Dark Moth

For one thing, the crusades were not as much an unprovoked attack as they were a delayed response to years of Muslim aggression. The first crusade was a response to a call for help from the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus. By that time, Muslims had been conquering and repressing Jews and Christians throughout much of the Middle East. About my wording, that was a poor choice of words on my part, and you're right. Unfortunately, Islam does provide justification for waging war in Allah's name. Sura 9:5 - "...fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)." Sura 9:29 - "Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden Which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, even if they are of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” Sura 47:4 Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly on them…” But here: Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.” Mathew 26:52 – “…all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Luke 6:27 – “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 23:49 – “When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched man’s ear and healed him.” Keep in mind the OT is full of wars being waged, but those are commands to go to war against specific people at a specific time for a specific reason. They are part of history, not doctrine. Also, in the OT offenses are listed as punishable by death. Keep in mind, this is before the coming of Jesus, and these commands did were for the followers to obey for themselves, not to go out and wage war as a means of spreading the faith. Christianity teaches that because Jesus came, we no longer should punish others ourselves. But that, as always, is my interpretation.

... If you don't need to back up your statements, why should I?

It's your job to back up your statements, buddy, not just make them.

Problem is, a lot of religion can't be backed up with fact. This is why I wonder why Hades believes in God when he says he never bases his beliefs on faith. Kind of hypocritical, if you ask me. So Hades, what proof do you have of God's existance, so I may share it with others?

Me, I don't agree with the Islamic faith. And this is mostly because I disagree with many of the things it teaches, especially regarding attitude toward other faiths and women. And ever since it's founding, Islam has been waging war with those around it. It's common knowledge that Muhammad waged war to spread his religion. And to boot, he made Jews and Christians pay a special jizrah, or tax in those cities he conquered. Read the Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam. Good book. The Islamic invasion is also a good one to read, though it's less detailed. Also, What Went Wrong? is another good one. And in case you don't believe me, read the Quran yourself.

If that does happen, it's because people refuse to have a logical discussion/arguement about religion and God. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Then you'll just love Hades's response.

This is gonna get ugly real fast.

Pixies thinks its wrong of you to say that one religion is spawned from Satan.

Pixies is trying to say he likes you.

%*&%! Is there any way to delete photos? Somehow the thing added it twice. <_<

Sorry to hear that, Schmarth. My grandfather died six years ago, and it still hurts. And this year we also lost two pets, so that's one thing about this year I wouldn't really want to go through again.

That's what I hear. I just got it for Christmas, but haven't played it yet. I'm wasting my time mostly by playing Doom 3. :D

If I found it morally wrong, yes I would expose it. But it depends. If I feel it was necessary in order to prevent a greater evil or do good, then I'm not so sure.

It's only fair. I know who I'm doing, I just have to muster the motivation to do it.

This game looks like fun! ) Albeit a hassle. Maybe I'll get involved in one when I have more spare time (if there's ever a new one). Maybe I'll be Germany! Yeah, Kaiser Mothman I sounds nice!

I never posted at the Bioboards! And I'm a KOTOR fanboi! )

K1 I think had more puzzle challenges than K2 did. I liked them and would like to see more of them in K3. If it's made.

Frankly, I don't know why Shadowstrider got so riled over the issue. My original point was not about how right or wrong the faiths were, just that Islam's nature was very different than that of Christianity and Judaism, and is less of a continuation of it's predessecor as Christianity is of Judaism. And it's true. Most scholars and researchers do agree on the point. What I stated earlier comes from the Holy Quran, the Islamic Invasion, and Islam Unveiled. If Shadowstrider really had done research, he'd know this. But if he did, then it's not showing, especially given he can't back up most of his statements except with "blind man", and what little he did back up was either disproved or is open to interpretation. Notice also he was the first one to step out and say I was wrong and that I was lacking in research. He seems to forget that his opinions, like mine, are just that: opinions. But I'll say it one more time: I'm not saying that one faith is right and another is wrong, I'm trying to point out that I and many others have concluded the Gods and doctrines of Christianity and Islam are very different. And when I refer to Gods, I'm referring more to the nature of the God's, not that they are different gods altogether. Sure they teach similar things: monotheism, good and evil, prayer, sins, same prophets, etc, but they also differ radically in many ways. But if Shadowstrider or anyone desires me to back up why I think that way, I'll gladly do it. It's just that it'll take a while, since there are many reasons and sources to list, and I'm very lazy.

You could say that for any historical source, as anything can be altered. Point is, we just make assumptions based on what we have at hand.

A lot of history work is guesses. We don't have any solid evidence that people like Socrates existed either, only what was written down. My point is, that is what I believe based on the evidence at hand. You see, I have done research, and that is how I formed my opinion. You however share a different opinion and view it as fact and are trying to prove me wrong. I have done research, it has just brought me different conclusions than you. The sooner you realize it, the better.

I don't know who you are talking about. Anyways, what I was saying was that Mothman likes to say a lot of things that sound like his own personal belief, and pass it off as fact. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Really? And Shadowstrider isn't? Fine. You believe what you want, I'll believe what I want. But I will politely insist that I believe I am right, and this comes from my own research.

The Gospels were written by disciples and by Paul, all of who existed at Jesus's time, so you were wrong by saying nothing was written down for over 100 years. My point is, the gods of Islam and Christianity have very different natures. Some may not see it that way, but that is how I and many others see it. Also, as I said, this is only based on what I've read, which are secular and theological sources. And as I said, I too believed they were the same gods with the same nature, but my studies changed that opinion. If you view differently, fine.

HAHAHAHAHAAAAA! You are a riot. The original scritpures were not even written down. The teachings of Christianity were a spoken tradition, changing from teller to teller for a good hundred years after Jesus. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Who wrote the Gospels? For that matter, who wrote Paul's letters?

You haven't disproven me on anything. Actually, most of what you've done has been either listing verses which I've disproven, or you calling me "blind man". And actually, you seem to be the one totally misinterpreting my posts. Fact: the nature of the Gods of Islam and Christianity are very different. As I've said, we really don't have anything to say to each other, esp. since you obviously lack the maturity and ability to continue backing yourself up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}> We still have the original language texts available, including the Apocrypha. Make your own judgement, I'll make mine.