A Dream turned huge

[yomotalking]

Mohammed said he had the Angel Gabriel visited him.

THrough this man, the religeon of islam is growing huge in Eastern countries.

Why?

If I said I had angelic visitations, and wanted to set up my own worship, then I'd have a terrible time trying to convince people that it "worked".

How come islam was a huge boom??

(I had better not say "success"!)

[yomotalking]

I'm curious, and would be grateful for replies.

Yomo

[KatieK]

I don't know but isn't it funny that lots of other religions claim to see angels and people believe them dispite

Galatains 1:6-9

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

[Guest misseducator]

I don't know but isn't it funny that lots of other religions claim to see angels and people believe them dispite

Galatains 1:6-9

6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

[billcompugeek]

Dare I mention Swedenborg? He has the explanation of "permitted religions" that teach of God instead of atheism. Divine Providence always plays a hand.

[Ovedya]

Yomo,

Joseph Smith claimed that he was visited by Gabriel too; and also that he was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ.

It's not hard to fathom that some would chose to take another way than that which was established by God in the garden, because the fact is that mankind from the very first generation has sought to make his own way instead of taking God's way.

In Genesis God slew an animal and used the skin to make coats for the naked and fallen Adam and Eve. We do not know for certain, but it can be pretty safely speculated that that animal was a lamb. In any case, that first slaying - that first shedding of blood - set forth God's pattern of redemption. From that time forward the only true covering for sin was through the shedding of blood. This can be seen in the first offering made by Abel.

What can also be seen in the account of the first offering was man's desire to take a way of redemption that was apart from God's established pattern. Cain offered the firstfruits of the fields to God. Instead of taking God's way Cain took his own way, imagining in his mind that such an offering was "good enough" for God. But the offense was not so much in the sacrifice itself as it was in Cain's heart. God's desire has always been that man take Him as his way, and that he would have a heart only for Him and for His way.

All the false religions, therefore, have the same common denominator: That being the taking of another way, instead of that which God has established.

Another issue is, of course, that of pride. Of course pride is also the source of that desire to take one's own way instead of God's way. In order to take God's way one must humble themselves before Him, and be willing to become nothing - like the ashes upon the altar of sacrifice. Pride rebels against humility. Pride tells us that we need God for nothing, that we are self-sufficient, and that we can make our own way without God's leading, and without conformity to His ways.

So, because of pride mankind has, from the beginning, sought his own way. He has sought to exalt himself above the earth, and become equal to God (Which was first seen in Babylon).

In his efforts to rule over the earth, and become an equal with God, man has created various religions. The various religions have, in one way or another, claimed to represent God's way, but in reality it is just man's way apart from him; and in his pride and the self-centered exaltation of himself, man has used the name of God and the claim to his representation.

With respect to Islam, Muhammed very likely was seeking to exalt himself - to make a name for himself in a region that was largely populated by small tribes of nomadic traders. If you examine the history from critical sources, you will find that, in fact, Muhammed, used his created religion Islam, to advance himself to a position of high authority - even to a godlike status in fact - and for the satiation of his fleshly desires. Islam initially did not advance in peace with a message of peace and prosperity. It advanced itself in blood and conquest, and for the sake of a man who would become a god.

[yomotalking]

THen how come it became such a big thing?

(Like huge numbers flocking to islam?)