Sorry, Alex: Muslims adore a horrendously distorted notion and tragically incomplete vision of the one, true God. But contrary to claims that “Allah” is some sort of a moon God, it is a semitic word that has meant “god/God” since long before Mohammed came along. Yes, one can use “allah” to refer to a pagan god, just like I just used the word “god” to refer to a pagan god. But the Moon god of Mecca was Sin/Suen, and those pagans of Mecca were not monotheistic, so using “allah” to refer to Sin/Suen outside of Ur or Harran would be contextually improper.
“Why did Mohammed presume that the Arabs already knew who Allah was?”
Had Allah meant Sin/Suen, Mohammed would’ve had to suggest to those outside the Cult of Sin that Allah meant Sin, specifically, especially given that Allah is described in so many ways that contradict the depiction of Sin. But since “Allah” meant “the God,” all Mohammed needed to do was to assert the nature of God. OF COURSE, MOHAMMED’S DESCRIPTION OF GOD IS CONTRARY TO CHRISTIANITY. The same catechism from which paragraph 841 is taken contains many condemnations and descriptions of what it labels “indifferentism,” the notion that it doesn’t matter what doctrine one holds or what sect one belongs to.
Contrary to the common assertion that the Koran doesn’t explain who Allah is, he is repeatedly referred to as “the god of Abraham,” “the god of Mose,” “the god of the Christians,” and so forth.
Names of Allah in the Koran:
“Lord of Heaven and of Earth, God of Mercy”
“God of Mercy” (more than 50 times)
“God of Moses”
“God of the entire universe”
“God of all in Heaven on on Earth”
“God, Lord of the Heavens of Lord of the Earth”
Refutations of Sin from within the Koran:
“There is no God but me.”
“Your God is the one god.”
“Abraham was a leader in religion, obedient only to Allah”
“Thou follow the religion of Abraham, the sound in faith”
(Obviously Muslims believe incorrectly in what the religion of Abraham was, but plainly it was not that of the Moon God.)
“To you he has commanded the faith, which he gave to Noah, which we (the angels) have revealed to thee, and given commands to Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus.”
(Again, there heresy here is obvious; the point is that it is ridiculous to suggest that the Arabs believed Jesus worshipped the moon god.)
Your argument isn't with me - it's with the Catholic Church. Take it up with them.