Another topic that arose.

please continue

Ok, here was my original post on this topic:


Quote:

I guess this comes down to the whole faith vs. works argument. Because of the Jews' excessive focus on works and deeds, Christians took the extreme opposite view that works are worthless and have no place at all. Islam takes the middle road in this issue. The phrase "Whoever believes AND works righteous deeds" appears so many times in the Qur'an, indicating that they together are the combination that we must have. in balance and harmony, not one at the expense of the other.

And here are some verses of the Qur'an that mention this combination:

"By [the token of] time through the ages, Verily, Man is in loss except those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and patience."

"Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode."

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Apparently some people have many children so they don have to do any works at all because centerlink pays them more then they can earn.

The NT has similar paragraphs.

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. "

James 2:14-17



"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:24-26


I liked it the way Shakespeare put it. "Nothing will come of nothing. It always has and it always will."
Maybe King Lear ???

I think 'works' here refers to righteous deeds rather than paid employment.

yes, that's right.

Isn't paid employment righteous?

Indeed it is, according to Islam anyway, it's actually counted as an act of worship, to work and support your family.

I cetainly would not call paid employment unrighteous !!

Better that people work, support themselves and their families, pay taxes.