***Updated***
Ayman al Zawahiri is at it again. This time he uses Azzam the American, a.k.a. Adam Gadahn, an Islam convert, as his messenger. The tape says Americans need to convert to Islam or suffer the consequences:
Al Qaeda called on non-Muslims especially in the United States to convert to Islam and abandon their ‘misguided’ ways or else suffer, according to a video tape posted on a Web site on Saturday.
The speaker was identified as Azzam the American, also known as Adam Yahiye Gadahn — an Islamic convert from California wanted for questioning by the FBI and who U.S. authorities believe to be involved in an information campaign for al Qaeda.
“To Americans and the rest of Christendom we say, either repent (your) misguided ways and enter into the light of truth or keep your poison to yourself and suffer the consequences in this world and the next,” Gadahn said in English.
He appeared in the video dressed in a white turban and seated in front of a computer and books.
Al Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman al-Zawhari made a brief statement at the beginning of the tape — dated September 2006 — urging viewers to listen carefully to the message, entitled: “An Invitation to Islam”.
With only nine days until the fifth anniversary of 9/11, it’s no surprise that we’d hear something from al Qaeda although I assumed Bin Laden would have delivered the message. But there’s still time; Bin Laden still may pop his head out of the cave in which he’s hiding.
Update: ABC News runs with the very PC headline “New al Qaeda Video Invites Americans to Convert to Islam.” Right. Al Qaeda is inviting us to join Islam.
Here’s ABC’s report:
In an apparent Sept. 11 communiqué broadcast on ABC News, an al Qaeda operative threatens new attacks against cities in the U.S. and Australia.
“Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don’t count on us demonstrating restraint or compassion,” the tape warns. “We are Muslims. We love peace, but peace on our terms, peace as laid down by Islam, not the so-called peace of occupiers and dictators.”
Sorry folks, but the quote above is from an old ABC News story. The link is correct, though.
Michelle Malkin has transcribed some of the video:
“Islam is the only religion acceptable to God and came with the revealed book, the Koran, which abrogates all previous revelations, like the Torah and Evangel… God recognizes no separation between religion and state.”
“To Americans and the rest of Christendom we say, either repent (your) misguided ways and enter into the light of truth or keep your poison to yourself and suffer the consequences in this world and the next…”
“If the Zionist crusader missionaries of hate and counter-Islam consultants like Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer, Michael Scheuer, Steven Emerson, and yes, even the crusader-in-chief George W. Bush were to abandon their unbelief and repent and enter into the light of Islam and turn their swords against the enemies of God, it would be accepted of them and they would be our brothers in Islam. And we send a special invitation to all of you fighting Bush’s crusader pipe dream in Afghanistan, Iraq, and wherever else W. has sent you to die.”
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t wait to wear a burqa and be only a shadow of my former self and be treated like chattel.
Sure, that sounds really inviting.
Update II: Isn’t it ironic. The day al Qaeda issues a new tape urging Americans to convert to Islam or else, we hear President Bush is backing off of the term Islamic Fascism out of respect to Muslim groups.
Update III: Laura Mansfield has the video.
Update IV: John at Power Line provides very interesting comments about Islamofascism of today and the Bolshevik movement in the early 20th century:
Someone–if I could remember who, I’d credit him–wrote recently that the Islamic terrorism we are now experiencing is analogous to the Bolshevik and anarchist terrorism of the early years of the 20th century. If that’s true, we have a long road ahead of us. Europe will very likely succumb to Islam in the years to come, for reasons of demography and spiritual and intellectual exhaustion. But Americans are no more interested in converting to Islam than they were in adopting socialism. And Americans not only are more stubborn about such things than Europeans, they are also better at reproducing.
Damn straight! Especially about the reproducing.
Yep, fundamentalism is very scary.
http://movies.aol.com/movie/jesus-camp/27214/trailer
Why would one ever wish to convert to a dead-end religion like Islam? There’s no salvation because there has never been a “savior or redeemer”. There’s no repentence for, and forgiveness of sins. There’s no relationship with the nebulous and mysterious “Allah”.
With Jesus Christ, I get forgiveness and redemption. With Jesus Christ, I can talk and pray and commune with my Redeemer and my Saviour.
With Jesus Christ, I have an advocate with the Father of all Creation.
With Jesus Christ, I have everlasting life.
With Jesus Christ, I have a true Peace that passes all understanding.
With Jesus Christ, I have his Spirit living within Me to keep me honest and humble, to keep my feet on the straight and narrow.
With Allah, I have no Peace, No Everlasting Life, No walk with my Creator and most of all, no forgiveness of my wretched sins…well, except were I to kill a non-Muslim in martyrdom.
Which is why I ask…why on God’s green earth would any sane, rational human being choose Islam? To have one wife is enough, let alone 72 virgins!!! Sheesh, and you thought a 4-hour erection was bad…???, isn’t having an eternal erection worse than what Viagra will do to you? I mean…goodNESS!
Which version of Islam to they want us to convert to?
There is Islam, the religion of peace, which directs us to ‘build a world of peace on earth so that you may be granted peace in your eternal life in the hereafter’. According to Islam, the three basic elements of building a peace culture are: Compassion, Forgiveness and Respect for all.
Or do they mean the odd version the tape makers have been promoting where one shouts ‘God is greatest!’ over and over while sawing the head off of someone they don’t care for?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NickBergandFiveMen.JPG
Allah is an IDOL. Muslims are of the spirit of the anti christ. I pray for them. Most of the rad muslims are filled with hate. True Christians even love their enemmies. But if you keep backing a true Cgristian into the corner, we have Christ in us, with true courage, we will fight when appropriate. Dont underestimate us you coward who wear hoods and hind behind masks. What are you afraid of….rad muslims are cowards.
I just read your article on Mr. al-Zawahari’s call for Americans to convert to Islam.
I would love to engage him or a surrogate in a dialogue regarding our respective religions and value systems.
It seems patently obvious to me that the future oriented, tolerant and dynamic Christianity practiced in this country is vastly preferable to the obscurantist, medieval and murderous form of Islam he espouses.
If you can in anyway mediate such a dialog, please contact me.
Robert Chapman
Lansing, NY
True Christians even love their enemmies. But if you keep backing a true Cgristian into the corner, we have Christ in us, with true courage, we will fight when appropriate.
Obviously true Christians are not people who believe in Christ’s commands that when struck, turn the other cheek, when an enemy takes your coat, give him your shirt as well, when the occupier impresses you to carry his panalopy for a mile, carry it for two.
Obviously, true Christians just see Jesus as a bigger dog in the cosmic battle of human sinfulness and greed.
Clearly the belief in the transforming power of Christ’s Grace to intercede, change hearts and allow us to become peace-makers in all conflicts is not part of TRUE CHRISTIANITY.
Robert Chapman
Lansing, New York
Hey Adam Gadahn and fellow Followers Of Darkness: We suggest YOU convert to Christianity so when we kill you, you will have somewhere pleasant to go.
Just kidding. Really.
Our God is stronger than your God, the proof is, America is a Christian Nation, (count the churches in each city, count the mosques?) live in denial, but we are a Christ-ian nation. We will kick the tar out of all of the muslim nations combined, if backed into a corner, if we have to. Don’t test us cowardly masked punk. Our God is mighty, yours is a weak demon idol, bring it on.
C’mon to my hood and burn a flag.
Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. Alah is an Idol.
The truth hurts.
Robert, If they have their way, you and your family would be dead. You are correct, I need to let the Lord give me the power to be a peacemaker.
I would share Christ with Osahma, but would stop him with all of my might from harming the innocent.
There is a balance between love and being a wimp.
Christ warned religous bullies, so should we.
I just wanted to say that when call Allah an idol you are wrong. Allah is just the Arabic word for God. The Muslim God is the same Christian God you pray to. Jesus is an important figure in Islam just as it is in Christianity…Muslims just think of him as a Messenger of God and not his son. In reality these people that they show on videotapes and on the news are the most extrem psychos you can find and do not actually represent the majority of muslims. That would be liek saying the KKK represents all of Christianity, which it doesn’t. I am a Musslim person and I think that this group adn their ideology is ridiculous. As Muslims you are supposed to be tolerate of other religions, the basic concept is that if you beleive in one god and his book then we are all followers together, ending in the same place after death. Don’t be hateful towards others because of what you hear on these tapes…those idiots you see running down the streets yelling God is great are just uneducated ignorant people, and all religions have them.
I withhold judgment till this tape is verified to be authentic.
well well where do we all go from here?
there is an old toltec saying that we all our each others keepers…..when we look for differences we find many….when we search from within for sameness it is there too.
christian muslim hindu buddist agnostic pagan
some where back in time we all had the same parents and there can be only one creator
choose the the road less traveled…..
Allah is not the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ my friend. Allah the God of islam, not the same as the God of the Bible.
The Bible says, There is one God, the Father and one Lord, Jesus Christ, it says..not everyone knows this.
Also this whole thing about suiciding bombing and 72 virgins is a myth…If a muslim person commits suicide in anyway they go straight to hell, there is no good side there. Also the larger Muslim nations don’t actually have any quarrels with the U.S, place like malaysia and indonesia contain the majority of muslims worldwide.
Yes it is, we both beleive in the same God and we both beleive in Jesus. The Lord = God = Allah…once again Allah is just the Arabic word for God
The Son = Jesus = Prophet to Muslims
The Holy Ghost = Angels = Which also exist in Islam
Toledo, you are correct. If you are a Christian and beleive in Creationism, which Muslims also beleive in. Then we are all descendants of these same people. All religions and all people are the same. It is the people who created this division of religion, not God. Muslims, Jews, and Christians all beleive in the same God. It is just people who manipulate and interpret the teachings in their owns ways that will work for their own benifit. Why do you think we have Protestants and Catholics, Sunnis and Shia’s, Zionist Jews and Orthodox Jews.
Hebrews Chapter 1: For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father? Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”[c]? 6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[d] 7In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
his servants flames of fire.”[e] 8But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
The Holy Spirit=God
Angels=Angelic Beings
Man=Humans
each is their own kind, you are mistaken my friend. Please bear with my bluntness. Time is short.
The world is wacked out. I am suffering from Islam fatigue. When will the west get with it and fix this problem.
The Muslims are really beginning to piss me off.
Ed,
do you have any friends who are qakers or amish?
These sects are christian BUT take a stand on war and self defense that would of saved thousands during the crusades.
I am certain that if you look into the old testemant that GOD allowd certain death and destruction for HIS purpose and not mans.
We are all blood brothers dear Ed this is just science here. one man one woman started the whole thing….call Him adam or call him the missing link we know there must have been a first…
we are all going to die, so we all have more in commaon the we do ever care to admit….I mean when BONO is spending the remainder of his life helping the poor aids victims, we can all do a little each day to connect instead of sepaerate
there is a big difference between organized religion and a personal relationship with the eternal creator….
its a big universe ED please dont shut your mind to those who are the same but dont know it yet…
Isn’t it The Lord, The Son, and Teh Holy Spirit? If i am wrong then I apologize, we taught that in school that in Christianity it was The Lord, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Anyways what I am just trying to say here Ed, and anyone else that on the whole, as a majority Muslim people do NOT hate the West nor do we Hate Christianity or any other religion for that matter. In our day to day lives you regular, everyday Muslim is just the same as your regular everyday Christian. It is just unfortunate that were are all being painted with teh same brush as the Al-Qaida idiots. Not all Muslims are al-qaida or terrorists, we are regular people like you.
Asama has received criticism from his Egyptian advisory for not extending an invitation to convert to Islam. Such an invitation is required by the Quran before killing you or your wife or your children. Just to let you know the connection. The President of Iran has also invited George Bush to convert in a formal 18 page letter. I suppose everyone on this thread knows of the invitation. Well?
Both religions emphasize peace, love and compassion while 90% of what I hear these days is hatred and violence. Threats and violence are no way to spread faith. According to the scriptures Abraham is the true father of all three major religions. everyone gets so caught up in interpreting scripture that we refuse to live by the most important values. Both sides are plauged by ignorance. Ignorance of history, philosphy and even the real roots of their own faith. Christ’s life was an example set for all men about showing compassion and understanding for all and working peacefully to better the lives of others. Islam teaches the same lessons. There are extremists on BOTH sides of equal ignorance and fascist intent. I’ve been told by a muslim scholar that the ancient word for virgins was the similar or the same as the word for a delicous kind of date. All of these ancient technicalities have been subject to manipulation by translation and interpretation and to assume either the qur’an or the bible is absolute truth is foolish. According to the scriptures Abraham is the true father of all three major religions.
Fundamentalist Christians are just as bad as fundamentalist Muslims. Left alone, you all want the same thing, which is to have everyone else change to your religion. This is why separation of church and state is so valuable. It keeps fundamentalism at bay.
The problem is not one religion or the other, it is all of them. You all think that your religion is the only right one, but if you were born in the other’s country, you’d believe the same crap as them.
Of course, it’s really not about belief at all. You BELONG to your religion. You believe what you’re told to believe and most of you don’t even know what that is, aside from knowing that you believe in God or Allah or Jesus.
You think that the Bible or Christianity is any more peaceful than Islam? Would Jesus have invaded Iraq and killed hundreds of thousands of people based on a bunch of lies? And yet, George Bush the Christian, did just that.
Just so you guys know, they are only forcing them to “convert”, so that in thier minds it legitimizes killing them. But in actuality it doesnt. These “invitations” to Islam are ridiculous, it is just radicals interpreting and manipulating things to create their own ideologies.
Thank You Pete and Genghis.
Friends, I know I come on to strong at times, I’m open minded, but I have convictions. I do not hate any humans. I hate evil. I love and wish the best for all. My point is, if someone is trying to destroy a FREE life style, we cannot let them.
The ones who kill are the ones who are wrong. I never ever considered killing anyone. I’m tired of rad muslims preaching and practicing murder. Because I’m weary of the and will defend freedom if I have to, doesnt mean I have to keep my point of view silent.
I beleve the Bible, I love God/Christ and I love people. As diificult as the truth can be, how do explain the clarity and simplicity of the below passage.
May the Lord open all of our hearts and minds.
Have a great day, bless you all.
2 JOHN 1:7-10
7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
thanks guys
thanks you Pete WONDERFUL….
Ed, we all feel the same way. These people are not only trying to change Christians in teh West but also Muslims in the West. Muslims living in North American in some caes are put in the same group as the “infidels”. In 9/11 do you think they cared if Muslims died? No they didn’t. In Iraq and Iran you had muslims killing muslims in millions? This isn’t a figth about religion it is just a shameless pissing contest for power.
It must be my haloscan, this is twice that my trackbacks to you will not come through. It says it is closed…humm
Have a great weekend.
Linked you in my post:
http://suzieviews.blogspot.com/2006/09/al-qaeda-zawahiriconvert-to-islam-or.html
Guy,
You are a tolerant and gracious person. I hear you loud and clear. It just grieves me to the core to see people hate people.
I dont take this for granted, all of us sharing our respective opinions.
Some don’t want that
Guy, you’re partially wrong. It depends on which form of “Christianity” you are referring to. Just as Islam has different paths of belief (e.g. Shia’s vs Sunnis), there are literally hundreds of different denominations of Christianity. The original Christianity as it was formed is mostly found in the orthodox denominations, while Catholicism is the most widely adhered to religion in the Christian world, which is probably where you’re getting your Father, Son, Holy Spirit. However in Catholicism (with a big C), they are all one in the same, hence the mystery. Father is seperate from the son is seperate from the Holy Spirit, and yet they are all the same entity.
Other Christian denominations split from Catholicism during the reformation in the middle ages because of this, hence why many Christians do not believe they are all the same entity, and still others believe in predestination (God already knows who is saved and who isn’t), others believe Jesus visited the Americas (Mormons), and others follow Catholic dogma, except for things like divorce (Anglic/Episcopal)
Bear in mind I’m not equating the feuds the Islamic sects have with each other than the feuds Christian sects have with each other, Christian sects haven’t gone to war over their beliefs in half a millenia (or longer), while Islamic sects still go at it. However, those are most likely tribal differences than they are religious differences. Christian sects on the other hand have learned to peacefully coexist (well peaceful to the point of everyone trying to convert each other in a peaceful way).
Thanks Henry, thats the problem with college education these days, they will only teach you want they want to and leave the rest out of the textbooks. It is sad to see that they are actually still fighting like that. It is mostly tribal stuff to, and unfortunatly I dont think they are not anywhere close to wanting to settle things with peace. that is one thing where for some reason we sstill apparently want to “kick it old school”. That is one of the major reasons why alot of Muslims and Christians alike emigrated from Lebanon to North America, my family included, the lines are drwan very deep over their.
Thanks Ed, I think it is great how people from all over can simply talk peacfully, mind you it is over a virtual network, over the issues. Bottom line is no matter what your religion we all should follow the same basic principles of life. Their are alays going to be those that sit outside the norm of society and want to disrupt it, maybe that is just Gods will to test us everyday. Why else would he put our holy places in the same place?
“Clearly the belief in the transforming power of Christ’s Grace to intercede, change hearts and allow us to become peace-makers in all conflicts is not part of TRUE CHRISTIANITY.”
Robert Chapman
Lansing, New York
Yeah but it sure helps to mobilize the flock and keep your approval ratings from ever dropping below 33%
Guy, can you leave Islam if you want to? Can you cease being a Muslim? Will anything happen to you?
To be honest with you, I do not really know what would happen. But if I left Islam, I think it would be like turning my back on God. I can leave Islam yes, and convert to Christianity or Judism. The basic ideology behind Islam is beleiveing in that their is only one God, so I guess if I left to Christianity or Judism, I would still be beleiving in teh beleif of only one God. So if religion is true I should be fine in teh afterlife, as all three religions carry the same basic understanding of God and the afterlife. But Personnally I would not leave Islam, the teachings of True Islam and True Christianity are the same. If we followed our religions in the way that Jesus and Mohammed told us to then we would be one the same.
I agree that fundamental Christians are scary but they’re not going around lopping off heads either.
No their not, and good for them. Unfortunatly these wackos seem to think that still works!
I call on all Muslims to convert to Christ and condemn terrorist actions.
Should I hold my breath? Nope. Ain’t gonna happen.
muslim terrorists only understand FORCE, overwhelming FORCE. That’s how they have spread the cancer I call islam…
This loser on the tape can FOAD and come to Texas and bring it on. Sheesh! What a dickhead.
Did you read any of the above comments before you decided to post your generic, ignorant response? No probably not, no stop spreading the Texan RedNeck Stereotype and read, and listen before you just blab and yell.
Guy, thank you for your answer. While I certainly understand that you do not wish to leave Islam, I am actually thinking about the stories I have read that leaving Islam is punishable by death. (By other Muslims).
This appears to be enforced in certain Muslim countries. I can probably dig up some links if necessary.
Is this true? Is so, do you believe it is right?
I don’t know where you live (nor do I need to) but if you chose to leave Islam would your fellow Musilms leave you be?
Fundamentalist christians are not scary. There is nothing scary about them. They have no where near the politcal power they once had and even then it was fairly limited. Think about it..it easier for me to get access to porn than ever before and Fundamentlist Christians hate sex and porn more than anything., So much for their power. I think some of their beliefs are out there and perhaps a tad bit intolerant for my tastes but when was the last time you saw a beheading on the 700 club or Jerry Falwell leading his congregation through the sreets of Lynchburg burning and destroying his own city because of insults made to Christianity? Never.
and I am tired of all this politically correct hypocrisy out of the left. They are so viscious and even down right libelous in their attacks on the christian right but when was the last time you ever heard them lay into, I mean really lay into the most intolerant of all..the Islamists? I just want to see an outspoken celebrity, the kind who think they are so brave when calling Bush a fascist, to just look in the camera once…just once..and flip the bird at the lense while telling Islam to go F itself
Have you been busy from converting to Islam and just want to get away? Then come to this fall’s burqa fashion show where you can relax and take in all the new styles!
Regarding the warning issued – go read your history and you will see that this is the offer presented to a communitiy, city, or country before Muslim warriors lay seige. The consequences being spoken about are death or dhimmitude.
Historically, the offer is only presented to Jews and Christians (people of the Book). If you aren’t a Jew or a Christian, guess which one of the two choices above are offered? Nope, you don’t even get a chance to be a slave.
It has become quite clear that the government, whether liberal or conservative, is only out to save their own hides at our expense.
I’m a Christian, but won’t be converting. I am not willing to submit to slavery, but will fight them like a son of a gun.
NUTS
Hey there Ric, you should go back and double check your history books, if you look closely you will see that during the Crusades, the Christian Army did the exact same thing to Muslims and Jews, it was either convert or die. All religions do the same thing, except for some reason al-qaida thinks they can have their own crusades in 2006. And do you really think that these al-qaida terrorist are going to be going into Europe in drowns putting guns to peoples heads? No, if that were to actually happen it would be a grand failure of society, which would be our own faults and teh faults of our governments. They also liek to say they will coordinate attakcs again, similar to 9/11, they simply can not. They do have the money to do it yes, but they are unable to coordinate and carry-out that typ of attack on that level again. Al-Qaida isnt an actual group, they just share a common interest and work off each other, and Osama will just simply give them teh money to do so.
Moon6, some countries do punish leaving Islam by death, Afghanistan most recently I beleive had someone on trial for it. I do not beleive that this is true to Islam but something was pushed into practice by tribal units over a 1000 years ago. It is not something that I agree with nor do I think most Muslims beleive in it. I personnaly do not agree with it at all. If one doesn’t follow the religion that is their problem, butthey shouldn’t die. As for being left behind from the community that is tough. I live in Canada, so if I decided to not be a Muslim I would probably be fine, but I would be Ostrasized from teh community. If I was in Lebanon, same thing. I think countries where this more common is in the Persian areas(Afghanistan, Uzebekistan, Kazakstan). Now you might say what about Saudi Arabia?, this country is considered by most Muslims as being the biggest cancer on our religion. Mainly becasue they play both sides, they like to say they are the most conservative Muslims but yet they put their greed before their religion. They are more then happy to sell their oil to the US and then give the money back to them just so that the US can give that money to Isreal. In basics they are part of our problem, they are really the only country who can help solve this problem that we are having today.
I think the best solution is that we need to send ourselves back a few hundred years. Things were a bit better then. With no technology to show us clearly what is going on in other parts of the world too much, there’s not this insane jealousy that is spreading through the world. Human greed is driving much of this–if you see something you can’t have you are going to try to either obtain it or undermine it. And the encroachment of the West on other places is ruining those places…no wonder why there’s upset people. You simply cannot judge people with your own cultural goggles on. It is too difficult.
Let’s face it, some American values aren’t the best ones. Riding on the backs of people who can barely afford to survive so others can afford a better lifestyle? (Example: health care or minimum wage)
And convert to Islam? Probably not. Convert to Christianity? Probably not. They’ve both got major problems.
Especially the fact that it seems most Christians in America are guilty of bending the religion to how they see fit as well. Many Christian people claim, upon the death of a loved one, he is with Jesus/God now. Much happier and enjoying the fruits of Heaven. Oh really? Hath ye forgotten then phrase REST in peace. Do not the dead lie in an unconscious sleep that exists mere moments to their minds until the Resurrection? Most can’t wait to be reunited with those they love in Heaven and yet, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan 12: 2). So why is it that so many Christians say stuff about being immediately in Heaven? Is it projection of that “instant” that it feels like for the person who has died? Or for comfort?
And what’s up with the idea of being a happy family again and getting to live forever w/your wife/husband/brother/father/mother etc very similarly to how you did on Earth? “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun…. For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecl. 9:5,6,10). Do they wake up upon their resurrection and suddenly remember their past life upon Earth and their Earthly families and just meet up? And what happens if a beloved family member winds up in Hell and another in Heaven? Would not that be pain IN Heaven?
“But man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more. As water disappears from the sea or a riverbed becomes parched and dry, so man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep” (Job 14: 10-12). Maybe something like this is why the Islamic radicals are so hot to get some destruction happening. They feel the sooner the Earth is gone and no more, the sooner they get to wake up in the Afterlife and enjoy the place that is Paradise?
Anyways, yeah, mainstream religion is not really too great, imo. “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD” (Jer 17: 5). This is why organised Christianity may not be the best thing. Christians of America are being deceived from their true religion.
After hearing about this, I’d like to cut off Adam Gadahn’s testicles and shove them down his throat. May he achieve martyrdom soon.