Thou Shalt Not Draw

frontpagemag.com ^ | Dec 21, 2005 | Robert Spencer

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I kind of have to wonder how good the book would be if the author didn't know that images of Mohammed were forbidden. I mean, how deep was his research into Mohammed and Islam if he missed that one?

There was a movie out some years ago called "The Message," aka "Mohammed, Prophet of God." Anthony Quinn was in it. Mohammed was a character in the movie too, but you never saw him or, if I recall correctly, heard him speak. When he was "in" a scene, you would know because the other characters would address him by looking into the camera. Actually, it wasn't a bad film.

To be honest, I'm with the Muslims on this one. As a Christian who is often tired of how non-Christians portray my religion, I can understand how Muslims might be upset with the way non-Muslims portray theirs. It is not, as some in the article claim, an issue of "free speech" or "democracy." It is an issue of religious sensibilities that they do not understand or that they simply refuse to respect. The author can still publish the book -- unillustrated.

[BenLurkin]

[Hank Rearden]

Actually - The Ten Commandments say the same thing. . . . . . . I wonder why we Christians or Jews don't pay attention to that particular commandment?

Because it always strikes people of normal intelligence as a stupid idea or ridiculous mistranslation?

There were images of people created long before Moses.

[Hank Rearden]

As a Christian who is often tired of how non-Christians portray my religion, I can understand how Muslims might be upset with the way non-Muslims portray theirs.

And the fun part is: we're just warming up. Screw the Moos.

[Kidan]

But you are forgetting the next part of that commandment:

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: "



It's not the making of the graven image (idol, sculpture), or likness that is bad, but rather a graven image that you bow down to worship.

[SolidRedState]

Actually - The Ten Commandments say the same thing. The commandment does NOT say that you shouldn't make false idols - it DOES say that you should not make "any graven image" or "any likeness of anything " in heaven, on earth or in the sea.

But, taken in context with the rest of that says not to make them and then bow down to them.

The text, as translated in the King James Version of the Bible, reads: 3: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." 4: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5: "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. 6: "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

It's all about context.

[orionblamblam]

> It's not the making of the graven image (idol, sculpture), or likness that is bad, but rather a graven image that you bow down to worship.

That's not the way it's written. If "don't bow down" was the intent, that's what it would've said. But it said more than that: it was quite clear that simply making a "graven image" is badness all unto itself.

[SolidRedState]

Sorry Kidan, you posted while I was still typing. Kindred souls I guess, huh?

[OSHA]

If a picture is a sin and a picture is worth a thousand words then i guess a good description is OK up to 999 words.

[Lucky Dog]

It is an issue of religious sensibilities that they do not understand or that they simply refuse to respect.

It is, indeed, an issue of religious sensibilities. My religious sensibilities do not extend to following Muslim commandments of any kind. Frankly, I am offended that they are offended.

They certainly have the right to object using their free speech. However, they do not have the right to infringe upon my free speech as long as I am not advocating violent overthrow of the government or committing slander or libel. (By the way, expressing what is clearly identified as a personal "opinion" is never slanderous or libelous.)

[orionblamblam]

Well, you'll get some purgatory for any description longer than a grunt.

[TheDon]

Iconoclasm

[Billthedrill]

Lordloveaduck! Whatinellizzat?

[airborne]

Found one!

[Alouette]

Cartoons are here

[Tokra]

Which one is she? The one with the tail or in the bikini?

The one with the tail - I don't think I could survive seeing Helen Thomas in a bikini!

[raygun]

Why doesn't he just take a picture of Muhammed's likeness carved above the entrance to the Supreme Court. There've been many objections to that, but each has been struck down: "its an image nothing more (get over it)." Gavel slam.

[bayouranger]

Thanks!

I prefer Hannah Barbara, but they'll do.

[ViLaLuz]

OH...MY...GAAAG!

[fallujah-nuker]

You expressed an interest?