. So I didn’t start this shit, you did.
4. Sure.
That’s generous of you!
Topic: Hi from on the fence muslim