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Explain either the temporal or modal version of the cosmological argument. Then argue for whether it is or is not a sound argument for the existence of God.

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Intention

In this essay I shall argue that the modal version of the cosmological argument for the existence of God is either not sound or not a problem for atheism.

Briefly on the Concept of ‘God’

For the purpose of this essay I assume that by ‘God’ we mean a sentient entity in possession of all the classical omni- characteristics. However, it should be noted that any sentient force, which could be said to have brought about the world, as we know it, would do. Admittedly, as religious commentator, Alan Watts, says in one of his lectures ‘sophisticated Christians [...] think beyond images’ and ‘[do] not imagine that God is a cosmic male parent with a white beard sitting on a golden throne above the stars (Watts, 1996, p. 74).’ Suffice it to say that if by ‘God’ we do not even refer to a personal creator but something more ineffable still, then I take no issue with that other than on a trivially semantic level, and my critique ceases to apply. However, it also ceases to be a problem, since such sophistry is atheism in anything but name.

The Modal Cosmological Argument

I shall base my analysis loosely on the modal cosmological argument as it is presented in Arguing for Atheism (Le Poidevin, 1996, pp. 8-9). With that in mind I shall take some liberties of my own. These are intended as an attempt at strengthening the argument against my own critique and will hopefully not misconstrue it.

Arguably the question at the heart of cosmological arguments is ‘why is there something rather than nothing?’ Modal logic is the study of expressions pertaining to necessity and possibility (Garson, 2009). That we are able to ask the question seems to imply that it is conceivably possible that nothing would have existed at all. Therefore, the fact that there are existing things, which do not necessitate their own existence, leads to the conclusion that their existence requires an independent, necessarily existing explanation. In my own words:

1. Everything, which could have failed to exist, requires an explanation for why it does.
2. Only necessarily existing things are self-explanatory.
3. Therefore, there must be a necessary ultimate explanation for every contingently existing thing.
4. (An inclusion I would rather avoid for reasons I shall make clear) ‘The universe’ is such a contingently existing thing.

Why the Concept of Causality is Irrelevant

In Le Poidevin’s rendition of the argument the word ‘cause’ is consistently used. I should like to abandon it in favour of ‘explanation,’ since the former is unnecessarily problematic. ‘Cause’ implies a temporally preceding chain of events. There is no reason to assume that creation from God’s perspective should be temporally situated at the farthest preceding event from ours. That is not to say God must have an entirely atemporal existence, as this too would be unnecessarily problematic. God just need not be located at the beginning of our timeline. Consider this by analogy of computer-simulations. It is entirely possible to program a computer to count numbers but start it off at say 354. From the programmer’s perspective the simulation began at some time – or perhaps multiple times in the case of repeated runs – on our timeline and began at 354 in the simulated timeline. However, for a hypothetical person living in the simulation it all started at zero. Or perhaps it stretches infinitely back into the negative integers.

The Universe

I have also sought to avoid mentioning the concept of ‘the universe.’ The word seems to be taken for granted. However, my intuitive understanding of it would wreak havoc on the cosmological argument. To me it just means something akin to ‘the set of everything there is.’ In this sense it would simply be ludicrous to insist that the existence of the universe requires an explanation, as ‘the universe’ is not an existing entity in itself but simply a word used to collectively denote all existing entities. Moreover, it would make no sense to speak of something existing outside of all there is. Clearly I must give the theist the benefit of the doubt and conclude that she means something radically different from what I do.

As with the word ‘cause’ I should like to replace it with something less problematic – but what? I must admit being at a complete loss. Supposedly we could replace it by ‘everything physical.’ However, this raises equally problematic questions as to what ‘physical’ means, and whether the fact that every particular physical entity is contingent – if granted – can be extended to physicality in general. Also it seems to beg the question to a physicalist, to whom the very idea of non-physical existence requires prior justification. Not to mention that it would invite a problem reminiscent of dualism’s mind-body problem (Robinson, 2008), in that it is unclear how something non-physical could explain physical existence.

A Face on the Ineffable

We could simply revert back to the initial question of why anything would exist at all. However, this would do the theist no favours since the modal cosmological argument is precisely an attempt to render this very question meaningless. If the ultimate explanation of all other existence itself exists necessarily, then there could not possibly have been nothing. The contingency of existence would therefore have to be localised and not applicable to all existence. Are we then speaking of different categories of existence? If so, how do we distinguish them?

The theist could still insist that the universe is contingent. I should then be very interested in learning what this intriguing word entails. However, I would posit that it poses no problem for the atheist. Atheism does not require one to deny the existence of everything other than the universe – regardless of what is meant by ‘universe.’

Conclusion

If the theist can appeal to the necessity of existence, then so can the atheist. Inasmuch as this is all the argument shows the atheist can simply refuse to acknowledge a personification of the ultimate explanation. It might be a sound argument albeit not one for the existence of ‘God’ as previously defined.

The theist would be required to justify that ‘God’ understood specifically as a sentient creator is, in fact, necessary. However, if such an ontological argument were to be achieved successfully, there should be no need for cosmological arguments.

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[I]f by ‘God,’ one means the set of physical laws that govern the universe, then clearly there is such a God. This God is emotionally unsatisfying… it does not make much sense to pray to the law of gravity (Sagan, Carl).

Bibliography

End-quote:

The quote is widely attributed to Carl Sagan and cited in numerous books, yet oddly enough never with the inclusion of a proper reference. As such I have included it by virtue of its own merits regardless of its dubious authenticity. A possible origin of the quote can be found in:

Sagan, Carl, Broca’s Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science (Ballantine Books, 1993, CA, p. 330)

Books:

Le Poidevin, Robin, Arguing for Atheism: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (Routledge: New York, US, 1996)

Watts, Alan, Myth and Religion: The Edited Transcripts (Tuttle Publishing, US, 1996)

Web Pages:

Garson, James, “Modal Logic”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2009 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), forthcoming URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2009/entries/logic-modal/>.

Robinson, Howard, “Dualism”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/dualism/>.

Likewise, after Ben Franklin’s discovery of electricity there were countless religions forming up to include this “mystical force”.

When the world hypothesized on being hollow (a failed scientific theory), several religious cults grew around the idea.  You can still visit a compound of one these religions outside of Fort Myers, Florida.

This goes farther back than modern science too.  The Norse had a myth that their gods were licked into existence by a magic space cow.  Is it coincidence that they were domesticating animals at that time?  Is it coincidence that Adam was born of clay or Eve was born of a cutting of his rib?  Think about what was going on when these things were proclaimed.  Mankind had entered  the agrarian age, a period when they were building pots, homes, and a myriad of other things out of clay.  They were experimenting with vegetation, using cuttings to grow more domesticated plants.

If mankind survives and continues to acquire knowledge, I think it is obvious that religions will continue to try and incorporate scientific findings into their beliefs.  It is a way to provide validation for their beliefs.

I bet that if a famous scientist were a practical joker and issued a statement that a specific type of god were possible via some obscure scientific principle, then we would quickly see religions attempt to form around that principle.  I keep looking for something to develop from Cold Fusion, all that is lacking is someone to explain how to possibly tie it into a proposed deity.

Maybe I’m lashing out in frustration for other things.  Maybe it’s stemming from personal issues I’ve been having on things unrelated to religion.  Maybe it’s because I’m sick of being told that I harbor “wickedness and evil” in my heart because I don’t follow scripture.  Maybe it’s because I’m tired of being lonely in my views.  I don’t know.

I do know that lately I’ve been more and more intolerant of others.  I ask blatantly offensive questions that would be labeled as “trolling” online and “being an asshole” in real life.

If I want to function in our society, I need to reign in back in.  It’s just seems to be becoming harder and harder.

This post stems from a “Theology Night” at a local brewpub.  I sat down with people I had never met before to discuss religion.  It’s put on by a local church.  Well, mixing alcohol and religion probably wasn’t the best thing for me.

Lately, I have not been able to get this one thought out of my head in regards to christianity.  That is, christianity glorifies human sacrifice.  That it is no better than some ancient tribal religion chucking virgins into a volcano to appease the angry fire god.  I am sick of christians telling me that I’m an immoral person while they believe that sacrificing ANYTHING to their god to earn forgiveness is a good thing.

Of course, pointing that out to christians is not going to make me welcome in their homes.

I can’t help it though.  I find the whole “Jesus died for our sins” to be totally abhorrent.  I think people who regard that as a good thing as being insane.

Anyway, going back to the brewpub… I went ahead and confronted these innocent followers of a god who intentionally had his son stapled to a tree.   I asked them how could they worship a religion glorifying human sacrifice.

I didn’t get into a bar fight.  They were actually very polite about it.  I just couldn’t let it go.  They would offer up their rationalizations and I would show them how those excuses were invalid/illogical/or blatantly wrong.  Yeah, I was in rare form.  I’m lucky I didn’t get a drink thrown in my face.

Later that night, I had the increasingly strong realization that I had just trolled a social group.  That’s not a good thing.  I went over the line and became an angry atheist.  A few years ago, I spoke against people acting that way… and here I am going down that path.  I don’t like it.

Prologue 1

“Islam is a religion of peace”.  This is what our politically correct politicians keep telling us. But what is politically correct is not necessarily correct.  The truth is that Islam is not a religion of peace.  It is a religion of hate, of terror and of war.

A thorough study of the Quran and Hadith reveal an Islam that is not being presented honestly by the Muslim propagandists and is not known to the majority of Muslims.  Islam as it is taught in the Quran (Koran) and lived by Muhammad, as is reported in the Hadith (Biography and sayings of the Prophet) is a religion of intolerance, inequality, violence, discrimination, superstition, fanaticism, and blind faith.  Islam advocates killing the non-Muslims, abuses the human rights of minorities and women.  Islam expanded by Jihad (holy war) and forced its way by killing the non-believers and the dissidents.  Apostasy in Islam is the biggest crime, punishable by death.  Muhammad was a fundamentalist himself therefore fundamentalism cannot be separated from true Islam.  Islam, which means submission, demands from its followers to submit their wills and thoughts to Muhammad and his imaginary Allah, a deity that despises reason, democracy, freedom of thought and freedom of expression.

I reject Islam
a) because of Muhammad’s lack of moral and ethical fortitude and
b) because of the absurdities in the Quran.

a) Muhammad lived a less than holy life.  His lust for sex, his affairs with his maids and slave girls, his pedophilic relationship with Aisha a 9-year-old child at the age of 53, his killing sprees, his massacre and the genocide of the Jews, his slave making and trading, his assassination of his opponents, his raids and lootings of the merchant caravans, his burning of the palm plantations, his destroying the water wells, his cursing and invoking evil on his enemies, his revenge on his captured prisoners of war and his hallucinations about having sex with his wives when he actually did not, disqualify him as a sane person let alone a messenger of God

b) An unbiased study of Quran shows that far from being a “miracle” that book is a hoax.  Once Quran is scrutinized with rational thinking, almost every sentence proves to be false.  Quran is replete with scientific heresies, historic blunders, mathematical mistakes, logical absurdities, grammatical errors and ethical fallacies.  Could possibly the author of this Universe be as ignorant as it appears to be in Quran?

Prologue 2

Quran tells Muslims to kill the disbelievers wherever they find them (Q; 2:191), murder them and treat them harshly (Q; 9:123), slay them (Q; 9:5), fight with them, (Q; 8:65 ).  It tells its followes to humiliate the Christians and the Jews and impose on them a penalty tax (Q; 9:29).  Quran takes away the freedom of belief from all humanity and tells clearly that no other religion except Islam is accepted (Q;3:85).  It relegates those who disbelieve in it it to hell (Q;5:10), calls them najis (filthy, untouchable, impure) (Q;9:28) and orders the Muslims to fight the unbelievers until no other religion except Islam is left (Q;2:193).  Quran states that the non-believers will go to hell and will drink boiling water (Q;14:17); it asks the Muslims to slay or crucify or cut the hands and feet of the unbelievers, and expel them from the land with disgrace and that “they shall have a great punishment in world hereafter” (Q;5:34).  It says that for the disbelievers “garments of fire shall be cut and there shall be poured over their heads boiling water whereby whatever is in their bowels and skin shall be dissolved and they will be punished with hooked iron rods” (Q;22:19).  Quran prohibits Muslims to befriend their own brothers and fathers if they are non-believers (Q;9:23), (Q;3:28).  It asks the Muslims to “strive against the unbelievers with great endeavor (Q;25:52) and be stern with them because they belong to hell (Q;66:9).  The holy Prophet demanded his followers to “strike off the heads of the disbelievers”; then after making a “wide slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives” for ransom (Q;47:4).

As for the women the book of Allah says that they are inferior to men and if found disobedient their husbands have the right to scourge them (Q;4:34).  But their punishment for disobeying their husbands does not end there, because after they die they will go to hell (Q;66:10).  Quran emphasizes the superiority of men by confirming that men have an advantage over the women (Q;2:228).  It not only denies the women’s equal right to their inheritance (Q;4:11-12), it also regards them as imbeciles and decrees that their witness is not admissible in the court of law (Q;2:282).  This means that a woman who is raped cannot accuse her rapist unless she can produce a male witness.  Muhammad allowed the Muslims to marry up to four wives and gave them license to enjoy their “right-hand possessions” (women captured in wars) as many as they can capture or afford to buy (Q;4:3), even if she’s married before being captured,(Q;4:24).

The man who called himself the holy Prophet and a “mercy of God for all beings” did just that.  Javiryah, Rayhanah and Safiyah were beautiful young girls captured when he raided the tribes of Marisi’, Qurayza and Nadir.  The prophet slaughtered their husbands, fathers and loved ones and slept with them in the same day he captured them.

Prologue 3

This site  [http://www.faithfreedom.org/]  scrutinizes Islam with Rational Thinking.  It rejects time-honored beliefs that cannot stand the probing of reason.  It asks questions and encourages independent thinking.  It promotes unity of humankind, equality between men and women, abolition of prejudices and freedom from dogmatism and blind faith.

In a world that has become technologically so advanced that even the poorest nations that cannot feed themselves boast having nuclear and biological weapons, small misunderstandings can have catastrophic results.  Religion has always been the main source of misunderstanding.  For religion, people are ready to die, kill and destroy everything.  Islam encourages that aggressive spirit very explicitly.  Only a Muslim would believe that he would go to paradise if he kills other human beings.  Only a Muslim has no regards for lives that he destroys because their faith is not right.  In the last few decades, and thanks to the newfound wealth of the oil rich Islamic countries, Islamic fundamentalism has been on the rise and the dormant spirit of Jihadism has been rekindled once again.  That has been translated into terrorism, revolutions, and upheavals and the world peace has been put in jeopardy.  Millions of lives are now in danger.  See what Muhammad teaches his followers:

“Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it.  But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you”? (Q;2:216).

Is really fighting good for us?

But he did not stop there!  He made it a religious obligation for his followers to fight and coerced them with verses such as the following that abound in the Quran:

“Unless ye go forth, He (Allah) will punish you with a grievous penalty, and put others in your place” (Q;9:39).

Let us pause for a moment and take a second look at Islam.  Can these really be the words of God?  Was Muhammad really a messenger of God or was he a narcissist like Hitler who used the religious sentiment of the gullible and ignorant people to gain power, to conquer, to dominate and to have an endless supply for his narcissistic cravings?

Prologue 4

The reason I think Islam must go is not due to the fact that Quran says Earth is flat or the stars are missiles that Allah fires at the Jinns who climb the heaven to eavesdrop the conversation of the exalted assembly.  These tales could even amuse us.  Islam must go because it teaches hate, it orders killing the non-Muslims, it denigrates women and it violates the human rights.  Islam must go not because it is false but because it is destructive, because it is dangerous; a threat to peace and security of humankind.  With the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Islamic countries, Islam has become a serious and a real threat to the survival of our civilization.

Dear fellow Muslim, I invite you to read a few articles from this site [http://www.faithfreedom.org/]  and ponder on them. If you agree with what I say, please let others know.  Islam is not a religion of God.  It is a hallucination of a sick mind.  Have mercy on yourself and the world.  Enough with death! enough with killing innocent people!  Enough with following the ghost of a megalomaniac insane man.  Enough with lying to ourselves.  We both know that Islam calls us to fight against the disbelievers, then let us stop calling it a “tolerant religion”.  We both know that Islam spread only with war and the use of the sword, then let us stop calling it “the religion of peace”.  We both know that Muhammad accumulated enormous wealth, a score of beautiful teenage wives and many slaves and sex slaves that he captured in his raids, then let us stop calling him a “Mercy of God”.  We both know that the word “Islam” means “submission”, then please let us not claim that it means “peace”.  Let us be honest and say it clearly that the only peace Islam recognizes is through submission of all humanity.  Let us be clear that we Muslims see the infidel land as Darul Harb (The house of war) and our only objective is to fight and convert it into Darul Islam (The house of Islam).  But above all, before continuing with our killing spree let us stop and question our belief.  We might just be wrong.

If there is a God he does not WANT you to fight for him; he does not NEED you to fight for him.  If he wanted the unbelievers dead so badly, he could have done it himself.  God does not need mercenaries and hit men.  God is not a paranoid.  He is not a narcissist. It would make no difference to Him whether you believe in Him or not, why would he want to kill you and then burn you for E T E R N I T Y if you do not believe in Him?  This insane Allah is not the creator of this vast and magnificent Universe but the product of a sick mind.  Muhammad wanted the devotion of his foolhardy followers for himself.  Allah that existed nowhere but in his schizophrenic mind was a perfect tool for him to gain absolute control over the minds and lives of his followers.  Let us stop this insanity!  Let us get rid of these spurious beliefs.  The sooner this cult of hate is eradicated, the sooner humanity will embrace each other in peace and the nightingale of paradise will warble its melodious songs of unity.  With so much bloodshed, humanity is craving for peace.  But peace will never come as long as doctrines of hate dominate our minds and hearts.

You and I are humans.  We are part of the Humanity.  We are members of one family: the family of Humankind.  God created us all because he loved us all.  Do not destroy what God has made.  [Let us tolerate this little bit of rhetoric for the sake of the larger message. --Dr. J] Muhammad was insane.  Like Hitler he was a brilliant and manipulative[ly] insane.  Please read the Quran [I seriously invite all members of the PAN to read it--Dr. J] and the original history of Muhammad.  Not the history written by today’s unscrupulous apologists of Islam but the history written by the early historians.  Read the book of Al Waqidi, Ibn Ishaq and Al Tabari’s.  Read the Hadith and see for yourself that what I say is the truth.  We are a billion or more people, following an insane man.  This is a colossal tragedy.  No wonder Islamic world is sunk in utter misery, abundant poverty and abject ignorance.  Our forefathers were forced to convert to Islam and our fathers did not have the chance to question it.  But now we have that chance.  Isn’t it time that we look into our faith to at least know what is it that we believe in?

This site reveals the bitter truth about Islam.  It proves without a shadow of doubt that it is not a religion of God.  If you disagree with me, prove me wrong and I promise to remove this site.  I challenge the apologists of Islam to prove me wrong or stop misleading the world with half truths and incorrect information.  But if no one can disprove me, as many Muslims have tried and failed, then please join me and let us save the world from its certain doom.  We don’t have to face another world war.  We can stop this madness now.  We can love each other like members of one family and celebrate our diversity like flowers of one garden.  We can build a better world for our children.  We can sing the songs of joy together.  We can make a difference.

Quranic Teachings Encapsulated

Find out what is the inspiration behind the hate and violence in Islamic terrorism.

Hardly anyone can write anything more damaging to Islam than the Quran itself.  All you need to see that Islam is not a religion from God but a dangerous cult that promotes hate and violence, is read the Quran. Many thanks to The Skeptic’s Annotated Quran site for making available this indispensable index of the Quran.  This is all we need to combat Islamic game of deception.

Please send the URL of this page to all the Muslims you know.  (This site is banned in some Islamic countries so if your friend is living in an Islamic country you may want to send the entire page in an email as well).  The majority of the Muslims are decent people who do not know the truth.  They will leave Islam after seeing its ugly face.  It may take them some time to recover from the shock and denial but eventually they will do the right thing. Let every Muslim see this page.  Saving the world from another disaster that could cost millions, if not billions of lives is everybody’s responsibility.  We are doing our part, you have to do yours.  Do not let the fear that your Muslim friend might be offended if you send him this page stop you from doing it.  A Persian proverb says: “It you see a well and a blind thereto heading, if you do not stop him you are sinning.”. If Islamic terrorism claims more lives, no one’s life is going to be spared.  Madness with prevail and wet and dry will burn together.  So forget about your Muslim friend’s “sensibility”, save his life and save yours too. If you fear this may end your friendship with him, open an anonymous email account and send this page to him anonymously.  It is important that all the Muslims see the ugly truth of Islam.

The majority of the Muslims are good people who are innocently led to believe that Islam is a religion of God.  These people are seeing the truth for the first time and are leaving Islam in big numbers.  Those who still remain Muslims after reading these verses, have no humanity or conscience.  They must be filled with shame and shunned.  They are the terrorists or their supporters and the enemies of mankind.  They are in minority but still they number millions.  Once the decent Muslims leave Islam, the terrorists will lose their moral base of support.  This is the only way to combat the Islamic terrorism.  If enough people had combated Nazism ideologically before it rose to power, 60 million lives would not have been lost.  Today the Islamic danger is much greater than the danger posed by Nazism seventy years ago.  Today the enemy is invisible, it is everywhere and it is far more fanatic.  Muslims must make the choice between truth and falsehood, between humanity and barbarity, between good and evil.  Stop Islam.  Stop this insanity.  Save the world.

Surah 2: The Cow

1. Don’t bother to warn the disbelievers.  Allah has blinded them.  Theirs will be an awful doom. 6
2. Allah has sickened their hearts.  A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 10
3. A fire has been prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones. 24
4. Disbelievers will be burned with fire. 39, 90
5. For disbelievers is a painful doom. 104
6. For unbelievers: ignominy in this world, an awful doom in the next. 114
7. Allah will leave the disbelievers alone for a while, but then he will compel them to the doom of Fire. 126
8. The doom of the disbelievers will not be lightened. 162
9. They will not emerge from the Fire. 167
10. Those who hide the Scripture will have their bellies eaten with fire.  Theirs will be a painful doom. 174
11. How constant are they in their strife to reach the Fire! 175
12. Kill disbelievers wherever you find them.  If they attack you, then kil them.  Such is the reward of disbelievers. 191
13. War is ordained by Allah. 216
14. Those who die in their disbelief will burn forever in the Fire. 217
15. Disbelievers worship false gods.  They will burn forever in the Fire. 257
16. Allah does not guide disbelievers. 264
17. “Give us victory over the disbelieving folk.” 286

Surah 3: The Family Of ‘Imran

1. Those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. 4
2. Those who disbelieve will be fuel for the Fire. 10
3. Those who disbelieve shall be overcome and gathered unto Hell. 12
4. Those who disbelieve, promise them a painful doom. 21
5. Theirs will be a painful doom. 77
6. All non-Muslims will be rejected by Allah after they die. 85
7. Disbelievers will have a painful doom.  And they will have no helpers. 91
8. Disbelievers will have their faces blackened on the last day.  They will face an awful doom. 105-6
9. Those who disbelieve will be burnt in the Fire. 116
10. The Fire is prepared for disbelievers. 131
11. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.  Their habitation is the Fire 151
12. Theirs will be an awful doom. 176
13. Disbelievers do not harm Allah, but will have a painful doom. 177
14. Disbelievers will have a shamful doom. 178
15. Disbelievers will go to Hell. 196

Surah 4: Women

1. Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will be burnt with fire and suffer a painful doom. 14
2. For the disbelievers, We have prepared a painful doom. 18
4. Hell is sufficient for their burning. 55
5. Unbelievers will be tormented forever with fire.  When their skin is burned off, a fresh skin will be provided. 56
6. Allah will bestow a vast reward on those who fight in religious wars. 74
7. Believers fight for Allah; disbelievers fight for the devil.  So fight the minions of the devil. 76
8. Have no unbelieving friends.  Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them. 89
9. If the unbelievers do not offer you peace, kill them wherever you find them.  Against such you are given clear warrant. 91 (Offering peace in Islam means surrendering.  All 67 out of 68 wars of Muhammad were offensive.  They are called qazwah (raid, ambush, sudden attack).  That is how Muhammad waged his wars. He raided, massacred and looted civilians with no warning.  The one defensive war, ‘ditch’ was not fought.  That is why the Islamic terrorism ‘jihad’ will continue until the West “offers peace”.  This was made clear by Bin Laden.)
10. Those who oppose the messenger and become unbelievers will go to hell. 115
11. Those who believe, then disbelieve, then believe and disbelieve again will never be forgiven by Allah. 137
12. For the hypocrites there will be a painful doom. 138
13. Allah will gather hypocrites and disbelievers into hell. 140
14. The hypocrites will be in the lowest part of hell and no one will help them there. 145
15. You must believe everything Allah and his messengers tell you.  Those who don’t are disbelievers and will face a painful doom. 150-151
16. For the disbelievers, Allah has prepared a painful doom. 161
17. God will guide disbelievers down a road that leads to everlasting hell. 168-169

Surah 5: The Table Spread

1. Those who deny Islam will be losers in the Hereafter. 5
2. Disbelievers are the rightful owners of Hell. 10
3. Those who make war with Allah and his messenger will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.  That is how they will be treated in this world, and in the next they will have an awful doom. 33   (Anyone who resist Islam is deemed to be making war with Allah)
4. Disbelievers will have a painful doom. 36
5. Disbelievers will want to come out of the Fire, but will not.  There will be a lasting doom.  37
6. Life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, and tooth for tooth.  Non-muslims are wrong doers. 45
7. Christians will be burned in the Fire. 72
8. Christians are wrong about the Trinity.  For that they will have a painful doom. 73
9. Disbelievers will be owners of hell-fire. 86

Surah 6: The Cattle

1. Many generations have been destroyed by Allah. 6
2. Allah will torment those who deny his revelations. 49
3. Those who disbelieve will be forced to drink boiling water, and will face a painful doom.  70
4. When nonbelievers die, the angels will deliver to them doom and degradation. 93
5. Allah chooses to lead some astray, and he lays ignominy on those who disbelieve. 125
6. Allah will send everyone the Fire, except those he chooses to deliver. 128

Surah 7: The Heights

1. How many a township have We destroyed!  As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them. 4-5
2. Allah has made devils the protecting friends of disbeliveers. 27
3. Disbelievers choose devils as protecting friends and believe they are rightly guided. 30
4. Only believers go to heaven. 32
5. Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire. 36
6. Entire nations have entered the Fire.  Some get a double torment. 38
7. Disbelievers will be excluded from heaven.  Theirs will be a bed of hell. 40-41
8. Those in the Fire will cry out to those in heaven, saying: “Pour water on us.”  But Allah has forbidden that to disbelievers. 50
9. Those who deny Muhammad’s revelation are evil. 177

Surah 8: The Spoils of War

1. Allah will throw fear into the hearts of the disbelievers, and smite their necks and fingers. 12
2. Disbelievers will be tormented in the Fire. 14
3. When you fight with disbelievers, do not retreat.  Those who do will go to hell. 15-16
4. Taste of the doom because ye disbelieve. 35
5. Those who disbelieve will be gathered into hell. 36
6. The angels smite the face and backs of disbelievers, saying: “Taste the punishment of burning!” 50
7. The worst beasts in Allah’s sight are the disbelievers. 55
8. Exhort the believers to fight.  They will win easily, because disbelievers are without intelligence. 65
9. A prophet may not take captives until he has made a slaughter in the land. 67

Surah 9: Repentance

1. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve. 3
2. Slay the idolaters wherever you find them. 5
3. Don’t let idolaters tend the sanctuaries.  Their works are in vain and they will be burned in the Fire. 17
4. Give tiding of a painful doom to Christians and Jews. 34
5. If you refuse to fight, Allah will afflict you with a painful doom. 39
6. Disbelievers go to hell. 49
7. Those who vex the Prophet, for them there is a painful doom. 60
8. Those who oppose Allah and His messenger will burn in the fire of hell. 63
9. Allah promises hypocrites and disbelievers the fire of hell.  Allah curses them.  They will have a lasting torment. 68
10. Fight the disbelievers and hypocrites.  Be harsh with them.  They are all going to hell anyway. 73
11. Allah will afflict disbelievers with a painful doom in this world and the Hereafter. 74
12. For disbelievers there will be a painful doom. 90
13. Don’t pray for idolaters (not even for your family) after it is clear they are people of hell-fire. 113
14. Fight disbelievers who are near you, and let them see the harshness in you. 123

Surah 10: Jonah

1. Disbelievers will have a boiling drink and a painful doom. 4
2. Those who neglect Allah’s revelations will make their home in the Fire. 7-8
3. Allah has destoyed entire generations. 13
4. Those who disbelieved will face a dreadful doom. 70
5. Allah drowned those who disbelieved his revelations. 73  believe until they saw the painful doom. 88

Surah 11: Hud

1. Disbelievers wil1 end up in the Fire. 17
2. Those who oppose Islam and disbelieve in the Hereafter are guilty of the greatest wrong. 18-19
3. Those in the Fire will suffer as long as the heavens and earth endure. 106-7
4. Allah will fill hell with humans and jinn. 119

Surah 13: The Thunder

1. Disbelievers are the rightful owners of the Fire 5
2. Allah does not hear the prayer of disbelievers. 14
3. Those who do not answer Allah’s call will go to hell. 18
4. Disbelievers will be tormented in this life, and suffer even more pain in the Hereafter. 33-34
5. The reward for disbelievers is the Fire. 35

Surah 14: Abraham

1. Woe unto the disbelievers.  Theirs will be an awful doom. 2
2. Allah sends some people astray. 4
3. Those who are in hell will be forced to drink festering water which they can hardly swallow.  They will want to die, but they will not be able to.  Theirs is a harsh doom. 16-17
4. Allah sends wrong-doers astray.  He does whatever he likes. 27
5. Those in hell will be chained together.  Their clothing will be made of pitch and fire will cover their faces. 49-50

Surah 15: The Rock

1. Let the disbelievers enjoy life and let false hope beguile them.  They will come to know! 2-3
2. Iblis will lead humans astray.  Only perfect Muslims will be safe from him.  The rest will go to hell. 39-43
3. Allah’s doom is a dolorous doom. 50

Surah 16: The Bee

1. Allah could have led everyone to the truth, but he chose not to. 9
2. Those who don’t believe in the Hearafter are proud. 22
3. Disbelievers are evil and will dwell in hell forever. 27-29
4. Disbelievers are liars. 39
5. Allah will add doom to doom for those who disbelieve. 88
6. Those who oppose Islam will face an awful doom. 94

Surah 17: The Children of Israel

1. Allah made hell to be a dungeon for disbelievers. 8
2. Allah has prepared a painful doom for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 10
3. Allah destroyed entire towns. 16
4. How many generations Allah has destroyed since Noah! 17
5. Allah intends to burn people in hell. 18
6. Allah makes it so that unbelievers cannot understand. 45-46
7. Allah will destroy every town before the Day of Resurrection. 58
8. Allah will send disbelievers astray.  Then he’ll burn them in hell, increasing the flames from time to time. 97-98

Surah 18: The Cave

1. Allah has prepared a Fire for the disbelievers.  When they want a shower, Allah will give them a shower of molten lead to burn their faces. 29
2. Those who are condemned to the Fire know they will have no way to escape. 53
3. The worst wrong is to forget Allah’s revelations.  Allah covers their hearts and makes them deaf so that they will never believe the truth. 57
4. There is an appointed time in which the doomed will find no escape. 58
5. Allah has destroyed many towns. 59
6. On a certain day, Allah will present hell, in plain view, to the disbelievers. 100
7. Allah will welcome the disbelievers into hell. 102
8. Hell is the reward for disbelievers because they made a jest of Allah’s revelations and messengers. 106

Surah 19: Mary

1. Allah will pluck out from every sect those who should burn in hell. 69-70
2. Allah will record what disbelievers say and then prolong their torment. 77-79
3. Allah has sent the devils on the disbelievers to confuse them. 83
4. Allah has destroyed many generations. 98

Surah 20: Ta Ha

1. Those who do not believe Allah’s revelations will face doom in the Hereafter. 127
2. Allah has destroyed many generations. 128

Surah 21: The Prophets

1. Allah destroyed entire towns, yet the people still disbelieved. 6
2. The people cried out for mercy, but Allah killed them anyway. 15
3. Disbelievers will not be able to put out the fire on their faces and backs.  They will be stupefied and no one will help them. 39-40
4. Allah gave judgment and knowledge to Lot.  He was a righteous man. (Genesis 19:7-38)  75
5. Every person alive at the time of the flood was evil.  So Allah drowned them all. 77
6.The disbelievers will stare in terror at what Allah has in store for them. 97-99

Surah 22: The Pilgrimage

1. The devil will guide some to the punishment of the Flame. 3-4
2. Those who turn from the way of Allah will face ignominy in this world and burning in the next. 9
3. Whoever thinks that Allah will not give Muhammad victory should go hang himself. 15
4. Disbelievers will wear garments of fire, boiling fluid will be poured on their heads, their bellies and skin will be melted, they will be tormented with iron hooks, and when they try to escape they will be driven back with the taunt: Taste the doom of burning. 19-22
5. Allah will provide the disbelievers with a painful doom. 25
6. How many towns Allah has destroyed! 45
7. Those who disregard Allah’s revelations are the owners of the Fire. 51
8. Those who disbelieve Allah’s revelations will have a shameful doom. 57
9. Those who disbelieve Allah’s revelations will burn in the Fire. 72

Surah 23: The Believers

1. Allah told Noah not to bother pleading for the people he was about to drown. 27
2. Those who don’t believe in the Hereafter will receive extreme punishment from Allah. 74-77
3. When fire burns their faces, they will be glum. 104
4. Disbelievers will not be successful. 117

Surah 24: The Light

1. Scourge adulterers and adulteresses with 100 stripes.  Do not show them any pity.  Have a party of believers watch the punishment. 2
2. Only adulterers can marry adulteresses.  Believers are not to marry them. 3
3. Vile women are for vile men, and vile men for vile women. 26
4. Believing women must lower their gaze and be modest, cover themselves with veils, and not reveal themselves except to their husbands, relatives, children, and slaves. 31
5. Disbelievers are miscreants. 55
6. Disbelievers will never escape the Fire that will be their home. 57
7. It’s okay for believers to own slaves. 58
8. The only true believers are those who believe in Allah and his messenger. 62

Surah 25: The Criterion

1. Those who deny the coming of the Hour will be chained together and burned with fire.  They will pray for their own destruction. 11-13
2. Allah will force the evil-doers to taste great torment. 19
3. It will be a hard day for disbelievers and wrong-doers.  They will gnaw on their hands and wish they had chosen Islam. 26-27
4. Those who deny Muhammad’s revelations will be destroyed. 36
5. Allah drowned everyone in the flood of Noah, and has prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. 37

Surah 26: The Poets

1. Allah destroyed the people in Lot ’s town with a dreadful rain. 172-3
2. Many will not believe until they see the painful doom. 201
3. Those who believe in another god are doomed. 213

Surah 27: The Ant

1. Allah leads those who do not believe in the Hereafter astray by making things work out OK in this life, so that he can torment them forever in the next.  They will get the worst punishment and will be the greatest losers. 4-5
2. “Allah destroyed them and their people, every one.” 51
3. But he “saved those who believed.” 53
4. Allah sent a dreadful rain on “those who stayed behind.” 58
5. Whoever does something wrong will be thrown into the Fire. 90

Surah 28: The Narrative

1. Allah has completely destroyed many communities. 58
2. Allah will taunt Christians on the day of their doom, saying: Where are My partners whom ye imagined? 62-64
3. Allah caused the earth to swallow Korah. 79-81
4. Never help disbelievers. 86  (Can Muslims in countries ruled in by non-Muslims be loyal to their country?)

Surah 29: The Spider

1. Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah have no hope of mercy.  For such there is a painful doom. 23
2. Only wrong-doers deny the revelations of Allah. 49
3. Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah are the losers. 52
4. The doom of hell will come upon disbelievers suddenly, when they least expect it. 53-55

Surah 30: The Romans

1. Allah will tear Christians apart for ascribing partners to him. 13-14
2. Disbelievers will be brought to doom. 16
3. It’s OK to own slaves. 28
4. Allah does not love disbelievers. 45
5. Allah seals the heart of disbelievers.  (And then he burns them in the Fire.) 59

Surah 31: Luqman

1. Those who mislead others from Allah’s way and mock Islam will have a painful doom. 6-7
2. Allah will give disbelievers a little comfort for a little while, and then he’ll torment them forever with a heavy doom. 23-24

Surah 32: The Prostration

1. Allah will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together. 13
2. Allah: Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do. 14
3. Those who used to deny the Fire will be tormented in it forever. 20
4. The worst thing you can do is to deny the revelations of Allah. 22

Surah 33: The Clans

1. Don’t obey disbelievers. 1 (Can Muslims in countries ruled in by non-Muslims be loyal to their country?)
2. Allah makes the deeds of unbelievers fruitless. 19
3. Allah cast panic into the hearts of the disbelievers.  He killed some, and enslaved others. 25-26
4. Allah gave Zeyd’s wife, his own daughter in law to Muhammad in marriage.  This was so that all Muslims would know that it’s OK to marry your adopted son’s ex-wife. 37
5. Ignore disbelievers and their poisonous talk. 48
6. It’s OK to own slaves. 50
7. Allah says it is lawful for Muhammad to marry any women he wants. 50-51
8. It’s OK to own slaves. 55
9. Those who malign Allah, Muhammad, and Muslims will be cursed by Allah in this life and with doom in the Hereafter. 57
10. Those who oppose Islam will be slain with a fierce slaughter. 60-61
11. Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming fire, wherein they will abide forever. 64-65
12. The disbelievers will be burned in the Fire with a double torment. 66-68

Surah 34: Saba

1. Those who challenge the revelations of Muhammad will have a painful doom. 5
2. Those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will be tormented. 8
3. But some of the jinn Allah burned with flaming Fire. 12
4. Those who strive against Allah’s revelations will be brought to the doom. 38
5. Those who worshipped the jinn will taste the doom of the Fire. 41
6. Allah hates those who ignore his messengers. 45
7. Those who are cast into hell be terrified when they see that they have no escape. Then they will believe.  But it will be too late. 51-52

Surah 35: The Angels

1. Those who disbelieve will have an awful doom. 7
2. Allah sends whoever he wants astray. 8
3. Allah hates disbelievers. 26
4. Disbelievers will burn forever in the fire of hell.  Allah will keep them alive so that he can torture them forever.  When they repent and ask for mercy, he will ignore them. 36-7
5. He who disbelieves, his disbelief will be on his own head. 39
6. Allah has blinded the disbelievers so that they cannot see the truth.  So it don’t bother warning them.

Surah 36: Ya Sin

1. They will go to hell anyway. 8-10
2. Allah has destroyed many entire generations. 31
3. If Allah feels like it, he will drown everyone. 43
4. Allah will burn the disbelievers in hell. 63-4

Surah 37: Those Who Set The Ranks

1. Those who refuse to believe in Muhammad’s revelations will face a painful doom. 31-38
2. Those in hell must eat from a tree with the heads of devils, and then drink boiling water.  After that they return to hell. 62-68
3. Allah drowned everyone except Noah and his family in the flood. 82
4. Allah tells Abraham in a dream to sacrifice his son. (But is the son Ishmael or Isaac?) 102
5. Allah killed everyone in Sodom except for Lot and his family. 136
6. No one is against Allah, except those who burn in hell. 162-3

Surah 38: Sad

1. Allah has destroyed many generations. 3
2. Those who doubt will soon taste Allah’s doom. 8
3. Those who deny the messengers deserve doom. 14
4. Those who wander from the way of Allah will have an awful doom. 26
5. Those who disbelieve will burn in the Fire. 27
6. The transgressors will roast in the Fire and be forced to drink boiling liquids followed by ice cold drinks. 55-9
7. Iblis asks Allah to let him hang around and mislead humans.  Allah allows him to do so, and Iblis leads all humans to hell except for the single-minded slaves.  Allah agrees, and plans to fill hell with Iblis and his followers. 79-85

Surah 39: The Troops

1. Tell the disbelievers to enjoy themselves now, because later they will be owners of the Fire. 8
2. The losers will be those who lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection.  They will be surrounded by fire. 15-16
3. No one will be able to help those that Allah torments in the Fire. 19
4. Woe unto those who forget Allah.  They are in plain error. 22
5. Allah sends some people astray.  For them there is no guide. 23
6. The worst thing you can do is tell a lie against Allah.  The home of disbelievers is hell. 32
7. Allah sends some people astray.  For them there is no guide. 36
8. Surrender to Allah before he sends the doom upon you suddenly. 54-55
9. Those who lie about Allah will be sent to hell and will have their faces blackened. 60
10. Losers are those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah. 63
11. Those ascribe a partner to Allah (like the Christians) will be among the losers. 65
12. Those who disbelieve will be driven into hell. 71-72

Surah 40: The Believer

1. Allah sent an awful punishment at the time of Noah. 5
2. Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 6
3. Allah greatly abhors those who disbelieve. 10
4. When the doom comes, the hearts of the doomed will choke in their throats, and no one will help them. 18
5. Those who ignore Allah’s “clear proofs” will be seized and punished severely. 22
6. Those that Allah sends astray will have no helper or guide. 33
7. Allah deceives those who doubt. 34
8. The prodigals will be owners of the Fire. 43
9. The doomed will be exposed to the Fire morning and evening. 46
10. Those in hell will beg to be relieved from the Fire’s torment for just a day.  But the prayer of a disbeliever is in vain. 49-50
11. Those who bicker about Allah’s revelations are filled with pride. 56
12. Those who scorn Allah will go to hell. 60
13. Those who deny the revelations of Allah are perverted. 63
14. Those who deny the Scripture and Allah’s messengers will be dragged through boiling water and thrust into the Fire. 70-72
15. Allah will taunt the Christians in hell, saying: Where are all my partners that you used to believe in? 73
16. Thus does Allah send astray the disbelievers (in his guidance). 74
17. Those who scorn will go to hell. 76
18. When they see Allah’s doom they will believe in Allah.  But their faith will not save them.  The disbelievers will be ruined. 84-85

Surah 41: Fusilat

1. Woe unto the idolaters who disbelieve in the Hereafter. 6
2. Allah will make life miserable for those who deny his revelations and then he will torment them forever in the Hereafter.  And they will not be helped. 15-16
3. The enemies of Allah will be gathered into the Fire where their skin, ears, and eyes will testify against them. 19-20
4. Allah will make those who disbelieve taste an awful doom.  Their immortal home will be the Fire, since they denied Allah’s revelations. 27-28
5. Those who disbelieve will taste hard punishment. 50

Surah 42: The Counsel

1. While some lounge in the Garden, others will roast in the Flame. 7
2. Those who argue about Allah will have his wrath upon them.  Theirs will be an awful doom. 16
3. Allah sometimes kills people for misbehaving. 34
4. Allah sends some people astray and then punishes them for it by burning them in the Fire. 44-46
5. Allah makes some people barren. (Whenever he feels like it.) 50

Surah 43: Ornaments of God

1. When the Egyptians angered Allah, he drowned them all. 55
2. Those who argue and do wrong will have a painful doom that will come upon them suddenly. 65-66
3. The guilty are tormented forever in hell.  Allah will not relax their punishment. 74-75

Surah 44: Smoke

1. Those in torment will claim to believe and ask Allah for relief.  But he will refuse since they will return to their disbelief. 11-16
2. Those in hell must eat from a tree like molten brass that burns their bellies.  Then boiling water will be poured on their heads. 43-48

Surah 45: Crouching

1. Those who hear and reject Allah’s revelations are sinful liars.  Give them tidings of a painful doom. 7-8
2. Those who joke about Allah’s revelations will go to hell.  Theirs will be an awful doom. 9-10
3. Those who disbelieve in Allah’s revelations will have a painful doom of wrath. 11
4. Allah sends some people astray, making it impossible for them to hear or see. 23
5. Those who disbelieve are guilty folk. 31

Surah 46: The Wind-Curved Sandals

1. Disbelievers will be rewarded with the ignominious doom of the Fire. 20
2. The guilty will face a wind with a painful torment. 25
3. Allah has destroyed entire towns. 27
4. Allah will taunt the disbelievers that he torments in the fire, saying: “Taste the doom for that ye disbelieved.” 34

Surah 47: Muhammad

1. Allah makes the works of disbelievers vain. 1
2. Those who disbelieve follow falsehood. 3
3. Smite the necks of the disbelievers whenever you fight against them.  Those who die fighting for Allah will be rewarded. 4
4. Allah will damn the disbelievers and make all their actions fruitless. 8-9
5. Disbelievers may eat and be happy now, but the Fire will be their final home. 12
6. Those in the Garden will drink delicious wine, while those in the Fire will drink boiling water that will tear apart their intestines. 15
7. Allah curses people by making them deaf and blind. 23
8. Angels will gather them together and smite their faces and backs. 27
9. Allah will make the actions those who disbelieve fruitless. 32
10.Those who disbelieve will never be pardoned by Allah. 34-35

Surah 48: Victory

1. Those who think an evil thought concerning Allah will be cursed and sent to hell by him. 6
2. Allah has prepared a flame for the disbelievers. 13
3. If you refuse to fight for Allah, he will punish you with a painful doom. 16-17
4. But if you’re willing to fight for Allah, he will provide you with lots of booty. 19-20
5. Allah punished those who disbelieved with a painful punishment. 25
6. Those with Muhammad are ruthless toward disbelievers and merciful toward themselves. 29

Surah 49: The Private Apartments

1. Do not lift your voice when in Muhammad’s presence.  Those who subdue their voices are righteous and will receive an immense reward from Allah. 1-3

Surah 50: Oaf

1. Allah has destroyed many entire generations. 36

Surah 51: The Winnowing Winds

1. Accursed are the conjecturers who ask: When is the Day of Judgment?  It is the day they will be tormented by the Fire. 10-14
2. Woe to the disbelievers. 60

Surah 52: The Mount

1. Those who deny the existence of hell will be thrust into its Fire. 11-16
2. Those who disbelieve are trapped. 42

Surah 54: The Moon

1. Allah sent a storm of stones on Lot’s folk, killing all but Lot’s family. 34
2. The suffering in hell will be more wretched and bitter than anything experienced on earth. 46-48
3. Allah destroyed many people, but does anyone remember anymore? 51

Surah 55: The Beneficent

1. The guilty deny hell.  But after they die they go circling between it and fierce, boiling water. 43-44

Surah 56: The Event

1. But those on his left hand will face scorching wind, scalding water, and black smoke. 42-43
2. Those who deny Allah and the Hereafter will eat from the Zaqqum tree and drink boiling water. 51-54
3. Allah will welcome the rejecters and erring with boiling water and a roasting in the hell fire. 92-94

Surah 57: Iron

1. The home of disbelievers is the Fire, a hapless journey’s end. 15
2. Those who disbelieve and deny Allah’s revelations are the owners of the fire. 19

Surah 58: She That Disputeth

1. For disbelievers is a painful doom. 4
2. For disbelievers is a shameful doom. 5
3. Don’t make friends with Allah’s enemies.  For those who do so, Allah has prepared a dreadful doom. 14-15
4. Those who turn others away from the way of Allah will have a shameful doom.  They are rightful owners of the Fire. 16-17
5. Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the lowest. 20
6. On the Last Day good Muslims will not love their non-Muslim friends and family members, not even their fathers, sons, or brothers (or their mothers, daughters, or sisters). 22

Surah 59: Exile

1. Allah cast fear into the hearts of the disbelieving People of the Scripture.  Their home in the Hereafter will be the Fire. 2-3
2. The disbelieving people of the Scripture are liars. 11
3. The devil and disbelievers will be in the Fire. 16-17
4. The owners of the Garden and the owners of the Fire are not equal. 20

Surah 60: She That is to be Examined

1. Don’t be friends with disbelievers.  They are your (and Allah’s) enemy. 1
2. Don’t be friends with those who have warred against you because of religion.  Whoever makes friends with them is a wrong-doer. 9
3. Don’t be friends with those who disbelieve in the Hereafter.  They are Allah’s enemies. 13

Surah 61: The Ranks

1. Allah loves those who fight for him. 4
2. Allah leads some people astray. 5
3. The worst thing you can do is tell a lie about Allah. 7

Surah 62: The Congregation

1. A hypocritical Jew looks like an ass carrying books.  Those who deny the revelations of Allah are ugly. 5

Surah 63: The Hypocrites

1. Allah seals the hearts of those who believe and then disbelieve so that they can understand nothing. 3
2. Disbelievers are perverted.  They are the enemy, confounded by Allah. 4
3. Don’t bother to ask Allah to forgive the disbelievers.  He will never forgive them. 6

Surah 64: Mutual Disillusion

1. Those who disbelieve will have a painful doom. 5
2. Those who disbelieve are the owners of the Fire. 10

Surah 66: Banning

1. Muhammad’s wives need to be careful.  If they criticize their husband, Allah will replace them with better ones. 5
2. The fuel of the Fire is men and stones. 6
3. Be stern with disbelievers.  They are going to Hell anyway. 9
4. The wives of Noah and Lot (who were both righteous) betrayed their husbands and are now in the Fire. 10

Surah 67: The Sovereignty

1. Disbelievers will go to hell where they will hear its roaring and boiling. 6-7
2. Who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom? (Nobody) 28

Surah 69: The Reality

1. Those who do not believe in Allah will be chained up and cast into hell-fire where they will eat filth. 30-35

Surah 71: Noah

1. Those that Allah drowned in Noah’s flood were then tortured forever in the Fire. 25
2. Noah asked Allah to drown all the disbelievers. 26

Surah 72: The Jinn

1. The fires of hell will be fueled with the bodies of idolators and unbelievers.  They will experience an ever-greater torment. 15-17
2. Those who disobey Allah and his messenger will dwell forever in the fire of hell. 23

Surah 73: The Enshrouded One

1. Allah will take care of the deniers.  He will tie them up, burn them in a raging fire, and feed them food that chokes them. 11-13

Surah 74: The Cloaked One

1. The last day will be a day of anguish for disbelievers. 9-10
2. Those who are stubborn to Allah’s revelations will face a fearful doom. 16-17
3. The fire of hell shrivels humans and spares nothing. 27-29
4. Allah has appointed angels to tend the Fire and has prepared stumbling blocks for those who disbelieve.  He sends some people (whoever he wants) astray. 31
5. Allah is the font of fear. 56

Surah 76: “Time” or “Man”

1. Allah has prepared chains, manacles, and a raging fire for the disbelievers. 4
2. Don’t obey disbelievers. 24

Surah 77: The Emissaries

1. Allah destroyed “the former folk.” 16
2. Woe unto the repudiators on that day! 19, 24, 28, 34, 40, 45, 49

Surah 79: “Those Who Drag Forth”

1. Those who rebel will go to hell. 37-39

Surah 80: “He Frowned”

1. Disbelievers are wicked people.  On the last day they will be in darkness and have dust on their faces. 40-42

Surah 82: The Cleaving

1. The wicked will burn in hell forever. 82

Surah 84: The Sundering

1. Some folks will be thrown into a scorching fire. 11-12
2. Disbelievers will be given a painful doom. 22-24

Surah 87: The Most High

1. Those who are flung into the great Fire will neither live nor die. 12-13

Surah 88: The Overwhelming

1. On that day many will be sad and weary.  Scorched by the fire, drinking boiling water, with only bitter thorn-fruit to eat. 2-7
2. Allah will punish disbelievers with the direst punishment. 23-24

Surah 89: The Dawn

1. Allah poured on them the disaster of His punishment. 13

Surah 90: The City

1. Those who disbelieve Allah’s revelations will have the Fire placed over them like an awning. 19-20

Surah 92: The Night

1. Those who deny Allah’s revelations must endure the flaming fire. 14-16

Hope you guys are doing well! I have to say, I don’t really like the symbol you have as your photo – Just for the record, there would be no atheism if there was no God… Also, i would think you would believe in God after the miracle of having a child!

The symbol that this person is referring to is the Theosophy symbol with its moto, “There Is No Religion Higher Than Truth.” I love the line, “Just for the record, there would be no atheism if there was no God.” No, there would be no atheism if there was no theism (which, ironically, would make everyone an atheist). Whether or not God exists has nothing to do with mans’ belief or disbelief. Secondly, the natural ability to procreate also has no bearing on belief in a supernatural being. Try using that argument on someone that is unable to have children.

I do not believe that I was that harsh in my response.

That is not a symbol of atheism. That is a symbol of Theosophy. I realize that you may not have ever seen the symbol. One of the main themes within theosophy is the acknowledgment of how much individual religions have in common with one another. If you look at the seal closely, you will see symbols that represent all of the main religions. The idea is that, while every religion has diverse ideas about the nature of God, the pursuit of truth is paramount. Basically, we should all look beyond the differences of our beliefs to find that which makes us similar. God is one thing, religion is another. We can have one without the other, which would be far less divisive. The world would be a much more enlightened and united place if we could have our beliefs in God (whichever you choose to believe in) without the divisiveness of religion.

This was a friend, mind you, so I did not wish to be perceived as the “militant evangelical atheist.” The response was as follows:

I was actually responding to your religion status – but that’s interesting about the symbol. I agree that you can have God without religion, which is what I choose as a Christian. It’s very sad what religion has done to hundreds of thousands (probably millions) of lives, I think a lot of people loose sight of God when they focus on religion.

She agrees that you can have God without religion….which is what she chooses as a Christian. Notice that she does not skip a beat in her original statement. To her, Christianity is not a religion but, rather, the embodiment of her perceptions of God. I love irony.

So as an atheist, how does the inescapable political trifecta of morality, religion and personal integrity influence my decisions in the voting booth?  Reflecting upon this, I have to admit that they do indeed influence my decisions, but probably not in the way that these things influence others.  For me, the “influence,” such as it is, isn’t on my values; rather, I’m watching to see how the candidates are influenced by these forces.  What I want to see is whether or not the person I’m going to select as my representative in government is one who can portend clearly the moral and social dimensions of a given issue, but will act in a manner consistent with established law and societal concerns.  My demand is that they represent ALL, irregardless of their own personal religious beliefs.  I don’t care if the candidate relies on their religious beliefs to guide their choices, or even if they have objections to proposed legislation because of their religious persuasions.  Nor do I necessarily care if the candidate’s beliefs “dovetail” with my own.  I do, however, care deeply if the candidate’s “religious convictions” blind them to alternative view points, or mire their rationalizations in certifiably delusional beliefs, and that they feel they must impose such strictures upon the masses.

In 1787 our country’s Founding Fathers crafted an amazingly elegant document: The United States Constitution.  Far from being silent on the issue of Church and State, they took pains to try to firewall the two from each other.  In relation to religion, the U. S. Constitution’s Article VI, Clause 3,  states in part, “…no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

This was no aberration of language, no accidental misuse of terminology.  Our Founding Fathers were quite specific in their demands that church and state be separate.  Indeed, President John Adams wrote in his manifesto A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787-88), “Thirteen governments thus founded on the natural authority of the people alone, without a pretence of miracle or mystery, which are destined to spread over the northern part of that whole quarter of the globe, are a great point gained in favour of the rights of mankind.”

In a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote on Jan. 1, 1802 to the Danbury Baptist association in Connecticut, to help quell the rumors that the new U.S. Government was attempting to disband religious activities, “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man & his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state.“

And as currently as 1992, Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun (in the Lee v. Weisman ruling) wrote, “When the government puts its imprimatur on a particular religion it conveys a message of exclusion to all those who do not adhere to the favored beliefs. A government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that God prefers some.”

For instance, one of the most polarizing social issues of our lifetime is abortion.  If a candidate were to take a stance that Roe v Wade was, in their opinion, un-Constitutional and needed to be overturned, that would NOT necessarily mean that I would automatically disfavor that candidate.  I need to know the candidate’s rationalization for this stance; WHY do they think the way they do on this subject?  If they are of the belief that Roe v Wade is un-Constitutional because it imposed a federal mandate on what was – when it came before the Supreme Court – a state’s right issue, and that it need be overturned at the federal level and returned to the state level in order to keep parity within the application of law, then I would probably have a positive opinion of this candidate’s concern for the rule of law rather than rhetoric, and may possibly give serious consideration to voting for them, once all other salient issues were likewise considered.

However, if a candidate were to take a stance that Roe v Wade must be overturned because it offends their god, that there should be NO exceptions to this ban whatsoever, to the degree that even a 13 year old who has been raped by a blood relative must be forced to carry her attacker’s child to term in order to fulfill that candidate’s religious mandates, then I would definitely be swayed to not only vote, but actively campaign against such ludicrous and dangerous zealotry from ever being allowed to hold public Trust.

I have no qualms about an individual’s religious convictions, providing that such convictions are personal, that they illuminate a reasonable, pragmatic internal moral compass that guides them in appropriate social behavior.  Even if I have fundamental disagreements with any given religious tenants, I do not feel the need to extend my disagreements upon them, again, provided that by all accounts their beliefs are internal, and if they were given the opportunity, their ability to form public policy is not distorted by irrational  fanaticism.

I am a registered Independent; I have been since I turned 18.  I have voted for Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Green Party, and some other third-tier political parties.  I have voted in every major election, and this year will be no different.  But I do not enter the voting booth without seriously considering the stakes of what befalls my local, state and national welfare should certain individuals gain power.  I do not let raw, partisan sloganeering make my decisions for me.  I reserve the right to keep my mind free of media bias, and will defend my vote with as much truthful information as I can muster.  Likewise, I respect the Will of the People, even when I think the People must have lost their collective minds.  It is only by allowing the pendulum to swing far enough to one side will the dangers to the Body Republic become truly exposed.  And throughout our young, tumultuous history, the genius that is the Will of the People has been shown to eventually center the blade of justice.

Brian Fallon

The Atheism Tapes

With the election growing near, I thought that it would be nice to get your take on some questions regarding it. The winning writer will receive a copy of the 2 disc DVD set of The Atheism Tapes.

As part of the making of the ground-breaking series “A Brief History of Disbelief,” Jonathan Miller filmed conversations with some very distinguished minds. Jonathan, of course, could not resist the temptation to make these conversations wide ranging and so – naturally enough – their final contributions to “A Brief History of Disbelief” are only a small part of the original interviews.In these off-the-record interviews, neurologist turned playwright, filmmaker and self-described atheist Jonathan Miller filmed conversations with six of today’s leading men of letters and science: biologist and New York Times best-selling author Richard Dawkins, philosophers Daniel Dennett and Colin McGinn, distinguished playwright Arthur Miller, theologian Denys Turner and Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Weinberg, who discuss their personal intellectual journeys and offer illuminating analyses of nontheism from a wide range of perspectives.

So, here are the questions that I would like to see your opinions on.

1. Does your faith, or lack thereof, sway you one way or the other when voting? Why/Why not?
2. Does a candidate’s faith, or lack thereof, play a role when deciding who you will vote for?
3. Are you concerned that a candidate’s faith may play a role in shaping future policies?
4. Do you plan on voting this year? If not, why?

And there you have it! All essays should be sent via email. Comments to this post will be turned off. The contest begins at the time of this posts’ publication and will end at 9:00pm CST on October 4. Here is the email address: election(@)thejesusmyth.com

After the submission period ends, all essays will be published simultaneously and the voting period will begin. Votes will be taken until 9:00 PM CST on October 11th.

Good Luck!

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15
“14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:”