originally posted in:Secular Sevens
if you read the story of Dhul Qarnayn carefully two things are obvious is that he is powerful and is traveling a lot. God gave him the authority to treat people however he wanted. There are two mentions of the sun. In verse 86 the word maghrib is used which means the sun is setting. Also it says wajadaha which means he watched or it appeared to him.
Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
You only quoted part of the verse. After he reached the place where he watched the sun set he was allowed to either punish or treat them good. In the next verse he says that if they are bad and transgressors we will punish them and if they are good they'll be treated with a good reward.
Then he went on his way again
18:90 - Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.
The word is matla3 al shamsi which is the sun is rising. First it was setting, now it's rising so he was probably walking for at least a day. Does this mean that the sun was actually rising above the people? It's called perspective. It's telling you how it appeared to him, please use your mind a little.
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This still doesn't demonstrate any scientific validity of the Koran.
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I just wanted to correct your poor interpretation of the verse. There is some science in the Quran but no it's not a book about science, and neither is the Bible.
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Incorrect interpretation. Interpretation sounds suspiciously like the context that apologists love to use in order to make the books mean anything they want. I'm unconcerned with your interpretation. My concern is with the willful ignorance and anti-intellectualism that allows people to delude themselves into believing these works of fiction are real.
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And you're making it mean what you want and I'm telling you that you're completely wrong. If you think that it's a work of fiction then why are you getting so worked up over it. It's like arguing over Harry Potter.
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Reading words for what they plainly mean without applying mental jumping jacks isn't making it mean what I want it to mean. I also find it quite telling when someone points out the holes in religion that the believers suddenly claim that the free thinkers are getting "worked up".
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You can criticize religion all you want but the fact is that there is no guarantee who is right or wrong. I guess we'll find out once we die.
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Religion criticizes itself. If just one person wakes up to realize this based on freethinkers refusing to remain silent, than what is done is good. I want people to learn, to think for themselves. Religion is anathema to this.
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I was born Catholic, changed to Islam, so yes, I am thinking for myself. I do not narrow my vision to one thing, as I read legitimate books (not online articles) on Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Judaism, of course Science and technology, and many philosophical and political doctrines. Based the information I learn, i create my own conclusions. So, in that case, I think I am doing as you would like :D
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Well it just so happens that the Quran actually encourages deep thinking, it tells to reflect on the world around us. It doesn't just tell us to accept but tells us to ponder first. I didn't decide that I wanted to become a Muslim in one day, after a while I decided it was right for me. If being atheist is right for you then more power to you.
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That'd be true if there was a large and dedicated group of people who thought Harry Potter was real.
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I doubt that will happen.