Has anyone ever heard a Muslim defend this part of the koran

[Superman]

According the book of Sura, King Solomon once overheard a conversation between some ants. Now, you only have to skim through the koran once or twice to realize that it's just as silly as the Bible, and I would assume Muslims employ the same silly arguments to defend it, but has anyone ever heard a Muslim talk about this specific story? I'm kind of curious about this one.

This also begs the question; was Solomon was fluent in Ant, or were the ants themselves speaking in some form of ancient Hebrew?

[Darth Wong]

According the book of Sura, King Solomon once overheard a conversation between some ants. You only have to read through it once to know that the Koran is obviously just as silly as the Bible, and I would assume Muslims employ the same silly arguments to defend it, but has anyone ever heard a Muslim talk about this specific story? I'm kind of curious about this one.

This also begs the question; was Solomon was fluent in Ant, or were the ants themselves speaking in some form of ancient Hebrew?

I don't see how that's any sillier than a talking snake, talking shrubbery, or demonically possessed pigs.

[Stark]

It's certainly not mentioned in any 'Koran is totally infallible and predicted 99% of modern science' handouts I've recieved. It's -clearly- mistranslated anyway.

[Superman]

I don't see how that's any sillier than a talking snake, talking shrubbery, or demonically possessed pigs.

Oh, it's definitely not... But Muslims often point out those kinds of Biblical stories to "prove" that the Bible is full of "inaccuracies" while somehow "defending" the Koran at the same time. I guess I'm wondering if Muslims basically use the same kinds of goofball arguments that Christians use to defend their book. That and if anyone has heard a Muslim defend this particular story.

I know that every religion has their own particular book on how to properly worship their respective volcanoes. It just seems that, in my experience anyway, Islam isn't condemned for their own bullshit nearly as much as the Christians are for theirs.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I know that every religion has their own particular book on how to properly worship their respective volcanoes. It just seems that, in my experience anyway, Islam isn't condemned for their own bullshit nearly as much as the Christians are for theirs.

That's only so because Islam is not the primary concern for Western critics of religion. In Islamic countries, on the other hand, critical attitude towards the Koran will get you to trouble and there are not too many people who are critical of religion in them anyway.

[Superman]

That's only so because Islam is not the primary concern for Western critics of religion. In Islamic countries, on the other hand, critical attitude towards the Koran will get you to trouble and there are not too many people who are critical of religion in them anyway.

I was sort of thinking this also. I'm sure if Islam were as big as Christianity is in my part of the world, it would be called out more often.

[Surlethe]

Nitpick: "Sura" is the Islamic equivalent of "Book" in this context. So Sura 9 would be the ninth book, not the ninth chapter of the book "Sura".

[Superman]

Nitpick: "Sura" is the Islamic equivalent of "Book" in this context. So Sura 9 would be the ninth book, not the ninth chapter of the book "Sura".

Ohhh... thanks.

[hongi]

According the book of Sura, King Solomon once overheard a conversation between some ants. Now, you only have to skim through the koran once or twice to realize that it's just as silly as the Bible, and I would assume Muslims employ the same silly arguments to defend it, but has anyone ever heard a Muslim talk about this specific story?

No. Hey, maybe it's embarassing to them too.

I'd love someone to call them out on it, but I expect the response will be 'it's a miracle blah blah you heathens just don't understand'.

[Ford Prefect]

This also begs the question; was Solomon was fluent in Ant, or were the ants themselves speaking in some form of ancient Hebrew?

King Soloman had all sorts of kooky super powers: he had a personal slave army of powerful demons, had his own lightsaber, and if I recall correctly he could actually speak to and understand all living things.

[Darth Yoshi]

Solomon was the one who was offered a choice between two gifts and chose wisdom, right?

[Sarevok]

Nitpick: "Sura" is the Islamic equivalent of "Book" in this context. So Sura 9 would be the ninth book, not the ninth chapter of the book "Sura".

Sure about that ? Because the shortest suras. are about only 3-5 lines long.

Regarding Suleiman I think he could understand all animals and command them as well. It is talked about a lot in religious circles and people take it seriously and with respect instead of "lol crazy superpower".

[Littlefoot]

I know that every religion has their own particular book on how to properly worship their respective volcanoes. It just seems that, in my experience anyway, Islam isn't condemned for their own bullshit nearly as much as the Christians are for theirs.

Most Christians won't kill you for questioning their book. Granted, not all Muslims will either, but it is definitely dangerous to call them out on anything outside a western nation. In a nation ruled by Islamic Law, it could be deadly.

[Superman]

Most Christians won't kill you for questioning their book. Granted, not all Muslims will either, but it is definitely dangerous to call them out on anything outside a western nation. In a nation ruled by Islamic Law, it could be deadly.

That's true, but in all fairness, spending an hour or two listening to a Christian "argue" about things like miracles and creationism will probably make you long for a Muslim death squad to show up and you put you out of your misery.

[General Zod]

Most Christians won't kill you for questioning their book. Granted, not all Muslims will either, but it is definitely dangerous to call them out on anything outside a western nation. In a nation ruled by Islamic Law, it could be deadly.

I take it you missed the news items a year or two ago where a Danish cartoonist received death threats from Muslims for making fun of Mohammed? It's not even that safe in western nations.

[Littlefoot]

Most Christians won't kill you for questioning their book. Granted, not all Muslims will either, but it is definitely dangerous to call them out on anything outside a western nation. In a nation ruled by Islamic Law, it could be deadly.

I take it you missed the news items a year or two ago where a Danish cartoonist received death threats from Muslims for making fun of Mohammed? It's not even that safe in western nations.

Isn't he still alive?

That's true, but in all fairness, spending an hour or two listening to a Christian "argue" about things like miracles and creationism will probably make you long for a Muslim death squad to show up and you put you out of your misery.

Nothing so boring as a Christian fundy, nothing so terminal as an Islamic one.

[General Zod]

Most Christians won't kill you for questioning their book. Granted, not all Muslims will either, but it is definitely dangerous to call them out on anything outside a western nation. In a nation ruled by Islamic Law, it could be deadly.

I take it you missed the news items a year or two ago where a Danish cartoonist received death threats from Muslims for making fun of Mohammed? It's not even that safe in western nations.

Isn't he still alive?

The point is that it doesn't matter whether you're in an Islam nation or a western one, it's hardly "safe" to criticize their religion in anything but the most reverent of tones no matter where you're at.

[speaker-to-trolls]

I've never heard anyone bring up this bit, but I did once have a muslim guy explain to me that Muhammad split the moon in half and that when the Russians went to the moon (his words, he said the Apollo 11 landing was a fake as well) they saw a crack running the entire length of the Moons surface.

[Sarevok]

I've never heard anyone bring up this bit, but I did once have a muslim guy explain to me that Muhammad split the moon in half and that when the Russians went to the moon (his words, he said the Apollo 11 landing was a fake as well) they saw a crack running the entire length of the Moons surface.

There is also the conspiracy theory that when Neil Armstrong went to the moon he saw evidence of said cataclysmic event and converted to islam. What is sad is that you can find some educated people with big degrees who believe in such fantastic claims

[Surlethe]

Hey, guys, one-line contentless posts are not welcome. If I see one more in this thread, I will split all of them to the Hall of Shame.

Nitpick: "Sura" is the Islamic equivalent of "Book" in this context. So Sura 9 would be the ninth book, not the ninth chapter of the book "Sura".

Sure about that ? Because the shortest suras. are about only 3-5 lines long.

I meant like books in the Bible - in fact, the shortest book in the Bible is less than half a page long. The point is that a Sura is a type of division in the Koran, not the name of one particular division.

[Sarevok]

Ah ok then.

[Surlethe]

Molyneux's post induced me to split the "aquaman" tangent to the Hall of Shame. To repeat:

Hey, guys, one-line contentless posts are not welcome. If I see one more in this thread, I will split all of them to the Hall of Shame.

That extends to two- or three- or n-line contentless posts. If you're acknowledging something or wrapping up a discussion, that's fine. If you're just doing it to watch yourself type, that's not.

[Darth Wong]

I've never heard anyone bring up this bit, but I did once have a muslim guy explain to me that Muhammad split the moon in half and that when the Russians went to the moon (his words, he said the Apollo 11 landing was a fake as well) they saw a crack running the entire length of the Moons surface.

There is also the conspiracy theory that when Neil Armstrong went to the moon he saw evidence of said cataclysmic event and converted to islam. What is sad is that you can find some educated people with big degrees who believe in such fantastic claims

People need to understand that the scientific education system cannot possibly guarantee that 100% of graduates are guaranteed to be competent, honest, and rational for the rest of their lives. It's not really a shock that the occasional isolated person with a respectable degree has some delusional and/or idiotic beliefs. The fact is that they get checked by their peers and their detour into CrazyTown does not reflect on their entire profession.