Hi I'm sure you know tons more about the world's religions than I do The early peaceful verses of the Koran that you list are from the Meccan period of Muhammad. When he preached and preached but gained few followers. In 622AD Muhammad made his great hejira to Mecca with the few adherents he had. Heijira means flight and is the title of that old Joni Mitchell album. Muhammad fled to Medina and this is where he gained followers and became the great warlord. This part of the Koran has the verses about conquering and subduing infidels. To confound anyones research the Koran is not in chronological order. So you will find peaceful Meccan verses near militant Medina verses
Muhammad amassed an army and many followers in Medina. One could say he preached peace when he was weak but preached war when he got much stronger. The Koran is very contradictory. More so than any old and new Testament. The real kicker is the later aggressive Medina verses abrogate the earlier peaceful Meccan verses. You can go google the Islamic principle of abrogation. When Osama Bin Ladin dropped the WTC towers he cited the later Koranic verses to justify it. In most of Bin Ladin's messages he cites the Koranic verses that justify his actions. And like I said, these later verses are superior to the early Meccan verses. They get the last word in any debate on the Koran. Tim McVeigh is inarticulately called a Christian terrorist. But never once did he refer to the Bible or cite it for his actions. Not in court, not anywhere My 2 cents, Garrick * It's called "A Fall", it happens. Mohammad early on was clearly inspired by the Most High. After his fall, he was clearly motivated by the lusts of flesh. The early books of the Qu-ran are an amazingly positive, loving construct. The later things, are not so. Same with diets, and lifestyles, people can "Slip" into materialistic love from a higher prespective. It doesn't mean their early theories, or principles were false. In the early books you'll find gems such as this; 1. Respect and honor all human beings irrespective of their religion, color, race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job and so on [17/70] 2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception [33/70] 3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way [17/53, 2/83] 4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [31/19] 5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious [22/30] 6. Do not confound truth with falsehood [2/42] 7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart [3/167] 8. Speak in a civilized manner in a language that is recognised by the society and is commonly used [4/5] 9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative [6/152] 10. Do not be a bragging boaster [31/18] 11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [23/3, 28/55] 12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play, then pass by with dignity [25/72] 13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt [6/151]. 14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously [3/134]. 15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [31/18] 16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [17/37, 31/18] 17. Be moderate in thy pace [31/19] 18. Walk with humility and sedateness [25/63] 19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and salacious stares [24/30-31, 40/19]. 20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences [24/15-16]* -- Gurdjieff-- How can you expect fairness and decency on a planet of sleeping people?
