From: rroy@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Raja R Roy)
Subject: Re: Idols RE: Why did Muhammad Break Temples
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 14:54:30 GMT

    Obviously, you don't know anything about Hinduism, or the the concept
 of "Atma" and "Paramatma". I will not go for any discussion here, because
 no-one cares about that. I want to point out one thing. In Islam, Allah
 is sacred and world is profane, and hence there can not be any represen-
 tation of Allah by any worldly thing. In Hinduism, adwait vedanta, which
 became most powerful among other hindu philosophies, world was claimed to
 be a manifestation of god itself, the difference arising due to ignorance.
 It is said that those who know don't see any world but god himself. Hence,
 God can be represented by anything in this world, because nothing is 
 profane or sacred in this world, according to Hinduism.
   My problem is not with the philosophies. The problem is who the f*** 
 you are to impose your philosophy on others. Who the f*** gave you the
 right to break temples? Breaking of other's places of worship has been
 characteristic of Islam right from the beginning starting with the prophet
 of Islam himself. You muslims did not feel the pain then, but now that
 power is no longer with muslims and your places of worship are being
 broken then you are crying hoarse. As you sow, so you reap. That is the
 law of nature.

 Raja   

>Ram was a representative of God here on earth, and he left when his job
>was done. Doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
>
>>meaning dead) god is dead (astaghfirullah)?   Or is one carnation of god dead
? 
>                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>                 Kindly translate
>
>>How can a carnation be dead and the thing itself be alive?  Can God die?  If
>>one does believe in God, then one knows that all things are in the hands of
>>God.  If God is dead (astaghfirullah), then the world should be in chaos.
>>   God is big enough that He is all-present.  Why then does He have to be
>>pinned down to an idol, thus limiting him?  Why does he have to be pinned dow
n
>>to a human being?  Is He so unsuccessful just "being" that He has to either p
ut
>>Himself into human or idol form?  
>
>I think you don't understand the meaning of idol worship. Just because
>your religious beliefs cause you to close your mind to an interpretation
>of faith different from yours.
>Heck, man, we don't pray to a piece of stone. We hindus pray to a
>representation of God that we chose to create in the only form
>coceivable to us .. one of man himself. Even the christians pray in
>front of a cross .. isn't it another form of idol worship ? If you
>cannot see God, what is the harm in representing Him in a form a human
>being can easily relate to ? 
>An idol is thus NOT considred God, but, merely an image of Him. 
>If a mosque that was already in disuse can symbolise the identity or
>whatever of Islam , then why not an idol symbolise God for Hindus ?
>Your mother probably looks at your photograph when she remembers you ?
>Is she guilty of photograph worship/affection ?..
>
>Praying in front of an idol is far more acceptable to me than would be
>the reading of namaaz in an eerie voice by the local mullah, and waking
>me up at five O' clock in the morning, not to say anything about
>disturbing the entire locality five more times in a day ..
>
>>   If you are interested in having an intellectual discussion rather than
>>a fighting session, respond with intellect and I will read what you have.  I
>>will respond but I do not wish to bite anyone's head nor have mine bitten,
>>thank you.  
>>   My other question is : why all this Islam bashing?  Muslims are being
>>bashed left and right but everyone fails to mention that the problem right no
w
>>is riots between both groups, Hindus and Muslims, not just Muslims beating
>>Hindus.  You've got angry people out there and they are responding emotionall
y. 
>>I've been hearing that Muslims are making the situation worse.  I don't think
>>it is just Muslims.  I think that it is all people.  Not just Hindus either. 
 I
>>will still say to the Muslims,
>> stand up for what you believe in, don't let anyone scare you
>>from your religion.  
>>   If people believe their religion (culture, society) should be
>>secular, then they have to abide by that when it concerns everyone not just
>>themselves.  Muslims don't believe in secularity, but when they live in 
>                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>I wish I could believe that your opinion is not representative of your
>community .. 
>
>>a secular environment, then it is logical to deman that the environment is
>>secular for everyone, not just secular
>
>Double standards ? Hypocrisy ?
>If we were to be a hindu theocracy in India, would you not ask for equal
>treatment for muslims ? Or is it only the prerogative of muslims to be
>non secular.
>
>
>> for the citizens and zealots for the minority.  Furthermore, before slamming
 a
>>religion along with its people, I would suggest that Muslims and non-Muslims
>>alike open the Quran and see what kind of words are preached in that.  Since
>>Islam is the Quran, you will see what the religion is really all about.
>
>I don't have the time or inclination to read the Quran. I believe you
>when you say it preaches good stuff. No one has ever denied it.
>Unfortunately, understanding and reading and practicing are three
>entirely different things.
>
>>   For anyone that is interested, I could post the letter written by Malik
>>al-Shabaz (Malcom X) to his home when he went to Hajj.  In that you can see t
he
>>love, fraternaty, and understanding that is preached by Islam.
>>Salam alaikum
>>Mariam
>
>Ruchir.
>-- 
>Ruchir Godura | godura@cis.udel.edu | (302) 292-0668 (H) (302) 831-1949 (W)
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