freediver wrote on Jan 3
rd, 2019 at 12:08pm:
Quote:As to if he is a pedophile, well, again, you have to look at the context, and not just pub talks.
Are you going to tell us about the context to having sex with children?
Would you say that Muhammad's takeover of Medina was bloodless?
Well, it really depends on where your information is coming from. Much of the Quran is about looking through the eyes of Mohammad to the world, and what he will do. There is not much about his life. And over the thousands of years, these are again mixed with legends. In truth, there is no firm consensus from scholars on just how old Aisha was when she married Mohammad.
Then, there is no evidence from Mohammad's other marriages - many of them older than him, nor there is any text to suggest that he had a persuasive interest in children, and that he actively sought them out. So Aisha was his third wife. His first wife Khadija was 40, second one, Sawda was 55.
Then, we look at the context of that time. Back then, girls were viewed as part of power play and commodities. Yes there were dark times. Everyone does it, Christians, Muslims, polytheist, Jews. Girls can be betrothed at 3 years of age, and married off. In fact, as of 2018, there are still 18 states in USA that do not have minimal ages for marriage.
Then we look at the context of the marriage itself. Aisha was the daughter of one of Mohammad's most powerful allies. In fact, her father became the leader when Mohammad died. And Aisha herself went on to become an important and disguisihed figure in history on her own. Her marriage was not because of Mohammad's lust for a child, but rather, it was common for that time, to have a child married to an ally.
Mohammad spent his life spreading Islam, and consolidate his power over Arabia.
What does a pedophile do? Look at people like Peter Scully, and what he did. Then you will know what a true pedophile is alike.
Now, I am not trying to somehow legitimize Mohammad. But we have to look at facts and contexts before we make our statements. I am just telling it as it is.