So you don't believe in fairies? What about this Santa Claus fellow then, is he worth believing in?

Dear Polycarp,

This is becoming rather tedious,
and frankly I can see that I am
wasting my time.

However, I shall try just once more.

Surah 9 (The Ultimatum in many a Hadith is
the ninth chapter of the Qur'an, with 129
verses). This was revealed at the time of war.

I repeat, at the time of war. That is the
historic context to which I referred in my
earlier post. It is where Allah demands the Muslims
to fight under the conditions that existed.
To defend their homeland and
their faith. I made that quite clear to you in
my earlier post.

In the Qur'an 9:5, the famous Sword verse,
states,
"...but if they repent... then open the way for
them:...for Allah is...Most Merciful."

Again, I repeat, view things in their historic
context - don't simply select what suits you. And, Surah
2 and 9, were both revealed - at the time of war - where
Muslims were directed to fight.

Try viewing - behaviour in this light.
Then perhaps you may (or not) see the point
that I was trying to make in my last post.

Foxy! Again and again you prove to us the meaning of a balanced mind, and the percentage of your humanity is astronomical.

If people learn to have the feelings and heart that you do, this world is going to be alright.

P/S Iam dam sure your reading my mind.

Another gold star.

Daivd daivd daivd! That's all I can say to you.

EVO

Dear Foxy...

tedious it might be, but truth is worth it.

You said:

I repeat, at the time of war. That is the
historic context to which I referred in my
earlier post. It is where Allah demands the Muslims
to fight under the conditions that existed.
To defend their homeland and
their faith. I made that quite clear to you in
my earlier post.

Now..the true context for surah 9 was a war of MOHAMMAD'S MAKING. This is where it is different from Surah 2's social/historic conditions. If you read Maududi's commentary you would have seen this.
He was threatening ALL non Muslims with death if they did not convert. Yes..that is exactly what he was doing. Evidence?

You gave it yourself. "If they repent"... what is the obvious (and clearly stated) threat surrounding that?

1/ When the sacred months are past KILL THEM wherever you find them.
2/ IF...they repent (when you have your sword at their throat) then.. let them live.

Now.. Foxy.. apply that balanced mind of yours to those 2 simple facts.
No one with a shred of honesty will ignore the first issue "Kill them" and only focus on 'if they repent'... you cannot separate one from the other.

Let's put it differently.

INQUISITION 2 Now that we have attained power of State (we Christians) we will give atheists 2 months to think about their condition, then wherever we find them we will KILL every last Pericles and Morgan and Bugsy and anyone else who does not mouth the words "Jesus is Lord"..in which case we will allow them to live.

The most obvious part of that is that 'confessing with the mouth' has no connection with the heart, so you should realize something about the supposed revelation of Mohammad.. very supposed.
I don't know why you use the word 'revealed'... do you really think his message came from God?

So what about this Santa fella? I see his picture around every year, is he worth believing in? Does he actually make people act nicely?

Dear Polycarp,

Thank you
for taking the time and effort to
explain your point of view to me.

However, for me this discussion has
now run its course.

It saddens me that you have missed the
point that I've been trying to make to you
during this discussion of ours.

None of us can be responsible for other
people's actions. We can only be responsible
for our own.

Jesus taught, " You shall love your neighbour
as yourself... By loving them, you have loved me..."

He did not make any exclusions or specify that he was
only referring to Christians.

Take care,