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..."
Lemme see if I got this straight, Fred. I thought they were beyond nuttiness before but you have opened up a whole new vista of the bizarre.
These half-baked barbarians are strapping bombs to themselves for 72 white raisins to be served up in a garden of flowing waters?
Drop in again sometime, Fred.