Re: Something people don't usually know. Hahahaha. What do you call the Assyrians splitting up the Hebrews and sending them all over the place? I guess that's not racism, they just didn't like them much.What "other continents" are you talking about? If you're talking about Africa, people have been there since practically the beginning of time (Egypt). And yes, dark people did live there at the time. If you're talking about Asia, the term "Asia" derives itself from Akkadian and Phoenician words, so yeah, people have known about it for a long time to some extent.The Bible wasn't even completely formed until the 4th century AD, well into the Roman Empire's existance, so... I don't know what you're talking about.
Re: Something people don't usually know. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Justice @ Jun 11 2006, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hahahaha. What do you call the Assyrians splitting up the Hebrews and sending them all over the place? I guess that's not racism, they just didn't like them much.What "other continents" are you talking about? If you're talking about Africa, people have been there since practically the beginning of time (Egypt). And yes, dark people did live there at the time. If you're talking about Asia, the term "Asia" derives itself from Akkadian and Phoenician words, so yeah, people have known about it for a long time to some extent.The Bible wasn't even completely formed until the 4th century AD, well into the Roman Empire's existance, so... I don't know what you're talking about.</div>Ok ill start with your first point, That was not racism. It was religous persucution. It's the same that goes on between the muslims and islam to this day. They may be different races, but that is not the issue and never was.Also if we're talking about Africa, I believe some explorer originally opened the spice routes around the early 1200s, so trade there was pretty much inexcessible, meaning if there were people there other then african decent, it was a very few number. I believe the same was with Asia, and as late as maybe the 1600s, you see a ship back then couldnt travel around the world. Also we are talking about the old testament, which has been around since around 1500-3000 B.C. which would have been around the time of your ancient egyptians. Remember early bible followers burned down one of the greek temples( I forgot the name, took world history way back) which is one of the ancient wonders of the world.Exploration of the world didnt begin until some time in the ADs and really didnt begin expanding until the 1400s, so really man had no knowledge for the most part of these places, and with how underdeveloped the world was, it was really no concern.
Re: Something people don't usually know. It's obvious you really don't have any clue what you're talking about. Okay, yeah, there wasn't exploration before a certain point in history. BUT ALL THE PEOPLE ORIGINATED IN THE SAME PLACE. Black people, yellow people, red people... Biblically, scientifically, and historically, people believe that human life originated in the Middle East. I know you're talking about Old Testament scriptures, but I highly doubt you have any evidence that racism was first originated in a certain time or that people weren't racist before the Old Testament. The fact that the Old Testament seems to suggest that racism (hint: look up the story of the good Samaritan) was occurring in that time tells me that it wasn't something that was started by the Bible.It's really nothing like what is happening with Muslims today. The Shi'ites and Sunnis share many similarities (same god, very few differences between them, mostly just hatred for each other). The Assyrians and Hebrews had very little to do with each other (different race, different religion, different ancestors). Religion was an identification for Hebrews, therefore part of their race. Hebrews were indeed persecuted for their religion, but that in itself is not mutually exclusive from racism. What you're suggesting is another fairly unbacked claim and a bit absurd. But whatever, believe what you want.
Re: Something people don't usually know. Slavery wasn't always a bad thing. Islam allowed slavery, but it was very good to slaves. Lemme find some verses... (and make sure it is correct with my Quran translation book)90:11-1511. But he has made no effort to pass on the path that is steep.12. And what will make you know the path that is steep?13. (It is) Freeing a neck (slave, etc.)14. Or giving food in a day of hunger (famine),15. To an orphan near of kin. 4:3232. And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the S?lih?n (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, All?h will enrich them out of His Bounty. And All?h is All-Sufficent for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people). <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Free a Slave When You Break an Oath!</span>2:221All?h will not punish you for what is uninentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten Mas?kin (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families; or clothe them; or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). Thus All?h make clear to you His Ay?t (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Quran Supports Kidness to Slaves</span>54:41Malik related to me that he heard that Umar ibn al-Khattab went to the villages every Saturday. If he found a slave doing work which he was not capable of doing, he lightened it for him. Annemarie Schimmel in "Islam: An Introduction", p. 67Slavery was not abolished by the Koran, but believers are constantly admonished to treat their slaves well. In case of illness a slave has to be looked after and well cared for. To manumit [free] a slave is highly meritorious; the slave can ransom himself by paying some of the money he has earned while conducting his own business. Only children of slaves or non-Muslim prisoners of war can become slaves, never a freeborn Muslim; therefore slavery is theoretically doomed to disappear with the expansion of Islam. The entire history of Islam proves that slaves could occupy any office, and many former military slaves, usually recruited from among the Central Asian Turks, became military leaders and often even rulers as in eastern Iran, India (the Slave Dynasty of Delhi), and medieval Egypt (the Mamluks). Eunuchs too served in important capacities, not only as the guardians of the women's quarters, but also in high administrative and military positions.
