Taking a deep breath.....
Here goes. I didn't know whether I should jump back into the mud pit, but here goes. First, I'd like to say I am loving this read; it has been really open, and I like the light hearts that have come with what is to many of us a heavy subject. 'Kay.
I think 3boys' point is a really good one, and I'd just like to add that, although most people (Muslims included) don't know/believe it, the Qur'an explicitly states (I know because I read it myself, although I cannot give you quotes, and for that I apologize) that the good souls of many religions will be with our Creator after the end of times.
For this reason, I HAVE to respect their Scriptures and the laws and values based on them as valid. The way it is put in the Qur'an is that every people has been sent a prophet to bring the word and lead people in His way. It also says we have been made many nations and religions so that we may know one another--not so we may judge one another, or exploit one another, etc.
I am certainly not trying to say that Muslims have been in any way exemplary on these points. I am saying that the Book that we (Muslims) regard as our (as in all our) Lord's own words tells us plainly that we are not owners of the only system. It also tells us that judgment lies with the Creator alone, whose mercy and justice are beyond our comprehension, and that no one else can atone for our sins. Period.
It also tells us that past Scriptures have been changed.
On that point, we know that the Church at some point(s?) in history decided on the canon--the books included in the Bible, right? Doesn't the exclusion of some Scripture automatically make anyone nervous? Also, in Karen Armstrong's "A History of God," she talks about, I believe it was the Council of Nicea, where many Christian leaders from all over the world were invited by, I think, Constantine, and he said more or less, "agree on something, we'll call it Christianity, and I'll convert to it." They disagreed hotly because the (mostly) Western Christians had developed the trinitarian view, and the rest had not. So they fought about it until the other Christians left in disgust...the story in the book is longer, but those are the bones of it.
Sorry about the length, and PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE, I do not intend to belittle anyone else's beliefs, I am looking for an informed answer to some of my questions. I was raised Catholic, and stayed such through confirmation, and was very active in my Christian life. I know there are good people and bad people everywhere. I want to hear what you think about all this. Thanks for your honesty and respect in this really intimate discussion.
If you did not get that , PM me.
however if my faith is all in vain, what have I really lost? I'm just back with everybody else. But If the Bible turns out to be the truth, God's truely inspired word, then what has everybody else lost?......a chance to embrace that Truth, and that would be sad indeed.
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