Magus55

The Gospel of Thomas, more authentic than the NT? Have anything to back that up?

Boro Nut

Yes. The gospel of St. Thomas. I think that's how the logic usually goes.

Boro Nut

Magus55

The Gospel of thomas is one writing/book. The Bible is 66 books. Some books of the Bible confirming other books of the Bible is the same thing as if you went to the book store, found 66 books on one topic, that all verified the claims made in each. Atheists seem clueless of what the Bible actually consists of. You seem to think it is ONE book, verifying itself. The Bible is 66 Individiual bibliographic sources. They were just all combined together for ease of reading so people didn't have to go buy 66 separate books.

River

This is not the place for " Biblical Criticism & History".

River

-Dr Rick

1)

"
He [Dhu’l-Qarnayn] followed, until he reached the setting of the sun. He found it set in a spring of murky water. (18:85-6)

Does it not imply that the earth is flat and be considered a scientific mistake?

Answer: The problem seems to have arisen due to an erroneous translation of the said verses. A correct translation is:
He [Dhu’l-Qarnayn] made ready his resources, until he reached the place where the sun sets. He found it as if it was setting in a spring of murky water. (18:85-6)

The setting of the sun in murky waters is a figurative portrayal. When one is standing on the shores where the sun sets, the scene is very much like what the verse says. It seems as if the sun is setting in murky waters. The style adopted by the Qur’an indicates that Dhu’l-Qarnayn had conquered all the known parts of the West at that time. He had reached the end of the known land territory and now only the expanse of water remained beyond it. It must be appreciated that the language of the Qur’an is highly literary and it often employs figurative styles and constructions to convey its meanings. If one does not have a literary taste, he fails to grasp the delicacy and elegance of such
styles. "http://www.renaissance.com.pk/novquer2y1.html


Qu'ran definitely has some sort of metaphorical component or spin-off groups such as Bahaii and Sikh beliefs couldnt have formed , since they were derived mainly of the metaphorical side of Islam. Well anyways....

This should have been pretty obvious from the other Quranic verse that said that the Day merged into the night.... ( without taking exceptions to consideration, since everything has exceptions). There is no talk about the sun merging into a body of water. We tend to forget that the arabs of 1400 years ago were not primitive . They were not cavemen. They had navigation systems and ways of following the stars. Islam relies heavily on mathematics. We have 5 appointed prayers a day . We utilise the lunar calendar . And have compasses to map out the Qibla ( direction) of Mecca. The arabs were never that dumb that they would think the sun would melt into the water. uhmmm. And if the Prophet said something that dumb...Islam would have been rejected point blank. Well to show you how sophisticated
the Quran is take a look at the following verse:


[THE SUN WILL EXTINGUISH AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD]

"And the Sun Runs its course For a period determined For it;
that is The decree of (Him) The exalted in Might, The All-Knowing."
[AI-Qur'an 36:38]*



2) Say, you choose to interpret the " Sun's Course" in Sura 36:38 as "orbit" rather than ...say period.....Do you really honestly believe the Quran believes this course to mean "the Sun's daily merging with water"....Sounds wonky, even by 7th century Arab standards, Whom according to you were sophisticated enough to develop Projectile Technology.

River

-Dr. Rick


3) Solomon probably communicated via Synesthesia. This is indeed, a scientific possibility.

River

-Dr Rick

4) I have read quite a bit about warfare at the time of the Prophet. I do not recall the Medinans, the Meccans or the Qur'ash possessing projectile technology. I do remember they used some unorthodox tactics such as employing ditches and elephants.

Kat_Somm_Faen

What about verses that call Moon a lamp and a light?

[10.5] He it is Who made the sun a shining brightness and the moon a light, and ordained for it mansions that you might know the computation of years and the reckoning. Allah did not create it but with truth; He makes the signs manifest for a people who

[25.61] Blessed is He Who made the constellations in the heavens and made therein a lamp and a shining moon.

[71.16] And made the moon therein a light, and made the sun a lamp?

...

He Who created the seven heavens, one above the other ...
And We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps ... (67:3,5)
And He completed them seven heavens in two days
and inspired in each heaven its command;
and We adorned the lower heaven with lamps,
and rendered it guarded... (41:12)

We have indeed adorned the lower heaven with the beauty of the stars. (37:6)

Do you not see how God has created the seven heavens
one above the other,
and made the moon a light in their midst,
and made the sun as a lamp? (71:15-16)

Is Moon a light source?

Demigawd

Projectile weapons include arrows, thrown rocks, catapults, ballista, etc. Are you ignorant of ancient technology or are you just being obtuse to obfuscate the rather slender limb you're out on in these discussions?

River

Well, the moon reflects light and thus serves as a light source during night time. So I guess it would be appropriate to call it a " lamp".