JosephZ said:

Anyone who has made a serious effort to study Islam knows that abrogation is a very complex and controversial subject. Very few verses found in the Qur'an have been agreed on as being abrogated among scholars, and of those that have, none override the verses that teach tolerance, coexistence, and peace. A far more important concept in understanding Islamic jurisprudence is puting things in historical and cultural context when reading any Islamic texts

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Only with modernist revisionism. As you seem to recognize down below.

JosephZ said:

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The Muslims that were being spoken to in the Qur'an and the classic scholars lived in a different culture, at a different point in time, and were facing unique situations. You can't read the Qur'an, hadiths, or the tasfirs from a modern perspective, you have to read them through a historical lens, if not, you will continue to misinterpret what they are saying.

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Are Muslims or are Muslims not supposed to imitate Muhammad as the ideal moral example for all humanity? how then can you claim that we have to understand him in his historical situation? And is the Qu'ran the timeless revelation of Allah or is it a contextual document intended only for those who were in the unique situation of 7th century Arabia?

JosephZ said:

The violent verses found in the Qur'an don't abrogate the verses of peace because of the context they were written in. There are certain situations where the verses of peace apply, and others where the verses of violence apply, therefore, each verse has a specific context and application. In other words, each verse in the Qur'an is to be applied to its appropriate situation. For example, when Qur'an 9:5 says "When the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush," it is dealing with a specific event at a point in history when Meccan pagans were breaking their peace treaties and declaring war on the Muslims, so that verse would not negate the peaceful verses in the Qur'an since it is very specific to it's intent and the point in history it was to be applied

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A claim that only arose in the 20th century among modernists, while all historic interpreters were agreed that they very much do.

JosephZ said:

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Neither the Qur'an nor the hadith can be properly interpreted without putting them into the historical and cultural context they were written in.

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A claim that is more modern attempts at whitewashing it into something it isn't.

JosephZ said:

According to Islamic teachings, Muslims are to emulate Muhammad's character traits like honesty, compassion, and humility and his ethical principles. Muslims understand the historical context in which the Qur'an was written. They see his actions as a warrior to have been appropriate for situations Muslims faced in the 7th century and not as mandates for Muslims to follow in 2025.

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Another white-washing and nothing more.

JosephZ said:

You do realise that Muslims also had to pay taxes (zakāt)? And the tax was for the betterment of society as a whole. Would it be fair for non-Muslims to live in an Islamic state and receive all of the benefits and protections offered by that state without any contribution to the costs involved?

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With humiliation? The issue isn't "taxes' it's that jizya is designed to humiliate the people paying it and make their second class status clear.

JosephZ said:

In very simple terms, Dar al Islam (House of Islam) historically was a Muslim land with a Muslim government where Islamic law governed. Dar al Harb (House of War) was a land not under an Islamic government or Islamic law, which was openly hostile towards Muslims. Since there are no countries or states that fit these definitions today, the terms are no longer used by Muslims for the most part.

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there was no "openly hostile" requirement. It is either under islamic control or is "at war" for not being subjugated. You can't whitewash it when there was no 3rd option.

JosephZ said:

The only people who talk about jizyah, abrogation, the division of the world into dar-al-Islam and dar-al-harb, and cite Qur'an 9:29 as an open-ended command to Muslims to fight until the end of time today are Islamic extremists and anti-Islamic propagandists. So when someone like yourself presents Islam the way you have in this thread and others, it's clear to me, as someone who has a strong background in Islam, that your understanding of this religion comes from those sources and not the actual teachings and understanding of Islam that the vast majority of the world's Muslims adhere to.

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I prefer Islamic fundamentalists to calling them "extremists" because they are simply practicing the religion in its purest form. Speaking the truth about Islamic jurisprudence and history isn't "anti-Islamic propaganda" it's not giving in to Islamic pressure and accusations for the sake of political correctness.

rebornfree said:

We're praying in Church, for it not to become law, and I've written to my MP twice, urging him to vote against it. I know others have written too. There are some of us in England and Wales who see the dangers of it going ahead, including many medical personnel and disability groups.

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continued prayers the UK does the right thing and protects the most vulnerable!

Maria Billingsley said:

My opinion on this article:

The push to display the Ten Commandments, while respecting them as a moral foundation, misses the central point of the Christian faith. It would be better to feature the Beatitudes, as these teachings from Jesus Christ of Nazareth truly represent the New Covenant's emphasis on mercy, humility, and the spirit of discipleship.


Matthew 5:3–10
* “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
* Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
* Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
* Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
* Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
* Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
* Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

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I agree. Not to mention, there are different versions of the 10 Commandments.

Did NYC break world record for real estate listings after Mamdani's win?​

Originated as Satire

Thanks for sharing.

I thought in the UK it was normal to have prayer in public schools because they had a state religion? The more you know!

Michie said:

Elective abortion is always wrong not only because the Church says so but because I have always believed that as a Christian.

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Amen. It's slaughter of the most innocent. Selfish and cruel. Anyone who kills their own child in the name of choice deserves the wrath of God.

Michie said:

Comedian Bill Maher denounced the Left's embrace of gender ideology earlier this week and claimed many on his side of the political spectrum are not scientifically sound.

During a discussion with fellow comedian Patton Oswalt on Maher's "Club Random" podcast, which aired Monday, the two discussed the post-election soul-searching among Democrats, with Oswalt pushing back against the notion that Democrats have veered too far to the political fringe.

Oswalt suggested that the widespread notion that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is "too far left" shows the country is "broken," adding that the U.S. is still reeling from having "freaked out" over the election of former President Barack Obama.

Continued below.

Bill Maher blasts Left for having 'freaked out' over gender ideology: 'That's not scientific'

Comedian Bill Maher denounced the Left s embrace of gender ideology earlier this week and claimed many on his side of the political spectrum are not scientifically sound

www.christianpost.com

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It's more sociological than anything. How people expresses themselves change with the times. Nothing new here, and that certainly relates to gender and gender expression.

Andrew Paul Johnson, 44, was arrested in Tennessee in August and extradited to Florida on charges of lewd/lascivious molestation, lewd/lascivious exhibition and transmission of material harmful to a minor.

The child said he confronted Johnson, who apologized and told the child not to tell anyone "since he would get in trouble," the affidavit says. Johnson mailed the child an iPhone "and told him to keep it a secret," the document alleges.

The sheriff's office said in the affidavit that Discord messages showed Johnson sneaking to the child's home to take him food and hang out with him. He also told the child that "since he was pardoned for storming the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, and he was being awarded $10,000,000 as a result of being a ‘jan 6’er’ ... that he would be putting him in his ‘will’ to take any money he had left over," according to the affidavit.

Court documents from [the Jan 6] case said Johnson, who referred to himself as "American Terrorist" and "Proud j6er," engaged in "disorderly and disruptive conduct" for more than four hours.

eleos1954 said:

"Note that Vance has not suggested coercion or ultimatum. In fact, he has explicitly rejected force, saying, “But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me.”

He is correct with this ... they have chosen to not make it a stumbling block ... I am certain he prays for her continuously

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Amen. He wants her salvation which is admirable. IMHO.

"Feeling" God's presence is not important. Faith is not based on feelings. Sounds like some people were not properly taught Christianity, which is really unfortunate. God is always there, regardless of our "feelings." God is faithful.

Praying for a revival for both the United States and Canada

Maybe it will change when they get older? Considering having children is a biological instinct that one cannot ignore. Just my two cents.

Lord, protect your faithful!

essentialsaltes said:

In a video of a sermon he gave, Yosef claims that the messiah will come in 15 years and that 200 years after that, the world will end.

I thought YEC in Judaism was relatively rare. I mean this one guy doesn't make it common, but if his party is behind that, it represents about a tenth of the knesset.

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Interesting. I don't know much about ultra-orthodox Jewish people, but I know they are rather insular, and think those who aren't ultra-orthodox aren't truly Jews.

Natalie Greene, 26, of Ocean City was charged with one count of conspiracy to convey false statements and hoaxes and one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement.

Late at night on July 23, 2025, Greene’s co-conspirator called 911 and reported that she and Greene had been attacked by three men when they were out walking on a trail at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township. According to the co-conspirator, during the attack, the men had called Greene by name and had specifically referenced her employment with Federal Official 1, an official whose identity is known to the Government.

When law enforcement officers located Greene, she was lying in a wooded area just off the trail, with her hands and feet bound together with black zip ties. Greene’s shirt was pulled over her head and was also tied with a black zip tie. Greene had numerous lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder. The words “TRUMP [STRUMPET]” were written on her stomach and the words “[Federal Official 1] IS RACIST” were written on her back. Greene was crying and yelling that one of her alleged attackers had a gun.

[But this was not true.] Greene had paid a body modification/scarification artist to deliberately cut the lacerations on her face, neck, upper chest, and shoulder

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Many people are saying she was a staffer of Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ). Warning, the lacerations are pretty nasty.

stevevw said:

I have been thinking about the current political claimte and how people are being cancelled and even killed for their views. Is street preaching or declaring the gospel in public now a dangerous occupation.

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It can be. if anything, some people are annoyed by it and will harass and embarrass preachers.

Yarddog said:

I've never had a negative experience with the Eucharist. I have received miraculous healing though.

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Amen, brother!

Nithavela said:

I will admit that the middle east is looking a bit better than usual, if you put a screen in front of the piles of corpses the israeli army is still creating during the current "cease fire".

Lebanon says Israeli strike killed 13 people near Palestinian refugee camp

The Israeli military says it targeted Hamas members "operating in a training compound", which Hamas rejected as "fabrication and lies".

www.bbc.com

But I don't think this moves the needle enough to make up for Trump's failures in other regards.

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Of course not.

Trump has a well-deserved worst approval rating ever.

JohnB445 said:

I have only gambled very small amount of money $2, the excitement of the chance to win big was there, I wasn't really disappointed it was $2 not enough to buy a bag of chips these days. I figured i'm not lucky and moved on.

I can see how it can develop into a problem with people gambling excessive amounts of money, and they are devastated. But what about gambling such small amount of money it has no effect at all to the person who lost?

Could a Christian also ever be involved in the gambling business? Although some people move on, for others it destroys lives and they wished they never gambled. or is gambling seen as a legitimate business just like farmers?

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In my opinion, not necessarily. But if it gets to the point where they spend too much money and can no longer support themselves and their families- it can be. It can also be an addiction.

Memento mori- remember death. Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 4.

chevyontheriver said:

The good cardinal may not be able to comprehend this sage advice. Prayers that he may.

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Amen, brother!

His grace and peace to you!

Lord, heal your son Jakeb.

Lord, protect your servant from the enemy.

Gracious Father,

Have mercy on your daughter. Watch over and protect her, and restore her to health and strength.

Thank you for hearing my prayer.

Amen!

ChubbyCherub said:

Hello all,

Can I ask that you please direct me to some scripture or lead me in prayer re: a debilitating fear I have had my whole life - carcinophobia.

It is a distracting phobia that robs me of my joy in life and distracts me from Christ due to anxiety, worry, fear, rumination etc.

Thank you all for your help, as always, God bless.

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May God fill you with the peace the world cannot give! May he keep you in the palm of his hand!