Difficulties in debating Islam

[inhumility]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

I have recently been researching on the topic of Muhammads' life and the origins of Islam. I find myself with many questions I would like to debate but find that I am reluctant and unsure how to go about this without offending Muslims. Do others here feel this same 'intimidation', for thats what I feel it to be, and find like me that this is unique to Islam?

Sir
You are welcome to discuss any such quetsions with me ,I am an Ahmadi a faith in Islam, we believe in peaceful dialgue with others rather encourage it.God willing there will be know difficulties.

[bob x]

The violent reactions that we see so often are not, I think, intrinsic so much to Islam as to the particular historical situation of "wounded pride" that the Islamic world finds itself in. It is like the old history of China, which became the greatest ancient civilization in the world and froze up solid, proud of what it was, so that it remained the greatest ancient civilization long after the rest of the world had moved on. Just so, Islam was the greatest medieval civilization in the world, and froze up solid, still remaining the greatest medieval civilization in the world.

[Light]

I have recently been researching on the topic of Muhammads' life and the origins of Islam. I find myself with many questions I would like to debate but find that I am reluctant and unsure how to go about this without offending Muslims. Do others here feel this same 'intimidation', for thats what I feel it to be, and find like me that this is unique to Islam?

Tao, I am deeply saddened with your experience and perception you're facing in researching one of the greatest human being every lived. However, at the same time, I am enlightened by your thought process. You are genuinely researching the life of Muhammad (pbuh) and Islam and the difficulty that you mentioned not only display your outmost respect to Islam such that you are worried that your question may become offensive. Well, I am here to give you some good news...

1) Islam encourages people to ask questions.
2) Islam command all its followers to gain knowledge. What is better way of gaining knowledge than asking question?
3) In fact in the life of Muhammad (pbuh), Muhammad (pbuh) was even corrected by Allah when at one time he ignored a man who approaches him to ask questions about Islam while he (pbuh) was in discussion with a group of noble people.

Now, you may asked, why then do you feel reluctant in asking certain questions as you feel unsure how to go about presenting them. Not a problem, state your intention, you level of knowledge on Islam and your current research.

If you still feel reluctant, you may approach anyone of us in the Islam Board personally and we will try to answer them as to our ability. If we can't we will definitely direct you to someone who can or we help to find the answer and present it to you.

May God make it easy for you in the research.

[Victor]

Tao_Equus, Et Al:
An interesting dialogue here. I surely do not hold myself out to be an expert on Islam, but I have had conversation with several members of the Atlanta Mosque, along with the Imam, and I have had no difficulty in finding adequate dialogue. This, of course, was several years ago but nothing appears to have changed.

Might I suggest, especially for those of Christian sects a reading into the Qu’ran, Surah 3 (Chapter 3) concerning the events involving Mary, Elizabeth, Zachariah, and Anna, Mary’s mother. Also the, Book of Miriam (Mary). The third chapter is alive with Christian doctrine, including the virgin birth, not only of Jesus, but also of Mary through her mother Anna. I believe a loose translation indicates that it was necessary for Mary to be pure in order to give birth to, Messiah! I am dumbfounded that more Christians have not paid attention to the disclosures made by the prophet’s (pbuh) meditations.

As an Evangelical Lutheran, church traditions allow enormous freedom in our discoveries into ancient and new text. I conduct a Sunday class of scholars, an out of the ordinary group of seven who are hungry to discover the ‘word’ in our congregation (and I have to scurry to keep up with them), while our most volatile associates, The Missouri Synod, here in our area are dire fundamentalists. You may not stray from the written word.

Perhaps it is not so much the religion itself that is difficult, but rather the individuals who have responded to your inquiries. Inhumility on this site, has been open and quite willing to discuss matters, and at length. (LOL)

brucedgc notes a difficulty in discussing the divinity of Christ and I would again suggest that it is not the religious belief on the subject, but the people responding to his inquiry. This, in itself, would require an inordinate amount of time as the discussion involves revolution in the church between Jewish and Gentile Christians, and suggests at least two centuries involved in getting from Jesus to a divine sonship.

In fact, Paula Christianson, has an enormously good study, "From Jesus to Christ"! A very good read… Divinity was never attributed to Jesus in the early church, but that discourse is not relevant here; and believe me, you can really get some hostile responses on this topic! The point is to find someone (or several someones) who have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topic to engage in an agreeable discussion.

As often as not those who take offense, and I mean none to anyone, do not have sufficient knowledge to respond in a meaningful manner.

I Am, as always,
Victor G

[inhumility]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

I have recently been researching on the topic of Muhammads' life and the origins of Islam. I find myself with many questions I would like to debate but find that I am reluctant and unsure how to go about this without offending Muslims. Do others here feel this same 'intimidation', for thats what I feel it to be, and find like me that this is unique to Islam?

Hi
Sir
You had certain questions about Islam, and finding difficulties from Muslims to answer the same. I though don't debate with anybody, as confrontational debates usually only creates hatred ; yet I would be pleased to discuss such issues which you have in your mind. I offered myself previously also but there are no questions coming , may be you got the answers. If no ,my offer is still there.
Thanks
I am an Ahmadi - a faith in Islam

[Caimanson]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

All very true Flow, and any Prophet today would immediately be diagnosed as schitzophrenic and put on mind sapping medication.

Maybe a lot of them were psychologically imbalanced, who knows?

[Victor]

Well, we have had our say concerning difficulties in discussing questions about Islam, now what are the questions? Isn't it time to begin our education rather than discussing how difficult it might be? This could be a great deal easier than one might imagine!

I Am, as always.
Victor G