![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Misguided thinking
May. 6th, 2016 04:15 pmReputedly the Caliph Omar said (regarding the books in the Library of Alexandria):
"they will either contradict the Koran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous."
He's not alone. Many Christians have said similar things to justify book burnings and other things. Of course they referred to the Bible.
My response?
What about things your holy book remains silent on? What of the best way to build a bridge, a ship, building? What of mathematics and engineering?
And what of medicine beyond the small bits mentioned in passing?
And whether books agree or disagree with your holy book is a matter that requires thought. Perhaps you are misreading the book, or your holy book.
If the books agree they may suggest other things that aren't covered.
If they disagree, you can can use them as an example to explain to your fellows. Not by ranting against them blindly. But by showing how and *why* they are wrong.
God gave us brains to *use* them.
"they will either contradict the Koran, in which case they are heresy, or they will agree with it, so they are superfluous."
He's not alone. Many Christians have said similar things to justify book burnings and other things. Of course they referred to the Bible.
My response?
What about things your holy book remains silent on? What of the best way to build a bridge, a ship, building? What of mathematics and engineering?
And what of medicine beyond the small bits mentioned in passing?
And whether books agree or disagree with your holy book is a matter that requires thought. Perhaps you are misreading the book, or your holy book.
If the books agree they may suggest other things that aren't covered.
If they disagree, you can can use them as an example to explain to your fellows. Not by ranting against them blindly. But by showing how and *why* they are wrong.
God gave us brains to *use* them.
