[jan in Colorado]

Islam and Christianity Ping!

[Fred Nerks]

Scholars Scrutinize the Koran's Origin: (snip)

http://www.corkscrew-balloon.com/02/03/1bkk/04b.html


"For example, the famous passage about the virgins is based on the word hur, which is an adjective in the feminine plural meaning simply "white." Islamic tradition insists the term hur stands for "houri," which means virgin, but Mr. Luxenberg insists that this is a forced misreading of the text. In both ancient Aramaic and in at least one respected dictionary of early Arabic, hur means "white raisin."

Mr. Luxenberg has traced the passages dealing with paradise to a Christian text called Hymns of Paradise by a fourth-century author. Mr. Luxenberg said the word paradise was derived from the Aramaic word for garden and all the descriptions of paradise described it as a garden of flowing waters, abundant fruits and white raisins, a prized delicacy in the ancient Near East. In this context, white raisins, mentioned often as hur, Mr. Luxenberg said, makes more sense than a reward of sexual favors..."

[Fred Nerks]

Did I ever tell you the joke about the three arabs and a camel?

[BayouCoyote]

Reporting for duty!