The Sin of Idolatry

Thank you, Israfil.  Very good post.  (My husband is an artist, and I know he was born with this creative gift.  Pictures he had drawn of cowboys on their horses when he was only 6 years old look like a drawing done by an adult.)

Gods' Peace.

Muslima:  up to this point, I have, with increasing ongoing and daily difficulty, restrained myself from responding to your ever growing posts (160 something in 10 days - get a life woman!), but now I can keep quiet no longer.  No, I'm not Muslim, I disagree with almost everything you have written (and by that token you may happily send me to hell - at least I'll have chance to talk with intelligent and open-minded people.  Really, I don't mind. I believe in God, and you know what?  God believes in me!).  We have all been too polite on this forum to tell you what we really think (and wouldn't you just love it if I did!)  Your posts are counter to every attempt at bridge building I have ever learned - and it is for that very reason I joined this forum, as has just about everyone else whose posts I have read here in the last three weeks, (just two more weeks have I  been here than you!)  I, at least have had the respect to listen to those who have had this interaction much longer than you have. What kind of affrontery barges its way to the front and pushes aside those who through respect and conflict and open interlocution have achieved a genuine respect for each other regardless of their differencies. I am appalled at your effrontery! To the topic (one of the many you have pushed you way into:  Daniel Dworsky take note): Every religion makes a mistake in trying to show an image of the Divine.  How can we?  How dare we? I agree. Just as we hold ourselves in jeopardy when we try to put a divine message into words.  Language is man's construct - and forgive me please, my other Muslim friends, but I am really angry at this point - when we put images into human language we are limited by those words, and then have to qualify and justify them, (and what happens when we attemptto translate them!  Even worse - I don't know about translations of the Qur'an, but we sure have twisted a lot of points in the New Testament - lost in translation, and how to rectify it?) and I wouldn't be surprised if the Messenger Mohammad (whom I grow to respect more and more each and every day I am on this Forum) knew those limitations. But how else to bring God's word to us? And how we have sullied it with out interpretations and additions!

Read the Tao te Ching:  "He who speaks, does not know: he who knows does not speak".  And why not? Puny Human Language!

Yet, I am forced to speak.  I chose my Forum name carefully: "She who tells the truth but whom no-one believes."  Cursed by Apollo for rejecting his advances.

Yes, there will be those of you who will vote me off.  I don't care!  I have achieved what I set out to do, or if I have not.....well, that's another story, and perhaps a sad one.  I have learned much, and in a short period have learned to love many:  Herjihad, Lameesh, Angela, Patty, and Mishmish....what you have taught me will stay with me forever!  But I am tired of this "Muslima" who is totally incapable of seeing anything outside of her own, sad, limited, and unfulfilled world.

I have described myself elsewhere as a Happy Heretic:  No, Patty, you and I would have a lot to disagree with but I respect your beliefs: Angela, you are wonderful, and although I could never be a Mormon I have known some and I resect you enormously:  Herjihad:  I think we may be twins (never mind other "twin" conspiracy theories!), Mishmish, you have made me think in a short time more deeply than my Philosophy professors made me do in 7 years! 

Right, Cassandra has taken several deep breaths, and will never respond to Muslima again.  I advise you to think otherwise before she undermines you all!

Whatever your views, please PM me, if you like.  This woman has had enough attention already

P.S. It's the end of term.  I have desperate kids and Mums on my doorstep worried whether they will be accepted into next year  Important on a global scale?  Not if Bush gets his way.  But for me, yes.  This is time I don't have, but having had my say, I consider it well spent.  Moderators, "estoy a sus ordenes."

  -  Cassandra, somewhere in Spain ( and happy as a clam!)

 

Muslima wrote: But the pictures of Jesus are always the ones of a white blond man with blue eyes.... STAFELLAH!

Part of the reason Jesus is depicted as he is (in all cultures) is that as we were made in the image and likeness of God, we depict him as ourselves.  Look at Caravaggio, Rembrandt, etc - all depictions were made as contemporaries. 

Wouldn't you find it more objectionable if we were to depict Jesus as how he really looked?  Personally, I think he looked like Arafat

Israfil said:

"However as it is socially taught around the world, to have lighter skin is to be more bautific than having darker skin...."

Really?  I've never thought that.  Since I originally came from Londonderry, Ireland, I have blond hair and blue eyes.  I get a terrible sunburn if I'm out long!  Even when I was a little girl I always felt the dark complexioned people were the beautiful ones.

I don't care if Jesus is green and purple....His teachings are what matters.  Not  His looks. 

(I guess we're all beautiful in God's sight.)

God's Peace.