Quote:
Originally Posted by Arius
I have historical proof that Muhammad as a nomad, was illiterate, and had very little contact with Christianity or Judaism before receiving his message. He is the origin of the Quran and the Muslim faith, and there is historical record of his having been here, albeit 600 years after Jesus was alive. We have proof of Muhammad, of his educational background, of his life. He was a nomad trader who had exposure to the pagan polytheists of his day and age, and some Christians by marriage.
Knowing this, and the fact that the Quran speaks very clearly of Jesus and Mary, and of Jews (people of the Book), it is quite amazing that not only did Muhammad remember each word of the Quran (literal meaning "the Recitation"), but each word remains exact today as it was recited in Muhammad's time. Also, Muhammad details conception as a "clot of blood" long before science had proved that this was even remotely the case.
There is no stretch of one's faith in these facts, they are historical in nature.
I do not, however, believe in Muhammad's miraculous journey to Heaven and Hell, or his meeting with Moses, Abraham, or Jesus. They could have happened, but I just can't stretch my imagination this far.
I am consistent in my beliefs. What I can understand and find fact in, I believe, what is beyond my understanding or seems fantasy to me, I remain skeptical of. What I cannot prove I await proof of.
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Your historical proof is similar to that for Jesus.
The earliest biography of Muhammad was written by ibn Ishaq -- 120 years after Muhammad's death. And any non-Islamic sources were not written until decades later.
In fact, if you believe the Q'uran as more historically correct than the New Testament, then you must believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Muhammad got that straight from God Himself. And he wrote it down word-for-word, in a text where "each word remains exact today" (again, not much different from the Scriptures).
I think you just delight in being an iconoclast, attempting to destroy the firm, happy beliefs of others. There are some people who believe that it's intellectually superior to always question and never come to a conclusion.
I respect those intellects who are able to amass information, synthesize it, test it, and then come to a conclusion that they consider factual. That's how our leading scientific intellectuals do it, after all. Although even some of them appear to confuse theory with fact.