Comments on: If You Can’t Beat’em… http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:51:44 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: balbulican http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129560 balbulican Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:48:33 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129560 I did pass along the information to my friends, who are both amused and appalled by this little neocon blogger charade (they're not quite as used to URQ blog-games and online Muslim hate as I am). Semir was initial interested in the notion of a Muslim organization trying to reform Islam: he was quickly disabused of that notion. I may indeed request blog access when these current exchanges run their course. All options are open.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129560','balbulican'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129560','balbulican','I did pass along the information to my friends, who are both amused and appalled by this little neocon blogger charade (they\'re not quite as used to URQ blog-games and online Muslim hate as I am). Semir was initial interested in the notion of a Muslim organization trying to reform Islam: he was quickly disabused of that notion. \r\n\r\nI may indeed request blog access when these current exchanges run their course. All options are open.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I did pass along the information to my friends, who are both amused and appalled by this little neocon blogger charade (they’re not quite as used to URQ blog-games and online Muslim hate as I am). Semir was initial interested in the notion of a Muslim organization trying to reform Islam: he was quickly disabused of that notion.

I may indeed request blog access when these current exchanges run their course. All options are open.

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]]> By: doug newton http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129549 doug newton Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:19:30 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129549 Balbulican said

“Excellent. I shall request blog access immediately (since I’m definitely against violence and terrorism and all that bad stuff), and I shall pass along the membership information to my Muslim friends.”

Why don’t you just do what you said you wanted to do?
They seem quite willing to accommodate both you and your friends.

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]]> By: balbulican http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129540 balbulican Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:34:34 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129540 I'm sorry...you've failed to point out my "misstatement" again. Care to try once more?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129540','balbulican'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129540','balbulican','I\'m sorry...you\'ve failed to point out my \"misstatement\" again. Care to try once more?'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’m sorry…you’ve failed to point out my “misstatement” again. Care to try once more?
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]]> By: Muslims Against Sharia http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129537 Muslims Against Sharia Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:14:35 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129537 We ask readers to point out verses that "promote violence, divisiveness, religious or gender superiority, bigotry, or discrimination," which means that they could not have come from God, because the Koran speaks against those concepts and God cannot contradict himself. You should stop making assumptions when you have access to facts.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129537','Muslims Against Sharia'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129537','Muslims Against Sharia','We ask readers to point out verses that \"promote violence, divisiveness, religious or gender superiority, bigotry, or discrimination,\" which means that they could not have come from God, because the Koran speaks against those concepts and God cannot contradict himself. You should stop making assumptions when you have access to facts.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> We ask readers to point out verses that “promote violence, divisiveness, religious or gender superiority, bigotry, or discrimination,” which means that they could not have come from God, because the Koran speaks against those concepts and God cannot contradict himself. You should stop making assumptions when you have access to facts.
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]]> By: balbulican http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129535 balbulican Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:31:07 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129535

““They’re inviting the world to edit the Koran to remove anything that anyone finds offensive.”

That is quite a misstatement.

Is it? Gosh, here’s exactly what you said – to the world at large, as far as I can tell:

“If you find verses in the reformed version of the Koran that promote violence, divisiveness, religious or gender superiority, bigotry, or discrimination, please let us know the number of the verse and the reason why it should be removed. Please email your suggestions to koran-AT-reformislam.org.”

So the “misstatement” bit would be…?

As for the blog access request…actually, in terms of drawing attention to your actual structure, membership and intent, I don’t think that will be necessary. But thanks, it’s good to know that remains an option.

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]]> By: Muslims Against Sharia http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129534 Muslims Against Sharia Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:20:37 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129534 “They’re inviting the world to edit the Koran to remove anything that anyone finds offensive.”

That is quite a misstatement. We believe that God is infallible and good. If two verses in the Koran contradict each other, at lest one of them did not come from God. When one of them says that human life is precious and the other says ‘kill them [infidels] wherever you find them” it’s not hard to figure out which one did not come from God.

PS
Still waiting for that blog access request.

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]]> By: James Bow http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129521 James Bow Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:03:30 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129521 Actually, if you are looking for alternatives to "Revelation", might I suggest my wife's book of ecclesiastical poetry, "Seal up the Thunder". http://vividpieces.net/seal_up_the_thunder.shtml<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129521','James Bow'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129521','James Bow','Actually, if you are looking for alternatives to \"Revelation\", might I suggest my wife\'s book of ecclesiastical poetry, \"Seal up the Thunder\".\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/vividpieces.net\/seal_up_the_thunder.shtml'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Actually, if you are looking for alternatives to “Revelation”, might I suggest my wife’s book of ecclesiastical poetry, “Seal up the Thunder”.

http://vividpieces.net/seal_up_the_thunder.shtml

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]]> By: James Bow http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129517 James Bow Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:15:31 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129517 Seconded.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129517','James Bow'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129517','James Bow','Seconded.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Seconded.
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]]> By: Throbbin http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129514 Throbbin Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:26:10 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129514 We can replace Genesis with The Origin of Species. Anyone opposed?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129514','Throbbin'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129514','Throbbin','We can replace Genesis with The Origin of Species. Anyone opposed?'); return false;">Quote</a></div> We can replace Genesis with The Origin of Species. Anyone opposed?
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]]> By: balbulican http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129510 balbulican Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:40:03 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129510 Okay, Revelations is Out. What are you willing to pay us to slip in a chapter of "<a href="http://www.wandsandworlds.com/blog1/2007/11/book-review-fathom-five.html" rel="nofollow">Fathom Five</a>" to replace it?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129510','balbulican'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129510','balbulican','Okay, Revelations is Out. What are you willing to pay us to slip in a chapter of \"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wandsandworlds.com\/blog1\/2007\/11\/book-review-fathom-five.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">Fathom Five<\/a>\" to replace it?'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Okay, Revelations is Out. What are you willing to pay us to slip in a chapter of “Fathom Five” to replace it?
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]]> By: James Bow http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129509 James Bow Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:35:21 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129509 The Book of Revelation. Almost didn't make the cut at the council that first set up the Bible. And I think that my religion could be substantially improved if we just kicked the that book to the curb.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129509','James Bow'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129509','James Bow','The Book of Revelation. Almost didn\'t make the cut at the council that first set up the Bible. And I think that my religion could be substantially improved if we just kicked the that book to the curb.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> The Book of Revelation. Almost didn’t make the cut at the council that first set up the Bible. And I think that my religion could be substantially improved if we just kicked the that book to the curb.
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]]> By: Throbbin http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129506 Throbbin Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:07:43 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129506 I love the idea of adding stuff. I think WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING should be appended to both the Bible and the Koran, and why not the Torah too?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129506','Throbbin'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129506','Throbbin','I love the idea of adding stuff. I think WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU\'RE EXPECTING should be appended to both the Bible and the Koran, and why not the Torah too?'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I love the idea of adding stuff. I think WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING should be appended to both the Bible and the Koran, and why not the Torah too?
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]]> By: Karen http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129505 Karen Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:58:11 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129505 I say we put back the books of the Bible that the grayheads chose to leave out, too.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129505','Karen'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129505','Karen','I say we put back the books of the Bible that the grayheads chose to leave out, too.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I say we put back the books of the Bible that the grayheads chose to leave out, too.
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]]> By: balbulican http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129504 balbulican Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:40:07 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129504 Me, I'd start by cutting out 2 Kings 2, 23, where a bunch of little kids laugh at Ezekiel, calling him "bald head); and to teach the naughty kids a lesson, God sends two she-bears to rend forty two children into bloody bits. Now, I'm all for discipline, anhd God knows kids can be annoying, but that, to me, has always had the wrong kind of optics. But you raise an interesting point, Brother Stageleft. If our friends at MAS think its cool to REMOVE material from the Koran (and presumably everyone else's sacred scriptures), is it fair ball to start ADDING stuff too? Stuff Allah, or Jehovah, or Krishna WOULD have said if they had just had a bit more time?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129504','balbulican'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129504','balbulican','Me, I\'d start by cutting out 2 Kings 2, 23, where a bunch of little kids laugh at Ezekiel, calling him \"bald head); and to teach the naughty kids a lesson, God sends two she-bears to rend forty two children into bloody bits. Now, I\'m all for discipline, anhd God knows kids can be annoying, but that, to me, has always had the wrong kind of optics. \r\n\r\nBut you raise an interesting point, Brother Stageleft. If our friends at MAS think its cool to REMOVE material from the Koran (and presumably everyone else\'s sacred scriptures), is it fair ball to start ADDING stuff too? Stuff Allah, or Jehovah, or Krishna WOULD have said if they had just had a bit more time?'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Me, I’d start by cutting out 2 Kings 2, 23, where a bunch of little kids laugh at Ezekiel, calling him “bald head); and to teach the naughty kids a lesson, God sends two she-bears to rend forty two children into bloody bits. Now, I’m all for discipline, anhd God knows kids can be annoying, but that, to me, has always had the wrong kind of optics.

But you raise an interesting point, Brother Stageleft. If our friends at MAS think its cool to REMOVE material from the Koran (and presumably everyone else’s sacred scriptures), is it fair ball to start ADDING stuff too? Stuff Allah, or Jehovah, or Krishna WOULD have said if they had just had a bit more time?

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]]> By: stageleft http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/comment-page-1/#comment-129503 stageleft Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:24:38 +0000 http://www.stageleft.info/2008/01/15/if-you-cant-beatem/#comment-129503 I've been thinking about this rewriting of the Qur'an and have come to the conclusion that it's a wonderful idea that should be extended to other religious texts, like the bible for instance. Critical review by those without an emotional stake in the process (that being a group of non-Christians) would, I have no doubt, only benefit future generations don't you think? Lets start with Matthew 5:28 <blockquote>But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.</blockquote> My suggestion would be But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her <strike>hath committed adultery with her already in his heart</strike> is probably a normal guy, and verily I say unto you, dirty thoughts alone will not result in your eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell. In our next discussion we'll work on the definition of adultery.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('129503','stageleft'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('129503','stageleft','I\'ve been thinking about this rewriting of the Qur\'an and have come to the conclusion that it\'s a wonderful idea that should be extended to other religious texts, like the bible for instance.\r\n\r\nCritical review by those without an emotional stake in the process (that being a group of non-Christians) would, I have no doubt, only benefit future generations don\'t you think?\r\n\r\nLets start with Matthew 5:28\r\n\r\n<blockquote>But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\nMy suggestion would be\r\n\r\nBut I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her <strike>hath committed adultery with her already in his heart<\/strike> is probably a normal guy, and verily I say unto you, dirty thoughts alone will not result in your eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell.\r\n\r\nIn our next discussion we\'ll work on the definition of adultery.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’ve been thinking about this rewriting of the Qur’an and have come to the conclusion that it’s a wonderful idea that should be extended to other religious texts, like the bible for instance.

Critical review by those without an emotional stake in the process (that being a group of non-Christians) would, I have no doubt, only benefit future generations don’t you think?

Lets start with Matthew 5:28

But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

My suggestion would be

But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart is probably a normal guy, and verily I say unto you, dirty thoughts alone will not result in your eternal damnation in the fiery pits of hell.

In our next discussion we’ll work on the definition of adultery.

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