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Of course, the ordinary person would firmly oppose any attempt to describe himself and his life in such a manner. He would consider it not only astonishing but ridiculous. He knows that he is not just a lump of molecules. He is a thinking person, and jealous of his own identity, one who makes choices that he carefully weighs, who experiences joys, sorrows, hopes, ambitions, fears, remorse, and regrets that are very real.

In his Friday sermon on October 25, 2024, at the [New York] MAS Staten Island Center, Imam Tareq Allan discussed the virtues of Jihad and the importance of understanding its values. He highlighted how, in times of tribulation, good and evil can be misrepresented, with genocide portrayed as "good" while Jihad is characterized as "terrorism." Imam Allan emphasized the necessity of having a burning desire for Jihad in one's heart and being willing to sacrifice for the sake of Allah. Even in non-Islamic countries, where armed struggle is not be applicable according to Islamic law, he urged Muslims to continue the struggle by spreading Islam.

He also stated that anyone who dies without having fought for Allah's cause, or at least having the intention to do so, risks dying in "one of the valleys of hypocrisy." Finally, he reminded the congregation of Allah's promise that Islam will ultimately spread to every corner of the Earth and prevail.

Tareq Allan: "It is important for us to remind ourselves of these values of jihad. Why? Because during times of tribulations, many times the truth can get distorted, evil can be portrayed as good, good can be portrayed as evil, genocide is good, jihad and defending your land is terrorism. So it is important to remind ourselves of these values, even though armed struggle, by consensus of the scholars, does not apply to a Muslim living in a non-Muslim country.

"You are living safely today here in America, who is to say that your situation will not change in the next ten years, that you will not be living in a circumstance or situation where jihad will apply to you.

"The Prophet said that Allah will spread this matter of Islam to all the corners of the Earth, and Allah will not leave a single house except [for which] this religion will enter it, through honoring those who deserve honor through Islam or humiliating those who deserve humiliation through disbelief. So Allah made this promise that this religion will reign supreme over all religions."

https://www.memri.org/tv/imam-tareq-allan-nyc-fire-jihad-america-armed-struggle

Read Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule (along with James D. Watson and Maurice Wilkins), in a book he subtitles, The Scientific Search for the Soul. His atheism, not an honest scientific inquiry, has already predetermined what his “search” will reveal. He isn’t really searching for the soul as the ordinary person would conceive it. That would be unthinkable for him as an atheist. He is searching for some mechanical, physical, or chemical “thing” that will enable him to change the minds of those foolish enough to hold the view of a nonmaterial soul. This has always been and still is the universal belief of mankind. And that pre-bias cannot but hinder his research as a scientist by preventing him from considering valuable evidence that leads in a direction he will not go.

What then is the difference, if there is any? There is no point in counting the numbers on each side—that would prove nothing. But there is an important and obvious distinction. The central issue is, which one would be the best scientist, most likely to look at all the facts objectively? And that question is answered heavily on the side of the theists. Why?

'Greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls'

The earliest inscription declaring Jesus as God - deemed 'the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls' - was uncovered beneath the floor of an Israeli prison and is now on display in America. 

The 1,800-year-old mosaic, discovered by an inmate of the Megiddo prison, features the ancient Greek writing: 'The god-loving Akeptous has offered the table to God Jesus Christ as a memorial.'

The 581-square-foot mosaic decorated the world's first prayer hall in 230 AD, confirming Christians believed Jesus was the son of God from the very beginning.

The Megiddo Mosaic also included some of the earliest images of fish, which experts believe reference the story in Luke:9:16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
See All... when Jesus multiplied two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000 people. 

The floor has been hidden under the prison since it was discovered in 2005, but has now been lent to a museum in Washington, DC, until July 2025.

Carlos Campo, CEO of the museum, hailed the mosaic as ' the greatest discovery since the Dead Sea Scrolls,' while his colleagues noted it was 'the most important archaeological discovery for understanding the early Christian church.'

'We truly are among the first people to ever see this, to experience what almost 2,000 years ago was put together by a man named Brutius, the incredible craftsman who laid the flooring here,' Campo said at the opening of the exhibition. 

The excavation, conducted by archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), took four years to recover the 581-square-foot mosaic floor.

The mosaic included the name of the Roman officer who commissioned the tile during the Roman occupation of Judea.

Researchers suggested that could prove Romans coexisted with Christians to some degree, despite the numerous stories of war and slaughter at the time.

An inscription on the mosaic read: 'Gaianus, a Roman officer, having sought honor, from his own money, has made the mosaic.'

The team also found a nearby Roman camp, providing more support of the peace between the two groups. 

The prayer hall, or church, was likely abandoned and covered up because the Roman Empire's Sixth Legion was transferred to Transjordan - a region located to the east of the Jordan River. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14096551/earliest-inscription-jesus-god-israel-prison-ancient-discovery.html

Many, perhaps most these days, are not familiar with William Marion Branham. His followers are often called Branhamites by outsiders. He discipled a young preacher by the name of Jim Jones. A name most associated with the death of over 900 of his followers. Although the sheer size of the of the death toll is unusual, the details about smaller groups of Branhamites recorded in Mass starvation, a doomsday colony: 'The Message' inspires dangerous ‘cults’ worldwide by Emily Hamer and Tim Steller would indicate it may be more common than most are aware: “The year-long investigation is the first news-media account of The Message and its global influence.

“Leaders influenced by Branham have overseen a deadly starvation cult in Kenya in 2023, a colony in Chile that murdered and tortured prisoners and abused children in the 1970s, a trailer-park commune in Arizona that abused children in the 1960s and other high-control groups that have been accused of psychological manipulation and sexual crimes.”

“They point out that the way Branham structured the churches the pastor has no accountability. It is a system destined for severe abuse. The Message movement is not small: “Over the last 40 years, the sect has grown tenfold from an estimated 300,000 followers in 1986 to an estimated 3 million today, according to Voice of God Recordings distribution figures. The estimates are based on how many people get VGR’s materials, but the nonprofit doesn’t verify whether those people have accepted The Message, Evans said.

“Africa has the most Message churches of any continent, Evans said. About 1,500 churches in Kenya alone claim to follow The Message, he added.

“The Message also has a sizeable following in Latin America due not only to Voice of God but also other missionaries. Phoenix resident Jorge Hernandez Jr. worked for decades helping his father establish Message churches in Mexico, his native El Salvador, Peru and other countries, he said.”

Unfortunately, there are too few trained pastors in these areas and the 1,500 Message churches in Kenya offer those attending do not receive in other churches. Plug and play teaching. All that is needed is audio and video equipment. MCOI is trying to assist one church, but it is a bit difficult. Without a laptop, projector and speaker they are dependent on the pastor, his smart phone and an interpreter.

https://mailchi.mp/e952add3b916/we-are-not-enemies?e=169825fd77

Many, perhaps most these days, are not familiar with William Marion Branham. His followers are often called Branhamites by outsiders. He discipled a young preacher by the name of Jim Jones. A name most associated with the death of over 900 of his followers. Although the sheer size of the of the death toll is unusual, the details about smaller groups of Branhamites recorded in Mass starvation, a doomsday colony: 'The Message' inspires dangerous ‘cults’ worldwide by Emily Hamer and Tim Steller would indicate it may be more common than most are aware: “The year-long investigation is the first news-media account of The Message and its global influence.

“Leaders influenced by Branham have overseen a deadly starvation cult in Kenya in 2023, a colony in Chile that murdered and tortured prisoners and abused children in the 1970s, a trailer-park commune in Arizona that abused children in the 1960s and other high-control groups that have been accused of psychological manipulation and sexual crimes.”

“They point out that the way Branham structured the churches the pastor has no accountability. It is a system destined for severe abuse. The Message movement is not small: “Over the last 40 years, the sect has grown tenfold from an estimated 300,000 followers in 1986 to an estimated 3 million today, according to Voice of God Recordings distribution figures. The estimates are based on how many people get VGR’s materials, but the nonprofit doesn’t verify whether those people have accepted The Message, Evans said.

“Africa has the most Message churches of any continent, Evans said. About 1,500 churches in Kenya alone claim to follow The Message, he added.

“The Message also has a sizeable following in Latin America due not only to Voice of God but also other missionaries. Phoenix resident Jorge Hernandez Jr. worked for decades helping his father establish Message churches in Mexico, his native El Salvador, Peru and other countries, he said.”

Unfortunately, there are too few trained pastors in these areas and the 1,500 Message churches in Kenya offer those attending do not receive in other churches. Plug and play teaching. All that is needed is audio and video equipment. MCOI is trying to assist one church, but it is a bit difficult. Without a laptop, projector and speaker they are dependent on the pastor, his smart phone and an interpreter.

https://mailchi.mp/e952add3b916/we-are-not-enemies?e=169825fd77

There are scientists who are atheists and there are scientists who are Christians. Is there a difference? As far as talents, intelligence, and qualifications go, there is no difference in favor of either side. At the beginning of the modern scientific era, scientists who were theists far outnumbered atheists and agnostics. That balance has changed in more recent times in favor of the unbelievers. But there are still many highly qualified scientists who are firm believers in God.