RE: How literally should we take the Qur'an ?
January 24, 2017 at 3:24 am
(This post was last modified: January 24, 2017 at 3:31 am by WinterHold.)
Quote:I am finding myself in a bit of a maze when trying to "prove" the inaccurate statements in the Quran. You often hear Muslims claim how their book contains scientific knowledge that could not have possibly been discovered in that age, ergo some superior intelligence must have dictated it.
The problem when dealing with this issue often is the constant argument that the translation is simply not good enough. English simply cannot encompass the complexity of the Arabic language. Some words have multiple meanings and therefore a certain verse can mean a lot of things. Added to that, is the ever lasting argument of "you are taking it too literally". That verse does not mean that literally, it is merely a poetic expression to show a truth.
No; use "common sense"; the verses do mean what they say exactly.
For example, this verse:
Sura 16
( 15 ) And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided,
Take it "literally". Mountains increase earth's mass. If they don't exist, earth's mass would decrease. Disturb the mass, and you'll disturb the orbit of the planet.
As for your post; define "before" and "after". Time is irrelevant; scientifically irrelevant unless you specifiy an anchor point like "the big bang" or "the sun".
The initial creation might've been abstract; or even a simple "instruction". Then came the actual execution which took billion of years.
It's very possible. Athiestforums.org exists like this: it's a set of instructions, that get executed to produce what you see.
Just like our universe; written then executed.
"Fate" and "Destiny" and "Meant to Be" mean exactly this.
So.....Which came before; really? earth, sun ?? you're asking the wrong question.
