Coolbrav's reply history at Help.com

What culture do you come from?

The reason so many people here will tell you that a 20 yr old should be independent is simply because that is the norm in the West. It’s very much usual for a 24 yr old to still be dependent on his/her parents in other cultures/traditions (although, usually the reciprocal is true too, ie that the parents are dependent on the child as well - its a case of interdependence, really!)

In many cultures parents and children live together as a family forever … the parents take care of the child then the child takes care of the parents (rather than kicking the child out at 18 or the child dumping the parents in an old folks home)

I don’t understand why people here seem to assume that what they consider to be a norm is also a norm for others.

To the OP:
If you belong to a culture where dependence on parents is normal at this age, then it would be entirely pointless just trying to confront them as some people are saying here. You need to be calm, considered and understanding with your parents when approaching them.

If your religion bans the music then be even more understanding and calmly explain that you do not see the reasoning behind the prohibition on the music and cannot understand why it is ‘dirty’ as they claim.

So, don’t just, out of the blue, confront your parents by telling them that you’re an adult and that legally you have rights, blah blah like some have suggested …. just ease into the conversation and be cool and reason with them as to why you have a difference of opinion.

I’m pretty sure it will work a lot better!

What culture do you come from?

The reason so many people here will tell you that a 20 yr old should be independent is simply because that is the norm in the West. It’s very much usual for a 24 yr old to still be dependent on his/her parents in other cultures/traditions (although, usually the reciprocal is true too, ie that the parents are dependent on the child as well - its a case of interdependence, really!)

In many cultures parents and children live together as a family forever … the parents take care of the child then the child takes care of the parents (rather than kicking the child out at 18 or the child dumping the parents in an old folks home)

I don’t understand why people here seem to assume that what they consider to be a norm is also a norm for others.

To the OP:
If you belong to a culture where dependence on parents is normal at this age, then it would be entirely pointless just trying to confront them as some people are saying here. You need to be calm, considered and understanding with your parents when approaching them.

If your religion bans the music then be even more understanding and calmly explain that you do not see the reasoning behind the prohibition on the music and cannot understand why it is ‘dirty’ as they claim.

So, don’t just, out of the blue, confront your parents by telling them that you’re an adult and that legally you have rights, blah blah like some have suggested …. just ease into the conversation and be cool and reason with them as to why you have a difference of opinion.

I’m pretty sure it will work a lot better!

The key to friendship is being cheerful!

(the more positive you are –> the more positive vibes you will send out –> the more you will attract people)

And bear in mind that people won’t just automatically come to you (they might but it would be foolish to solely rely on others to approach you)! You have to do some work too! Approach people … it doesn’t matter where you do so (in school, at work, in a bus, outdoors, while volunteering somewhere, in a gym) but when you do approach people be cheerful and seem genuinely interested in them and in forming a friendship!

Some pointers from my own experience:
- Exercise frequently –> You’ll be more energetic and you will feel more confident about yourself!
- Become more involved in whatever social constructs you maybe part of (ie if you’re at school or even at work then get involved in clubs, sports, societies etc)!
- Take opportunities to meet new people whenever you can!
- Always be in control of yourself (know when to say yes and when to say no)!

Happy Birthday, dude! Have a good one!

I think you’re severely underestimating the circumstances that existed at Kerbala! There are several commentators on Husayn and most of them will agree that it was a sacrifice that took place rather than just a war (including non-muslims, the likes of Mahatma Ghandi, Charles Dickens, etc.)!

Have you read the statements that Husayn said prior to heading for Kerbala, he clearly states that he was not going in order to fight a war and that he knew that his demise and that of his family and followers was to pursue! I’m not sure you understand the gravity of happened (it wasn’t just a beheading)!

You know, never mind, let’s stick to Christianity.

How does the Trinity theory work (3 elements of God)? What does it consist of?

Have you heard/read about what happened to him, his family and his followers in Kerbala?

I’m just asking cause I think it has some parallels to Jesus’ sacrifice as portrayed by the Christians, so I’m interested in your opinion!

I like the second part of your last post … it’s nice to know why you strongly believe in what you believe!

I propose that we discuss things rather than debate them! You’ve obviously read about religion, so I think it’ll be interesting to discuss our opinions (without the accusatory tones and adversarial/debate system of rebutting one another - rather just a simple calm discussion, listening to eachother)

I’m curious, do you know of a person named Husayn ibn Ali and a place called Kerbala?

Agaperoot, sorry for hogging your post with our debate!

To be honest, it doesn’t seem either of us is going budge on our beliefs and this debate doesn’t seem to be at all productive or constructive!

So, “unto you your religion and unto me mine” - Quran, Surah Al-Kafiroun (109:6)

You speak of the President of Iran, who is Muslim …. Well, Hitler was a Christian and he did almost wipe out the Jews! Seriously, what kind of argument is that?? Are you saying there haven’t been ‘bad’ Christians or so-called Christians!

And now you’re saying that it’s a debate between Christianity and Islam! Where’s Judaism … oh wait, I guess it must just be encompassed by Christian beliefs and we’ll just assume that Christian beliefs prevail, shall we? If I’m not wrong, you claimed that they were 3 separate and distinct religions!

About Jesus, let me a few more questions!
1) If Jesus (or God as you claim he is) prayed, to whom did he pray?
2) Wouldn’t it make sense for Jesus to tell everyone that he was God, if he wanted people to believe in God?
3) By definition God cannot be created nor can He die, so how is it possible for Jesus to have been killed?
4) If Jesus (ie God according to you) was only present on Earth to sacrifice himself so that people may be forgiven, why did he allow himself to be killed (surely if he were God, then he could prevent it) before sins were even committed by those to come after his death?

*Three should read as follows: (Mistake above)

…. Iranian law and Arab law were created by the claimed followers of Islam, neither of the sets of laws necessarily reflect actual true Islamic/Shari’ah law! ….

Firstly, I wouldn’t be so hasty to claim/assume that the other hasn’t studied the three religions (you say you’ve studied them at college, how do you know the other hasn’t?)!

Two: you’re still looking at everything (all three religions from one angle, that being Christian perspective)! A neutral view would not allow you to place that which is stated in the Bible over that which is stated in any other religions text!

Three: Separate the religion from its followers … Iranian law nor Arab law reflects laws created by followers of Islam, it does not necessarily reflect the religion’s laws (I claim that it doesn’t!) … just as English law is not consistent entirely with canon law deriving from the Bible!

Four: What evidence do you have that the Bible was in fact inspired by God? (that it makes prophecies … believe me that’s a very weak argument and Judaism as well as Islam also make prophecies!)

Five: If you get to the core of all three religions, all of them wish for a world of peace! To say that the first two are entirely peaceful while Islam isn’t, is just contradictory!

Six: I have another question! It may sound odd but I think your answer is relevant, I assure you! When Jesus was on this earth, did he pray/worship?

I want to ask you another question!

If you claim that Judaism and Christianity and Islam are all very different, how do you reconcile the fact that the Torah/Tanakh (the Old Testament) is contained within the Bible?

Surely, it wouldn’t be possible to combine the primary texts of two differing religions (as you claim) into one coherent text! If the Bible is coherent (as I presume you believe), then the Old Testament (the Torah/Tanakh) must be consistent with (ie not at all contradictory to) the New Testament.

If the primary texts of two religions are completely consistent (in fact so consistent that the latter religion adopted the text of the former), then how can these religions be so different?

Is it differing interpretation? differing translation? modification of the text? a combination of these? or something else?

Please explain, because I’m honestly curious and waiting for a response!

To 105 - Woah, calm down, would you?

I never claimed that Christianity or Judaism or any elements of the two religions were inspired by Satan … so, I don’t understand why you’re comparing Islam’s Mahdi with the anti-Christ and comparing archangel Gibriel with Satan. I never, once, tried to mock your religion or its elevated personalities (nor Jesus nor Moses nor any of the other prophets you believe in) … why do you believe that it is fine for you to bash Islam in whatever way you wish? (Think before you let your anger control your tongue!)

You claim that I have an agenda against the Bible! What? Where did you get that from! Do you even realize how many Christians, themselves, believe the Bible to be a guide rather than the true word of God?

I have stated repeatedly, that I believe that large portions of the Bible as well as the Torah/Tanakh are in fact valid. I simply believe that parts of the books are modified! And if I’m correct you were the one who called the Quran “a twisted pictorial of the two”, so who’s more accepting? From what it seems, you don’t think that even one word of the Quran is true! After all, you compared the archangel Gibriel to Satan!

Furthermore, I linked that article to present a different perspective to the debate not to offend you!

You said that you have studied/study all three religions, so I assumed you would have a neutral view! But, clearly that’s not the case; you are viewing all three religions through the narrow lens of one of these religions, that being Christianity!

And you still haven’t answered my questions!

[quote Coolbrav] Don’t you find it interesting/odd that every Abrahamic religion that follows an earlier one (ie is subsequent to earlier Abrahamic religions) claims that the preceeding religions were valid and that their messengers were true prophets, however they then also claim that the earlier people were led astray and that the followers of the earlier religions became corrupted?

(Eg: Islam accepts Christianity and Judaism as valid religions,
and Christianity accepts Judaism as a valid religion, etc.
Furthermore, all three religions commonly believe in almost all of the same prophets (up till their own prophets) - Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Moses, etc.)

Surely a latter religion will not validate former religions, unless the core message is the same. And certainly, a subsequent religion will not accept a messenger/prophet as being a true messenger/prophet unless it is believed that the messenger/prophet did in fact bring the true word of God.

(Eg: Muslims believe that all of the earlier prophets brought the true word of God to the people of those times, but they claim that the message/truth that the earlier messengers brought was identical to that as presented by their own religion, that of Islam. Christians and Jews, I believe, do likewise. Both believe that earlier prophets brought down truths that were identical to their own religions.)[/quote]

Not only that, you have ignored my claim that the first and most important issue is the interpretation of these 3 texts (which may have been incorrect). Just look at how many sects there are within each of the three religions!

Furthermore, the original point of my initial post was to make the claim that all three religions follow the same God. I still believe that to be true! Just because each of the three religions have different beliefs on salvation, does not mean that they can’t believe in the same God. If you believe the opposite, then you must also believe that different sects within each of the religions also believe in separate Gods because they have different views on salvation; so under your contention, even the Christians would not believe in one God, nor would the Jews, nor the Muslims! Different sects have different beliefs on salvation, and don’t tell me otherwise … just look at the centuries of wars and differences between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics as a simple example.

Do you think that Protestants believe in a God that is separate from the God that the Roman Catholics believe in?

Spiratec, are you saying that individually everyone of us is a God?