The Christian Bible teaches: [Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:"] This is taught repeatedly elsewhere in the Bible.
I try to talk to Christians about their use symbols (The cross, the "fish sign" which I believe is pagan and taken from Dagon, the god of the ancient Philistines and other symbols) which were never used in Christianity in the beginning and which I reject.
I compare the modern common Christian practice with that of Islam today which generally shuns such things, but there is one exception: The Crescent moon. In this they rub my nose.
I have been told that Islam does not even allow re-productions of their Prophet (indeed the first thing he did upon entering in victory to Mecca was to smash the graven idols!).
I have heard that the Muslim diety (I do not want to offend by using his name) is the ancient "moon god" of the Arabs, although I suspect that this is not true and I have read the post in this section of the forum which refutes that.
Why are you christians using "J" instead of "Y" in many of your names?.....
eg: John, Jesus, Jasmin(use Yasmin), Jacob(use Yakub), Joseph(use Yousuf).....
Use Y for easy/correct pronunciation.....
Last edited by Abdul-Raouf; 11-01-2006 at 05:49 PM.
Brother Woodrow, as an Ex-Christian convert to Islam, can you tell me why Christians worship idols of Isa/Jesus (PBUH) even though the Old Testament forbids idolatry?
My former Christian beliefs were as a Roman Catholic. In my younger days I was very devout and did all the expected Catholic stuff from Catechism classes to CYO and later Knights of Columbus.
At no time did I ever worship any statues or was told or instructed to. The Catholic Churches are the Churches people refer to when talking about statues. Although the Protestant and fundamentalistic denominations accuse catholics of worshipping statues they don't. The statues are simply art work and/or physical representations of people worth modeling your life after. Catholics do believe that Saints in Heaven are able to hear the living so Catholics do talk to saints, but they do not worship them.
While I was Catholic I used to think it was rediculous that people believed Catholics worshipped statues. My reverting to Islam was for many reasons but none of the reasons had to do with alleged worship of statues.
Did anybody notice that all great religions turn their prophets/holy people into idols and eventually gods? Look at Krishna in Hinduism, Jesus (peace be upon him) in Catholicism and you have Buddha statues in Buddhism. I'm glad the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade any physical representation of him in the form of idols, portaraits etc.
Muslim are not the only people to call God(swt) Allah(swt) the same word is used by Arab speaking Christians. Various forms of it are used by the Coptics and Jews. The early Aramaic speaking Christians also used it. Remember, Isa(Jesus) (a.s.) and his disciples spoke Aramaic and they used the Aramaic spelling of Allah(swt) when speaking of God(swt). Some of the early Christian words were based on it. You ever wonder about the origin of Hallalujah.
Can i just add...if the name Allah was referring to a 'moon God' it would never have been mentioned in the Guru Granth Sahib - Sikh sacred book.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Did anybody notice that all great religions turn their prophets/holy people into idols and eventually gods? Look at Krishna in Hinduism, Jesus (peace be upon him) in Catholicism and you have Buddha statues in Buddhism. I'm glad the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade any physical representation of him in the form of idols, portaraits etc.
YES! - I've noticed this too, and i'm glad Sikhs don't do this as this would be be against what Guru Nanak Ji taught
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
My former Christian beliefs were as a Roman Catholic. In my younger days I was very devout and did all the expected Catholic stuff from Catechism classes to CYO and later Knights of Columbus.
At no time did I ever worship any statues or was told or instructed to...
I understand. I have seen photo's of people kissing the feet of statues (one was a statue of "Jupiter", renamed "Peter") and this seems to be a form of worship to me.
I find it interesting that graven images were forbidden in the 10 commandments and the "Protestant" sector of the faith bristles at this practice in the Roman Church, yet many "Protestant Churches" have displayed a painting (image) said to represent Jesus (whose likeness we do not know) and which follow many other practices ("Sunday" worship etc.) which began in the Roman Church anyway.
The fingers of judgment always seem to point away from the pointers. I would also like to note that idolatry does not need an image to be practiced. If the true faith given in the teachings (Bible) we have were followed, we would be too busy judging ourselves to avoid eternal condemnation, having no time to judge others.
As one popular song once put it "Minding other peoples business seems to be "high tone", but I've got all that I can do just minding my own..."
I am not accusing you of these practices Woodrow, but what is called Chrisendom worldwide.
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