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To: King Prout
Isn't that a matter of interpretation? I've heard both Muslims and Christians complain that some in their religion hold a more literal interpretation than others.

Jesus didn't say...."I'm only joking about cutting off your arm or plucking out your eye...but it wouldn't be a bad idea if it caused you to sin." However, some people claim that the passage is not literal. Who is to say? Admittedly, our Western culture is more temperate and liberal minded in these regards. But what about hundreds, thousands of years ago or in other places today outside of Western society?

44 posted on 05/24/2005 9:36:31 PM PDT by TNdandelion
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To: TNdandelion
Mohammed was a warrior. Jesus was a peacemaker. "Slay them whereever ye shall find them" versus "Turn the other cheek" and "Blessed are the Peacemakers" and "love your neighbor as yourself." The Old Testament is a little harsh? Well, yes, but Jesus made clear that "And eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was on the way out to be replaced with "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord" even though he was diplomatic about it.

The Koran is a blood soaked history of Mohammed giving it out. The only blood in the New Testament is really Jesus' taking it and not fighting back.

It is pretty clear what the general thrust of the founder of religion was.

A Christian cutting off the head of a man is doing so in contravention of Jesus' instructions. A Moslem doing so is fulfilling Mohammeds'. Christians who realize there may be necessity of war in this world have typically had to philosophize a justification to bend it around New Testament prohibitions on violence. Mohammedans have no need to bother with squaring their circles, for their holy book refers to the world as "Dar Ul Harb" or "Land of War" which it shall be in perpetuity until Islam has spread everywhere.

Interpretation of isolated passages is made easier by looking at the style and overall thrust of the text. Jesus spoke in parable and metaphor all the time, so when puzzled by a passage, see if the metaphorical interpretation makes it make more sense. When Jesus tells you to pluck your eye out, you simply look to see if he encouraged anyone around him actually to do this followed by his effusive praise. Since no one around Jesus was going about plucking eyes and Jesus didn't seem to upset by this, it's safe to say that he was being metaphorical. Contrast this with Mohammed saying, "Chop their heads off" followed by actual head chopping with Mohammed not being upset by the physical manifestation of his words. It gives you a clue that he was not being metaphorical.

Here endeth my crash course in Comparative Hermeneutics.

45 posted on 05/24/2005 10:15:44 PM PDT by caspera
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To: TNdandelion

short answer: no.


57 posted on 05/25/2005 8:08:48 AM PDT by King Prout (blast and char it among fetid buzzard guts!)
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