In July 1999, three years after the entry of the Taliban forces in Kabul, the group’s Minister of Culture stated that it was an absolute necessity to protect the cultural artifacts of the region. He even specified the two Buddha statues of Bamiyan, which the Taliban would only two years later infamously destroy. The minister spoke about the respect due to those antiquities and also mentioned the risk of retaliation against mosques in Buddhist countries. He made it clear that,... Read more
In the historical study of both Islamic and Christian Origins, many early and common sectarian doctrinal features were, within short order, deemed heterodox or even heretical. One of the most prominent examples, common to each of these faith communities, is the doctrine of reincarnation. While this concept was present within an array of early sectarian expressions, the refutation or suppression of this doctrine nevertheless took top priority amongst the cementing religious establishments. Until the sixth century of the common era,... Read more
The first time i read a translation of the Qur’an, i was astonished by many strange terms, that did not seem to fit with the context and character of the work. To me, the text fit with the style and even phrasing of many of the, then recently translated Dead Sea Scrolls. There was more than a hint of similarity with the Second Temple Era Jewish Apocalyptic genre, as well. So why were there so many passage that at once... Read more
There is NO MESSIAH… and YOU are IT! If you have read the Bible – I mean really read it – then there are many things which will have stood out to you as surprising, even shocking. Many of these things run contrary to prevailing opinions, customs and minhagim. One of the most surprising things to me, as a young child, was that contrary to popular opinion, Creator – the “God” of the Bible – did not intend for there... Read more
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