That Green Man was from the future- in that time humans had ended their reliance on food by colonizing their bodies with microscopic chlorophyllic plants.

He was also a prophet- but only because he had seen events as he went back through time.

Wonderful books from one of sci-fi’s greatest writers.

The difference is that Christians use the concept of “it was God’s will” to comfort themselves and others when horrible things happen, while Muslims use it to perform horrible acts on others.

Huge difference there.

Just kidding, great reading as usual thanks Robert.

…is pretending to be Christian okay with the Islamic radicals if the pretenders endgame is the death of infidels?

I can’t recall where I saw it now, but I remember a jihadist a few years ago explicitly ruling that out — although he may also have been bluffing. In any case, I think Jeremiah Wright is a lot of things, but I don’t think he is pretending to be a kind of Christian.

Or it may be related to a story I have heard about, but not read, of Elijah in the Jewish tradition.

Robert Spencer on March 16, 2008 at 3:21 PM

How about 4 volumes of Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) stories. ;)

Robert Spencer on March 16, 2008 at 3:21 PM

Thanks Robert – really appreciate you taking the time out to answer here.

I’ve a copy your (excellent) Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam, but must get round to arming myself with RoP? as well.

The assumption thus enunciated may help explain the persistence of the phenomenon of honor-killing in Islamic countries and even among Muslims in the West.

Interesting. Easy to see why the men prefer sharia over secular laws (if this is even a part of the body of sharia).

“I could just tell he was a bad egg.”

By the way, I am sorry that I am not good enough a writer to have conveyed above my enthusiasm for this wild story, which I have loved for years.

Uh, the books I’ve read put lie to this statement. That said, when we drag you onto Jawa Radio, you can talk about it all you like!

:-)

Very interesting, but why is he “Green”?

There’s kind of a pagan tradition about the Green Man, I believe…and it was the inspiration for Tolkien’s Tom Bombadil character, as well as some cool church architecture. Any relation?

I don’t know the Tolkien character or the pagan tradition well enough to say. Green is the color of Islam, in perpetual spring, i.e. ever growing and expanding.

My apparent cruelty toward Islam is actually real mercy toward others about whom I actually care. Thanks, Muslim Theologians, for giving me a rationalization to do what I want to you!! Not that I actually needed one, but it’s always an extra bit of goodness to hoist others on their own petard.

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds.

Is this where Muslim Fatalism comes from?

In part, yes.

Krykee doodle. There’s so many things wrong with this sura, I don’t know where to begin.

I mean, Home Depot is so haram.

Uh, just to be clear: Home Depot is not actually in the sura.

Could it be that Khidr is some figure out of Arabic folk religion that Mohammed grafted in to his story?

I would expect so. Or it may be related to a story I have heard about, but not read, of Elijah in the Jewish tradition. I was not able to track that one down in time to post this, but if anyone has info. on it I’d be much obliged if you posted it here.

I remain puzzled by the seeming incoherence of Islamic theology: how do they square their emphasis on legalism with the ‘all is for the best’ attitude which allows its followers to kill children?

Allah tells you what to do, and you must do it. But whether you do or not is ultimately his decision — see Qur’an 7:178-179.

The will of Allah seems completely arbitrary: hence Ali’s claim that Allah’s wisdom is ‘beyond all human calculation’. The explanation that makes best sense still seems that of Benedict XVI, that so random is Allah’s will it is not even bound to reason: hence, in Islam, if it were his will, we would even have to practise idolatry, or kill babies.

Yes. Of course, the Muslim scholars who replied to the Pope disputed this, saying that Allah could not or would not command that his people do what is evil. That, however, is granted — the question is whether or not Allah could actually change the meaning of the terms themselves, and declare what had been considered evil to be good. I discuss this at some length in my book Religion of Peace?.

don’t kill children, unless you know they’re going to grow up to be unbelievers

One of many reasons why I think children should be taken away from Islamic fundamentalist homes and put up for adoption.

There’s kind of a pagan tradition about the Green Man, I believe…and it was the inspiration for Tolkien’s Tom Bombadil character, as well as some cool church architecture. Any relation?

apparent cruelty may be real mercy

I agree. My apparent cruelty toward Islam is actually real mercy toward others about whom I actually care. Thanks, Muslim Theologians, for giving me a rationalization to do what I want to you!! Not that I actually needed one, but it’s always an extra bit of goodness to hoist others on their own petard.

Is this where Muslim Fatalism comes from?

See there Pax? You’re just being islamophobic! You’re taking it out of context! It doesn’t say ‘kill babies’! It says only to kill those who will grow up to be infidels! Get it right and stop trying to spin it into something negative!

Sheesh, playing the part of islamapologist is kinda draining. I think I’ll take a nap.

And God heard the lad’s voice, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, “What is troubling you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the lad’s voice in the place where he is.

The famous Torah commentary of Rashi brings down the Talmudic Medrash:

where he is: According to the deeds that he does now he is judged and not according to what he is destined to do (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 16b). For the ministering angels were accusing and saying,“ O Lord of the Universe, for one who is destined to kill Your children with thirst, You are bringing up a well?!” And He answered them, “What is he now, righteous or wicked?” They replied, “Righteous.” He said to them, “According to his present deeds I judge him” (Gen. Rabbah 53:14). And that is the meaning of “where he is.” Now where did he kill the Israelites with thirst? When Nebuchadnezzar exiled them, as it is stated (Isa. 21: 13f.): “The harsh prophecy concerning Arabia, etc. Toward the thirsty bring ye water, etc.” When they led them beside the Arabs, the Israelites said to their captors, “Please lead us beside the children of our uncle Ishmael, and they will have mercy on us,” as it is stated:“the caravans of the Dedanites.” Do not read דְדָנִים (Dedanites) but דְוֹדִים (uncles). And these [Ishmaelites] went forth toward them and brought them salted meat and fish and inflated skins. The Israelites thought that they were full of water, but when one would place it into one’s mouth and open it, the air would enter his body and he would die (Tan. Yithro 5).