We have recently witnessed a spate of outrageous sex-related hoaxes conjured by fundamentalist "Christians" in order to malign the reputation of Islam and Muslims. These hoaxes, fabricated/peddled by "Christian" missionaries include the Hamas mass child wedding, the (sexual) thighing of children and the sex with prepubescent girls’ hoax. (as well as other hoaxes)
Having already denounced these sick hoaxes we can concentrate on the Bible
Do I believe the Bible/Christianity allows Pedophilia?
No, I showcase this video in order to highlight the ease at which an agenda-driven individual can use the BIBLE to make "pedophile allegations" seem credible to those who want to believe such a claim
I do want to state; during Biblical times it was the norm for older men to marry younger girls; but as Geza Vermes indicates - the men would WAIT for the girls to reach maturity (puberty) before consummating the marriage (i.e. having sex with the female) [1]. This was certainly a norm for the bygone days. Of course, according to today’s Western norms such "Biblical" practices would be deemed as pedophilia BUT anybody with a spot of objectivity and context will never impute such charges on the people of the past.
The video (from the investigateislamdumy channel) begins with a clip from the Sceptics, they put forward an argument which could impute pedophilia on Numbers 31:18. Of course, I do not believe for one moment Moses or his men were having sex with prepubescent girls. You can imagine if Muslim sources contained something similar to Numbers 31:18 the debauched "Christian" missionaries we have been countering on this blog would certainly have utilised it in order to work their anti-Muslim agendas – they would have had a field day!
Numbers 31:17 -18 (NIV)
Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
Perhaps the killing of the boys, women (non-virgin) and the enslaving of the (virgin) girls will be discussed on this blog in the future. Sadly, many Christians are unaware of such passages in the Bible and thus rendering some of their argumentation and preaching inapplicable due to inconsistency.
Age of Consent
Different centuries and different geographical locations have exhibited differing ages of consent. During the time of Jesus, the age of consent was thought to be three months after the first period [1]. This biological event of puberty usually ranges between the ages of 8 to 13 (unless precocious or delayed puberty kicks in) [4]. An age of consent at the age of 8 years old would certainly be foreign to us modern-day Westerners, however in the West our age of consent was remarkably low a century or two ago as well (as highlighted in the video).
Mary and Joseph
It is estimated the age of Mary (at the time of her marriage to Joseph) was ranging between 12-14 [2]. Of course, Jesus gave tacit approval to this type of union, I would not be surprised if the age of Mary was lower than 12 either as during Mary's time the marriage would typically be conducted prior (before) puberty and the man would wait for that biological sign before consummating the marriage [1]. Joseph would have been of a mature age at the time of his wedding (he could have been ninety years old) [2].
A 12-14 year old girl marrying an old man who could well have been ninety is something foreign to our modern-Western norms. We must remember we do not judge these pious figures based on modern norms. For those who are interested in Jesus' opinion in this regard; Jesus would certainly have given approval (either tacit or outright) to this type of relationship. Do we see Jesus denouncing such practice? No.
Hypocrisy and Humiliation
Sadly, the fundamentalist "Christians" who troll the internet with their brand of malicious misinformation are being hypocritical and indeed are being shown up.
Firstly, as we have seen the case can be made by an agenda-driven individual of pedophilia being allowed in the Bible. How many Muslims are trolling the internet spreading these claims? Not many if any!
How many "Christians" do we see claiming Muhammad to be a pedophile and fabricating/peddling other crazed hoaxes about Islam/Muslims? A shed load, a ton, innumerable!
Food for thought; Muslims are called to holiness and righteousness. These "Christians" should ponder upon the decency and intellectual competence of MUSLIMS. Yes, those fellows you spend your lives traducing with fabrications and other propaganda hit-pieces are setting a better standard of scholarship, intellect, decency and respect.
Fundamentalist Christians do not Harass Jews (or do they?)
As Muslims we respect and LOVE the Prophets and certainly do not have any reason to believe the teachings of having sex with three year olds are traced back to the Prophets. There certainly is room for the “Christian” fundamentalist to utilize some of these Talmudic teachings in their cyber witch-hunts. For some reason I don’t see that; I don’t see these crazed “Christians” haranguing Jews on the internet. Instead, these “Christians” attack Muslims erroneously with fabrications and inapplicable argumentation – perhaps the anti-Muslim agenda yields more CASH donations for their shoddy “ministries”
Rabbi Joseph and Three Year Olds
Said Rabbi Joseph, "Come and take note: A girl three years and one day old is betrothed by intercourse. [3]
I do want to state, I am not encouraging ANYBODY to harass Jews with Talmudic teachings or other teachings. We are the Muslims and we are here to set a better example. Even, the most debauched “Christian” missionary would be impressed with this MUSLIM ideal.
Certainly the teaching of Rabbi Joseph CANNOT be traced back to any Prophet. Quite how he came to this conclusion is beyond me but we can dismiss it as erroneous.
Muslim Defends the Reputation of Moses
It appears there is a Jewish interpretation which suggests sex/rape took place:
“According to the Tannaïte Rabbis, Moses therefore had ordered the Israelites to kill all women older than three years and a day, because they were "suitable for having sexual relations."”
I just want to stand up for Moses. Firstly, if he did take part in the killing of these people I can assure you Moses did not sanction the sexual relations with three-year olds (prepubescent girls).
There is NO evidence of such a practice and the teaching of the Tannaite Rabbis can be dismissed as ridiculously fallacious speculation and outrage. We ALREADY know the Semitic standard was that of waiting for puberty before consummating a marriage [1]. Do Jews, to this day, have sex with three-year olds? Of course not. Their standard is puberty to THIS day – this speaks volumes in our dismissal of the above quote.
Again, why is it that a MUSLIM is standing up for the honour of a Prophet and standing up for intellectual honesty? In this there is a sign for the fundamentalist “Christians” we have been denouncing of late. They should stop wasting their time peddling/fabricating anti-Muslim hoaxes and start doing something productive with their lives
Defending Isaac: Was Rebecca THREE years old when she married Isaac?
This is what Genesis 25:20 says:
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to himself for a wife.
However, Rashi’s commentary seems to suggest Rebecca was three years old at this time. This further throws doubt upon the preciseness of Jewish traditions (which in turn throws further suspicion on what the Tannaite Rabbis attributed to Moses, see above). Is the commentary claiming consummation took place whilst Rebecca was three years old? If so, this is an absurdity.
If the commentary is claiming (non-sexual) betrothal took place at this age then that is reasonable. However, it does appear the commentary is suggesting the former.
Rashi’s commentary:
forty years old: For when Abraham came from Mount Moriah, he was informed that Rebecca had been born. Isaac was then thirty-seven years old, for at that time Sarah died, and from the time that Isaac was born until the “Binding” [of Isaac], when Sarah died, were thirty-seven years, for she was ninety years old when Isaac was born, and one hundred and twenty-seven when she died, as it is stated (above 23:1): “The life of Sarah was [a hundred and twenty seven years.”] This makes Isaac thirty-seven years old, and at that time, Rebecca was born. He waited for her until she would be fit for marital relations-three years-and then married her. — [From Gen. Rabbah 57:1
(http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8220/showrashi/true)
“Christian” Double Standards
Quite where the fundamentalist “Christians” are is beyond me. Why are they not working this stuff assiduously? After all they do like propagating sexual sensationalism – at least they do like doing so when it is Muslim-related (despite all being stuff of fabrication and hoax!)
Why do these “Christians” Attack Muslims with Lies and Hoaxes?
The answer can be drawn from the words attributed to Jesus (Matthew 5:11-12). Essentially, these fundamentalist “Christians” attack Muslims because of what we believe concerning Jesus. Muslims believe Jesus is a Prophet of God, for some reason fundamentalist “Christians” do not like this Muslim belief. Muslims can draw comfort from the alleged words of Jesus whilst the “Christian” harassers can receive rebuke from such words:
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)
Come to the Light
Would you like to worship the God Jesus worshipped (the God who created Jesus and all of us)? If yes, become a Muslim today:
http://www.ediscoverislam.com/
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
[1] Jesus the Jew, by Geza Vermes, 1973, William Collins sons and Co Ltd, pages 219-222
[2] A year after his wife's death, as the priests announced through Judea that they wished to find in the tribe of Juda a respectable man to espouse Mary, then twelve to fourteen years of age. Joseph, who was at the time ninety years old, went up to Jerusalem among the candidates; a miracle manifested the choice God had made of Joseph, and two years later the Annunciation took place. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08504a.htm
[3] Talmudic teaching (Jewish):
And if a Levir has had intercourse with her, he has acquired her. And one can be liable on her account because of the law prohibiting intercourse with a married woman. And she imparts uncleanness to him who has intercourse with her when she is menstruating, to convey uncleanness to the lower as to the upper layer [of what lies beneath]. If she was married to a priest, she may eat food in the status of priestly rations. If one of those who are unfit for marriage with her had intercourse with her, he has rendered her unfit to marry into the priesthood. If any of those who are forbidden in the Torah to have intercourse with her had intercourse with her, he is put to death on her account, but she is free of responsibility [M.Nid. 5:4].
[4] Back in the 1960s, doctors considered 8 to 13 the normal age range for puberty to begin in girls http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/earlier-girls-puberty.htm
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