Posted on 06/13/2011 2:05:58 PM PDT by Baynative
Now that's different!
The Shia actually have a PERMANENT clergy. No Sunni organization has a PERMANENT clergy. Those fellows who are highly EDUMACATED In Islam, are actually LAWYER/PROSECUTOR/JUDGES in our way of understanding things, and they spend most of their time resolving civil actions, or, in countries that allow it, criminal actions (e.g. like Afghanistan where they still imagine they can execute people).
In the grand scheme of things, by our standards, Shia is more liberal than Sunni, but the Sunni get the better press ~
Actually, I was quoting the learned and compassionate (pseudo) cleric.
“Esau was always inclined to be violent and wrathful. “
Genesis 33 demonstrates your statement to be false.
The book of Genesis paints a less favorable picture of Jacob than it does Esau. Esau repents of his murderous inclinations towards his brother. However, Jacob still lies to his brother, he still behaves dishonorably.
The Edomites no longer exist. They have no bearing on contemporary events.
Precisely, and in response to the honor that Esau showed him, Jacob *still* acts dishonorably. Esau has repented. He shows Jacob grace.
Jacob has not repented of his sins against his brother. His decision to not accompany Esau to Seir and instead go to Shechem had disastrous consequences.
Right, but those with limited understanding of history and demographics want to classify all Arabs as descendants of Esau. Or possibly Ishmael, which is what the Arabs believe.
In actual fact, of course, any genetic material from either of these two guys is so vastly diluted by this point that it’s pretty meaningless.
“Right, but those with limited understanding of history and demographics want to classify all Arabs as descendants of Esau. Or possibly Ishmael, which is what the Arabs believe.”
Agreed. The Bible itself describes the Arabians as a separate and distinct group.
However, I hold that the Arabs are not descendants of Ishmael.
http://www.answering-islam.org/authors/cornelius/arabs.html
There are no doubt many Arabs descended from Esau and/or Ishmael, but so what?
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