Speak English

[Adam Pettman]

Even if their culture teaches them they must kill you because you do not believe in the same God?

Thats not really true.

 

[JEFF4i]

Even if their culture teaches them they must kill you because you do not believe in the same God?

Actually the only difference between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity is the belief of particular figures. Primarily, Jesus and Muhammad.

 

[VtDivot]

Even if their culture teaches them they must kill you because you do not believe in the same God?

LOL - you're kidding right?

I wonder how some people sleep at night...

 

[Bubble Head]

I am going to go back to the question of monoglot Americans. Personally, I speak enough Spanish that I can read a menu and order dinner in Mexico City. To get there, I took classes for 5 years and then never used it again. It isn't that we don't study other languages, most well educated Americans take a language in school. The problem is, we don't live in a society where any one other language is particularly useful.

I took Spanish and never practice it. My wife took French. Both of my kids took German. One of them has also taken Japanese. If channel 2 was in German and had something entertaining to watch, maybe I might pick up German. In Europe, you have a bunch of different languages packed into a small area so that the people have to deal with each other on a regular basis. At one time, the common language was Latin, then French. Now it is English.

I hope English remains the world's common language for a long time to come. Because I believe that means that the culture that is most dedicated to individule liberty continues to be the dominant culture. But it wouldn't surprise me if my great grandchildre wind up complaining about learning Mandarin.

 

[zaphod]

Even if their culture teaches them they must kill you because you do not believe in the same God?

This is a MAJOR point in Madeline's book. She is describing a religious fanatic. Does not matter what religion. The dangerous person is the one who believes they have the sole (soul) truth with unquestioning blinding faith. They alone have this knowledge. Her point is this vision also blinds there MORAL judgment. They can not be expected to behave in a rational manner. Very dangerous people---whether they are Muslim, Jewish, or Christian.

As for the differences in those three religions might I express an opinion. I am currently WADING through a book relating to the history of Christianity. Early in the 1st-2nd century Christianity separated itself from the predominate Jewish enclave in its view of salvation. At the time Jewish thought required adherence to a complex group of religious laws. If one observed this laws daily a rule minded God MIGHT grant Salvation. Places such as the Jerusalem Temple were also held in very high esteem and was necessary to be visited at least on an annual basis.

Christianity started with the splinter group , the Essene Jews, removed from power and expelled from Jerusalem. They naturally discredited the Temple as necessary for Salvation thereby shifting their thought to a Personal relationship with God rather than than a relationship through a hierarchy,+ brick and mortar. Later it is believed John the Baptist became a prominent Essenen prophet preaching among other ideas "a single life time Baptism" that cleanses the Soul rather than the daily baptism whose function was corporal. (Same type of rule as eating pork etc). Again a very radical ideal. Eventually the hallmark of Christianity New Testament thought is taught by Jesus Christ and crystallized through Peter(edit--Not Peter but PAUL--I am notably fallible more so at 1 AM) in his Letters to the Church. Salvation first--THEN rules within a Merciful Savior's direction .

If you follow Muslim history the general tenor of the religion is similar to Jewish thought. A notable major difference is the relationship between government and religion.
Mohammad becomes a very successful (but illiterate) political and religious leader He mandates the complete incorporation of religion and government. Islam and the creation of the Caliph rule.


Why the major SOCIAL differences between these mighty religions? IMHO it lays in the language of text of their corresponding Holy Books, The Bible, The Koran, and The Torah. The Bible was not translated out of Greek, Latin, Hebrew until Martin Luther forced the issue in the 1600 thereby allowing the native constituency to read the Book and drawn their own conclusion of what their relationship with God was. Again the Torah translations are allowable. The Koran is NOT. Therefore interpretation is the sole responsibility of those versed in Arabic. Not a common language. This elitism has created the same problems Christianity had through to the 16th century. Currently there is a struggle between the moderate knowledgeable Muslim and the Fundamentalist Muslim in allowing translation and therefore interpretation privileges. Why relinquish power when it assures your political gain? Remember the entwined nature of government and Islam. (Islam is the term for the combination of Muslim religion and the laws prescribed by that religion ie Shia) The predominate difference between Sunni and Shiite is the rules later established AFTER Mohammad rises to Heaven.

Please note I have painted portraits of these religions with an extremely broad brush.

A long post but I feel worth the review of the reader please.:thumbs up:

 

[zaphod]

Reply to Bubblehead.

I am going to go back to the question of monoglot Americans. Personally, I speak enough Spanish that I can read a menu and order dinner in Mexico City. To get there, I took classes for 5 years and then never used it again. It isn't that we don't study other languages, most well educated Americans take a language in school. The problem is, we don't live in a society where any one other language is particularly useful.

I took Spanish and never practice it. My wife took French. Both of my kids took German. One of them has also taken Japanese. If channel 2 was in German and had something entertaining to watch, maybe I might pick up German. In Europe, you have a bunch of different languages packed into a small area so that the people have to deal with each other on a regular basis. At one time, the common language was Latin, then French. Now it is English.

I am in a similar situation. Ordering food and getting around in Mexico is no problem. My Spanish is derived from the association with migrant workers we housed on our farm during the 1960's. A wonderful experience for a younger Zaphod. I also took 2 years of Latin and 2 years of German language courses which will NOT order me a meal. Son and daughter are well versed in Spanish with 6 years of study in H.S. and college. They also spent 3 weeks in Spain living with a Spanish family their respective senior year in H.S. Daughter also visited a close friend in Peru for 3 weeks. They are both very protective of their experiences within a world community.

 

[JEFF4i]

Great posts Zaph, both of them.

Being young Zaphod had to be interesting...

 

[zaphod]

Great posts Zaph, both of them.

Being young Zaphod had to be interesting...

You've got a fairly accurate portrait of him if you look at my Avatar (Marvin the Martian). You too for Kool-Aid Man?????rop:

 

[JEFF4i]

Actually I was the KoolAid man for Halloween, and I idolize him.

I'm kind of tall and skinny, with no water weight.

 

[zaphod]

You only look like Kool-Aid man "in your heart"!!!!! that's cool.

Me--- Marvin is an accurate description. Growing up in a insulated rural community my view on life was "alien" to my follow residents. I was an outsider in High School within my political and philosophical thought. I suffered through the short term having to defend my position against seeming over whelming odds. Remember the social upheaval that occurred in the 1960's and 70's. But later realized that suffering was helpful in helping me habitually examining issues from multiple view points. Truth checking from ALL angles became has become very important

This is what this discussion is all about.

My father was the same way. I remember he took our immediate family down to Selma Alabama a day before the Riots exploded there in 1965. He just wanted us to see what was going on there. A unique and courageous position for a man that was a Wisconsin farmer. When the Wisconsin plates were noted by the local officials we were given a polite but firm police escort out of Selma. Memories like that color my thinking. Injustice is still being rationalized in this world.

Both sides of the American Civil War claimed Christian righteousness. Lincoln's memorable quote was "Rather than have God on our side I pray we are on God's side".

 

[VtDivot]

Well read Zaphod is.... very insightful posts dude

 

[zaphod]

Well read Zaphod is.... very insightful posts dude

Love that Yoda talk dude.

Could not avoid the love for the written word. Father was Doctoral candidate at UW-Madison along with being a Heavy weight NCAA boxer for that same Badger University. Mother was a college Librarian. Hence I read.

thank you