Jannah, Jahannam-2 stages of Mankind by AY Mol
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Jannah, Jahannam-2 stages of Mankind
by AY MolNote Footnotes are numbered and given in Italics.
This is an excerpt taken from the essay http//deenrc.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/quranic-cosmology-a-short-introduction-by-ay-mol-f.pdf.
The Quran uses 2 distinct definitions that describe the state of Man. Jannah and Jahannam. Jannah means a Garden with so much growth, the ground is not seen 1 and thus it refers to being in a state of existence where Man has all it needs to survive and develop, it is in a state of growth and development. The word Jahannam derives from an old valley south-east of Jerusalem. Jahannam comes from the Hebrew "gi-hinnom" which means "Valley of Hinnom." People, especially children, used to be sacrificed there to idols. Later, the valley was used as an execution ground for criminals. Bodies and clothing of those dying of a contagious disease, were burned there. In Jesus' time it was still used for burning the rubbish and garbage of Jerusalem 2. This in itself gives the idea that Jahannam is a metaphor for a state of a stagnant existence with no development. It describes the state of existence where no means for survival and development are present and thus Man is in a state of stagnation, its potentials are burned up and wasted just as the garbage in the old valley.
1 Page 104-105 under the root Janna. Dictionary of the Holy Quran by Abdul Mannar Omar, 2006 4th edition. Page 35, Exposition of the Holy Quran, Mafhum Al-Quran by G.A. Parwez. 1990. He quotes 2 dictionaries A garden of dates and grapes was called "Jannah"; if a garden had other fruit-trees, but not those of dates and grapes, then it was called Hadeeqa (Taj). Raghib says that every garden whose ground could not be seen because of under-growth of bushes was called Jannah.
2 Page 32. Exposition of the Holy Quran, Mafhum Al-Quran by G.A. Parwez. 1990. See also page 72 explanation on Jahannam. Al-Quran, A Contemporary Translation by Ahmed Ali, 2001 9th edition. Page 114 Volume 2. Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, based on Taj-Ul-Roos, 2003 2nd reprint. Page 116 Biblical Dictionary by prof. Snijders, 2nd edition 2005. "Gehenna is taken from the Hebrew gee hinnoom, valley of Hinnom, a sinister area south of Jerusalem, where children and other things were burn-offerings to the god Moloch (2 Chron; Jer 731)." Page 476 under Gehenna Encyclopedie van de wereldreligies, deel I, 2006. Translated from Dutch into English Greek name of Gehinnom, the dwelling of the damned, south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Jeremia in 2 Chronicles 2310 as the valley where children-sacrifices were given to Molech. After the destruction of Jerusalem (587 BCE), the valley was also named Murdervalley. After which the word also gained next to its topographic meaning, also an eschatological meaning as place of punishment.
This is caused by war, poverty, illiteracy and so on. A garden is always the result of the work of Man, just as a garbage dump is also the result of Man. In this way the Qur'an presents Jannah as a state of evolution of the individual and society, and Jahannam as a state of non-evolution wherein both individual and society do not develop.
3133 Move forward eagerly to the tranquil security that comes from your Lord, and to the Paradise that transcends spatial boundaries, encompassing the Heavens and the Earth. It has already been prepared for those who live upright. (Paradise is not confined to the Heavens. Like Hell, it begins right here in this worldly life).
1697 Whoever, whether male or female, does works that help others and is a believer, We shall certainly cause them to live a good life, and We shall grant them the rewards considering the best of their actions.
4131 We are close to you in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. In it (in your paradise on the Earth and in the Hereafter) you shall have all that you may desire and in it you shall have all that you ever prayed for.
These 2 descriptions are used to describe the state of Man in this phase and the next phase of the Universe. In this phase Jannah describes Man when it has complete freedom and has enough nourishment to live, it has housing, food, lives in peace and has access to explore the workings of nature. It is always in a state of struggle to maintain this state of existence as this is part of the law of Evolution (Jihad means to struggle).
2278 And strive hard (jahidu) for Allah with the endeavour which is right.
In the Quran, a perfect society is explained as having running water
743 There will be no such feelings amongst the dwellers of Earthly and heavenly Paradise wherein streams will flow.
Today, a level a society is in is judged on its sewage system and its offering of fresh water to every household. All of mankind has housing and substance and people can travel the world freely and is welcomed everywhere with peace
1962 There they will not hear any vain discourse, but only salutations of Peace. And therein they will have their sustenance day and night.
7614 Pleasant shades close upon them and clusters of fruits reach them low.
3920 But those who are mindful of their Lord, for them are lofty and honorable mansions built for them with rivers flowing beneath. This is Gods promise. Never does God fail His promise.
In this state of a perfect world society, Man can fully realize all its potentials and explore and spread out over the Universe.
Umrah = Visit to a place on Earth or other planets which is uninhabited, to colonize it, develop it, populate it and to build a sustaining system in such a way so it can survive till the end of time. 3
3 Page 387 under the root Amara. Dictionary of the Holy Quran by Abdul Mannar Omar, 2006 4th edition. Page 438-442 Volume 5. Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, based on Taj-Ul-Roos, 2003 2nd reprint. They give To inhabit, dwell, mend, repair/revive, tend, build, promote, cultivate, make habitable, to make better, to develop, populate, to serve/uphold/observe/regard, to visit, to colonize, aimed at it, frequently visit, a visit in which is the cultivation of love/affection, repairing to an inhabited place. Perform a sacred visitation, minor pilgrimage, pilgrimage with fewer rites. to remain alive (save life), to live, life, age, long-life, old-age.
It is realizing its reason for existence. It is not always possible for every person to live under these circumstances, and so the Law of Evolution judges you only on how you have used the possibilities you have gotten and how you have used your potentials with those limited possibilities. It judges you on your potential of beneficence to mankind as a species.
2361-62 It is those who race with one another to improve the quality of life for humanity, and it is those who are worthy of winning good things. We do not burden any human being with more than he or she is able to bear. And with Us is a Record that speaks the truth (about what you can and cannot do). And so, none shall be wronged.
Mankind on its time on Earth has developed several different understandings of Nature and the nature of Allah as it has complete free will (1829, 2792). As most of these beliefs are not based on evidence but on conjecture or man-made lies by the priesthood to sustain the ruling classes, almost every group on Earth has different beliefs. This creates divisions among themselves, plus it makes them follow man-made understandings which will not help them in their development, and many times these belief-systems will clash. This was one of the reasons to teach Man about the true nature of Allah and the Universe, to unite Man and to make them approach reality in the correct way. To believe in a trinity or a multitude of gods or powers, or to believe in mythical creatures means you base your beliefs not on proof as demanded (3191, 1736), but on man-made books and legends. Thus you follow your ancestors blindly. This also means you will not go beyond your ancestors, thus you do not develop, you are in Jahim.
Jahim means fire, barrier, to stop something from acting or journeying 4, and explains a state of human existence which does not progress as a person or society.1736 And you shall not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, Sight, and the faculty of reasoning. (And so, the insane and the disabled will have their incapacities taken into account in a court of law)
4 Exposition of the Holy Quran, Mafhum Al-Quran by G.A. Parwez. 1990. It quotes the dictionaries Aj-Hama 'Anhu means he got stopped. Al-Jahh-Amo means a miser who stops all the wealth from circulating (Taj). Jahama means the fire bursts into flames. The Holy Quran has used Al-Jaheem in the meaning of Jahannam (44/47, 37/55-64-6. The Holy Quran has also described the result of misdeeds as the torturing fire. As the fire burns everything, so the bad deeds burn the human personality and stop its growth. Page 20 Volume 2, Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, based on Taj-Ul-Roos, 2003 2nd reprint. It gives To kindle a fire, make to burn, burn up, burn brightly or fiercly, open the eye, to abstain/refrain/desist/forbear, advance or go forward, recede or draw back , near to destroying or killing, burn with vehemence of desire/covetousness and niggardliness, straitened in disposition, tenacious or stingy, blazing or flaming, vehemently hot.
2122 If there were other powers besides God, there would have been chaos in both, the heavens and Earth. Glorified is God, the Lord of Supreme Control, above all that they contrive.
506 Do they not look at the sky above them how We have built it and beautified it, and there are no flaws therein?
2119 Lo! We have sent you, O Prophet, with the Decisive Truth, a herald of glad tiding and a Warner. And you will not be held accountable for those who choose to stay behind in Jahim.
The whole Universe is based on evolution, not the law of the fittest, but the law on what will make your own species develop further (1317). Many biologists have in my eyes misunderstood evolution as the law of the strongest, but the Quran displays it is the law of the most beneficial to the species.
A mushrikeen 5, meaning those that uphold partners in authority next to God, are people that base most of their beliefs on traditions that do not contribute to mankind as a whole and give a distorted view on reality. They make their forefathers, priests and rulers authorities that run their daily affairs. The universal law of evolution judges people on their deeds (11117), as long as a people contributes to society, their beliefs and traditions are no obstacles, but in the long run they will as we have seen throughout history. An example, most Christians uphold capitalism as their economic system, a completely man-made economic system, the Gospel does not provide a guide on economics, so they have to turn to other sources. Capitalism in its present form is an unfair system that does not help mankind as it abuses the majority for the good of a minority. This is how their beliefs creates obstacles in the development of mankind as a whole.
5 Page 265-267 Volume 4, Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, based on Taj-Ul-Roos, 2003 2nd reprint. It gives under Shirk Making associate/partner with Allah, to make a sharer or associate.
As long as mankind, doesnt matter if the person is Buddhist, Sectarian Muslim (almost all Muslim sects mix the Qur'anic message with man-made sources and thus distort the Qur'anic goals in most cases), Christian, Hindu, Agnostic or Atheist, base their system completely on man-made beliefs and systems, it will contain flaws as most of these beliefs and systems are discriminating to other beliefs or races, limited in its scope and vision and it goals mostly create short term benefits for a specific group, while the rest is left out. Thus they are not beneficial to mankind and its development as no man-made system provides the answers and solutions to Mans problems in a way which will provide mankind as a whole. This is why the Qur'an says Shirk is the only thing God cannot give you any protection over, Ghafara (4116). As accepting authorities next to the Qur'an means you will follow ideas and beliefs which will not make you successful as a species and society, and as we have free will (1829), we must decide ourselves if we accept God's protection which we can attain by following His guidelines in the Qur'an. Thus God cannot protect us against the harmful consequences of Shirk since this falls under our own free will.
Mankind can only develop into one world nation when it allows diversity of belief and thinking, thus a secular democratic system. Where every person is equal and where a fair economic and social system is present and where people are addressed according to their deeds and potential, not on their beliefs, race or family. Secularism doesn't necessarily mean a government not based on religion, it is a government that does not discriminate between its people, whatever their beliefs, race and so on. Also its law system must be practical and fair. As no religion contains these neutral values in its entirety and in a practical, usable in the modern age form, secularism is seen as not based on a religion or Divine scripture. But the Qur'an does contain these neutral, progressive, secular values in its entirety as it doesn't prefer one group above the other. It urges mankind to accept another and work together towards justice and fairness for all
11116-117 But, Alas! Among the generations before your time, only a few were virtuous enough to discourage disorder in the land. We saved those few, whereas those who continued to violate human rights only pursued material riches. And they were guilty of stealing the fruit of others labor (and they were requited). Your Developer, Rabb, never destroys a community for wrong beliefs alone as long as its people are Muslihoon, reformers, setting right their own, and one anothers condition. 6
6 Page 438-439 Volume 4, Arabic-English Lexicon by Edward William Lane, based on Taj-Ul-Roos, 2003 2nd reprint. It gives under Salaha To make whole sound, set things right, amendment, reformation, reformer, one who is upright, righteous, a person of integrity, peacemaker, suitable. As the commentary shows, this verse completely destroys the concept of religion as the law of God judges deeds not beliefs. What is an important note, is that beliefs create deeds. So without the correct vision on reality, eventually a people will fall into wrong deeds. This is why God sends Revelation. QXP Commentary As we have seen, Islam is not a religion consisting merely of a set of some dogmas, rites and rituals. It is Ad-Deen, the Divinely Prescribed Collective Way of Life. Allama Muhammad Asad, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Allama Inayatullah Khan Al-Mashriqi et al are in complete agreement with the meaning of this verse 11117 as translated here.
Dr. Shabbir gives an important comment on the above verses
The Quran is consistent in its theme that people will be rewarded for what they do (Yamaloon), and not for what they know (Yalamoon). The Book stresses on the right belief system, for, people are strongly influenced in their behavior by what they think and believe. This is one of the most revolutionary verses in the Quran. It throws out all dogmatic assertions that are the hallmark of a religion.
2256 There is absolutely no compulsion or coercion in Religion.
954 Indeed, We have created the human being in the best design.
1770 Surely, We have conferred dignity, and have honoured all the descendants of Man (as a birth right, regardless of where the child is born), and provided them with transport on land and sea and given them decent things of life. And We have favored the humans far above a great many of Our creation.
20118-119 Indeed, you are living the life of Paradise (on this very Earth) where you are guaranteed never to go hungry, nor go unsheltered. Neither do you go thirsty, nor are you exposed to the burning sun.
6132 The ranks of all individuals and nations are determined solely by their deeds, and your Lord is not unaware of what they do.
2177 But righteousness is that And that he gives of his cherished wealth to
- Family and relatives, Orphans, Widows, Those left helpless in the society, And those whose hard-earned income fails to meet their basic needs, Those whose running businesses have stalled, The ones who have lost their jobs, Whose life has stalled for any reason, The disabled, The needy wayfarer, son of the street, the homeless, the one who travels to you for assistance, Those who ask for help, and Those whose necks are burdened with any kind of bondage, oppression, crushing debts and extreme hardship of labor.
5119 And in their wealth was the Divinely ordained right of those who ask and those who are deprived.
2275 On the other hand those who eat Riba (usury), in greed of money, run around like someone who has been bitten by a snake. They claim that trade is like usury. But God has permitted trade and forbidden usury. One to whom the clear Admonition has come from his Sustainer, must abstain from taking usury forthwith. What he has taken in the past, he may keep and his judgment rests with God. As for him who returns to usury, such are the companions of the fire wherein they shall abide.
If people want real beneficence for mankind, they should look for something that truly benefited mankind as a whole. But most are only busy with personal salvation or gain as this is what their current beliefs tell them to pursue.
6116 (People will confront you with what the majority is doing.) Now if you pay heed to, or get intimidated by majority of those who live on Earth, they will lead you astray from Gods way. Most of the people follow nothing but conjecture and they only live by guesswork.
11109 Be not in doubt about the end of those who worship idols in any Form . They only blindly follow their forefathers. They and their forefathers will get their due portion according to Our law.
This is also why many Muslims reject the Quranic System, as it doesn't support personal salvation as its goal, but universal development.
Mankind lives under man-made laws and systems and thus does not really develop and constantly end up in a state of Jahannam, a place of no growth, a place of destruction of the human Self.
4115 One who opposes the messenger, dissents and treads contrary to the way of the believers, after the guidance has been made plain to him, We shall let him continue in his chosen direction, and expose him to Jahannam, the state of non-evolution, a miserable destination.
When we do not develop in this life, we will also not develop in the Next Life as this life will create the foundation for the next. You are judged on how benefiting you were to mankind and its development as a whole. Not just your good deeds to single persons here and there, but on your position and contribution to mankind as a whole. As the reason for our existence is to develop ourselves
11119 Save him on whom your Developer of all your stages of evolution has given His Rahma, His providing you with all the means to develop; and for that He did create them.
2361-62 It is those who race with one another to improve the quality of life for humanity, and it is those who are worthy of winning good things. We do not burden any human being with more than he or she is able to bear. And with Us is a Record that speaks the truth (about what you can and cannot do). And so, none shall be wronged.
4146 Whoever does good to others, does good to his own self, and whoever causes imbalance in the lives of others, hurts his own self. Your Lord is never unjust to His servants.
Just as we lost our tails during our evolution as it had lost its beneficence, people who do not contribute to the development of mankind will also be lost during the Universal Evolution and end up in the garbage dump of the Universe, Jahannam. Those that do contribute to the development of mankind as a whole are chosen to stay within the evolution of the Universe; they are in a state of Jannah, never-ending growth and development.
9218 Who gives his wealth that he may grow in goodness.
9111 God has bought from the believers their persons and their goods, for (in return) theirs is Jannah, the state of constant evolution. They shall fight in the cause of God, and shall slay and be slain. It is a promise that is binding on Him in the Torah and the Gospel, and the Quran. Who can fulfill a promise better than God? Rejoice then in the bargain you have made, for that is the Supreme Triumph.
Jahannam is thus made by Mankind and not by Allah, it is a direct result of our own actions. On Earth it is we who create states of existence that do not develop mankind as a whole. The earthly Jahannam is created by class-differences, non-social economic system, gathering of personal wealth, beliefs based on myths, legends, superstitions, man-made or man-altered scriptures, and gender and race discrimination (235). All the above are the basis for oppression, war, conflicts, slavery and people wasting their energy and their whole life on pursuing beliefs that are false and have nothing to do with the true workings of the Universe and its Developer. In this state mankind burns away their potentials and is not in an environment where it can grow and develop itself. It can only survive, not progress. The word Jahim is frequently used to describe mankind in this state, Man is literally in Jahim. The word Jahim has a large definition as explained above; it was used for fire, for the point of retreat in war, to stop something from acting. In a sense, there is no better word to be used to describe this state of Man. mankind is stopped from progressing and developing and is in a constant battle of survival without gaining any ground and in this state it can fully use its potentials and thus in a sense burns away any means for progress.
http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Tampere_war_victims_1918.jpg
18100 And We displayed Jahannam on this Era of mankind (yaumwe) to the rejectors of truth clear to see.
7177-179 Evil as an example are the people who reject Our verses, since they hurt their own self. Whoever attains Gods guidance according to His laws is led right. And goes astray he who violates Gods law of guidance. Our law has committed to Hell numerous people, rural and urban; they are living a life of Hell. They have hearts that they use not to understand. They have eyes with which they see not, and ears with which they hear not. They are like cattle. Nay, they are even worse. Such are the people who have chosen to live through life in total darkness of ignorance.
General William Tecumseh Sherman
"War is hell," 7
7 Quote of General William Tecumseh Sherman to the Mayor and Councilmen of Atlanta, speech made on June 19, 1879.
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Peace
Arnold as always excellent. I do disgree a little but in general I agree with the spirit and general tenor of your post. Again excellent.
Lareb
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Salaam,
Thank you, I am always upgrading the work, so any suggestions or always welcome.
The above article explains mostly the Earthly Jahannam and Jannah and how they represent non-evolution and evolution. In this article I discuss the Hereafter, the upcoming phase of the universe
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9596858.msg174023#new
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Salaam,
Thank you, I am always upgrading the work, so any suggestions or always welcome.
Salam Arnold,
Long time no see; your new work is cancling out many Quranic verses; please let me know what do you think about the following verses that discribe Jahanam different from what you stated
(٥
On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks and their backs "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves taste ye, then the (treasures) ye buried!" (9-35)(٨
Allah hath promised the Hypocrites men and women, and the rejecters of Faith, the fire of Hell therein shall they dwell sufficient is it for them for them is the curse of Allah and an enduring punishment (9-6(١
Those who were left behind rejoiced in their inaction behind the back of the Messenger of Allah they hated to strive and fight with their goods and their persons, in the Cause of Allah they said "Go not forth in the heat. Say "The fire of Hell is fiercer in heat." If only they could understand! (9-81)
(٩ (٠
On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. (99)
And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out (18-100)(٨
So by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell; (19-6(٦
And We shall drive the sinners to Hell, like thirsty cattle driven down to water (19-86)(٩
Those in the Fire will say to the Keepers of Hell "Pray to your Lord to lighten us the Penalty for a Day (at least)!" (40-49)
(٠
One Day We will say to Hell "art thou filled to the full?" It will say "Are there any more ?" (50-30)(٣
And Hell, that Day, is brought; on that Day will man remember but how will that remembrance profit him? (89-23)We will talk about Janna when we finish Jahanam.
Salama
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Salaam,
Only in your understanding they describe Jahannam differently. We have gone through many discussions where I showed my understandings of verses and you just ignored them and tried to enforce your understanding and acting nothing was answered already. I see no real point in engaging another discussion with you as they are not focussed on progression of understanding. Jahim means to stop something, it also means fire since everything thrown into the fire stops existing. Jahim also means a battle or the retreat from battle. The concept of fire is used metaphorically for stopping the potential from developing, for war, for how consequences of their deeds stops them from progressing in Akhira. A lot of the verses you quoted can be used in this life for representing war and misery, and for the agony of not progressing anymore in Akhira, the new universe. We use different approaches to the Quran, so your understanding doesn't agree with mine.
We can see the metaphorical use beautifully here
1046 God's kindled/muqadah fire/nar.
1047 Which reaches/tattali'u the inside of the hearts/af'idah.
1048 It will confine them therein/mu'sadah.
1049 In extended/mumaddah columns/amad. -
A lot of the verses you quoted can be used in this life for representing war and misery, and for the agony of not progressing anymore in Akhira, the new universe.
Non of the verses represent war and misery in our life time, but Hillfire and Misery for every wicked deciving Shitan who tries to mislead people away from the True meaning of God's Book.
But, every human has a brain and free well, and therefore, if they deserve to be Believers God will show them the right way, and if not, none can help them.
But, all I can do is to show the True Words of God, when somebody tries to twist them.
yes -
Jahannam is thus made by Mankind and not by Allah, it is a direct result of our own actions.
Based on your understanding, Hitler had sent innocent Jews to Hellfire; Ben Laden Had sent more than 4000 innocent human beings to Hellfire; And both will get away from punishment in Akerah in Hellfire? Thus any one who has power can sent powerless humans to Hellfire and He can enjoy the Janah (his wealth and powre).
If this is the case, then everyone would want to be the God who can enter the Janah with whom ever he pleases and sent whom disliked to hellfire.
Not only that, but my destiny in entering Janah or Hellfire will depend on the socienty deeds and not my own deeds.
Arnold!! you are loosing your Brain, Wake Up, you are talking to people who got Brain.
Salam -
Peace brother Belalhammad
I dont mean to offend you, nor do I want to start a debate. So please do not be angered by my comments. You dont understand brother Arnolds veiws. To my understanding of his ideas hell and heaven begin here and will continue in the afterlife. He to my knowledge is not denying the next life. Also he never denys personal responsibility before God (to my reading of his theorys). Alot of your critism is faulty because Arnold is not saying the things you are critising. He only thinks (agian to my reading of his theorys) that heaven and hell begin here and will contine in the next life. He also belives that the Quran is more about society than the indivdual. Not that you are judged by God according to societys wrongs our rights. He says in one article (or was Shabbir) that you are responsible for your deeds. If you try to understand brother Arnolds ideas and beliefs you will find less matriel to critise. I think you must camly read his articles. If you do their will be less debate.
God bless all
Larebsun
peace -
Peace brother Belalhammad
I dont mean to offend you, nor do I want to start a debate. So please do not be angered by my comments. You dont understand brother Arnolds veiws. To my understanding of his ideas hell and heaven begin here and will continue in the afterlife. He to my knowledge is not denying the next life. Also he never denys personal responsibility before God (to my reading of his theorys). Alot of your critism is faulty because Arnold is not saying the things you are critising. He only thinks (agian to my reading of his theorys) that heaven and hell begin here and will contine in the next life. He also belives that the Quran is more about society than the indivdual. Not that you are judged by God according to societys wrongs our rights. He says in one article (or was Shabbir) that you are responsible for your deeds. If you try to understand brother Arnolds ideas and beliefs you will find less matriel to critise. I think you must camly read his articles. If you do their will be less debate.
God bless all
Larebsun
peacePeace,
I think Arnold is very clear in what he Posted; but if he did not mean what I understood, then he can write and say that.
Peace