It wasn't Mohammed who founded Islam.

[robvalue]

God must be a woman.

If he had any balls, he's have shown up by now.

[CristW]

As I understand the facts there is no evidence that Mohammed was the driving force behind Islam. Islam expanded through Egypt, Palestine, North Africa, Persia, etc., before 700 ad, but this expansion was not described by contemporary writers are being driven by the teachings of Mohammed and there was no mention of the Koran. Mohammed doesn't come into the picture until 697 ad, 65 years after his supposed death. The Mosques were rebuilt early in the 8th century to face Mecca (not shortly after Mo's death). Commentators in the early 700s complained that the Quraysh tribe from Arabia were trying to take over and were inventing stories about Mohammed. The Koran, I am convinced, was written around 770 ad by a single individual of very high status. I think Nestorians were more likely to have been the original founding force behind Islam. Mohammed's lot came later ... and appear to have rewritten history to suit themselves.

Very interesting theory and your points my very well be valid. From a psychological and anthropological position it may very possible with the exception that the captured Jewish scribes gave hints within the Qu'ran that it is false and written by them.

[Rayaan]

[Minimalist]

[Rayaan]

[Jackie]

As I understand the facts there is no evidence that Mohammed was the driving force behind Islam. Islam expanded through Egypt, Palestine, North Africa, Persia, etc., before 700 ad, but this expansion was not described by contemporary writers are being driven by the teachings of Mohammed and there was no mention of the Koran. Mohammed doesn't come into the picture until 697 ad, 65 years after his supposed death. The Mosques were rebuilt early in the 8th century to face Mecca (not shortly after Mo's death). Commentators in the early 700s complained that the Quraysh tribe from Arabia were trying to take over and were inventing stories about Mohammed. The Koran, I am convinced, was written around 770 ad by a single individual of very high status. I think Nestorians were more likely to have been the original founding force behind Islam. Mohammed's lot came later ... and appear to have rewritten history to suit themselves.

Imagination is behind religion so it does not matter if any human decides to start one and others decide to follow. A comic book president is no magic man,

[Minimalist]

[pocaracas]

[JesusHChrist]

Why do religious people think *their* pet oral traditions, stories and myths should be accepted and yet they will dismiss out of hand someone else's oral traditions and myths?

Joseph Smith got some magic golden plate from an angel and read them in a hat with magic stones? Why, that's just silly.

Mohamed rode a horse-thingy back and forth to Jerusalem in a night? Fuckin' A he did.

If we are going to loosen standards of evidence for one, why not all?

Pagans (Homer anyone?), Mormons, Catholics (tons of "traditions" there, OMG), Pastafarians - all welcome at the woo table!

In my pastafarian tradition, it is said, in Heaven, thine first stripper shall be a brunette, about 5'5" with gorgeous tits. And she won't expect a tip! It is Heaven after all. And thine first beer shall be a Porter. Never ending in the glass it shall be.

[CapnAwesome]

Muhammad is way different than Jesus, he had relatives, they wrote things down. Robert Spencer is a Christian extremist and bigot. I'm probably one of the most critical people of Islam on these forums but my criticism of Islam doesn't make my brain fall out of the side of my head or make my degree in history disappear. Muhammad almost certainly existed. What difference does it make anyway? Muhammad existing, the awful, slaver, raider and pedophile that he was? It makes Islam look worse honestly.