What is Islam?

schmikbob wrote: OK, lets see.  It looks like you now are backing off your earlier statements like "The main point here is that the Qur�an clearly refuted the stationary sun concept more than 1400 years ago." and "All translations clearly state that the sun is in motion. How was the Qur�an able to state it more than 1400 years ago without any advanced astronomical instrument of the modern science?"  Instead you are going with "the signs, revealed more than 14 centuries ago that contain no contradiction with the scientific facts of today."  You do realize that this is a big difference, right?

Friendship, I too am delighted to find someone that perhaps will be able to provide what I seek.  Truthseeker seems able to only walk in the same well worn circle.   My "disposition" is one of seeking the truth and open-mindedness.  I'm not sure why "acting occording to my own dispostion" has to do with your needing to know my educational background but I see no harm in it as long as I also have the advantage of knowing your "disposition".  I have been well trained as an engineer and the nature of my degrees are such that I was also required to study such nonrelated topics as economics, history, and philosophy.  However, I reject the premise that without an extensive background in a particular field I would not be able to be "convinced".  As far as I have been able to tell, the Quran does not delve deeply into the sciences, at least not by modern standards.  I love your example also.  If someone said to me "he raised the heavens without pillars for one to see" I would think he meant the heavens or sky appear unsupported which of course they do.  I await your next example with great anticipation.

Friendship, thanks for the continueing dialogue.  You have included this quote in your latest effort to show me that the Quran has within it verses that predate modern scientific discoveries. "Qur'an 25:53 says, "It is He Who has let the two seas: this is palatable and sweet, and that is salt and bitter; and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.""  I am not sure this means anything more than a separation between two seas which could be as simple as the land between them.  You seem to be seeing much more and I'd surely like to know why.  You then state "I am not supposed to discuss that knowledge with you in order not to intimidate or provoke you, or dissuade you from belief".  You make it sound as though there is some organized group with secret knowledge and rules of order that must not be shared for fear of frightening off the unwashed masses.  To state that there is some information that can't be shared because I have not analyzed sperm in a laboratory is almost funny.  I would like to continue this dialogue but I'm afraid that unless you are able to be more forthright and avoid the dissembling it will be impossible.  I look forward to your thoughts on this

Friendship, thank you for the dialogue.  However, anecdotal evidence about some 16th century Turkish admiral and an American oil company are not evidence to most people.  As far as NASA's opinion with regard to the Quran verse you sited I would say the verse does not offer any information beyond that of what was known in the middle of the last millenium.  I know, I know, you have some insight into the hidden meanings behind these verses that you can't share because I have not looked at sperm under a microscope.  It is apparent that I am going to have to look elsewhere if I going to get some insight into these Quranic verses that predict or predate the science of the last century.  You obviously do not intend to share your vast repository of hidden knowledge.