Interesting observation. I think they are just observing us too though and not wishing to get in. If there is a dissenting voice among my coreligionists, and such dissent has some intellectual foundation, then I wish it could be heard....
I just finished reading up on advaita for today's class..and I dare ANY MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN OR JEW to prove to me that advaita is not monotheism in its essence.

While I don't wish to become part this intellectual discourse :-), I will point out that the early Makkans did believe that Allah (swt) was the supreme being and that all the idols they used were just mediums thru which to "get" to the supreme being. yet the Qur'an calls them polytheists ... is this not so?

quote:

Originally posted by limer:
While I don't wish to become part this intellectual discourse :-), I will point out that the early Makkans did believe that Allah (swt) was the supreme being and that all the idols they used were just mediums thru which to "get" to the supreme being. yet the Qur'an calls them polytheists ... is this not so?

No. I dont think that to them there was any symbolism involved. The actually felt they were actual representations..which is why the Quran asks why don't those things speak and act? Same goes for abraham's dad...