Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Meletus; american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...
In case you may have missed this, I am reposting a link to a fascinating article written by a German professor. Like anyone who has ever struggled to understand the origin of the incomprehensible, this professor set out to study the original language of the Koran, much like serious students study the original languages of the Bible - Koine Greek, Aramaic, etc.

Do not be mislead by the title of this article!

Read it through! A German scholar of ancient languages takes a new look at the sacred book of Islam. He maintains that it was created by Syro-Aramaic speaking Christians, in order to evangelize the Arabs. And he translates it in a new way. The author of the most important book on the subject - a German professor of ancient Semitic and Arabic languages - preferred, out of prudence, to write under the pseudonym of Christoph Luxenberg. A few years ago, one of his colleagues at the University of Nablus in Palestine, Suliman Bashear, was thrown out of the window by his scandalized Muslim students. That alone should indicate that he was on the path to resolving the 'incomprehensible'. Here it is:

The Virgins and the Grapes: the Christian Origins of the Koran

47 posted on 08/20/2006 4:06:33 PM PDT by NYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; afraidfortherepublic; Alas; al_c; american colleen; annalex; ...


51 posted on 08/20/2006 4:20:16 PM PDT by Coleus (I Support Research using the Ethical, Effective and Moral use of stem cells: non-embryonic "adult")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

To: NYer

You have to be carefull about that stuff. There is a flaw with his thoery, and that is, he assumes, and takes the word of muslim scolars that the Koran was a written book in Arabic during mohammads time.
This isn't true. Arabic wasn't a written language during Mohammads time. Syriac was the local language during mohammads time, with Arabic just developing verbally, and also differently among the nomadic bedoin tribes in the region. He bases his theory on the earliest known written arabic which didn't appear for another 400 years after Mohammad. There are also many Islamic myths/tales, the validity of which he doesn't take into account. This is a work in progress and early conclusions shouldn't be drawn just yet. Note that the information on link you provide is
already a couple years old and not updated.



63 posted on 08/20/2006 5:11:21 PM PDT by Nathan Zachary
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

To: NYer

Islam has often been considered a Christian heresy and often been considered a Jewish heresy. Basically, it was a syncretist creation of its pagan founder, who revised it a couple of times with convenient visions when it wasn't getting him what he wanted (more booty). Islam is a cult, creating its own closed world with its own delirious and irrational standards, behaviors and society, just like the cult in California where all those nuts killed themselves after filling their pockets with quarters to call home from outer space.

But Islam was a cult that happened to come along at a time when the world was ripe for cults and there was no authority left in that geographical region strong enough to stifle it at birth. This is one of the very good reasons that the Church exercises authority in matters of faith. Had the Church stamped out Islam many centuries ago, it would have been to the benefit of us all. This shows the importance of objective truth and the value of authority.


67 posted on 08/20/2006 6:01:48 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

To: NYer

Interesting link in post #47. Did the Vatican have a hand in creating Islam?


71 posted on 08/20/2006 7:08:04 PM PDT by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

To: NYer
Who was evangelizing who? I read a book, I believe was published in 1936, that said that Christianity was flourishing in Arabia before Mohamed came along and that he must have been influenced by it. Mohamed was an attendant of caravans and made many commercial trips to Syria and he could have picked up their language and been exposed to Christianity and Judaism. So, it is believed that Islam actually borrowed ( or should I say "hijacked") a lot of ideas from Christianity AND Judaism too. I'm curious, does this German author say anything about the Koran's Jewish roots? I guess when the muslims figured out that this doctrinal bait and switch wasn't going to work, they just decided to conquer the infidel instead.

Many have believed for a long time now, that Islam is actually a Christian heresy. Nothing new here. This guy could be just trying to sell books with an old story with a revised thesis. I guess I just don't like the title, because I know about the self hate that Europeans have for the West. I'm afraid Christianity will be blamed for Islamic fanaticism. And that would be really wrong.

74 posted on 08/20/2006 7:48:31 PM PDT by virgil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

To: NYer
The Virgins and the Grapes: the Christian Origins of the Koran

Read & Saved
79 posted on 08/21/2006 3:26:45 AM PDT by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Give Them Liberty Or Give Them Death! - IT'S ISLAM, STUPID! - Islam Delenda Est! - Rumble thee forth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson