The Qur'an

I'm making my way through the Qur'an for a project I'm working on at the lab. I have to admire those Muslims--being able to devote themselves to that crap. Or even read it.

So basically we have a document redacted by a bunch of different people who attempted (long, long after the alleged fact) to commit to writing the strictly oral tradition handed down from Muhammad. (All this while M's descendants busied themselves killing each other to determine who Allah's next caliph would be.) It is a really sad book upon which to base a religion.

It starts with a fragmentary and juvenile understanding of Judaism and Christianity, and proceeds to relate Bible stories inaccurately in a manner so jumbled that it defies understanding. The various chapters of the Qur'an are a mish-mash of unrelated gobblety-gook jumping from one topic to another, as if the author were on drugs at the time. Sorry to be so disrespectful, but the truth is, I have zero respect for this religion. I simply cannot believe that any thinking person can read this garbage and not see it for what it is: a poorly written rip-off of the Bible laced with M's particular brand of paganism.

What do we learn about "Allah" as we read?

1. He demands obedience and submission without explanation.
2. He forgives people when he feels like it without the requirement of an atoning sacrifice. Hence, theologically, he has no standards of justice or righteousness that he holds himself to. Compare this to God's policy toward sin: "The soul that sins shall surely die." To uphold his uncompromising righteousness and justice, and at the same time express his incomparable love toward mankind, he sent his own son to intercept the punishment for sin and suffer it in his own body.
3. His requirements for salvation are really quite easy to achieve, again because his standard of righteousness is so low. Bump your head on the ground five times a day, don't drink, give money to the poor, etc., and you're in. Compare to God's standard: "If your righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees, you will in no way enter the Kingdom of God."
3. He's very confused--both complimenting and condemning Christians and Jews.

The Qur'an is a very frustrating book to read, primarily because it is so poorly written and organized. Ugh.

If any Muslim fanatics find this blog, please issue a fatwah condemning me to death as soon as possible to save me from having to read any more of this manure.