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Bernard Lonergan a Catholic theologian says Trinity is without understanding but he also says God is utterly simple.

Kirby Hopper Well that makes a whole lot of sense now doesn’t it?

Leon Taylor-Hargreaves Shalom Aleichem! Let trinitarians believe in their trinity concept. God allots to the goyim their idols and false concepts of G-d but Israel is G-ds portion(Devraim32:8). The trinity dogma is the result of centuries of philosophical speculation on the nature of G-d and Messiah. The so called ”church fathers” and theologians interpreted scripture from the perspective of Plato, Socrates, Heraclitus, Aristotle etc. They did not recognise or understand the Hebraic mindset which is the foundation of the Tanakh, Besorah(Gospels) and the Netzarim Ketuvim(apostolic writings). It was inevitable that they reached the conclusion of a tri-personal god dogma. Constantine needed a standard doctrine of God in order to unite the divergent factions in Christendom. Trinitarianism eventually won, sending the other major competitor(Arianism) for the hearts and minds of the faithful into obscurity. Once begun, the church could never reverse the downward trajectory it was on. Under the Gentiles, nascent Christianity moved from absolute monotheism, a fully human ”Jesus”, notional pre-existence etc, towards a compromised monotheism. When all theological debates end, all threats and intimidation fails, trinitarian apologists resort to their walled city. And that walled city is that the trinity is an incomprehensible mystery. Hebraics aren’t concerned about scoring points and winning debates. We concern ourselves with living, faith, good deeds, teshuvah, following and practicing the teachings of Rav Yeshua ben Yosef. It is about treating others fairly, justice, right doing, loving even our enemies, forgiving, building a society that shares and cares. Our energies and talents are more useful in those areas than trying to prove that we are superior in knowledge to others. Deeds are more important than creeds.

Ishmael Abraham We call him Yeshua bin Maryam

Leon Taylor-Hargreaves To those of us of Ebionite/Nazarene persuasion, Yeshua is the son of both Yosef and Miriyam, his biological parents. He grew up in a normal Jewish family, had siblings, learnt Torah, attended synagogue, kept the festivals, was bar mitzvah’d, cried, laughed, played and lived like any normal child would. He was declared the son of G-d(a Messianic title) at his baptism. The Tanakh gives us 3 classes of messiahs(anointed ones), prophets, priests and kings. Yeshua was begotten from the dead to become the first born of a new creation that would inherit the Kingdom(Malkuth ha Elohim). Eternal life is entered only through resurrection from the dead. That is the pillar and foundation of our faith. A man was anointed by YHVH(Baruch haShem Adonai), a man was executed for proclaiming righteousness and the Kingdom of G-d, a man was raised up from the dead, a man ascended to the right hand of G-d, a man recieved power and authority from the Royal Majesty on High, a man was glorified above the angels and heavenly beings, a man will return again. Peace be upon him, Yeshua our Messiah.

Ishmael Abraham By the way, Bible never says he laughed. :)However, Hadith texts teach that the Ishmaelite Prophet peace and blessings be upon him laughed. We find that inaccurate because we consider smiling a sunnah of all Prophets.

Leon Taylor-Hargreaves Don’t concern yourself about such issues, Ishmael Abraham. The haba ha olam(the coming world/age) under Messiah will be a time of great learning and reconciliation. G-d will reclaim all the nations(including both of pours) to himself. Brother will not lift sword against brother, men will melt their weapons of bloodshed, violence and war into instruments of farming. We will all learn and live, side by side under the rule of G-d through Messiah. We are practicing now for that day. We are expending our lives so that in that Day we will be countered worthy of entrance in that land, the beautiful city of G-d. Hostility between Israelite and Ishmaelite will cease, the colour of a man’s skin will no longer be the measuring line of whether he is in or out. We have to bear testimony in this present evil age of the one to come. We testify against this age through brotherly love, forgiving one another, seeking peace and justice, removing injustice and unrighteousness far from our hearts, compassionate, understanding and loving by deeds of kindness and mercy. Yes, Ishmael, loving even those who disagree with us, who practice contrary to us, loving through kind deeds those who abuse and mistreat us for the witness we bear. We have the courage to live in the manner the Teacher of Righteousness taught us. Therefore we do not fear, for the witness within is greater than the turmoil without.

Chris Westerman When Messiah returns God will re-establish Paradise and there will be no more sin, tears, sorrow, pain or hurt. All those who have rejected the one true God and his son will be destroyed. Only those who love God will live eternally.

Leon Taylor-Hargreaves Ishmael Abraham, there is a portion of the Torah where the brothers, Ishmael and Isaac reconciled. In Bereshith 25:7-8 it is recorded thus; Then Avraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man of full age(175) and was gathered unto his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron, son of Zohar the Hittite. In the Kingdom of G-d all tongues, tribes and nations will be reconciled in Messiah and blessed in our father, Avraham(Peace Be Upon Him).

Leon Taylor-Hargreaves Our little flock in South Africa is not permitted to denigrate or insult the prophet of Islam. He brought monotheism and a measure of Torah to the pagans of Arabia and beyond. While we may disagree on many things, we do agree on the absolute oneness of G-d, Amein.

A PERSONAL NOTE …

In the past I heard at a couple of times heavy criticism against the ‘rabbis’ that ‘put fences around the torah’. The words of criticism often appeared to be an accusation against judaism in general (as a faith system) and served as a justification for the person’s own ideas and insights. All these persons came from a non jewish background and were steeped in a non torah way of thinking. But they thought they were right because of their former (non jewish) religious education and they did not even realize the seriousness and impact of their harsh words. Nor were they aware of the influence of their words in the lives of their students. In my years of study I have discovered time and again that the Sages and the Rabbis are not cheap in what they say and most of the time in what they say there is a biblical link – and therefore a reason – (though not always directly or immediately perceived by a person that comes from a non jewish background and that does not know torah very well). Personally I have learned to be extremely careful with my attitude and certainly with what I say or comment when I read or study a jewish text. Furthermore Romans 9:4-5 – for instance – teaches us some very fundamental things about jewish authority as the standard for our way of serving G-d. If we do not understand some saying or do not perceive the reason why a position is held, it is better to stay silent until we really know. To acknowledge for instance that what one reads does not correspond to his actual understanding but that he does not know the reason why this position is held. A same attitude of humility and sincerity would also be proper while reading and studying non jewish authors. At least it would show the respect we owe to the author that worked on the article, while through listening well we would help ourselves.

In parashat Terumah we read the first instructions about the building of the mishkan or Sanctuary. There is for instance the prohibition of removing the poles of the Ark, a negative command. But what would be the reason for this prohibition ?

The Rambam (Maimonides) (Hilkhot Klei Ha-Mikdash 2:12-13) connects the prohibiton to remove the poles from the rings to the positive commandment to carry the Ark upon the shoulders and not on a wagon or an animal (Bamidbar 7:9). The gemara (Sota 35a) explains that King David forgot the law of carrying upon the shoulders, and when he put the Ark on a wagon to bring it to Yerushalaim, the priest Uzza (who reached out to steady it) was struck down by G-d. This is explicit in the account in Divrei Ha-Yal (15:13-15), where David tells the Leviim, “Because you did not do this at first, HaShem our G-d made a breach upon us, because we did not seek Him according to the law.” Thereafter we read, “and the children of the Levites carried the Ark of G-d upon their shoulders, with the poles upon them, as Moshe had commanded according to the word of G-d.”

In studying this parasha I discovered (in the article written by Rav Elchanan Samet on vbm haretzion) that it would seem that the prohibition of removing the poles is meant to prevent the possibility of forgetting the obligation that the Ark be carried upon the shoulders. The continuous presence of the poles serves as a reminder that the Ark is to be carried only by means of the poles.

This is not the only instance in which a biblical prohibition serves as a “fence” around another biblical commandment (which instructs the Sages to continue to build fences around the Torah). For example, the prohibition of making a “sculpture or representation” is a fence around the prohibition of idolatry ; the prohibition for the Nazir to eat grapes is a fence around the prohibition of his drinking wine.

In my personal experience the way of building fences around the Torah shows practical wisdom and an insight in human nature. Judaism recognizes the relativity of rabbinical prohibitions : though it is a sin to break a biblical commandment, it is not a sin to breach a rabbinical prohibiton, but at the same time judaism admonishes us that by doing this we put ourselves in danger of breaking the biblical commandment itself, because we didn’t even respect the rabbinical fence. Once we appreciate the reason and the wisdom in all this, we will be able to act with respect and wisdom in even these aspects that for now still seem so difficult for us personally to follow. Again, it helps to study and to study .. with an open mind.

Ishmael Abraham There is a parallel in Islamic law. There are things which are forbidden(haram) while others are disliked(makruh). But makruh also comes from Hadith Scriptures. Quran also talks about relieving Jews of their burdens, but of course that does not mean the license of antinomianism.

Abdur Rahman bin Hassan Al-Anzi who was buried alive by Ameer Mu’awiyah said: It was Uthman may Allah be pleased with him who opened the door of injustice. So, the original Shia believed that the Two Elders were just caliphs. The rope broke but reconnected for Uthman according to Hadith of Ibn Abbas.

I read in psychology that in any healthy relationship, communication should be honest and regular. Does this article imply that there should be self-censorhip on part of men. Listening is part of effective communication and marital stability as evident in the story of Umar and Bedouin, but according to Quran 19:55 salat and zakat are two issues where Ishmael peace be upon him is shown by God as a role model for an ideal family where men take moral leadership. Women can be moral leaders too like Asiya bint Muzahim whose husband was faithless. So, it is issues of faith which define the moral leadership not gender.

ElTahawy advocates sexual revolution which is the antithesis of Leader of Women in Paradise and the Mother of Prophetic descendants.

Tyler Wright, B.A. Political Science & History, University of Central Florida (2013)Updated Mar 3 · Upvoted by Amy Neebling

I have read the Quran multiple times and continue to read and study it to this day. I was a strong atheist when I started, but now I can’t seem to put it down.

I think something important to note here is that the Quran isn’t a book you can just read through and understand. The first time I read the Quran, I started with Chapter 1 Al Fatihah and read it cover to cover. It didn’t make any sense to me. I did wonder a lot how and why Muslims believed it, mostly because I didn’t understand the history and context behind the stories. I found it interesting, but I didn’t really get anything out of it.

The second time I read it, each time I didn’t understand a verse I looked up an explanation and I even read a lot of it with a commentary. I started watching videos of Muslims (Hamza and others) debating people in London’s Speakers Corner and even listening to sermons by Omar Suleiman, Joshua Evans, Nouman Ali Khan, and others to help me understand more of what I was reading.

I was impressed. When I studied and reflected on what I was reading (which the Quran also says to do) I understood a lot more of what is being said.

For example: The first Chapter of the Quran is called Al Fatihah.

If you read it with no understanding of it’s significance then you just read right through it. “Ok! Finished Chapter 1!” Just like I did the first time. After doing some research I learned that this chapter is actually a prayer, and one of the most recited chapters of the Quran. When I read it as a prayer it took on a whole new meaning for me. Edit: I saw it as a guide of how to pray and it gave me an understanding of what kind of respect Muslims give to the Creator and what our relationship to the Creator is.

The same thing has continued to happen the more I have read and studied different passages of the Quran. The chapters of The Cave, The Night Journey, Luqman and many others have taken on totally different meanings now that I have studied them. The wisdom and guidance the Quran offers has even opened me up to believing in a Creator.

Even though I still don’t know if I believe everything that is talked about in the Quran, it still offers an extremely pious and respectable way of life for those who follow its guidance. People who are only citing specific verses out of context don’t seem to have reflected on the meaning of the Quran or on the guidance it seems to offer those who are open to it.

The esoteric wisdom explained by Imam Hasan may Allah be pleased with him at the time of reconciliation.

The criticism leveled by Shia Islam against Mother of Believers is that she violated Quran 33:33 and left her home, and she used to cry after the sad battle of Jamal when she recited that verse. Shia extremist Yasir Habib goes to the extreme of calling her a fahishah or whore based on that. So, it would be intellectually inconsistent for Shia believers to support a scholarly figure like Mother of Believers.

The most preferable feminine lifestyle in the sight of God is worship at home based on Hadith: أقرب ما تكون من وجه ربها وهي في قعر بيتها The closest a female believer can get to the face of God is by praying in the corner of her home.

Jerry Sexton If God is everywhere, then wouldn’t the home make no difference in closeness to God?

Ishmael Abraham We do not believe God is everywhere. We believe in a Transcendant God. However, the rise of narcissistic and misandrist feminism which explains the high divorce rate in West, has shown the spiritual wisdom of housewives in Islam.