DoctorKenney;850921 wrote: Well a ghost town is better than no town. This town can house 500 000 people, which is a LOT of people. Maybe the Government should invite foreign corporations to invest in the country, creating jobs whilst simultaneously expanding credit so the newly employed Angolans can acquire a mortgage. Most Angolans live in small shacks without even basic services. If the Government can figure out ways to move these people in, it can set off a chain of events which can create a strong Angolan middle class. This project cost 3.5 billion dollars, and it can house 500 000 people, so thats 7000$/person. Honestly i dont see this project as all that bad. Their government has done little to nothing in the way of social investments. This is a country that like Somalia, has been battered by decades of civil strife, you could stick 500,000 Angolans in there and all you would get are downtrodden city blocks instead of downtrodden shantytowns.

@Moonlight1 I wouldn't quote from anything pertaining to the story of Noah if I were you, unless you actually believe the story of him safeguarding 9+ million species on his ship. @NORF, Do you not see a contridiction between the two earlier quoted ayats and these two? A group He has guided, and a group deserved to be in error; (because) surely they took the Shayâtin (devils) as Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers) instead of Allâh, and consider that they are guided. (Qur’an 7:30) But those who reject Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and treat them with arrogance, they are the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire, they will abide therein forever. (Qur’an 7:36) Strangely enough, I actually like this one: When they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe.’ But then when they go apart with their satans, they say, ‘We are really with you. We were only mocking.’ (Qur’an, 2:14) It's what finally motivated me to "come out" to my family (I'm talking about atheism here, not homosexuality).

N.O.R.F;850858 wrote: Those were just examples. As Muslims we keep ourselves clean (e.g. when visiting the toilet). What you're calling superstitious has its reasons. Again, it sounds as though you're problem with Islam relates to the minor matters governing one's personal life (actions, intentions etc) rather than the fundamentals such as belief in God, his books, his angels etc. Its difficult to see how you went 180 degrees (decade or not). Is there a refresh button in you? Can you re-assess your conclusions? As I've said before, the little minor issues allowed me to view the gaping contradictions from a far, some of these issues aren't even specific to Islam. At the end of the day your wasting your breath my friend, your merciful god has illuminated the road to heaven before you and closed it to me (16:39) And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do. (10:100) And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah , and He will place defilement upon those who will not use reason.

Even if no Angolan will ever live there?

Yeah, it's crazy how little foresight these leaders have. It's imperative that local economies are growing healthily first, before natural resources are extracted. That way, there's a business community that will grow with infrastructure developments.

Haha, true. Our leaders are Forrest Gump fans, "Mama says, stup*d is as stup*d does.". Edit:Lol, I didn't know stup*d was censored here.

N.O.R.F;850798 wrote: Islam is a way of life governing all aspects of one's life. Did you disagree with, for example, the emphasis on cleanliness? Or perhaps the requirement for one to fast to feel hunger (to be humbled)?. Not sure how one can go from questions on seemingly small matters to the opposite belief. Isn't that how all things start? Most people don't have epiphanies and make spiritual choices overnight, my journey took me the better part of a decade. In the response to your question on hygiene, do you really need religion to dictate hygiene or can it evolve outside religion like it did in feudal Japan? Islam made major improvements in the lives of its followers, but that was a millennium ago. There are many other matters of hygeine in Islam that could be considered superstitious today (stepping into a bathroom with your left foot, aversion of dogs etc.).

"If you build it, they will come". Looks like another incompetent African leader based his country's economic development on a movie quote.

N.O.R.F;850788 wrote: Questions are questions. At best, you could be a skeptical muslim and at worst an agnostic. I've actually teetered on that edge for a while, many of my main issues stemmed from the bureaucratizing of Islam with the attention given to every minutia of peoples personal lives. This then lead me to be a Quranist, then a skeptic, agnostic and finally an atheist.

N.O.R.F;850776 wrote: His experience sounds similar to yours. Moved to the west. New freinds. Questions. Loss of faith etc etc He did explain why he thought athiests were illogical and irrational yes. My friends were all Somali muslims during the early parts of my childhood, I've always had too many questions regarding religion according to my parents. In fact, I've had to unsuscribe from most of my friends on Facebook as the constant barrage of hadiths and generic Islamic themed photos of sunsets and cute animals was starting to annoy me. Peer pressure had nothing to do with personal choices and I still talk to many of my Muslim friends.

I actually think women and children should run the country, the men haven't done so well now have they?

Isn't that the same guy who claims Atheism is illogical and irrational? I've watched a few of his videos and again I was left with a better understanding of why I converted back to humanity. You guys should select your dawah videos better, Khalid Yasin is alright, but the other one is comical.

Wadani;850755 wrote: ^Learn God while ur at too. It was my deeper inquiry into Islam that pushed me away from it. In fact, studies have shown Atheists to be the most literate when it comes to religion. I've spent much of my childhood in Maddresahs and Islamic youth groups at school and it only made my decision easier.

By the way, it's rather obvious that the first picture is "fake", it's from the Tibet earthquake in 2010.

My Arabic was decent up until the age of 9, that's when I came to Canada and essentially forgot both Somali and Arabic for the most part. I've been trying to relearn speaking Somali recently (I can read and understand it just fine), and maybe I'll get around to learning Arabic as well.

This is pretty much how all culture/societal norms and values (tribal,religious etc.) came to be. It wasn't until recently that humans actually started asking why.

These "Elders" need to find a new job, old age does not a wise man make.

I love British programming, you guys don't realize how much better you have it. Edit: Haha, I just realized the irony of my above statement in regards to this video, I was speaking about documentaries like the one you posted specifically. Every documentary that our national broadcaster airs has to involve David Suzuki or Killer Whales.

This is really going to rile up the Illuminati crowd.

wyre;850535 wrote: I Don't Care What You Do, But I Only Know You Have A Hatred With Islam An Ayah I don't have a hatred of Islam, I have a hatred of those who feel the need to determine what the constitute sincerity of faith. Apparently, the shahada isn't enough to be Muslim today. This is a consistent problem with all of the organized religions, debate and thought is concentrated in one church or several schools and there's little reasoning.

Why do you capitalize the beginning of every word? Also, I post on a variety of threads and will continue to do so.

Alpha Blondy;850522 wrote: i woke up at 13:30pm. it was a long night, lets just say! manshallah that your jimce was brilliant. it is said a muslim who doesnt go to friday jummmah for 3 or 4 times isnt a muslim. Based on that requirement, do you really think there would be over a billion Muslim in the world?

Burma in general is a country known only through Rambo and trendy celebrities. Sad case all around.

:cool: I'm hoping for a 400-500% profit on my HRN stocks in the coming months.

Aaliyyah;850263 wrote: Speak only for yourself. Unless, of course all these nicknames who claim to be atheists or seem confused are your other scripts. What's up with the constant denial of the existence of Somali atheists? We (Somalis) are not as homogenous as we like to claim, there has always been different cultures, religious movements and ethnic groups in Somalia and that won't change any time soon.