Suffering through the Koran, Sura 47 'The Prophet'.

Any cult leader must convince the quivering mass that he is the chosen one. If they don't they soon succumb to either ostracism or death. When Moses went to Mount Sinai and came down with the divinely inspired message that he was not only a military and political leader, but also the spiritual representative of the highest power, he had given himself and his believers a divine mandate to crush dissension then brewing very quickly in the Hebrew ranks. Such a potent lesson would not have been lost on Mohammed. Islam pilfered Judeo-Christian liturgy and ideas for all of its supposed 'faith'. Unifying the command of the cult in the person of the military-political-spiritual leader as exampled by Moses, would have made a rather dark and poignant impression on the illiterate mind of Mohammed.

This chapter is little more than a rendition of previous exhortations which can be found throughout the Koran. There is no ethical program; no call to reason, no expression of tolerance. Just follow Allah and his so-named 'messenger'. If you don't you will roast in the fires of hell. How is this an expression of reasoned, intelligent faith? You will not find any of this discourse in the Torah or New Testament.

...while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode. [47:12]

Non-Muslims are barnyard animals – unfit even to be classified as humans. Muslims need to slaughter these cattle knowing that Allah has already pre-destined them for hellfire. If you don't kill them, you need to at least enslave them.

Therefore when you meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; at length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them) [47:4]

And if you die fighting in the name of Islam, there is a very good chance that you will be risen to the splendors of heaven replete with running water, endless food and wine and the requisite doe-eyed virgins.

(He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of Allah, -- He will never let their deeds be lost. [47:4]

Islam is not a theology of free-will or responsibility. It is fatalist. Allah will determine what happens to you. You are simply the knave of this great being. You better just join the cult and hope he takes pity on you.

That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe, but those who reject Allah have no protector. [47:11]

But those who reject (Allah), - for them is destruction, and (Allah) will render their deeds astray (from their mark) [47:8]

In any cult there is always especial concern to prevent defections. Nothing saps the strength of a movement like defections. To obstruct anyone leaving Islam, the Koran makes apostasy an act of evil, devil inspired, and likely to result in punishment including the replacement of Arabs as the holy warriors of Allah; with another people.

Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them, -- the Satan has instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes. [47:25]

If you turn back (from the Path), He will substitute in your stead another people; then they would not like you. [47:38]

Apostasy and any other crime cannot be covered up with covert methods. The moon deity is all-knowing. He sees every move, action and hears every thought. Any un-Islamic gesture, motion, or mental aberration is carefully recorded by the moon deity.

Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your fault, and for the men and women who believe: for Allah knows how you move about and how you dwell in your homes. [47:19]

It is as if there is a permanent web cam attached to your body, beaming back all deeds and actions to the man in the sky. There is no escape.

Most importantly for Mohammed of course, Allah has demanded that everyone follow his Messenger. Mohammed is not only the spiritual incarnation of Allah; he is also the political and military leader of the cult.

...resist the Messenger, after Guidance has been clearly shown to them, will not injure Allah in the least, but He will make their deeds of no effect. [47:32]

O you who believe ! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and do not make your deed vain! [47:33]

For Mohammed this is the whole point after all. He can't build an empire and enrich himself and his friends if followers don't submit whole-heartedly to the cult. Follow Mohammed and be saved ! He is the moon-guy's earthly representative. Kind of like a pre-modern Benny Hinn. Get close to Mohammed and you will get close to 'him', or 'it', or 'the thing'. Whatever Allah might have represented to untutored, illiterate and superstitious Arab minds.

According to Muslim liturgy, and this Sura, Mohammed who suffered a mental and nervous breakdown at age 40 is declared by the moon deity to be a 'prophet'. Of what exactly ? According to this chapter it seems that Mohammed is little more than a warrior, a racist, a hater of the infidel, and a man inspired by Allah or ali-ilah the Meccan male moon deity, to use force and coercion to 'convert' or convince people to follow the Islamic path. It sounds like madness more than 'religion'. But this is the Koran after all. Why should it make sense ? Islam was a political project for the benefit of one man and his brigand friends. Conflating that with religion is akin to declaring that 19^th century Shinto-based Japanese fascism was 'similar' to Christianity. It wasn't and neither is Islam in any of its forms.

[Note: This sura is taken from 'The Holy Quran', translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, reprinted in 1995, Goodword Books. Regarded as one of the best translations from Arabic to English of the Koran.]