I remember reading in our local papers some months back about how our neighbours, Malaysia, had banned the use of the word “Allah” by Christian publications. Apparently, the word “Allah” could only be used by Muslims to refer to their God.

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A different version of the story that I came across on the Internet used in a previous post. This one purports to be an account of a classroom encounter between a student and his professor discussing the existence of God. I’ve seen it in various forms but here’s a version I like best:

The university professor challenged his students with this question. Did God create everything that exists?

A student bravely replied, “Yes, he did!”

“God created everything?” The professor asked.

“Yes, sir,” the student replied.

The professor answered, “If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are then God is evil.”

The student became quiet before such an answer.

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Just posted this to the alpha@wefc blog. But I’d share it here with you as well:

As a result of Albert being away this week enjoying himself in Hong Kong feasting on durian soup and other such eclectic fare, I sat in on the discussion group he’s leading this Alpha, and a very curious thing happened.. I met myself. No, you did not read that wrong and I’m not a narcissist.. i met someone who reminded me of myself.

We all meet people all the time.. many of these “someones” we meet don’t really register in our conscious minds, they simply disappear when the conversation or meeting ends.. some stay a little longer but out of sight and soon out of mind as well.. some of these someones you actually prefer to be forgettable moments. But how many of us can actually say they’ve met someone who reminds them of themselves.. in every possible manner?

Well, I met someone.. and that someone, coincidental or not, reminded me very much of what I was, how I behaved, how I spoke.. even what I felt, and thought.. right down to the professed principles and beliefs. That someone sparked my curiousity and as i learnt more in subsequent conversation with him, I felt overwhelmed.

I’m sure we’ll soon discover that differences exist because we are individuals and we are unique but I’m curious.. this is a someone who seems to speak, feel, think and behave in exactly the same way I did when I was his age and though I’m double that age now, i still pretty much speak, feel, think and behave the way I did back then. OK, may be a little less rebellion being exhibited now but every bit a rebel (in that I do not conform to the accepted norm, IMHO) and very different from your average church going adult.

J had attended church previously but had left. J had questions.. lots of them.. in his mind. Some of those questions I still entertain from time to time in my own mind but the evening’s topic was on “How Can I Be Sure of My Faith?” and the evening’s experience got me ruminating and when I do that, I do what other Internet addicts do – I start surfing the Net and pulling stuff together just to answer questions in my mind.

So, join me on one of my journeys see if you arrive at the same place I did when i pieced together what I’d read.

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