Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Testament. Show all posts

4.11.09

The Cave Dwellers Is A Story About Time Travel

Chapter 18 relates the story of the Cave Dwellers which recounts a Time Travel Experience. It is presented as an actual event surrounding some youths fleeing persecution and finding refuge in a Cave. While the story itself is a historic telling the Cave (in addition to being an actual place) may be an allegory for a state of suspended animation, since there is mention of their senses being isolated and some outside agent turning them while they 'sleep' beyond an Earthly count of time.

It is assumed that these Companions who fled seeking refuge in a Cave were early Christian youths that had broken away from their community since it had fallen to joining other gods to God for woship. And since the Premable to the narrative about the Cave Dwellers mentions their community had invented that 'God had a Son' it is reasonable to think these youths were Fundamental Christians; believing in One God without any share to His Sovereignty; this is reinforced in Chapter 18 and the theme of His Absolute Dominion echoes throughout the Chapter.

There is a passing reference made to 'The Inscription' or 'The Numbered/Enumerated' as an additional Symbol and it would appear there is no widely accepted basis as to what this entails. Some say it is an Inscription left at the location where the Cave Dwellers were thought to have slept commemorating the event, but the jury is out on that one**. So as far as we know, it is a mystery as to what the 'Inscription' is unless it is referring to the Cave Dwellers having received their designations by way of numeric stigmata from their Lord. This last assumption is in line with one of the 99 Names or Attributes mentioned in the Quran about God, that being 'Al-Muhsi'; the 'One Who Counts' or 'Numbers All' and by extention He is 'Al-Hasib'--'The Accounter,' as we are accountable to Him and He can Render Accounts.

Chapter 18 Al-Kahf (The Cave)
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا 18:9
18:9 Has the account of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription (the Numbered) (reached you); they are among Our Remarkable Signs

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا 18:10,
18:10 When the youths took to the Cave and prayed, ‘Our Lord, Grant us from Your Mercy and Prepare for us a Righteous Will (Outcome, Commandment).'

They prayed and God Responded, His Attribute 'Al Mujib'--'The Responsive' is brought to the fore in this telling of the story.

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا 18:11
18:11 So We secluded/sheltered/isolated/covered their ears in the Cave for a number of years

18:12 ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَى لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
18:12 then We sent them (made them a Symbol) to know which of the bipartisans counted the term (accurately), nevertheless

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى 18:13
18:13 We relate their News to you in Truth; for they were youths who came to Believe in their Lord and He Granted them Increased Guidance.

Here are another two of the 99 Attributes of God, 'Al-Hadi' meaning 'The Guide'; increasing guidance is the path to Repentance so He is known as 'At-Tawwib'--'The Guide To Repentance.' And the fact that the tale is related in Truth calls to mind another of His 99 Names, 'Al-Haqq' meaning 'The Truth.'

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَهًا لَقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا 18:14
18:14 And We Secured their hearts when they arose saying/praying, 'Our Lord, Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth, we do not call on any other god; it would be Implausible/Prohibitive/Not Possible (for us to do so).'

Giving 'Security to their hearts', the Cave Dwellers felt no fear for He had established in them a feeling of safety for what they were about to experience, for He is 'Al-Mu'min', 'The One Who Grants Security.' They prayed to 'The Sustainer' of Heaven and Earth, for He is 'Al-Razzaq.'

هَؤُلَاء قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا 18:15
18:15 "These, our People, have taken gods other than God without having any Authoritative Clear Signs given to them and out of their ignorance they have invented Lies about God."

There was no doubt in these youths' minds that He is 'Al-Ahad', 'The One' and He is 'Al-Wahid'--'The Unique,' not two or three or a committee.

وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحمته ويُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا 18:16
18:16 And when they took leave (of their community) and they worshipped none but God, He gave them Sanctuary in the Cave; Your Lord informs you of His Mercy and He Wills Facility for you.

Of the 99 Names 18:16 refers to 'Ar-Rahman' and 'Ar-Rahim,' respectively, 'The Beneficent', 'The Mericful.'

وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ
وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ
ذَلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي وَمَن يُضْلِلْ
فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا 18:17
18:17 and you see the Sun as it rises visiting their Cave on the right and when setting (West) advancing to the North and them inside (facing); these are God’s Signs; whomever God Grants (Guidance) (finds himself guided) they are the Proselytes (newly faithful) and whoever goes astray there is no Benefactor (to guide them aright) /supporter to/ righteousness

Many people reflect on 18:17 to try and determine the actual spot where the Cave is since it indicates the relative position of the Sun** as it rises and sets in the vicinity of the Cave; should one be inside the Cave and facing the Sunlight they would see it rising on their right and setting North-West. 'Al-Hadi' is mentioned for 'The Guide' and 'Ar-Rashid' for 'The Teacher of Righteousness' and He is 'The Benefactor' or 'The Protecting Friend'--'Al-Wali.'

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ
وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا 18:18
18:18 and you would think them awake the while they are asleep and We turn them to the right and to the left (North) and their dog extending its arms guarding them; if you came upon them you would be apprehensive of them escaping (from them) and filled with horror.

Apparently their dog had fallen 'asleep' too, probably near the entrance 'at the guard position,' and coming upon people in such a state of suspended animation is strange enough to strike terror in many. As they slept their bodies were oriented such that North was to their left. And as they slept He watched over them, for He is 'Al-Raqib'--'The Watchful;' with their dog also asleep their guardianship was solely left up to Him for He is 'Al-Mahaymin'--'The Guardian.'

وَكَذَلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ
كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ
فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا
فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا 18:19
18:19 And as well We uncovered them to ask each other (wonder amongst themselves), one of them said, “How long were we in this state?”, they said, “ We tarried in this state a Day or part of a day.” He (one of them) said, “Your Lord Knows how long you have tarried, so send one of you with your papers (money?) here to the city to procure the purest food…and do not let anyone sense (become suspicious) of you.”

Having awakened the Cave Dwellers were aware that they did not know the exact passage of time; and not wanting to invite attention to themselves, they cautiously sent someone out to procure food knowing that if the Times had changed their 'papers/money' might give them away; and they apparently were still apprehensive about going back out into the midst of what they believed to be a community still hostile towards them and that could seek to harm them or, worse yet, convert them to joining partners to God for worship. Removing the 'covering' or 'awakening' the sleepers in the Cave calls to mind another one of the 99 Most Beautiful Names, 'Al-Ba'ith' or 'The Awakener,' or 'The Resurrector'; we can assume the sleepers returned as they were when they first had fallen asleep for He is 'Al-Mu'id'--'The Restorer,' since they still recognized each other by the way they picked up where they left off. They were certain only God Knows how long they slept because He is 'Al-'alim' --'The All Knowing,' and 'Al-Khabir' --'The All-Aware,' and they felt He was still around after whatever length of time they had slept because He is 'Al-Quyyum'--'The Self-Existing.'

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا 18:20
18:20 "If they discover you they will stone you or revert you to their religion and thereby you will not flourish ever."

وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ
وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ
فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا 18:21
18:21 And in this manner We found to teach them God’s Promise is True and there is no Doubting the Hour; as they (those who learned of the Cave Dwellers) quarreled amongst themselves what they should do; one said, ‘Erect over them (in remembrance of them) a building, their Lord Knows of them,” those who overwhelmed (their plans) said, “We shall commemorate them with a temple/place of prayer.”

Sign 18:21 conveys that while Sequestering the youths was a means of Preserving and Protecting them it was also meant to be a Demonstrable Act for them to learn first hand what is meant by God's Promise; that they would be preserved as Witnesses to the Hour (Judgment/Last Day/Resurrection). It is worthwhile to mention some of the other 99 Most Beautiful Attributes connected to God's Actions in Chapter 18, for God is 'Al- Hafiz' meaning 'The Preserver,' since the youths were kept in such a state those many years and by extention 'Al- Waliyy' or 'The Protector' since He Protected them; and having Shielded them from any harm His Attribute as 'Al-Mani','-- 'The Preventer of Harm,' is also inferred in this narrative. This was meant to be not only a Sign for People but a Lesson to the Sleepers, again Him being 'The Teacher of Righteousness'--'Ar-Rashid.'


سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاء ظَاهِرًا
وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا 18:22
18:22 So they say, “Three and their dog is their fourth,” and they say, “Five and their dog the sixth (one of them),” casting (guesses) of the Unknown, and they say, “Seven and their dog the eighth…” Say, “My Lord Knows their number; no one knows (the Truth) but few, so do not argue about them except in an obvious (manner); and not one of them (the others) is certain about them (the Cave Dwellers).”

Sign 18:22 refers to the confusion by those who came to learn of the Cave Dwellers about the actual passage of time and even the exact number of how many individuals were involved. Having so many generations pass away while they slept, those who came to know of them could only guess at the facts since no one else had the continuity to accurately assess the span of years that had gone by from the time the youths slept to the time they awakened. So, yet two more of the 99 Names is called to mind since only God has the requisite continuity enabling Him to know the exact length of time, He is 'Al-Hayy" which means 'The Ever-Living,' and He is 'Al-Baqi'--'The Everlasting.'

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا 18:23
18:22 So do not say about anything “I will do it tomorrow.”

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاء اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا 18:24
18:24 Except (by tempering it with), “God Willing,” and remember Your Lord if you forget and say, “May my Lord Guide me ever closer to Righteousness.”

18:23-18:24 may seem like non sequiturs that have nothing to do with the story's development, but the point made is that none of us can be sure what 'tomorrow' really means; it could be 24 hours from now or a century away; it is only with Guidance that we can be aware enough to know, and that is why it is important to acknowledge the Very Being Who Establishes Time itself. In addition to the Names 'The Ever-Living' and 'The Everlasting,' the Names of God specific to His Command Over Time are 'Al-Maqqaddim' ('The Expediter, Advancer') and 'Al-Muakhkhir' ('The Delayer') since He is able to move Time itself; and His Eternal Quality is further reflected in His Names 'Al-Awwal,'--'The First' and 'Al-Akhkhir'--'The Last.'

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا 18:25
18:25 And they stayed in their Cave 300 years, and increased by 9.

Sign 18:25 is the reason why I decided to forego all of the accepted interpretations and attempt to decode the passage for myself. While the others lead us to believe that this follows from the guessing in 18:22; it reads more like an actual statement as to how long they actually 'slept.' The only part that is vague is whether the 9 that were added were years or individuals that joined the original set of companions. It would appear they were kept in suspended animation for 300 years, give or take, and it would naturally follow that since the number is a multiple of 10 that it is by our perceived time (Base-10) and not the actual number of years (Base-12); if 'a year' is taken for its primary meaning that it is 12 months; but a secondary meaning for 'years' is periods or eons, and that would relegate us back to still just guessing. So the best we can do for our part is an educated guess and it remains that only God Knows the actual span of time they were kept in that state.

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا 18:26
18:26 Say, “God Knows how long they tarried (in that state); His are the Secrets of the Heavens and the Earth; He Sees and Hears all about them (everything concerning Heaven and Earth); there is no Benefactor other than Him; and He does not associate anyone (take partners) in His Dominion.”

Of the 99 Beautiful Names, 'As-Sami'--' 'The All Hearing' and 'Al-Basir'--'The All Seeing,' are mentioned in 18:26; and since He has no need of partners or associates, the Perfect Attribute 'As-Summad'--'The Absolutely Self-Sufficient/Eternally Besought' is described in the story--for having full command of His Dominion without anyone else's assistance; and it follows that everything and everyone else relies on Him and seeks His assistance. Understanding the Secrets of the Unseen that lay hidden and are not otherwise Witnesssed, He is 'Al-Wasi''--'The All-Comprehending,' or 'All-Encompassing.'

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا 18:27
18:27 And Recite what is Inspired in you of Your Lord’s Book; there is no changing His Words and you will find No Refuge but in Him.

With none other to provide us Refuge, He is 'Al-Wakil,' 'The One To Trust,' and personally I found no other Refuge but for Him which makes Him my de facto Friend, 'Ar-Rafiq;' and that's why I took the liberty here of calling Him Names, especially since my Friend has an interesting sense of humor (like dropping me behind enemy lines with a tot at my hem and a babe at my breast and nothing more than a diaper bag for field equipment). But in the final analysis, I can't account for my being here in any other way and that's why He means Everything to me and why I call Him by The Greatest Name--Allah.

اللّه إِلَى ستر
اللّه إِلَى سطر ﺳﻂﺮ
Allah illi satr
God Shielded/veiled ('Wrote'/inscribed/lined this/Ordained this for) me


**Appended 19/12/2009, Consider the position of the Sun with respect to the Cave and the 'Sleeping' Cave Dwellers in light of a recent hypothesis regarding the significance of the pre-historic Cave Paintings at Lascaux, France, 'The Lascaux Cave; A Pre-Historic Sky Map' http://issuu.com/lightmediation/docs/the_lascaux_cave___a_prehistoric_sky-map_3390.

18.9.09

When You're Six Feet Under...

what's another foot?!

And only with this in mind can I even broach the topic of this post which happens to be all about S-E-X. I hope I don't get myself into a Lot of trouble.

Americans, and by this I mean, United States citizens, while considered quite a progressive lot when it comes to most things, tend to be down right Puritanical, even today, when it comes to sex. I mean, we even have issues about mothers nursing their babies in public; compare and contrast that to Europeans or South Americans displaying the same wares when merely going out for Sun worship! (As an aside, Americans are also not very accepting of anything that is considered 'different' either; this aversion to variance is more pronounced in the middle states than along the coasts.) And we mind each others' business way too much.

51 Zariyat (Those (Winds) That Scatter, Distribute, Disperse)

وَمِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ 51:49

51:49 And in everything We created pairs (complements/duals) so that you may reflect (keep it in mind, consider, think)

92 Al-Lail (The Night)

92:3 وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى

92:3 Consider Who created The Male and The Female

36 Ya-Siin ( يس )

36:36 سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

36:36 Glorify Him that Created pairs (mates/duality/opposites) in everything the Earth produces and from yourselves and from 'that which they know not (have no knowledge of (as yet))'

The reminder that everything is created in pairs or has a duality or a mate is not to say that there is only two genders, but rather to bring home the point that while everything you find on Earth has an opposite or a pair or a mate, God, by contrast, is unique in that God is a Singular, Sole Entity (without a match or comparison).

Heterosexuality is widely accepted as a 'norm' but what would you consider to be its complement or opposite?

Homosexuality is one possible answer if you simply consider the Latin prefixes hetero- and homo- as daulities/opposites/pairs; so it would not be so exciting to find that homosexuality is just as likely an outcome for something that the Earth produces as heterosexuality, and the wider swing to the hetero- position is due to the fact that all production would come to a complete stop on Earth if the balance swung the other way. We would, in other words, reach 'the end of the line' or 'cut off the road', to turn a phrase.

Much of the antagonistic non-acceptance of this fact about homosexuality is due in part to historical Biblical reference to Lot's community.

The story goes that Lot's people were destroyed because of their sexual proclivity; but it is jumping to conclusions to think that the abhorent behaviour that wiped them off the map was homosexuality per se. Lot's community was punished for excesses way beyond anything any other community on Earth at that time had participated in (there is a reference that no other community had 'beat them to it' whatever it is they were doing) and it would be wrong to think other communities did not have homosexuals; because as stated earlier, homosexuality is not expected to be punishable in and of itself since it had already been planned for and created as a duality to heterosexuality.

7 Al A'raf (A'raf, Aaraaf, The Heights)

7:80 وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ

7:80 And Lot said to his People (Community), "You covet (to do) such abominations no other (community) in the Worlds preceded you in doing (ever)"

So, right here, we know that Lot's people did not corner the market in homosexuality because there were other communities in existence and homosexuality does arise naturally on Earth. Lot's people apparently were foremost in a host of other things he considered truly abominable.

Before digging my grave any deeper, it has been determined that gender identity is a function of: biology, environment, and assimilation. To keep it simple, in just discussing the male and the female there are apparent differences in their brains:

The verbal, sorting, detail-oriented side of the brain is the left, and the spatial intuitive nonverbal side is the right. She speaks on average twice as many words as he does and this is even the case before they reach age two. Boys and men tend to be more nonverbal than their sexual analogs (ie. girls and women), preferring physical spatial activities even when first starting to explore their world. So the evidence is clear that women use their left brains more, and men tend to use their right brains more (just like the opposites they are designed to be). Hence, Lot's question to his people:

11 Hud (The Prophet Hud)

11:78 وَجَاءهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
السَّيِّئَاتِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَـؤُلاء بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ فَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ
وَلاَ تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي أَلَيْسَ مِنكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَّشِيدٌ

11:78 And his people (Lot's community) came rushing toward him (running to him) and before they worked their evil (the evil they were going to do), he (Lot) said, 'O, my people! My daughters are purer for you should you (choose) to obey God, and do not humiliate me to my guests (Angelic Messengers). Is there not one man among you that is right minded (rational)?
Clearly, Lot's problem with his community is not that they had homosexuals among them, but rather that they were choosing to interpret their lusts in an 'unclean' manner by indoctrinating boys and men into their lustful pursuits whether they were homosexual or not. This is very clear in that Lot questions 'how can there not be even one right brained male' among them, because Lot understood this to fly in the face of what is a natural outcome of hetero- vs. homo- sexual orientation. In other words, Lot is asking, 'How is it possible that you can all be gay?' His problem was not with the homosexual condition, but with the sexual perversions of all of the men in the community.

27 Naml (The Naml/Ants)

أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاء بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ 27:55

27:55 (Lot says) Must you covet males in lieu of (preference to) females? Truly you are ignorant people (a childish community; he may be alluding to something developmental here تَجْهَلُونَ = becoming childish/retarded)

إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِّن دُونِ النِّسَاء بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ 7:81

7:81 (Lot says) You covet the males in preference to the females (this indicates that they are making a conscious choice). Truly, you are (a) wasted/wasteful community (lost people/given to excess).

26 Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets)

26:166 وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ

26:166 (Lot says) And you avoid what your God created for you as mates (spouses; what is of interest is not using the term 'wives')? Truly, you are hostile people (a rejected community)!

Furthermore, his castigation about cleanliness is not even so much against sodomy as it is against that the fact that they were rushing him in order to 'rape' his guests. The circumstanses must have been dire enough for Lot to offer up his own daughters to keep his people from getting their hands on his guests. Lot's community's response to his plea drives it home that this, in fact, is what was going on:

11 Hud (The Prophet Hud)

11:79 قَالُواْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ

11:79 They said, "You've always known we have no interest in your daughters (not only Lot's biological daughters but women in general), and truly you know what we want ('you've learned what we want,' ie., you know exactly what we want to do with your guests)!"

The community's response is not only menacing, but redolent of their arrogance. If one were to see what these types of Messengers look like that were sent to warn Lot of his community's imminent demise, and just how absolutely perfected their beauty is, you would appreciate that Lot's people wanting them is akin to a dung beetle larva coveting the worlds' top fashion model (and even then it doesn't give the full length of the spectrum as to how overreaching they were in their arrogance).

And in addition to Lot's community's arrogance, abysmal sense of hospitality, and total lack of care for the wayfarer, they fell short of the mark in many other ways; so, it would seem homosexuality within their community was really the least of their worries.

29 Ankabut (Spider)

29:29 أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ وَتَقْطَعُونَ السَّبِيلَ وَتَأْتُونَ فِي نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنكَرَ
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ

29:29 (Lot said), "(Must you) Interpret your lusts toward males and cut off the road (way/highway/path) and commit the outlandish (bizzarre, corrupt, weird, etc.) in your assemblies?" And his community's answer was nothing except that they said, "Show (Give) us God's account (what God has promised) if you are of the Truthful!"
1'
That the community had fallen to excessive homoerotic pedophelia and raping travellers transiting their township in Bacchanalian-style gatherings is alluded to when they show up at Lot's door to molest his guests:

27 Naml (The Naml/Ants)

27:54 وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ

27:54 And Lot said to his people, "You want to do outrageous (this abomination) with your eyes open (while you are even sober)?"

The reason Lot was considered a good man, worthy of saving, turns out to be the fact that Lot offered a safe haven for wayfarers amidsts all of this degeneracy. His community had actually prohibitted him from offering up such safety to travellers (again, a secondary reference to cutting off the road or highway):

15 Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract)

15:70 قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ

15:70 They (Lot's community) said, "Haven’t we forbidden you from (taking in/hosting) people (cut you off from the worlds/visitors)!"

I know this is not the version you hear in Sunday school, but is there any flaw to the logic in this telling? Would you expect God to be reasonable or unreasonable? Do you still believe God makes mistakes--or is it people's limited knowledge and self-interest that leads you to believe that somehow their shortcomings are God's own?

Homosexuality as it turns out has a function and a reason to exist. It is, in a manner of speaking, 'the end of the line' or the last biological generation of that entity. This is neither a good thing or a bad thing, just some other thing in a set of possible outcomes.

On a social level, homosexuality does have a place in society.


58 Mujjadilah (Pleading, Disputing, Strife)

58:11 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا
يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِذَا قِيلَ انشُزُوا فَانشُزُوا يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ
وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

58:11 O, you who have attained to faith, if you are asked "Make room for each other in your councils (assemblies, collective)!", do make room (for each other); God will make room for you (provide you allowance, can be taken to mean an added measure of consideration, room to make an error), and when you are asked to "Rise Up (to do good)," then do rise up (to it); God will raise those who attain to good (faith) and those who have been entrusted with Knowledge by degrees, for God Knows (is Fully Aware) of All that you do.

People tend to want to nurture and be cared for, so it is a natural extension that homosexuals also have something to bring to the table when they want to nurture. They are the natural solution to the care and keeping of the world's 'unwanted' children, they function to adopt them. Homosexuality is not synonymous with pedophelia and there are examples in society today where a 'third sex' is engendered for the express purpose of caring for orphaned children.

Heterosexuals are more likely to have children since they often have that option and will usually only adopt as a last resort; but gay people also feel the need to nurture as well and if they want children, adoption is usually their first if not only option, and that is why they are here.

93 Ad-Duha (The Forenoon - After Sunrise)
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى 93:6

93:6 Did He not find you orphaned, and give you shelter?

فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ 93:9

93:9 In turn, the orphan you shall never wrong…

And if they can't or prefer not to take care of a child, they will take care of your pet, or style your wardrobe, or decorate your home to show you they care about some things that you might not feel the need to care for, including being here to take care of each other. How it all turned into our government dictating who you bed down with at night is beyond me (as long as they are of legal age (ie., old enough to enter into a contract (yes, having sex is like making a contract)--and even then contract language can get tricky) and consenting (force is not an option, neither is coercion), who are we to dictate Love ? (Just no abominations, please!)

Notes: Other topics related to the story of Lot: childcare and welfare; responsibilities and hospitality to the wayfarers/travellers (aliens); assuring rights-of-passage; right-brain/left-brain differentiation (rational vs. intuitive); humility and arrogance; child brain development; can one thing have more than one pair or opposite?; and anything else you can bring to the table.

11.9.09

Choose To Remain A-Political, A Non Sequitur

But I have to say something about these abortion issue e-mos (emotional types beyond reason...who think its okay to kill a fully developed human being as some sort of recompense for someone else wanting to have an abortion...for any reason, if it ain't your womb it aint your business--football season has started, you'd think there are better things to go out for than killing a pro-choice activist--so much for freedom of speech!)

Ecclesiates 6.3-6.6

6: 3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man- 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

21.8.07

Life After Death

What follows is the Faith-Based answer to the niggling question, Is there Life after Death? You don't have to look far for the synopsis of the scientific argument. There also appears to be a first hand account of a life after death experience in the Maxie Time diary.

Life After Death
Resurrection In The Old Testament

Job 14:14-15

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, til my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job 19:25-27

I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.

Isaiah 26:19

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel 12:2

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Hosea 13:14

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O Death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.

Resurrection In The New Testament

1 Corinthians 15 (New International Version)

The Resurrection of Christ

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died…
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
and last of all he appeared to me…

The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-15

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:35-37

But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?"

How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed…

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

Resurrection In The Quran

Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:259

Or [art thou of the same mind] as he who passed by a town deserted by its people, with its roofs caved in, [and] said, "How could God bring all this back to life after its death?" Thereupon God caused him to be dead for a hundred years; where after He brought him back to life [and] said: "How long hast thou remained thus?" He answered: "I have remained thus a day, or part of a day." Said [God]: "Nay, but thou hast remained thus for a hundred years! But look at thy food and thy drink-untouched is it by the passing of years ....And [We did all this so that We might make thee a symbol unto men. And look at the bones [of animals and men] - how We put them together and then clothe them with flesh!" And when [all this] became clear to him, he said: "I know [now] that God has the power to will anything!"

Al-An'am (The Cattle) 6:36

Only they who listen can respond to a call; and as for the dead, God can raise them from the dead, whereupon unto Him they shall return.

Al-A'raf (The Heights) 7:57

And He it is who sends forth the winds as a glad tiding of His coming grace-so that, when they have brought heavy clouds, We may drive them towards dead land and cause thereby water to descend; and by this means do We cause all manner of fruit to come forth. Even thus shall We cause the dead to come forth: [and this] you ought to keep in mind.

Hud (The Prophet Hud) 11:7

And He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six aeons; and [ever since He has willed to create life,] the throne of His almightiness has rested upon water. In order to test you which of you is best in conduct. For thus it is: if thou sayest, "Behold, you shall be raised again after death!" - they who are bent on denying the truth are sure to answer, "This is clearly nothing but an enchanting delusion"

Abraham 14:48

On the day when the earth will be changed to another earth, and the heavens (also will be changed) and they will come forth before God, the One, the Almighty (the Conqueror) .

An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:38

As it is, they swear by God with their most solemn oaths, "Never will God raise from the dead anyone who has died!" Yea indeed! [This very thing has God promised] by a promise which He has willed upon Himself; but most people know it not.

Al-Isra (The Journey by Night) 17:50

Say: [You will be raised from the dead even though] you be stones or iron

Al-Isra (The Journey by Night) 17:52

on a Day when God will call you, and you will answer by praising Him, thinking all the while that you have tarried [on earth] but a little while.

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:5

O MEN! If you are in doubt as to the resurrection verily, We have created [every one of] you out of dust, then out of a drop of sperm, then out of that which clings, then out of an embryonic lump complete] and yet incom­plete so that We might make clear unto you. And whatever We will We cause to rest in the wombs for a term set [by Us], and then We bring you forth as infants and so that you might attain to maturity: for among you are such as are caused to die, just as many a one of you is reduced in old age to a most abject state, ceasing to know anything of what he once knew so well. And thou canst see the earth dry and lifeless - and when We send down waters upon it, it stirs and swells and puts forth every kind of lovely plant!

Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:6-7

All this [happens] because God alone is the Ultimate Truth, and because He alone brings the dead to life, and because He has the power to will anything.

And that the Last Hour is bound to come, beyond any doubt, and that God will resurrect all who are in their graves.

Al-Furqan 25:47

And God it is who makes the night a garment for you and sleep a rest, and causes every day to be a resurrection.

An-Naml (The Ants) 27:65

Say: “None in the heavens or on earth knows the hidden reality [of anything that exists: none knows it] save God.” And neither can they [who are living] perceive when they shall be raised from the dead

Ar-Rum (The Romans) 30:19

He brings forth the living out of that which is dead, and brings forth the dead out of that which is alive, and gives life to the earth after it had been lifeless: and even thus will you be brought forth.

Luqman 31:28

Your creation (of you all) is like that of a single soul; for God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

Fatir (The Originator of Creation) 35:9

AND it is God who sends forth the winds, so that they raise a cloud, whereupon We drive it towards dead land and thereby give life to the earth after it had been lifeless: even thus shall resur­rection be!

يس Ya-Siin 36:12

Verily, We shall indeed bring the dead back to life; and We shall record whatever they have sent ahead, and the traces which they have left behind: for of all things do We take account in a record clear.

يس Ya-Siin 36:51-52

And the trumpet will be blown - and lo! out of their graves towards their Sustainer will they all rush forth!

They will say: “Oh, woe unto us! Who has roused us from our sleep [of death]?” [Whereupon they will be told:] “This is what the Most Gracious has promised! And His message-bearers spoke the truth!”

Fussilat (Explained in Detail) 41:39

For among His signs is this: thou seest the earth lying desolate - and lo! when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells! Verily, He who brings it to life can surely give life to the dead: for, behold, He has the power to will anything.

ق Qaf 50:11

as sustenance appor­tioned to men; and by [all] this We bring dead land to life: [and] even so will be [man’s] coming-forth from death.

Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection) 75:3-4

Does man think that We cannot bring his bones together again?

Yea indeed, We are able to make whole his very finger-tips!