quote:

Originally posted by Adamo ALLAHU AKBARRRR

quote:

Originally posted by Esiotrat We're not assuming. It says so in the Koran! They're described as being eternally young, have big gorgeous eyes, a modest gaze, pure beings of amazing beauty and kindness blabladeebla.

I think it's important to mention and consider alternative perspectives to literalism concerning the matter of the 72 Virgins in particular, and the Houris in general, particularly as they are understood within the context of the Islamic mystical tradition of Sufism.

First, a quick snippet from a scholar on Arabic that I lifted from the Wiki entry on the subject (something I admittedly try to avoid doing, but it bears relevance here):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houri

quote:

Margaret Nydell states that mainstream Muslims regard this belief about 72 virgins in the same way that mainstream Christians regard the belief that after death they will be issued with wings and a harp, and walk on clouds.[64]

More significantly, this is an excerpt from The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values For Humanity, from the contemporary eminent Islamic scholar, philosopher, and Sufi Seyyed Hossein Nasr:

quote:

...in the West, certain critics of Islams sought to denigrate the Islamic paradise as nothing but a realm of sensual gratification in the same way that the paradise of the Native Americans was described as 'the happy hunting ground.' This childish and shallow criticism has now returned when the question of suicide bombers who are considered martyrs by their supporters comes up in the Western media. It is true that the Quran uses very concrete language to describe heaven and hell, a language that should not be strange in its concreteness, if not the specific symbols used, for those who are familiar with the Book of Revelation or the Divine Comedy. This concrete Quaranic language is, however, symbolic, and must not be taken only literally, although the literal meaning also has its significance. Now, the descriptions of paradise seems at first sight to be simply the sublimation of earthly pleasures, including sexuality. In reality, the reverse is true. Every legitimate experience of a pleasing nature here on earth is only a shadow and reflection of a paradisal reality. The most intense physical experience for the human being, which is sexual union, is a reflection of the union of the soul with God and reflects on its own level something of that supreme joy and expansion.

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Last edited by Paradox Lost on Dec-16-2010 at 07:45

it's really nice that god allows us to make up our own minds on what he "really meant" in his holy books. nothing like interpretation to start a new sect, law or war. good work god.

Terrorism is probably in severe decline in the UK, now the IRA have mostly ceased their activities.

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I wish they now formed the Lazy Irish Republican Army.

Just saying.

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Originally posted by Lira I wish they now formed the Lazy Irish Republican Army.

Kind of redundant, isn't it?

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He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

quote:

Originally posted by Paradox Lost Kind of redundant, isn't it?

But the acronym is much much better!

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quote:

Originally posted by Lira But the acronym is much much better!

We've been speaking to a LIRA spambot, this whole time.

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If Muslim youth could get a hamburger and some pussy, 99% of them would say, "fuck al-qaeda".

quote:

Originally posted by Comrade Stalin If Muslim youth could get a hamburger and some pussy, 99% of them would say, "fuck al-qaeda".

But still 1%, or 15,000,000 of them would embrace Al-Qaeda? Still that's a lot of Muslim terrorists. We need to add cheeseburgers and sushi to the menu. And throw in some ladyboys too.

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of course not

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