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I am thinking about writing some things on Christianity. Does anyone have any suggestions/requests?

Why was the belief of the Trinity not rampant within the first 300 years of Christendom? Do the scholars of today know more than the Church Fathers of old? Why did it only come during the time of Tertullian as opposed to everyone preceding him? Why did the Apostles not mention any of this in their writings? Why are the four synoptic Gospels attributed to the Apostles when it is clear that they are anonymous?

Why do I chase Islam? This isn't a rhetorical question, I really would like to understand the pathology of my continual fascination with a religion, worldview, and life path that I have no familial, ethnic, or historical connection to. I simply do not understand what it is about Islam that intrigues me so, and furthermore, I do not understand exactly why I cannot leave it alone. So the point of making this blog was essentially to let out my feelings in a way where others don't feel like the "owe" me a response. Let me dive a little bit into my own history. I am a third generation Ukrainian American. I was born and baptized into the Catholic church (Eastern Rite, Ukrainian specifically). I can remember plenty of Sunday mornings of going to church with my entire family (Yes, dad was still around at that point) & at a young age, it didn't mean much to me in that I didn't understand exactly why we had to get up early, get dressed in business casual clothing and drive about a half hour out to another county, wherein we would go sit in a little old white building for an hour or so-- standing up, sitting down, repeating words in a call and response style, kneeling down, standing up again & the older kids and adults would file out into a line and the old grandpa of a man who led this activity would one by one, use a golden spoon to place a little bit of bread into their mouths before they took a sip of something called "wine" out of the most expensive looking cup I had ever seen (ornate with gold and silver)-- then we would just turn around and go home, and life would continue as normal. When I turned seven years old, that's when things began to change for me. I had gone to Sunday School and become familiar with the elementary stories of the Garden, Noah, and the star of our specific show, a man named Jesus, but I hadn't seen what my part in all of this was, as I was quite literally along for the ride. Then I was told that I would be training to be able to participate in the ritual of bread and wine, what those in the know called "communion". I had to go into a little booth with a screen and tell the kindly old grandpa (whom we called "Father") about all of the bad things I had done, they called them "sins", and I had to say that I was sorry for them which, when I heard myself saying things like "I was mean to my baby sister/I disobeyed my father/I said rude words/etc" I legitimately felt for the first time that I wasn't a very good person & then I was assigned a few prayers to say not as punishment, but to show Jesus that I really was sorry for doing these bad things. This was called "reconciliation" and it had to take place before I could participate in communion. You were supposed to do this as often as you needed to, but ideally once a week. However, this being the early 1990s, nobody really did aside from the few older people in our rural corner of post-industrial upstate New York. After I made communion for the first time, with all of the pomp and circumstance involved in any Eastern Catholic milestone, I began to feel more and more of a connection to what was happening on Sunday mornings. I still didn't understand the words that were being spoken by the priest very well, or why they never changed from week to week, but I felt a very deep connection to the physicality of the church itself. I was enamored by the darkness of the interior: the dark wood paneling, the deep red carpet, the large wooden pews, the absolutely gorgeous stained glass windows, the scent of frankincense and candle wax, the opulence of the sacramental implements of our small rural congregation in all of their splendor... something about the aesthetic of the place made me feel safe despite this being a public place where I had to behave myself and “act my age” (to quote my parents). I didn't feel threatened or exposed here, I felt a sense of immense comfort as the rays of sun poured through the multi colored stained glass windows. It was like stepping out of the time and space that I occupied in Harpursville, NY and being swaddled in some sort of otherworldly space. Bringing it back to where I am now: In light of this, why do I chase Islam? What is it about the religion of my parents that isn't “enough” for me, particularly when the research that I have done thus far has shown to me that the path of Islam is so much more demanding than any branch of Christianity that I have dabbled in since I left the confines of the church to go out and live the typical suburban small town American teenage life with all of its vices, distractions, and ennui? Furthermore, with all of the time I have spent making peace with my conception of Jesus-as-personal-lord-and-savior, all of the wrestling with the Old and New Testaments, all of the going out and coming back again when a new church would inevitably be missing that “something special”... ...Why am I so curious about, fascinated by, and attracted to Islam, to impress a girl? (there isn't one who would be impressed, and you can't even meet women or date as a Muslim. I don't have parents to arrange a marriage for me, so choosing a Muslim life would invariably be a lonely and celibate one). ...is it to shock my parents? (My father hasn't talked to me in years and denies me and my sister as his children now that he's gotten his marriage to my mother annulled by that same religion that I took so much comfort in throughout my life whereas my mother is a rather live and let live person, but seems to look at Islam and the Qur'an with a nervous apprehension) ...Am I trying to be a non-conformist and stick my finger in the eye of American society? (Not at all, America is no longer a “Christian nation” and likely never truly was when you look into what happened across America's short history thus far & Islam is certainly not a religion for people who do not wish to conform to social norms) ...Am I seeking approval from others? (Absolutely not, I don;t know enough people to do something like that and even if I was super well known and liked in this area, there would be no pressure to convert to Islam at all as most people are quite irreligious & have not even a cursory understanding of Islam) ...Is this an attempt to be “unique” and build an identity? (I am already too “unique” for my own good and this has had a detrimental effect on finding work, making friends, meeting a wife, even finding a church where I fit in. Besides, I already have a concept of identity when it comes to asserting oneself as a unique individual with dignity). None of these potential excuses feel remotely legitimate at all. At this point in time I don't even have an answer aside from “Every time I try to write-off Islam, I can't walk away but for a few months” and in addition to that, my periods of putting Islam into the back of my mind usually end up stressful and riddled with tragic news & painful life transitions. I wouldn't even be able to be a “good Muslim” due to my autism spectrum related fascination with music, my inability to speak, write, read, or comprehend another language without translating its meaning back into English in my own head (I did this a lot when Ukrainian was being spoken at church), my distaste for being around other men + their painfully desperate attempts to not look remotely sensitive or warm & my tendency to have female friends who I am closer to. At the end of the day, I wouldn't even know where to start if I chose to dive head-first into Islam and make a commitment to radically reorganizing my life, forgetting everything about who I thought I was & what I knew, to become someone completely different... all the while dealing with a mental illness that makes even the most ridiculous conspiracy theories seem like objective reality. Writing this blog wasn't a request for assistance from the forum members of ShiaChat. It's more an attempt to organize and catalog my thoughts, and figure out exactly what's taking place inside of my head that's got me so fascinated and intrigued with this specific religion that by all intents and purposes, asks its adherents to live as the polar opposite of the identity I have already crafted for myself since the tender age of sixteen. Inshallah, I will discover the source.

I am a Muslim and I do not hate anyone just because of his or her religion. There is an interesting verse in the holy Qur’an about Christians: So Islam does not urge any Muslim to hate any person just because of their religion. Instead, it commands to abhor the ones who have self-arrogance and are real tyrants. Looking at the Islamic narrations, you find some attributes of the ones who Allah, the Exalted, hates: So, anyone who has some above-mentioned attributes is most despised by the Lord, His Messenger, and Muslims. لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾ Tanzil - Quran Navigator [ii] إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ ﴿٤١﴾ إِنَّمَا السَّبِيلُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَظْلِمُونَ النَّاسَ وَيَبْغُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ﴿٤٢﴾ Tanzil - Quran Navigator [iii] الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ اللّه‏َ يُبْغِضُ كَثْرَةَ النَّومِ وكَثْرَةَ الفراغِ . [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p. 180, no. 10] [iv] رسولُ اللهِ‏ِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): ليسَ شَيءٌ أبغَضَ إلَى اللّه‏ِ مِن بَطنٍ مَلْآنَ. [Uyoun Akhbar al-Ridha (AS), v. 2, p. 36, no. 89] [v] الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنَّ أبغَضَ خَلقِ اللّه‏ِ عبدٌ اتّقَى النّاسُ لِسانَهُ. [al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 323, no. 4] [vi] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أبغَضُ العِبادِ إلَى اللّه‏ِ سبحانه العالِمُ المُتَجَبِّرُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3164] [vii] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أمْقَتُ العبادِ إلَى اللّه‏ِ سبحانه مَن كانَ هِمَّتُهُ (هَمُّهُ) بطنَهُ وفَرْجَهُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3294] [viii] الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أبغَضُ الخَلائقِ‏إلَى اللّه‏ِ المُغْتابُ . [Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3128]

There are many verses in the Qur'an reprimanding Christians for previous crimes, and for some of their beliefs. But there is also a lot of praise for Christians in the Qur'an. This is not news to Muslims, but perhaps will come as a surprise to many Christians. I thought that I would group together some of these verses below. The Qur'an sometimes refers to Christians as Ahlul Kitab, which is an honorific title meaning 'People of the Book' or 'People of the Scripture', and other times as Nasara which simple means 'Christians'. If people know of other verses then please add. إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. Al-Baqarah Ch 2, V62. وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَنْ إِنْ تَأْمَنْهُ بِقِنْطَارٍ يُؤَدِّهِ إِلَيْكَ Among the People of the Scripture there is he who, if thou trust him with a weight of treasure, will return it to thee. Aal-Imran Ch 3, V75. لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً ۗ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ وَمَا يَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلَنْ يُكْفَرُوهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book there is an upright party: They rehearse the Signs of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration. They believe in God and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds, and those are among the good. And whatever good they do, they will not be denied it, and God is aware of those who do right. Aal-Imran Ch 3, V 113-115 وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ And most surely of the People of the Book there are those who believe in God and in that which has been revealed to you and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before God; they do not take a small price for the communications of God; these it is that have their reward with their Lord; surely God is quick in reckoning. Aal-Imran Ch 3 V119 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئُونَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoever believes in God and the last day and does good-- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve. Al-Nisa Ch 5, V69 وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَوَدَّةً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ And you will certainly find the nearest in love to those who believe to be those who say: We are Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they are not proud. Al-Nisa Ch 5, V82

http://quran.com/5/82 Can someone explain this ayat, within its context ? Thanks

Bismillah al Rahman al Raheem Al salam alaikum wa ra7matullah wa barakatuh Is it ok for a muslim to get aid generally from the ahlul kitab, and what about in poverty? and what about the kuffars? for example with money, food, drinks etc? Please! Give referance to Qur'an with correct tafseer, and hadiths :) I am Shia, in case you wondered for getting tafseer for Qur'an :P Salam Duas

Salam, I urge you to read this news: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/09/22/open-season-on-christians/ See how the writer shows three different countries having major violence on Christians. Notice how powerful this message becomes. Now take us lousy Shias. Unlike our Christian brethren (who face this violence every once in a while), we SHIA Muslims face this violence in Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Malaysia daily. Literally daily.... Daily, every day, yes all 365 days of the year, there are more than 100 SHIA Muslims are killed, maimed, or injured at the hands of Wahabi-Saudi terrorists the world over. .... And you dont see one single concentrated news showing this. Not one single news gets this kind of message out. Not one. Why?????? Side note: Shia Muslims and Christians; living in Sunni Muslim dominated countries have a great chance to actively unite against the Sunni-Wahabi-Saudi alliance of beastly terrorists. This has already happened in Lebanon and is happening in Syria. We need to replicate the Shia Muslim and Christian alliance model in Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and in other Sunni countries. Just hope that Christain Right wing don't use these events to break the Shia Muslims and Christians alliance.

Salam, The Western backed FSA have kidnapped and killed Christians but still our governments wish to send them arms and treat them as freedom fighters?! Its a long article, and hence i have cut out the start...you can find it all on the AIM Islam website or http://thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/15527-syrian-rebel-alliance-openly-threatens-ethnic-cleansing

VIDEO OF CBS REPORT: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7406228n source: http://www.loonwatch.com/2012/04/bob-simon-lays-the-smack-down-on-israeli-ambassador-michael-oren/