Splinz: OP: Those you've referred to as the smartest, wisest and whatever, are actually the worse foolish set of people. Living in God's denial is the biggest foolishness of mankind. From the scriptural point of view, Paul says, "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their føolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools"- Romans 1:21-22. The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God"- Psalm 14:1. So OP, there's no better answer to the madness of atheists and others, apart from what God has said Himself.

itstpia1:



i wonder why the certified psychos on nl delight in calling others psycho, as if that will somehow hide their glaring mental imbalances.


Is Islam a person?

As for paganism, of course you are quite able to ask what its contributions have been, isnt your keyboard right in front of you?


and no, your question doesnt make sense AT ALL.

if you take time out to think about it, you'll realize its actually quite d.aft.

BraveGuy: [s]I just discovered that I was tagged on this thread in late July..... sorry that I lack the opportunity of time like the previous times, however, I will try to contribute when I have the chance.

To the thread's question.

Romans 1:22 gives the best answer, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," that is why you see so many "smart" people being atheists. What we sometimes call smartness is actually foolishness.

In the Bible, specifically from Genesis 2:22, we read, "And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man."

A "smart" scientist will question the truth of this Scripture, isn't it?

Then, see this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28746868
(if BBC would allow you, watch the video of how the doctors re-created the ears)

So, I conclude with these questions:
How "smart" are these surgeons?
Did they not borrow a leaf from God?
[/s]
[size=18pt]My point:
The SMARTEST scientist doesn't just believe there is a God, he FOLLOWS God.[/size]

AlBaqir: ^Even today, in the so-called western educational system and its developments in Nigeria, there are finger-prints of Islam all over. Geometric, algorithm, algebra etc in Mathematics, Geography (the 1st most comprehensive map of the world, longitude and latitude), Chemistry, Medicine, pharmacy etc the foundations and modifications of these sciences to modern stage were of Islamic inventions. The father of Chemistry, Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber to the Europe); father of Medicine, Ibn Rushdi, Ibn Sinna (Averoes, Aviccena), Khawarizmi of Mathematics, etc were all muslims Ulamas.

Names like "alcohol, alkali, borax, algebra, algorithm, sulphur, sulphuric, etc were still preserve in their Arabic forms after being named by these Muslims scholars.

Lastly, Since you've partner with the Christian, Muslims await Atheist and christians to equally state their contribution (NOT European civilization and development please) to the development of this Nation, Nigeria.

Thanks

itstpia1: Islam was present in the region before the creation of nigeria, so your question doesn't really make much sense.

Maybe you should ask for individual contributions of muslims, not general contributions of Islam.

AlBaqir: Here's my little contribution NOT ALL anyway:

First, you will agree with me that Nigeria was never for once an Islamic Nation; thereby, Islamic form of government and civilization was not able to be displayed or developed to its full potential.

The sokoto caliphate of the 18th - 19th century was brought to halt by the British colonial masters. They imposed their ideology and civilization there. Likewise, the ancient province of Islamic governed town of Iwo in Osun state. The fact that Many nations had existed and flourished before
the British imposition of colonial rule, there is possibilities that the north and southern "Iwo" would have developed under Islamic civilizations.

Yet, Islam has manage to contribute its quota:
Islam-Arabic Influence
There are Arabic words used in Nigerian languages, especially Yoruba and
Hausa names for days such as "Atalata (Ar. Ath-Thulatha) for Tuesday, Alaruba (Ar. Al-Arbi'a for Wednesday, Alamisi (Ar. Al-Khamis
) for Thursday, and Jimoh (Ar. Al-Jum'ah) for Friday.

Yorubas prefer to use "Ojo Jimoh" than the
unpleasant word for Friday in Yoruba, "Eti", which means Failure, Laziness or Abandonment.

The wide adoption of Islamic faith and traditions has succeeded to lay impacts both on written and spoken Nigerian vernaculars. For example:

Alaafia i.e. Good, Fine Or Health(y) from derivative Al-Aafiah

Baale i.e. husband or spouse derived from Ba'al

Sanma i.e. heaven or sky adopted for Samaa`

Alubarika i.e. blessing used as Al-Barakah

Wakati i.e. hour or time formed from Waqt

Asiri i.e. Secrete or Hidden derivative of As-Sirr
Etc etc etc.

Islam - a unifying force
The core north has a predominantly Muslim population and its long history of contact with Islam shaped its socio-economic and political framework long before colonisation by the British.

Islam being an old religion, with millions subscribing to the faith, has served as a source of unifying force in Nigeria especially in the north where it is most prevalent (e.g the case of the Sokoto Caliphate during the 19th century).

Islam has also contributed immensely to the Nigeria's development, in providing sources to organize politics, community cohesion and common ideology of various ethnic group.

An observer writes:
"The government’s failure to promote development or enhance living standards will continue to make Islam an alternative “ideology” to organize change and seek better or alternative solutions to a myriad of problems."

Contribution To Nigerian Education System
Quranic Schools
A research work writes:
The primary function of Qur’anic schools is to contribute to the early upbringing of Muslim children by training them in the reading and memorisation of the Qur’an. In performing these functions, Qur’anic schools laid the foundation for the emergence of an Islamic system of education long before the advent of western education in Northern Nigeria (Clarke 1982).

Known in Hausa as Makarantar Allo, Qur’anic school is the first of the two phases that Islamic education typically consists of; the other being Makarantar Ilmi or school for advanced learning. While Qur’anic schools provide the equivalent of modern pre-primary and primary education, Makarantar ilmi is a long educational experience designed to provide students of Qur’anic schools with an understanding of the meaning of the Quran and exposure to other
specialised branches of Islamic learning (Fafunwa 1991).

Although many of the Islamic schools
described above had humble beginnings as Qur’anic schools, the expansion they have witnessed has been concentrated at the advanced level of Islamic learning. In other words, the lower level of Qur’anic schooling has not witnessed the same degree of
modernisation and reform as the advanced level.

While madrassas provide their students with formal qualifications that allow access to higher education, their presence is largely
felt in Arabic, Islamic legal studies, and Islamic studies courses. The latest addition to this list is the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) Arabic Medium programme that has been designed to enable products of madrassas to obtain nationally approved professional teacher training for the
teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies. The NCE Arabic Medium programme substitutes English with Arabic as an instructional medium for the teaching of core professional teacher education courses that
form part of the NCE programme run in Colleges of Education (COEs) in Nigeria. This is in addition to their study of Arabic and Islamic studies as teaching subjects using the same medium of instruction.

Islamic Banking System
Islamic Banking system is a sharia (Islamic code of Law) compliant finance. The fact that Sharia prohibits acceptance of specific interests or fees for Loans of money (al-riba i.e usury) whether the money is fixed or floating; this system makes it easier (esp for the poor) for the society to develop its economy and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Islam introduced this and it is prevalent though at the grass root in Nigeria. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former CBN Governor tried to launch this at the National level just like many western countries have immensely benefitted from this kind of banking system. Unfortunately the greedy hide under inter-religion-ethnic violence to halt the program.

Yet it continue making wave at the grass-root among individuals and various organizations

Ideological and Cultural influence
Many tribes are known historically to be "idol-worshipers". Ancient 'Powerful men', Rivers, trees, rocks, stone etc were among the entities being revere and worshiped in which "benefit and hurt, sustenance and poverty, well-being and illness" etc were associated to these entities in these tribal beliefs. Superstitions, taboos, evil practices etc prevailed to the fact that even western education and civilizations cannot remove. Islam has tried in changing these ideology and perception. Today, Islam dominate and is more prevalent in some of these lands.

AlBaqir:

You know quite well that the reason why many muslims kept silent was the fact that you have a bad reputation with Islam. You attack Islam and muslims at will. Open a thread 'challenging' muslim to name Islam contribution to Nigeria is in no doubt a ploy to mock muslim and Islam as usual amidst muslim-chaos-violence related issues presently.

This I think is the reason why my brethren turned away from your so-called thread.

An0nimus:
Delusions of grandeur

wiegraf:

oooohhh boy.....

Edit; speaking of that sef, it's not so straight forward perhaps

texanomaly: I'm still unsure what any of this has to do with anything.

greatbygrace:

Thanks for your response.... I rest my case.

wiegraf:

While somewhat glad to be hinted at being a master of the perverse (not so true but hey, why not?), I do wonder why you ask atheists specifically....

Ok ok, *read above posts....* Ok. So, without casting stones and knee jerks, that's how you want to discuss?

I don't think American's are any more obsessed with it than the norm. Yes, lot's of folk are hypocritical and lie when they express outrage, etc etc. For instance, it's no coincidence that books/series like the one that was a fanfic, of "Twilight" methinks, '50 shades of grey' (or 'normal', I forget the exact name) went on to become a best seller during the age of the kindle and iPad; women can now go about reading their smut without getting caught. So, it turns out many of them fantasize about being the whip toy of some alpha male, who would have thunk!

Is the hypocrisy justifiable? For say cultural reasons or the greater good? Well, that depends on who you ask, the situation, etc. But again, don't see them being more obsessed with it than say the Japanese.... I mean, they even have self-sest (where a male xter clones himself as female then....never mind) in manga/anime aimed at teens/young adults. Not to say it's endemic in Japan either, they're simply less hypocritical generally IMO, and stuff like cousin marriages are not taboo's culturally (same here in the North, actually). Any country given the means though would display similar trends, frankly.

texanomaly:

What is there to discuss, and to what end?

UrbanMystique: that religion is so full of negative things and i wonder why people still wanna die for it.

not even a single positive thing.

plaetton: No idea. Never heard or even read about it.
But why would it be something worthy of discussion by atheists rather than the general NL audience?

Joagbaje:

How much of these testimonies have the critics enquired . I don't even want to talk about pastor chris miracles yet. There are catalogues of them on YouTube . I'm talking about the one I can present with evidence and the individuals who are still living . Jesus thesame yesterday today and forever

Xcapist: I don't know what BigUrban was thinking pinning atheists to the posts anyway, but I'm assuming it's because he thinks y'all are the ones open minded enough to even seriously consider answering, yes? I'm not exactly an atheist but I find incest, especially in this form repulsive. And why I think it's becoming popular is because people have exhausted the "normal", now people are after what will shock them, they're after the 'WTF experience'! 2 pence.

JuanDeDios: Yea, that's right. There's an obsession about incestous sex in American eroticas. Have always wondered what its all about. And, yea, the only one I ever read was pure "twincest".

Martian:

So maybe twincest is not as popular as you think?

Martian:

Do they have "twincest" as part of the overall plots or are the shows based on the act of "twincest"?

Xcapist: exactly! would have shared a link for doubters to see for themselves, but maybe not.

Martian:

Oh really!!! So all of these are "twincest" shows?

Pray tell, how is Law and Order a "twincest" show? Which one of the Law and Order franchise is a "twincest" show?

How is GOT a "twincest" show?

How are the rest of your examples based on "twincest"?

what are you snorting?

texanomaly:

I know what fantasy literature is. I've still never heard of this. I don't read fantasy stories about incest. Not interested, but if you say so. Are you a twin or something?

TheBigUrban2:
Oh really?
list of twincest shows/movies
-Game of thrones
-Witches of Eastend
-Mortal Instruments
-Cruel Intentions 2
-Law and Order

texanomaly:

I know what fantasy literature is. I've still never heard of this. I don't read fantasy stories about incest. Not interested, but if you say so. Are you a twin or something?

truthman2012:

He will not come. He has learnt to be silent in the face of truth.

Martian:

What are you talking about now?!!! Twincest is not a "popular theme" among fantasy literature fans in the US. The "twincest" you're refering to is probably Jamie and Cersie Lannister's relationship in GOT and the relationship is usually considered repulsive or ignored by observers.

texanomaly:

I'm American. I'm well read, and watch a lot of movies. I've never heard of this. Is it popular in porn circles?

mazaje: Expect vedaxcool to come and tell you how islam helped the ancient arabs. . .non of them can tell you specifically what islam has contributed to Nigeria or the black race as a whole. . .

UrbanMystique: islam contributed

erm ermmm ermmm.... *scratches butt* is boko haram positive?

AlfaSeltzer:

If you say so. So what's your point anyway? And wetin concern atheists in particular about it.

kevoh: Just hearing reading this for the first time .

AlfaSeltzer: WTF!!!!!??