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Mohammed's Cave Experience
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I've been reading a lot of Islamic literature lately.
It would seem that Allah was originally a pagan moon-god and was chosen by Mohammed to be his god of choice from the other 359 on offer at the time (there being only 360 'official' days in the year back then - one 'god' for each day).
Interestingly, the Koran doesn't name the Islamic god until about two-thirds of the way in (chronologically speaking - since the Koran is not presented in chronological order). Until that point, god is always referred to as "Lord" but never by name explicitly. It is only in the latter parts of the Koran that god is referred to as "Allah" - the 'god' of the night and of darkness. This is interesting because in Jewish and Christian literature, Satan is often referred to as "Lord".
Equally interesting is that Mohammed makes the claim himself that he has been possessed by Satan. It is only his (first) wife, Khadija, that convinces him that he isn't possessed by an evil spirit after he comes home (after spending several days alone in a cave in the desert during which time he claims to have been repeatedly physically assaulted by the angel Gabriel) and dives into bed gibbering uncontrollably under the covers. She tells him that he's the chosen one (even though she 'privately' says that she thinks he's gone mad) and by an astonishing coincidence, turns her husband’s new-found prophet-hood to her financial advantage.
Given the above (highly) condensed Islamic story of Mohammed's first encounter with 'god' does anyone else think that his encounter with the angel Gabriel may have been... ahem.. misinterpreted perhaps?
It would seem that Allah was originally a pagan moon-god and was chosen by Mohammed to be his god of choice from the other 359 on offer at the time (there being only 360 'official' days in the year back then - one 'god' for each day).
Interestingly, the Koran doesn't name the Islamic god until about two-thirds of the way in (chronologically speaking - since the Koran is not presented in chronological order). Until that point, god is always referred to as "Lord" but never by name explicitly. It is only in the latter parts of the Koran that god is referred to as "Allah" - the 'god' of the night and of darkness. This is interesting because in Jewish and Christian literature, Satan is often referred to as "Lord".
Equally interesting is that Mohammed makes the claim himself that he has been possessed by Satan. It is only his (first) wife, Khadija, that convinces him that he isn't possessed by an evil spirit after he comes home (after spending several days alone in a cave in the desert during which time he claims to have been repeatedly physically assaulted by the angel Gabriel) and dives into bed gibbering uncontrollably under the covers. She tells him that he's the chosen one (even though she 'privately' says that she thinks he's gone mad) and by an astonishing coincidence, turns her husband’s new-found prophet-hood to her financial advantage.
Given the above (highly) condensed Islamic story of Mohammed's first encounter with 'god' does anyone else think that his encounter with the angel Gabriel may have been... ahem.. misinterpreted perhaps?
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Just a bit. Interestingly, Khadija’s cousin, Waraka ibn Nawfal, who encouraged the belief that Mohammed was a prophet, was a scholar of the Bible, which alone throws some considerable doubt upon the originality of the Koran.
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The close linguistic links between 'allah' and 'el' suggest a continuity of religious ideas between places and cultures. 'El' and variants on the name was the ancient supreme creator god in the Levantine pantheon. it can't be said with certainty when 'El' first appeared in human belief systems, only that as soon as writing appears references to him aren't far behind.
So it's highly likely that the adoption of a region-wide highly revered father-figure god was at the root of Islam.
Unfortunately it's a bad time academically to be promoting this idea of cultural syncretism as it is a short cut to your first and last appearance on Youtube in the company of a wild-eyed fanatic and a bread-knife.
So it's highly likely that the adoption of a region-wide highly revered father-figure god was at the root of Islam.
Unfortunately it's a bad time academically to be promoting this idea of cultural syncretism as it is a short cut to your first and last appearance on Youtube in the company of a wild-eyed fanatic and a bread-knife.
Keyplus - "... try reading Quran with open mind instead of reading your so called literatures..."
When you say, "... [read it] with an open mind..." what you really mean is, "read it with unquestioning credulity". Sorry, can't do that. I am by nature and by education, a questioner. As an engineer I question everything. Particularly things that people tell me are the "truth" or are 'undisputed' "facts". In that regard, I read everything with an open mind; be that religious scripture or British Standard Codes Of Practice.
For your information Keyplus, I have read the Koran. And not just once. I have read it from start to finish at least three times now and have dipped into it more times than I care to remember. The one thing that leaps out at me every time is the barbarity - the sheer unadulterated evil that is included within its pages is staggering. I've read the Old Testament so I know what barbarity is. The Koran is the most unpleasant - nay repugnant - excuse for a religious document that I've ever had the displeasure to read. I can never quite believe how perfidious it is. It is contradictory and imbecilic. So much so that it baffles me how anyone with fully functioning brain-cells takes it seriously.
Have you Keyplus, actually read the Koran? I mean, read it yourself as opposed to just dipping in and out the "nice" bits and listening to Imams who tell you what it says? If you have, you'll know that Mohammed was an insanely violent, intolerant, anti-semitic, racist pedophile. If you've actually read it and haven't come to that conclusion then I suggest that there's something profoundly wrong with your reasoning capabilities.
To me, reading the Koran and coming to the conclusion that Mohammed was a thoroughly decent chap is akin to reading Mein Kampf and coming to the conclusion that Adolf was a splendid fellow with some jolly good ideas.
When you say, "... [read it] with an open mind..." what you really mean is, "read it with unquestioning credulity". Sorry, can't do that. I am by nature and by education, a questioner. As an engineer I question everything. Particularly things that people tell me are the "truth" or are 'undisputed' "facts". In that regard, I read everything with an open mind; be that religious scripture or British Standard Codes Of Practice.
For your information Keyplus, I have read the Koran. And not just once. I have read it from start to finish at least three times now and have dipped into it more times than I care to remember. The one thing that leaps out at me every time is the barbarity - the sheer unadulterated evil that is included within its pages is staggering. I've read the Old Testament so I know what barbarity is. The Koran is the most unpleasant - nay repugnant - excuse for a religious document that I've ever had the displeasure to read. I can never quite believe how perfidious it is. It is contradictory and imbecilic. So much so that it baffles me how anyone with fully functioning brain-cells takes it seriously.
Have you Keyplus, actually read the Koran? I mean, read it yourself as opposed to just dipping in and out the "nice" bits and listening to Imams who tell you what it says? If you have, you'll know that Mohammed was an insanely violent, intolerant, anti-semitic, racist pedophile. If you've actually read it and haven't come to that conclusion then I suggest that there's something profoundly wrong with your reasoning capabilities.
To me, reading the Koran and coming to the conclusion that Mohammed was a thoroughly decent chap is akin to reading Mein Kampf and coming to the conclusion that Adolf was a splendid fellow with some jolly good ideas.
It typically begins with the willingness to accept the assertion that some kind of a god exists. Once that kind of belief has been adopted the mind is rendered putty in the hands of those who think anything worthwhile can be gained from it. Belief in a god and the abandonment of reason faith requires is merely the onset of the most unbelievable and unimaginably irrational beliefs one would dare to contemplate. An admission of a belief in god is my assurance that any hope of any subsequent rational, meaningful discussion regarding the fundamental nature of reality has been rendered futile.
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