Orthodoxy Wins

peacemaker wrote:   Brother Andalus:  I greatly admire your knowledge and mastery over holy Scriptures. I used to visit sometimes your forum on yahoo group, Bismika Allahuma where you were moderator. I don't know if that yahoo group forum exists now. I wanted to visit there some time back, but couldn't. It seems you have a new site now. I wish that brother Menj is fine there. Please convey my regards and Salam to him. Brother, I am happy to see that you would not bring mormonism considering sensitivities of your fellow forum user. If you have any concern, you are always welcome to bring that in this section. Our differences should make us stronger and better Muslims, and I think, that is the purpose behind any difference as far as our very creation is concerned. This is also an opportunity for us all  to reflect as to how our words and behaviour would affect other users, Muslims or non-Muslims. I hope that after strife, there would be peace insha Allah. May Allah guide us all. Peace

Assalam Aleikum!

I guess we have crossed paths before!

Menj is doing fine! And I will send him your greetings. He has started a new forum http://www.noorullah.org that will reflect a different "environment" that will be more appealing to Muslims. He has just started it off. The bismikallahuma yahoo site is still there but there is not debate any more. There has been a pattern in the last few years of Muslims receding from the debate forums so many of the past sites that had decent discussions are now dead, except for Christians who seem to have endless zeal for rhetoric. The site that is in the link in my signature is a double edged sword. The site uses miminum moderation and puts Islam out for criticism. This has produced some hot topic debate, and it has also turned off some Muslims who feel that moderation should censor more often. I am a mod there as well and sometimes it takes all of my will to let some things go. There are some really smart non-Muslims out there who have put together really solid arguments against Islam, and usally they use material from certain "websites" that promote "Science in the Quran", or "dime store theology", which looks great to new comers in Islam, but have serious flaws. I am currently putting together something that deals with the notion of "Science in the Quran" refuting a fowl indivdual who has a complete hate and disdain for Muslims. My piece will also correct the "innovation" of 20th century Muslims who insist on interpreting the Quran through the latest scientific theories and fads. I think I am digressing.

The forum in my signature brings in some of the riff raff that cannot make it into the other Islamic sites, and so the site is not for the faint of heart. I will say that it is more open to ideas regardless of how critical they are when compared to the forums of other faiths. The

  http://www.noorullah.org  site is going to be more controlled and have stricter rules, with tighter moderation. It will be an environment more appealing to the average Muslim. I will be moderating there as well in the near future, insha"allah. You and all else are welcome to both sites, but understand that the bismikallahuma site can be raw and the noorullah site is very new so participaiton is just taking off. Thank you for your completments, that is very kind of you. I am sorry about the "riff raff" I seemed to have started with my interest in Mormon theology.

assalam aleikum, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh   

I figured I should respond Andalus.  Just because you are not easily offended does not mean that others are not.  I do not like to see my faith mocked, picked apart and ridiculed.  I am the only Mormon on this board, therefore, any post about Mormons is a personal one because I'm the only one left to defend my faith.  It would be like grabbing poor sister amah and sticking her in the middle of a Southern Baptist Missionary Convention by herself.  Though she would be able to express her beliefs, she would eventually feel the pressure and the hurt from no one respecting her beliefs.  Here's the first point that I have a problem with....the insistance of Non Mormons to pull out the deeper and more obsure doctrines without understanding the basic tenets of the faith......we have a saying.  You must have the milk before you can have the meat.  If you don't understand the basics, then you'll never understand the deeper doctrines.  Secondly, Non Mormons never "get it" when it comes to things like Kolob and Eternal Progression.  So there is no point in discussing them on a Non Mormon site.  Thirdly, not everyone here is here to discuss their own religion.  If I wanted to talk about Mormonism, I would be on my Latter Day Gospel website with my Mormon friends.  Instead, I'm here to learn about Islam.  I joined a Jewish site for the same reason. (Oh, Moderators, I just wanted to say, I was more welcomed here than there....they were actually quiet rude from question one and I only said I was Christian.....so there is one thing to be happy about, you are more welcoming than some sites)

I'm not here to evangelize.  There are plenty of Mormon sanctioned websites you could find your answers on...there are plenty of books I could tell you to read.  This is not a Mormon site.  Its Muslim site.....so its completely inappropriate to start picking part the faith of someone who was here to learn about yours.

Lastly, I cannot stay here if this is the way things are going to be.  When someone feels the need (Christian or Muslim) to start picking apart what they feel is wrong in my faith, then its becomes a hostile place for me.  When I ask a question about Islam, its not to pick it apart its to understand.  I'm not here to be proven wrong and its disrupting the boards everytime a new post is placed up.  I love the Ummah here.  I love the knowledge they have brought me.  I cannot continue to be a source of discord on this site.  As long as my presence remains here.  There will be Mengs, Athanasius' and Andalus' picking at my faith and not respecting my different viewpoint.  I've never asked anyone to believe.....just understand that I am different.  Since people are seemingly incapable of leaving me alone...I don't really have a choice.  Khadija, Herjihad, Mishmish, Amah, Salman, Peacemaker and others, thank you so much that you care.  But you shouldn't have to have the headaches because of the bigotry towards my religion.  Its not fair to you.  I am Mormon, I get this all the time.  You shouldn't have to deal with it.

Next time Andalus, when there is a lone member of a faith here, perhaps you should ask if they feel comfortable discussing their faith before you go and post a thread on something you have no understanding in regards to. 

Angela

Dear Angela,

I'm very sorry I didn't have the opportunity of conversing with you.  I have been here for just the past few days, but I was here frequently in past years.  I first joined in 2001.  I, too, am here to learn more about Islam.  And I'm rather a loner myself.  I am Catholic.  There, that's enough to make many people begin to mumble and shudder.  But that's what I am called to and believe in.

I know some of Mormonism....my cousin and her husband are Mormons, and one of my best friends is Mormon.  I have the greatest respect for them, and have always known them to be among the most peaceful, devoted, compassionate, and highly family valued persons on earth. 

If you could possibly see fit to remain here for awhile longer, I would really like to have the possibility of talking with you.  I'm sure this would greatly please our Heavenly Father, don't you think?

God's Peace Always,

Patty