"Ibn Warraq has hilariously argued that in the famous promise of seventy-two virgins to every Muslim martyr, 'virgins' is a mistranslation of 'white raisins of crystal clarity'. Now, if only that had been more widely known, how many innocent victims of suicide missions might have been saved? (Ibn Warraq, 'Virgins? What virgins?', Free Inquiry 26: 1, 2006, 45-6.)" -From Richard Dawkins The God Delusion
I've never really understood how Muslims can be fooled into martyrdom by the promise of seventy-two virgins awaiting them in heaven...
First, why kill yourself in the name of Allah. Secondly, why kill others in the name of Allah?! I know, I know, infidels and all that.
Also, suicide bombing? Don't you think that your 'god' would be somewhat more impressed if you killed so-called 'infidels' without sacrificing his 'chosen' ones? Perhaps Allah would be impressed if one were to use remote-control detonations since he, presumably, gave them brains to think with. (But I don't want to give them any more ideas...)
What I've really wondered is what's the draw about 72 virgins awaiting in heaven? Is it that they get to have sex with a virgin (which they probably are as well), which I think it has been proven, virgins aren't very good at sex. Regardless of that, assuming that sex with virgins is still the draw, what happens on the 73rd day in heaven? You've presumably deflowered the 72 virgins in your first 72 days in heaven, if not sooner, and now you're faced with an eternity of your own-seconds (which is unfortunate since your tastes are solely for virgins which is why you martyred yourself in the first place).
And, if Ibn Warraq is right, won't they be quite surprised to find their reward is, instead of 72 virgins, seventy-two white raisins.
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