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SourPennies No, I actually read the Quran with an open mind because I simply enjoy reading religious texts. I read it in English (the Marmaduke translation, which is regarded by many Islamic scholars to be the most accurate translation), and so you may think my opinion doesn't matter, but then you have to contend with the various apostates who have read/heard it in Arabic and reject it. Reading it in Arabic doesn't seem to produce the effect you were hoping for.
Citing the text as proof of its claims is not valid. I could, if I so chose, draw a squiggly line on a sheet of paper, claim it was written by God, claim that unless you can read the language of the squiggly in its original form then you cannot contest it, further claim that nobody could produce a squiggly so beautiful and unique, and have just as much claim to authority as the Quran. I'm not saying this to be mean, either. I know *you* believe it. The burden is on you to prove its validity *objectively*. Producing the book does not validate it. Producing God himself would, since the claim is that God wrote it, remember.
And it is not a separate matter whatsoever if your claim is that the Quran is the best, least subjective view from which to dictate morality. Its subjectivity is the very question under discussion.
Also, respond to the point about family values. I will not allow you to dodge it.
I didn't say read it in arabic, but rather listen to it in arabic.
Secondly, I didn't cite the text as proof of its claim I just said that that is a separate discussion. Thirdly, the Quran is claiming it is the message of God, not myself - I"m just narrating. And it provides a sensical, coherent and eloquent discourse on life and rights and fundanmentally human issues by providing guidance and makes prophecies which historically are validated... and it challenges those who claim that its manmade to produce another chapter if they think its manmade. So please do not belittle the falsifiability test with talking about squiggly lines etc. My belief in it or reject of the Quran has very little to do with the Quranic claim. I could be someone who has not even heard of Islam and that makes little difference to the claim because I can still present the Quranic verse to you and say, if you think the Quran is false, then produce a chapter like it, as how it challenges you in verse 2/23.
You keep pulling the card up about burden of proof, but you're dealing with a text, and if you did read it, then I ask you, on what basis do you reject that it is not the word of God?
Acutally on that note, you have not read the Quran, but a tranlsation of the Quran. That's why I asked you have you ever listened to the Quran in arabic.