[TML] China Regulates Buddhist Reincarnation

[Richard Aiken]

On 8/24/07, Jeff Zeitlin <jzeitlin at spamcop.net> wrote:
>
> the first three Caliphates were not sources of
> guidance in the faith, but merely historical events.
>
> It is not in dispute among the various sects of Islam that Muhammad was
> the final prophet, the 'seal' of prophesy.


Ummm . . .

Just out of curiousity: What's the difference between "sources of guidance
in the faith" and "prophet?"  Sounds like a difference in degree, not in
kind.  To me, anyway.

Myself, I always thought the issue was merely one of secular rulership: who
really had the right to rule, those elected by council or those descended
from the Prophet's family.  Of course, Islam doesn't separate church and
state at all, so if you have authority in the one I guess you'd have to have
authority in the other.

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein