Muslims not created in the image of GOD?

[Rasta]

Don't you see that you have similarities to God? You were just shown that. Why do you now try to ignore it? We have some attributes of God that reflect who God is; but these attributes are not on the same level with God. There is not way around that!

So what are the implications of your post? It is clear that the Christians do not refer to the word image as in physical form of god, but rather qualities of god. The Muslims believe the same thing, they just don't call it image, as IMAGE implies physical form.

 

[anatolian]

Don't you see that you have similarities to God? You were just shown that. Why do you now try to ignore it? We have some attributes of God that reflect who God is; but these attributes are not on the same level with God. There is not way around that!

Yes I do see.The purpose of that post of mine is to say that that Biblical verse has the same message of this Quranic verse.But what bro Bookofknowledge says is also true in the sense of "no one/thing can be compared to Him" as Quran says.

I believe we have the insignificant quantity of the Allah's attributes which are told in Quran.This is mentioned in Islam anyway.

 

[peaceful soul]

So what are the implications of your post? It is clear that the Christians do not refer to the word image as in physical form of god, but rather qualities of god. The Muslims believe the same thing, they just don't call it image, as IMAGE implies physical form.

Rasta, I have already shown you that image does not have to be a physical thing and that it is referencing qualities of God in relation to mankind. Your insistence on believing contrarily is not going to change that fact. Context determines which meaning is applied. You are acting as if the word must mean exactly as you think. For example: if I told you that my cup is green, naturally you will think of the cannotation of green referring to a color until I explain that green refers to environmental friendly products, which would be the quality or characteristic of the cup. Get it! Perhaps you are purposely trying to cause friction?? Just to argue?? Just to be different?? Save your confrontation for some one else, please, if that is your motive.

It doesn't matter what Muslims call it. In the sense of Christian definition, they have no choice but to see what we mean by image and that they too have to relate to God based upon similar concepts such as God having love, emotions, will, personality, ect. It is evident when one reads passages of the Qu'ran that Allah get angry, hates certain people, loves others, and has a will. Are not these characteristics an image of whom Allah is as well as who humans are?

 

[peaceful soul]

Yes I do see.The purpose of that post of mine is to say that that Biblical verse has the same message of this Quranic verse.But what bro Bookofknowledge says is also true in the sense of "no one/thing can be compared to Him" as Quran says.

I believe we have the insignificant quantity of the Allah's attributes which are told in Quran.This is mentioned in Islam anyway.

We are not trying to make a direct comparison except that we recognize that we have some of the same characteristics of God. That is not to imply that we are on the same level with God. I see that this is your objection. You are arguing something not intended to be argued. The fact is that Allah has attributes that he gave to humans. Without these attributes of likeness, we can't reason and related to God in any meaningful way--probably not at all!

 

[HumbleServant94]

Muslims do not believe they are created in the image of GOD...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI3uTphBLfI


With Love,
- Jefell

They're wrong. Everyone is created in God's image.

 

[Rasta]

Rasta, I have already shown you that image does not have to be a physical thing and that it is referencing qualities of God in relation to mankind. Your insistence on believing contrarily is not going to change that fact.

Wow. What part of "It is clear that the Christians do not refer to the word image as in physical form of god, but rather qualities of god." do you not understand? I'd like to know.

Context determines which meaning is applied. You are acting as if the word must mean exactly as you think.

No, I'm not actually.

Get it! Perhaps you are purposely trying to cause friction?? Just to argue?? Just to be different?? Save your confrontation for some one else, please, if that is your motive.

Whatever. Get over yourself already.

It doesn't matter what Muslims call it.

Perhaps you are unaware, but context is everything.

It is evident when one reads passages of the Qu'ran that Allah get angry, hates certain people, loves others, and has a will. Are not these characteristics an image of whom Allah is as well as who humans are?

What is your point? That Muslims view image differently than Christians? Are you not insisting that their interpretation of their text must match your definition of what image entails?

 

[peaceful soul]

Wow. What part of "It is clear that the Christians do not refer to the word image as in physical form of god, but rather qualities of god." do you not understand? I'd like to know.



No, I'm not actually.



Whatever. Get over yourself already.



Perhaps you are unaware, but context is everything.



What is your point? That Muslims view image differently than Christians? Are you not insisting that their interpretation of their text must match your definition of what image entails?

I did mention that I am using a Biblical perspective. The Qu'ran gives attributes to Allah that humans also have; therefore, whether they admit it or not, they can rightly see themselves as having attributes compartive to God, which is the essence of what image means in terms of our discussion. That was the point origianlly raised by CatherineAnne. They are confusing this to mean that they are somehow on the level of comparison with Allah, which is not what is being said. All that Christians are saying to Muslims is that they too can see themselves as being in God's image by the examples already provided.

Rasta, I don't like your approach and your snotty replies; therefore, I am withdrawing from conversation with you until you can stop being combative and disrespectful. I answered the OP. Then you started baiting me into other stuff, some of which was a lot of nonsense. I don't have time for your antics. I showed you what the expression "we are made in God's image" meant. It is not a physical form as you insist. The context is of a non physical being. I also mentioned that God is spirit and has no bodily form, which you evidently are not going to believe; so, there is nothing more that I need to say unless you are willing to change your attitude and behavior towards me and others.

The invitation is open if you want to continue in a very courteous and respectable manner.

 

[Philothei]

Rasta God is a spirit....How can we have physical resemblance to Him?

That should answer your question in our spititual sense which includes our intellectual capacities we are NOT animals or we would not have the 'gift" or reason....

 

[peaceful soul]

Rasta God is a spirit....How can we have physical resemblance to Him?

That should answer your question in our spititual sense which includes our intellectual capacities we are NOT animals or we would not have the 'gift" or reason....

That is what I have presented to him in at least in two different ways. He is more interested in defining things the way that supports his beliefs. I think that all of us were clear enough for him to understand without all of the sideshows he is fueling by his combativeness.

I would have thought that once we establish that God is Spirit, he would then understand that spirits are by nature nonphysical beings and that images do not have to be physical since images conjure likeness above form.

 

[VoidKommando]

Rasta God is a spirit....

Where does it say that? However, I do know that:

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD amongst the trees of the garden.

So I doubt the term "spirit" is accurate.

 

[peaceful soul]

Where does it say that? However, I do know that:

Genesis 3:8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD amongst the trees of the garden.

So I doubt the term "spirit" is accurate.

How does that present God as not Spirit?

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

[VoidKommando]

How does that present God as not Spirit?

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Considering a spirit is incorporeal, one cannot hear it walk. So I think John or the dictionaries need to revise their definition of "Spirit".

 

[peaceful soul]

Considering a spirit is incorporeal, one cannot hear it walk. So I think John or the dictionaries need to revise their definition of "Spirit".

Since we know that, have you considered that there is another meaning to walk in this instance? Does walk always mean a physical step that leaves an imprint? Does the context tell you what walk means? Consider that before you conclude.

It is interesting that you are not the one who needs to revise your view. This is typical of people when they read. They never consider that they may lack the understanding of what the text means. The easy way out is to blame it on the text. I am sure that when you read the context, you will start to see things a bit differently than you do now.

 

[VoidKommando]

Since we know that, have you considered that there is another meaning to walk in this instance? Does walk always mean a physical step that leaves an imprint? Does the context tell you what walk means? Consider that before you conclude.

It is interesting that you are not the one who needs to revise your view. This is typical of people when they read. They never consider that they may lack the understanding of what the text means. The easy way out is to blame it on the text. I am sure that when you read the context, you will start to see things a bit differently than you do now.

Could you enlighten me with another meaning then?

And yes, I did not say I need to revise my view, I said the Dictionary, because mine was derived from there. But indeed, if my source is wrong, then I am wrong and need to revise as well.

 

[Arthra]

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,.. (The NIV)

If you live in warm climates you can appreciate the part about the "cool of the day"...

- Art

 

[peaceful soul]

Could you enlighten me with another meaning then?

And yes, I did not say I need to revise my view, I said the Dictionary, because mine was derived from there. But indeed, if my source is wrong, then I am wrong and need to revise as well.

Let's take a look.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

It should be obvious that a voice doesn't walk; so, what could it really mean? It appears by the next verse that is signifies that God's voice was present and was as if it were walking (permeating the space they were in). In other words, God was about to interrogate them about their sin and bring them under accountability for the knowledge they had obtained from disobedience. A walking voice is a metaphor--not a literal walking. It should be common sense to recognize that if something seems ridiculous or contradictory to our intellect, it might be meant to be interpreted differently from what first comes to our mind. That is where you went wrong. You propbly didn't even try to look at the scriopture and see what context it may have.

Also remember that a modern dictionary may not give a meaning of what a word meant in an earlier time. This can be difficult for a Christian when we read certain passages. Sometimes we forget to check the original language for its contextual meaning of that word.

 

[Catherineanne]

Quran 32:7-8-9 "He Who created all things in the best, and He began the creation of man from clay,And made his progeny from a quintessence of despised fluid:But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and understanding: little thanks do ye give!"

Do you see a similarity?

If man contains even a small part of the spirit of God, breathed into him with his life, then man can be compared with God.

It is probably important to say that, in making this comparison, Christians are very clear that God remains the Creator, and we remain part of creation. But when we say that all of mankind is made in the image of God, that tells us our duty towards our brothers and sisters; to behave towards them as we would behave towards God himself, because they contain part of his spirit, part of what he is.

This is what Our Lord taught us; 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me'.

In other words, alms given to the poorest and least beggar in the street, is given to God himself.

This is what it means to recognise that every man, woman and child on earth is made in the image of God.

 

[Catherineanne]

Yes I do see.The purpose of that post of mine is to say that that Biblical verse has the same message of this Quranic verse.But what bro Bookofknowledge says is also true in the sense of "no one/thing can be compared to Him" as Quran says.

I believe we have the insignificant quantity of the Allah's attributes which are told in Quran.This is mentioned in Islam anyway.

I think in that case we have some area of meeting of minds. Certainly, man is dust, and God is who He is. But also, because God created us and gave us a unique position in creation, we reflect something of who he is.

This is not to our credit, but to his.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

I guess that you don't apply reason, do you? When the Bible speaks of image, it is not referring to a physical image; rather, it is referring to attributes that belong to God that he also gave to mankind. The ability to love, think, and create are attributes that God has and He also gave to mankind. Obviously, you don't uderstand what the Biblical passage means. An image does not have to be physical. Take note!

The error is for people to not understand the context of the Bible. There is nothing like God, but that doesn't mean that there is no relation or connection between God and man. I think that Muslims totally go to one extreme in their understanding of God. You make it seem that God is beyond comprenehsion or comparison. That would be a mistake on your part. We have a partial understanding of God. We know as much as He tells us. God relates to us in human terms. There is no way around it. That is it!

There are many fancy ways of denying the One-ness of God. For Muslims anything which leads to defining God's equal or partial is just wrong.

If you have good qualities, then be thankful to God because it's a gift from God that you are righteous however this doesn't mean your qualities are in any shape or form like God.

God guides and admonish Mankind in human terms this doesn't mean God relates to us.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

You are mistaken.

Moslems call Allah the Merciful and the Compassionate.

Man is also capable of mercy and compassion. If we were not, then this name for Allah would be meaningless. This name, and his other names, show that man and God are comparable, in at least 99 ways.

Our mercy and compassion may not be on the same scale, but they may certainly be compared. The light of the moon can be compared with the light of the sun, even though all the light actually comes from the sun, shines onto the moon and is reflected back to us. In the same way, God loves each of us, our love comes from him, and when we love those around us we are reflecting something of God's love, however weakly and imperfectly.

In this way, man is made in the image of God, and reflects his attributes to mankind. This is true of all people, and all faiths.

There is nothing comparable to God hence if you claim attributes of God are some-how comparable then I would recommend you to come-up with a list of how many attributes God Created to Judge Mankind and their wrong doings?

Example: God is The Giver of Life, didn't God Created Life?

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30:20
Of His signs, one is that He created you from dust; and then behold you men are scattered throughout the earth.

30:21
And of His signs, another one is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may find comfort with them, and He planted love and kindness in your hearts; surely there are signs in this for those who think about it.