COLUMN: More on Iran, Quran

Regarding Sholeh’s column of April 14: When you lived in Iran, the shah was in power. He had regard for all religions and kept order according to the law at that time. It is my understanding that the people in Iran had a good relationship with people in the U.S. before the revolution. The Persians are a proud race and do not fit with the Arabic people. At one point in ancient history they had one of the most modern civilizations in the world. Some of those principle writings are held in Washington, D.C.

The leaders today in Iran are complete radicals.

I find in my studies of the Quran and the history of the prophet that the Quran itself is a piecemeal accumulation of writings from the old and new testament along with revelations relayed to others from the prophet as his literacy was limited. He may have gotten a type of round worm while a child when he was in the care of the bedoins for the first five years, which may have attributed to his seizures, at which time he would also have revelations from God which he would dictate to be written out.

I find in your article some important omissions. The Quran mentions the treatment of women numerous times and always as chattel.

A man is allowed to marry a girl as young as 7 and consummate the wedding when she is 9. Abu Bakr gave his daughter to be married to the prophet at age 7 some say 6. This is alien to all modern societies. A man is allowed to have four wives or what he can afford, plus those he holds with his right hand, that is slave women taken in battle.

It is written in the Quran that Jews and Christians convert to Islam or pay the jiza (tax) or become slaves or worse. Some wording in some of the suras are ambiguous and subject to numerous interpretations.

On the subject of the differences between Christians, Catholics or Mormons. Catholics and Protestants believe in trinity. God the father, son and holy spirit as one God in three persons. Mormons are overall good citizens but do not believe in trinity. They are not, therefore, Christians. This is the primary difference.

Perhaps this will help in your future articles which I enjoy reading.

BOB HOLLINGSWORTH

Wolf Lodge