Twitter q/a

Some answer to twitter questions, as I’m completely unable to answer them in 140 characters. Keeping up with the discussion pace isn’t doable for me either, not at this moment anyway. They are the result of remarks/discussions on burqas.

@jurnan Why JESUS never declared “I am God” and u still call him God? Jesus doesn’t know Christ. What’s Christ?

Well the ‘why’ question is probably fairly easy to answer. It is because in 325 C.E. the clergy decided this for us. Tradition made sure it was passed on, at least in western cultures. In a strict sense, however, it is not so that you can call Jesus God. Only if you are a religious believer will you do so.

Historical evidence does not point to him as if he thinks he is God at all. All the ‘evidence’ we have for his words and life mostly stem from the four canonical gospels, and the Nag-Hammadi texts, found at Qumran. The texts of Nag-Hammadi were probably written at least two centuries after Jesus’ death, though Qumran is dated variedly from 250 BCE to 100 CE.

These all present a very divergent picture of Jesus’ life and words. Unlike many people these days believe, it is Christianity in its beginnings that is very divergent, not Christianity these days. Of course we have many different streams and interpretations, but that is something that has always been present. Any fool that says ‘we should go back to pure Christianity’ can therefore be mocked with my support.

@jurnan U did not reply why Christian nuns and Hindu women also cover their face?

No I didn’t.  but I’ll give it a try now. This is an excerpt from the New American Standard Bible. There are some differences between translations, but their message is quite the same.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head; for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.

^NAS 1 Corinthians 11:10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

That ought to explain why Christian nuns do so. It doesn’t explain why Hindu’s do so, but I’m sorry, I’m in no position to make any judgments on their motivations for wearing them at this stage. So please, maybe you will be able to explain it to me. If not, I’ll dig into my books; I have some laying around on Hinduism and Indian society.

@humourking Humanity can never hate each other. If u visit Muslim countries, u will find they are lovely, clean and hospitable people.

Yes, you will, likewise in probably other, non-Muslim, countries. I don’t believe in men as having a bad nature: Man has nature, and it is mostly one apt for social conventions and communities. It is not that which is at stake or at issue. It is those things which go against those very things – i.e. hatred towards other opinions, oppression and indoctrination etc- that should be discussed and, if possible, solved.

@jurnan It’s NOT social pressure any more. It has become a powerful political message to exercise once free will and choice.

It is a political message indeed, but a political message without social cooperation will die out sooner or later. For the very reason that it is a political message, I want it out of sight. As much as I think anyone should be free to express his or her own ideas, I wouldn’t want that to be at cost of minority liberties.

You can spot this trend in Switzerland, where they recently approved a ban of Islamic minarets. It’s not the minarets they oppose, as there are only a few. It is the message this building-addition carries with it: An Islamic tendency to think itself superior, to grant itself a prominent place on the horizon of everyone else.

@jurnan Islam preaches equality, modesty and universal brotherhood. Burqa is a social dress code adopted by Muslims inline with this prncpl.

I certainly do not agree with that. Just like the Jewish Torah, you will be able to put religious writing to any use you see fit. Islam does not preach universal brotherhood: It preaches brotherhood among Muslims. As you know, many Muslims see Muhammed as their example. Living like him, living up to his ideals, is what they like to aim for. As his word is also that has been written down in the Q’uran, if we may believe tradition (try Robert Spencer’s book “The Truth about Muhammed”), take a simple look at two fragments (there are many more):

That is because they believed, then they rejected Faith: So a

seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not.

When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and

when they speak, thou listenest to their words. They are as

(worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up, (unable to

stand on their own). (Qur’an 63:1-8)

And you’ll remember the ‘pigs and monkeys’ references so common in the Islamic world these days, directed at Jews:

As his armies approached the fortifications of the Qurayzah, Muhammad addressed them in terms that have become familiar usage for Islamic jihadists when speaking of Jews today—language that also made its way into the Qur’an: “You brothers of monkeys, has God disgraced you and brought His vengeance upon you?” The Qur’an in three places (2:62-65;5:59-60; and 7:166) says that Allah transformed the Sabbath-breaking Jews into pigs and monkeys. (Spencer, ‘the truth about Muhammed’, p129)

There isn’t much egalitarianism hidden  in there if you ask me. Not much brotherhood either.

@jurnan Define literacy.

I also got the question to define literacy. Defining is an exhaustive business; I will never be able to do it satisfactorily at it always leaves something out. Still, what is most relevant is that people who are literate are able to read for themselves. This means reading the Quran or other religious texts is no longer something that makes them depend on authorities in the crudest sense.

Something you see in Afghanistan for instance, where locals are unable to counter arguments or prescriptions because they simply don’t know what is true and what isn’t.  Can you imagine the strength of an argument when it is said to come from Allah’s prophet?

I’d fight America, or indeed any invader or opponent of the Taliban or institutions, if I, as a religious believer, thought it needed to be done because God wanted it done (hypothetical, naturally).