Hi Everyone,

I am not quite sure why everyone is upset on whether a woman has been a prophet. Instead look at the practical aspect. In a world where women typically didn't have many rights (not my doing so don't flame me here), only men would have been listened to. So God would have sent his message to those who would have been listened to.

Why get upset that God chose a (male) person to send a message to the people who would actually be able to convey the message to the widest audience?

Thanks,
JewishDude

Hi Everyone,

My guess is that this is suspect. They did a meta-analysis which is an analysis of analyses. While sometimes useful, these are difficult to interpret accurately since the conditions vary across each of the sub analyses. They looked at the % atheist in the population and the mean IQ score. If you look at the graph the distribution of IQ is the same for 10% atheist populations is it is for higher percentage populations. The main action in the data is near the 0% atheist populations. There is a shift in the distribution downward here. This leads one to question what are the characteristics of those populations? Are those populations homogeneous to the higher atheist populations?

The conclusions are broad and they try to make it about individuals. Which it isn't. It is about populations. Why would a population have a higher IQ than another? Access to education? Better nutrition? We should remember that there are lurking variables in this study that the authors choose not to deal with.

Just my crazy thoughts,
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

I believe Aisha was real and was a wife of Muhammed (PBUH). I think we can take away from this that Muhammed (PBUH) actually practiced what he preached. Aisha was an orphan or close to it and he married her at a young age to look after her. Now did he have sex with her at a young age? I have no idea. We must also not use the current standard of adulthood that is widely accepted. Due to short life spans, in many cultures once a person had reached puberty they were married off. Now people have the luxury (?) of waiting until they are in their 30s or later to get married. However, when many people didn't make it to 40, having a child so late in life would lead to many orphans. Hence have children while you are young so you are around long enough to watch them grow up. While this in modern times sounds horrible, it was of extreme necessity in those times.

Now as for oppression of women... my wife and daughters would beat me if I tried that. I am all for women's equality!!!

Just my crazy thoughts,
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

As I have stated in other posts I am a Jew and not a Zionist. I think the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is horrible to the Palestinians. No one should be oppressed like that. Unfortunately my tax dollars pay to support the poor treatment of Palestinians (I am in the US).

Why is their a conflict? Because it is easier to defeat two parties and take their resources if the two parties are busy fighting each other. You simply stoke the fire on each side and take their resources. The world runs on petroleum. The middle east has a lot of petroleum. How to get it as cheaply as possible? Take their eye off of how much it is worth by telling them that their neighbor is going to steal it. And then you can also take their money by selling them weapons too. To both sides.

The people in the middle east need to wake up and realize that togetherness is more important than division. Quit fighting. Find peace. Build a bright future together. Keep their eye on living a good life of peace and happiness like the Quran tells we should live. I think the Arab spring was a start in that direction. Unfortunately people are trying to stop this.

Just my crazy thoughts,
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

First off I am not a Zionist. I think that if someone wishes to settle and live peaceably anywhere in the world then they should be allowed to do this. Immigration laws are insane and draconian. Allah gave mankind the whole world to live in. Not just one part. Immigration laws are a big part of the problems in the world.

I am not opposed to Jews settling in the "land of Israel" just as I am not opposed to Jews living next door to me in the US. However I am opposed to oppressing people and hurting others in order to settle in any location. If there is a majority of Jews who happen to live in Israel and they democratically create laws as they see fit, then fine. But there should be no violence, oppression or hurting of others in order to accomplish this. Also if they choose to live there and they are not in the majority, then they should live peacefully under the laws in place created by the majority.

Just my crazy opinion
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Pixelangelbaby,

I completely sympathize with you. It is difficult when you feel alone. Especially when you want to share all your new insights with people close to you. I think this forum is a good place to learn and vent your frustration. I think one thing that we need is a community. An open community that allows both people who accept hadith to those who totally reject them. An open egalitarian place to meet and debate.

I think the problem with your family is that it actually takes courage to question what you believe. It takes courage to put yourself in a vulnerable place where your faith may be shaken. However it seems that your faith has been solidified. The downside is that your family isn't ready to take the step to that vulnerable place. It is scary for them. They will have to learn and more importantly learn to think differently. If they ultimately end up where they are right now, they will have a great journey and will understand you more.

My advice to you that seems to work well with my family is to plant seeds. Don't give answers. Just give questions. And plant seeds in passing that will ultimately grow into something positive for you. If your goal is for them to understand and accept you, then you will need to be patient. Also, don't argue with them. Let them know you are struggling with things. When they get defensive, drop it. Say what you need to say. Say it once and drop it. Stay on topic. Don't make it personal. Sometimes the less you say the louder it sounds. If you get to arguing then people say things that they don't mean that are hurtful.

Hang in there. If I ever get to Cairo maybe we can meetup for tea or something. If all goes well I might get to Cairo this winter.

peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace
JewishDude

Hi Andantino,

I am very interested in this path. I am fascinated by the mystical. However I find it very difficult to find a path into it. If you find some good resources, please share them.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Aamer,

I agree with you 100%.

With that said I think people like traditions. It links people with the past and the future (if the tradition continues). People feel a part of a tradition and keeping it alive. The way traditions are propagated is to build structures such as Oral laws the promote the tradition. And of course the rulers promote the traditions they like. The question then becomes.... "What traditions should continue?" If those traditions continue how should the others be put away?

Just some crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

Jafar... I agree with most of what you say. Rabbinic Judaism doesn't accept Jesus nor Muhammed. However since the fall of the Temple in 60CE Rabbinic Judaism is pretty much all that is left. Yes there are a few groups here or there that are not Rabbinically based. But they are very few and very limited.

I don't believe the Quran was written for Jews. I believe it was written for everyone. Just like I think the Torah was written for everyone. I think many Jews today can't get past the media hype against Islam. Otherwise I would imagine they would get along fine with muslims. They are essentially the same religion. Minor difference that people seem to amplify. They take a small crack and turn it into a canyon.

Andantino... Go see Jewfaq.org. That is a good resource to understand a lot of the Jewish point of view. Remember not ALL Jews feel this way. But it is a starting point.

Trinity in Torah... No way. The main prayer in Judaism is the "Shema" which is basically... "Hear O'Israel Adonai is your G-d, Adonai is One". The unity of G-d is imperative. Same as Islam.

I have issues with the Torah and NT. Hadith bother me because they are unverifiable. However the Quran is the most clean of all of the scriptures.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

Peachy you are 100% on point. This is excellent. We need more people who are interested in embracing the differences so that we can come together.

Andantino, the reason Jews reject Jesus is that he didn't complete the mission of the messiah. The messiah is supposed to install a king in Jerusalem and there will be peace and more importantly, the whole world will realize the G-d of the Jews is the true G-d and worship him. Don't get hung up on the details of exactly who they were looking for. But you should see that we don't have world peace and not everyone agrees that the G-d of the Jews is the true G-d. As for Muhammad??? There is no consistent response to him. My personal opinion is that Jews don't accept Muhammed as a prophet since the Rabbis "closed the door to prophecy" right after Jesus. However they dated it before Jesus so that he couldn't be a prophet.

I think that Muhammed is a prophet who is teaching the same message that preceding prophets taught. Since I was raised as a Reform Jew I have problems with Hadith just like I have problems with Talmud. I don't like people telling me what to believe/behave and then judging me on it. With that said... I agree with a lot of Hadith and Talmud. I just don't consider it binding. To me the Hadith shows me how people have approached understanding the Quran. That doesn't mean I have to agree with them. But understanding how people have thought about it adds color and flavor to the way I understand it, even when I disagree with them.

For example... To me the prohibition on music is insane. It is sooooo derived that it is impossible to believe that Allah doesn't want us to listen to music. I understand where the prohibition came from and how someone could arrive at that conclusion. I just do a sanity check (which I never claim to be sane) and it doesn't pass.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi comingtotruth,

Welcome to the forum! You have a great story. You learned arabic just off of YouTube? Can you share your strategy/videos that were helpful? Hope you find some of what you are looking for here.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Welcome! I hope you will find some of what you are looking for. You will quickly realize many of us (including myself) are a bit crazy. So don't take us to seriously. Hang in there and remember that Allah guides us all.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

peace

Dawn has a great point. I agree.

JewishDude
peace Salam, shalom, peace peace

Hi Stops,

The earth is locally flat and globally a sphere. It doesn't have to be either or. It is a matter of perspective. On the ground earth appears flat. From space the earth is a sphere. It also is based on your needs at the time. to build a house acounting for the curvature of the eath results in horrible calculations only to reach the same end result. but flying a plane across the earth it does make sense to do the calculations. i wonder if this debate is another science versus religion debate. From other threads they seem to go no where.

Just some more crazy thoughts...
JewishDude

peace Salam, shalom peace peace

Hi Everyone,

Isn't the success of the west primarily due to the fact that we divided and bombed the rest of the world back into the stone age?

Colonization ... First strategy in divide and conquer.
World War I ... Destroyed large parts of Europe and dissolved the Ottoman empire.
World War II ... Destroyed large parts of Europe and North Africa.
Afganistan wars ... Destroyed an entire country.
Iraq wars ... Destroyed an entire country.

Letting Syria destroy itself without trying to intervene for peace. Keep others angry and destroying each other then the west takes it all right from under them. Sell the other countries bad loans and default on them driving their economies down...

Just my crazy conspiracy thoughts... (take them with a grain of salt).
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Evolution or Intelligent design???

Does it have to be either or?

Can't the two go hand in hand?

Just my crazy questions...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Everyone,

While I oppose anyone being forced to do anything in marriage, I do think this is a good question. The main reason is that both partners need to be keenly aware of the others needs and desires. If one partner refuses to have sex, then they are saying the other partner's needs and desires are not important. This can lead to disaster. One partner could go astray or become resentful. If in marriage we are to grow in love and caring for one another it has to be both partners giving to the other for the other's happiness. If we neglect this they we are not doing our part in keeping our partner away from sin.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Man of Faith,

I agree. However in my interactions here with other free-minders it seems as though they wish to have a community which to rely on for support. These were just my thoughts in how to go about this. If people want to do their own thing then that is great. If people want a community, then they need some outlet for that.

How do I define a Jew? One who identifies with the Jewish people either through association or heritage.

No the Quranist movement isn't like Reform Judaism. I don't think it should be. However I was hoping that if this group wanted to form a community, they could look at how others were successful about forming theirs. Of course I would say that a Karaite Jew would be accepted whole heartedly in a Reform congregation. Reform basically says do what works best for you in keeping with tradition.

Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Hi Bigmo,

I agree with you. But I would like to ask a question to everyone and see what they think.

If the Quran prescribes the punishment to a crime, does that mean we have to use that punishment? Or can we use a lesser punishment and only use the prescribed punishment in extreme cases? Hence we should use mercy to temper the punishment?

This is a problem Judaism faced long ago. The conclusion was that the punishment was to be no harsher than the prescribed punishment.

Just my crazy thoughts and questions...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace

Welcome oneandonly,

I really enjoyed reading your experiences. May Allah continue to bless you.

JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace