re: difference in usage
Salaam Forum,
Much has kept me away from JCF (said without believing I have been missed)....perhaps that has been a blessing. The following was prepared for different topic before I noticed the subject had aged. However as such in religion debates something similar seems to replace it. So, please, overlook the parts of post dressed as though arriving to wrong party.
Moon-god theory seems to pop-up in every Muslim and Christian discussion. Myself, I have little use for subject and material if sole purpose is getting under someone's skin. And certainly do not believe Muslims are pagans in any sense and know Muslims find notion they worship in sameness of pagans, repulsive. The differences separating Islam and Christianity are formidable enough without creating artificial barriers.
Although I am uninterested in moon-god theory, gist of Christian complaint is absolutely correct, i.e. we do not believe Allah is The Name. This is also the theological position of Christian Arabs and difference in usage of term Allah. For meaningful dialogue, the Christian Arabs and Islam departure on Arabic for the Deity need be conceded. Otherwise Muslims Allah/God argument is merely all or nothing fallacy. Also, the claim Islamic Allah can be translated to God conflicts with consensus of Muslim scholars ruling otherwise. Even liberal Muslim scholar, proponents of translatable (with exceptions) Quran, include Allah among 80-90 Islamic terms deemed untranslatable. Mind you, I am not implying such Islamic ruling prevents Muslims from colloquial use of term, God, rather, the need to be on same page. Suffice to say, juxtaposing theological terms can create unnecessary argument.
"We as well with the Jews dont worship Jesus whom you claim to be G-D so I guess the Jew are in the same boat with us then, wouldnt you think so ?"
Few people can bring out the venom in me, you seem to be one of them. Remember, the asinine reply above was of your making, only proving you give no better thought in brevity than in longwinded postings. In same measure, Judaism does not worship the God of Mohammed nor accept prophethood of Mohammed. I have no idea what boat you("we/us") are in.
Unite, I have not forgotten you, just unable to find the folder, where we met, to continue from. Still looking.
regards, joseph