His probelm with individualism is more with humanism than general individualism. The fact that he venerated creativity so much makes him a individualist. Also his view that we must all say yes to life and try to enjoy it as much as possible is individualistic. But he was not a humanist. That is he did not beleive all are equal. Because a murderur and a child can not be considered equal. He also thought the majority is often wrong and can become and mob hurting and oppresing the minority. In this sense being a anti-humanist he refused the title of individualist because Humanism is often tied with formal individualism. But again his ethical views and his aesthetical views are very individualistic. So from a more honest point of view he is himself a individualist but not a Humanist. And concerning the harsh realities of life he think you are right. Survival of the fittest. But if you read secondary literature on Nietzsche there is one universal lesson that one gains. Nietzsche's views are like a religuois scripture, nobody agrees on what he exactly meant. In the end after reading him you must decide on what you think he meant. So the harsh realities might be something else. Whatever you take from Nietzsche its bound to be good

how can you say Allah doesn't have a religion when he has made oppression and injustice forbidden on himself? and he created the universe and ordained a system(islam) and a way of life for the best of creation(Humans) so that we may get closer to him? that is what i meant to say, sorry to all. it is your intentions that count... you don't want to follow the quran by its straightforward message... not my problem. however, on the day of judgement you will be held accountable for your actions...

I believe GOD wanted us to be vegetarian. It just occured to me, maybe killing an animal for food was the original sin, taking life. Genesis 1 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground?everything that has the breath of life in it?I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

Peace A word of advise, it's never good to read into things. It's sort of like the technique of summarization, which contains no new or additional information. Joe what? can you please explain? peace

Dear Lobster, To me it still "feels" wrong because it's been drilled into my head that interest is evil, but when I look at it objectively, I can't see where exactly the evil is. I think it's clearly unfair to me as in Let's consider these two business When you invest in another trade/business (for profit) you might -Get profit (don't know how much, don't know when) -No profit -Loose your investment When you loan for another trade/business or even people/countries -You must get "your profit"/"interest" at fixed rate no matter what happens. To me, number 2 is not fair business. The question about mutual agreement is not the point here, two people agreeing to do a bad/unfair thing doesn't make it right. For example, two people agree to make adultery. A person agrees to be eaten and slaughtered by another person (in Germany, long ago) doesn't make it right. Therefore, to me, interest is like a fixed profit. If the business/person encountered loss or can't really pay the interest then it will get deeper "compounding over and over" and he must be desperate to cover it all up - no matter what happens next. The deeper it gets, the deeper it enslaves. May God Guide. Many people have no choice so they are put into this ever-deepening enslaving. You can see many living examples of this all over the world. May God Guide.

ancient people believed that the earth was flat? Depends on which ancient peoples, I guess. Maybe you should examine their maps or something? At least ancient Christians and ancient Hindus believe the earth is somewhat flat. The Christians believed the earth is shaped like a tabernacle, whereas the Hindus believe the earth is a disc supported on top of elephants standing on a giant turtle. CMIIW.

Okay, then. Someone finally admits to agreeing with me. I think most other members already agree with me too. This question is kind of like when in math you know the answer but you don't know how you got it. Or like when people can talk perfectly in a language but cannot explain the grammar rules. You understand it intuitively but you can't make it precise. I think most people on this forum (and this is based on all the debating I've seen) probably agree with me. If they believed in the Divine Command theory, we wouldn't have this forum. We'd all accept that whatever god wills is right and so there's no point in asking "why" because there is no answer. peace Agreed. I think the question is just a little vague (perhaps in the context of FM). As you said, I (and I would assume a lot of us here) don't believe in a god that arbitrarily decides what is good for no reason. Peace

The pressure from his teammates prevents him from doing what he would normally do. confused did you get what I just said? I understand what you are saying you Lobster. I have a popular quote to help "If you can't stand the heat stay the _____ out the kitchen" lol, thats applicable to your friend, the item providing the heat can be the pressure cooker. It's your friends choice to give in to the pressure, he could take time out to develop his 'moral fabric' (like someone lifting weights would work their way up) or just choose to be honest and not blame the pressure for lying. He could ask himself, "What exactly would happen if I am honest" and then have a good laugh at the answer or enroll in the witness protection program ?

From what my brain could analyze from reading, well, God is juste. If you do wrong stuff you will be punished if you do good stuff you will be rewarded. If one do not believe but do good deeds, i dunno what will happen to them. I think that as they reject God during their whole life and test, then it's blank, i dunno what else.

EYE-DOLL-A-TREE laugh

Peace, I agree that is one of the best one and so very useful when it address the daily issues you have as a believer or seeker of Islam. Maria

I'm sorry I don't get your point.

Salam. I have a script at home that goes the same way, i mean the dialogue. It made me chuckle also, loool, lool, .... Funny stuff. Peace.

Peace SC, Thanks for liking the name. It was given to me more than a hundred full-moons ago by my friend Richard P In the free-mind world I am Tanveer and in the gaming world I am Tanman !!

Thanks a lot Tay. Good answer. And that Kahlil Gibran quote is beautiful! I'm gonna go dream about the chicks in bikinis...Peace.

Peace sis "savagecarrot", We need to get it together before we think of ruining more out there, we can't even take care of our own backyard let alone the moon or mars. JK- Yes we cant because many of us are still superstitious and dont wanna contribute to science. Once we have those micro robots GW everything would be taken care off. GOD Bless!

Emphasis on "could" ) Peace "maxq", JK- But it sure indicates we could get it. GOD Bless!

Peace RaniMakhani, lol what a dumb kid who spoke above me... the clown just mentions one bad deed in a while. Please mind your language and be aware of the rules (specifically #3 at this point). Consider yourself warned.

Peace Alen, Mekka has changed. Mecca is not anymore what it was in the beginning. I mean, today not only do people try to make profit but they are not ashamed to make profit with it. We have rendered the shrine (the Ka`aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham's shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail "You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate." As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed) "Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient. "The most important shrine established for the people is the one in Becca; a blessed beacon for all the people. In it are clear signs the station of Abraham. Anyone who enters it shall be granted safe passage. The people owe it to GOD that they shall observe Hajj to this shrine, when they can afford it. As for those who disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone." The verses you quoted have "Bakka" as context, and not Mecca. First you make a remark about Mecca and then quote verses that have nothing to do with Mecca. The verses talk about the "bayt" at Bakka. In addition to that you have mistranslated a few words in these verses which change the meaning entirely, and I hope that was not intentional. Mistranslated verse #1 We have rendered the shrine (the Ka`aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham's shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail "You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate." It is not "focal point" which implies "qibla", but the arabic word in the verse is "mathabatan" which means reward/replacement/compensation/model/resort/assembly. It is not "shrine" which has pagan connotations, but the arabic word is "albayta" meaning house/sanctuary. Please note that you translated the same word as "house" at the end of the verse which I bolded above. It is not "Abraham's shrine", the corresponding arabic word is "maqam" meaning place/station/persistence. Also there is no word in arabic for "sanctuary", where you said "safe sanctuary"; the arabic word is "amnan" meaning safety/security, and there is no arabic word for "sanctuary" in that place. The correct translation/interpretation in my understanding would be as follows 2125 And when We made The House (as) a reward/replacement/compensation/model/resort/assembly for the people, and (a) safety/security, and they took from Abraham's place/station/persistence a place of salat/connection/link, and We entrusted/recommended to Abraham and Ishmael "That purify/clean/wash My House for the visitors/passers by, and the devoted/dedicated/remaining, and the humble, the submissive." Mistranslated verse #2 As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed) "Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient. It is not "shrine" but "house/sanctuary". It is not "foundation OF the house/sanctuary", for which the corresponding arabic would be "alqawa3ida LI albayti"; the original arabic in the verse is "alqawa3ida MIN albayti", meaning "foundation FROM the house/sanctuary". The correct translation in my understanding would be as follows 2127 And when Ibrahim raises the foundations/bases from The House/Sanctuary, and Ismail "Our Lord accept from us, that you are the hearing/listening the knowledgeable." Mistranslated verse # 3 "The most important shrine established for the people is the one in Becca; a blessed beacon for all the people. In it are clear signs the station/persistence of Abraham. Anyone who enters it shall be granted safe passage. The people owe it to GOD that they shall observe Hajj to this shrine, when they can afford it. As for those who disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone." Again, it is not "shrine", which has pagan connotations, but "house/sanctuary". It is not "most important", but the arabic word is "awwala" meaning "first". The correct translation would be 396-97 That (the) first House/Sanctuary was raised to the people, (is) which (is) with (in) Bakka , blessed and guidance, to the worlds/all beings. In it (are) signs/verses (in) Abraham's place/position/station, and who entered it, was/is/became safe/secure, and to God on the people performing hajj/debate/conference of the House/Sanctuary who was/is able (to find) a way/method to it, and who disbelieved, so that God (is) rich from (not in need of) the worlds/all beings.

peace Magi, I understand you completely. and I think what Idolfree said goes along with what you said.