Can we distinguish between Islam and Christianity

Miscellaneous | November 23, 2001 | John J. Abele

[freebilly]

Just out of curiousity-- What, in your mind, is the single greatest benefit that Islam has over Christianity?

[P-Marlowe]

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
All that means to me is that He spoke the word of God.

If he spoke the word of God, then do you believe that Jesus is THE way, THE truth and THE life and that nobody can get to heaven but by HIM?

Jesus claimed to be the I AM, which means he claimed to be the one and only true God. Do you believe him? If not, then how can you claim that he spoke the word of God and yet not believe that He IS god?

[a_Turk]

Explain where in Islam Jesus Christ is called God. Then I'll believe Islam is in harmony with Christianity. But until then...

Islam accepts Jesus as the Messiah, and passes on his teachings.

Given that this teaching is the foundation of Christianity, and taught throughout the New Testament, those who claim Islam builds on the Bible have a rather high obstacle.

The core of Christianity, as I understand it is not the clothes He wore, but what he taught: The most important Commandment is really two: Love God, and Love your Neighbor.

[Kevin Curry]

I haven't read the Koran either, so I wouldn't make any sweeping judgements about Islam.

You don't have to drink an entire vat of poison to prove its foul nature.

The issue posed here is simple: is Islamic faith congruent with the Christian faith? There is no need to quibble over far-flung abstruse points of theology and doctrine to arrive at an answer. Simply find the absolute essence of Christian faith and evaluate it in light of the Koran.

The absolute essence of Christian faith is the belief and confession that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, that he was put to death on the cross and was resurrected three days later. His actual physical death and ressurection comprise the sign that Jesus Christ himself gave as proof of his divinity, nature, and the purpose of his ministry when he compared himself to Jonah. Deny these things and you deny Jesus Christ.

You may praise Jesus Christ as a great ethics teacher or as a great prophet, but if you deny these essential matters of faith you have merely praised a form of Godliness while denying the power thereof. It is that simple.

Islam denies these things. Islam is Anti-Christ. It is that simple.

[Khepera]

I saw the difference on September 11th

[FreeTally]

Ahh, the sole delusional member of the Cult of a_turk. Can you have a circle jerk with just two?

[Kevin Curry]

Islam accepts Jesus as the Messiah, and passes on his teachings.

No, it pays lip service to a form of Godliness and flat-out denies its Power.

First things first. Unless a Christian is fixed FIRST on the foundation of the divinity, the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as God, he cannot hope to properly understand or fulfill any other commandment given by Jesus Christ.

[OK]

knows more about history and religions than 95% of people on this board.

Knowing and understanding are two different issues. If Islam is not anti-Christ then what happens to anyone who wants to start a Christian church in Saudi Arabia? Jail? Death? What is the status of religious freedom for Coptic Christians in Egypt? Persecution. How about in the Islamic Republic of Iran?

Yes it is possible to be a loving person and be Islamic, however the tendency and reality of history shows that Islam is often intolerant and spreads itself by force.

[Patria One]

Have you ever considered a contrast between Abraham and Christ or Moses and Christ or between Abraham and Moses?

[Kevin Curry]

a_Turk knows more about history and religions than 95% of people on this board.

If you say so, it must be true.

Until he informs you of the Islamic position on homosexuality. Then you'll beat a hasty retreat.

[freebilly]

But how do YOU respond to Christ's own claims that he was The Son of God? How do YOU view his claim that no one comes to God except through the person of Jesus Christ?

Three possibilities--

1. He's telling the truth.

2. He's deluded and talking non-sense.

3. He's deliberately lying.

He's either telling the truth, telling a lie, or He's delusional-- which is it?

I'm interested in what kind of spin you'll be able to put on this.

[a_Turk]

Just out of curiousity-- What, in your mind, is the single greatest benefit that Islam has over Christianity?

Thanks for the question. I am not here to convince you that one is better than the other. That is an extremely personal thing. All I am interested in doing here and anywhere else is to bring to light the vast array of commonalities that exist.

In the end, the only thing that will bring you or me any benefit is our conscience, which should, if we are in touch with it, tell us if we are being kind to one another.

We must be kind to one another and spend some effort to really understand each other. Satan, if you will, exploits ignorance. We should not allow that.

[Patria One]

Do you have problems with Judiasm too?

[Patria One]

Islam treats homosexuality exactly the same way Christianity and Judaism treat it. Look it up.

[Kevin Curry]

What does Islam teach should be done to Muslims who proclaim that Jesus Christ is God, and who confess their faith in the belief that he was put to death on the cross and was resurrected three days later?

Quit avoiding the question. hog_waller says that you are a genius on matters of religion. This question should be a chip shot for you.

[a_Turk]

I'm interested in what kind of spin you'll be able to put on this.

The good books are written to speak to people of all levels of intelligence. Some will take things literally, while others will interpret. There are teachings at all levels in these books, I don't suggest one is better than the other. If believing that Jesus is God will make you a good person, then that's what works for you. My interpretation of "through Me" is "through my teaching." That's what works for me.

[Patria One]

Turk is correct, but you'd have to educate yourself to know that.