4. CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

 

Abraham and Moses on whom Hebrewism is based, and Jesus Christ, on whose teachings Christianity is based, are also accepted as Major Prophets, Messengers of God, in Islam. One would presume, therefore, that there should be no conflict between Islam, Hebrewism and Christianity.

We will not consider Hebrewism separately from Christianity for the following reasons:-

1. The teachings of Jesus can also be found in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament and the Talmud.

2. Jesus was a Jew and his teachings were meant for the Jews. Jesus did not intend to produce a separate religion. According to his own words he had come not to abolish the Hebrew Law but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17).

3. The Christian Scriptures consists of the New Testament as well as the Old Testament on which Hebrewism is based. Christianity is, therefore, a more complete form of the teachings as found in Hebrewism.

 

Some documents have been discovered recently in the caves around Qumran which date to the times of Jesus or just before. These were probably written by members of the Essenes, a Jewish sect. John, the Baptist and Jesus may have belonged to this sect. The teachings in these documents appear to resemble those of Christianity.

There is, however, much in Hebrewism which is not in Christianity. It has a great amount of literature which deals with practical, social, ethical and philosophical problems. The main function of Hebrewism was to rescue and reform what had been valuable but corrupted in the Egyptian religion - Moses had learnt all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22) - carry the religious impulse down the ages and influence the rest of mankind through them. Much of this has been absorbed by, and become an integral part of, other religious systems. The Hebrews affected Greek and Persian Philosophy, as well as Christianity and Islam and in modern times, Capitalism and Socialism, the development of Economics, the Arts and Sciences to a much greater extent than any other group relative to their numbers.

A study of the New Testament shows that Jesus had come not only to correct and restore the original Hebrew teachings because the Jews had split into different sects and their teachings and practices had been corrupted, but also to introduce further developments. It is also evident that Christianity departed from the original teachings of Jesus when it was taken, by Paul, to the Gentiles (non-Jews), and that it, too, split into many sects. Sectarianism is the direct consequence of, firstly, applying human interpretations and the resulting argumentation, and, secondly, selecting and emphasising only parts, and different parts, of the teaching. One of the purposes of Islam was to restore the original teachings and to remove these discrepancies, but also to add still another dimension.

“And with those who say: Lo! We are Christians. We made a covenant with them, but they forgot a part of that whereof they were admonished. Therefore, We have stirred up enmity and hatred among them till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will inform them of their handiwork.” 5:14

 

 The Quran does not, however, attack Christianity. On the contrary, we read :

“And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (Muslims) those who say: Lo! We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.” 5: 82

One of the implications of this verse is that the Muslim has or ought to have the same relationship with mankind as the priests have with the rest of the Christian community (3:110).

Unlike the Quran which was written down as they were revealed to and spoken by the Prophet, the Christian Scriptures were written down much later after the death of Jesus by many different people. It is evident that the various accounts contain differences because of differences in purpose. If taken literally, many contradictions exist between the various versions. It is a mistake to suppose that the purpose of the Scriptures was to make a factual report of events. It was meant to appeal to the understanding of the Jews or people brought up under Greek and Roman culture, to convert them and to produce certain effects. The present New Testament, more over, is only a selection from these writings, made much later during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine, who used Christianity for Political purposes, to unite the Roman Empire. It consists of only four of many Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, several letters to disciples, and the highly symbolic Book of Revelations. Other writings can still be found in the Apocryphal New Testament, though some have been lost, and they create a different picture of Christianity. The Gospels deal with the life and mission of Jesus and there are a number of differences and even contradictions between them. The letters are mostly by Paul who was not one of the original Apostles, and we hear little from the other eleven Apostles. Paul used to persecute the disciples, never met Jesus, and was converted only later (Acts 9). He adapted and interpreted Christianity for the Gentiles, who were under Roman cultural influence. He tried to reconcile the Hebrew practical with the Greek philosophical way of thinking, but alienated both. It is he who placed the emphasis on the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, and this is still the central theme in Christianity today, and still divides the physical from the intellectual, and the literal from the symbolic.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Note, however, that he does not speak about Jesus, but Christ, and does not make Christ identical with God, but speaks of Christ as the power and wisdom of God. He has probably been misunderstood by his followers. It is Christ which is crucified, and if we examine the world it is perfectly true that the power and wisdom of God have been persecuted and suppressed, killed. No doubt that was the intention of those who persecuted Jesus. 

Paul had a difference of opinion with several of the Apostles, including Peter, on whom according to Jesus, the Church was to be based (Galatians 2, Matt 16:18). He says:-

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision (Gentiles) was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter. . . they gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. . . But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. . .Barnabas was also carried away with their dissimulation. . .But when I saw that they walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? . . . knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” Acts 2:7-16

Though the argument arose because Peter wanted new converts to be circumcised as this ceremony establishes the covenant between God and man (Genesis 17:9-11), it had other far reaching effects.

Ever since the mission of Paul, Christianity has been spread mostly among the gentiles and it has been adapting Christianity to their mentality. It incorporated Pagan teachings, institutions and practices. Thinking derived from Greek Philosophy, and Roman Law and administration have affected Church doctrines and practices over the centuries. The Trinity and the Divinity of Jesus are examples. Jesus did not create an organised church, a priesthood, or monasticism, nor did he advocate the worship of his mother Mary or of the statues of saints. The various vestiges of the clergy, the ceremonies they conduct and the festivals the church celebrates, such as Easter and Christmas, are all later additions, usually from Pagan sources. Much can be traced to Mithraism which was the faith of the Romans and to Buddhism. Modern Christianity began with the Roman Emperor Constantine who used it for political purposes, but because Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), he can be said to have abolished this version of Christianity before it began.

Jesus recognised the Mosaic teachings, but he purified them by removing the misinterpretation, deviations and malpractices which had entered into them, and then elaborated and adapted them further in accordance with the needs of the times. Muhammad did likewise with Christianity. Christians do not accept Muhammad, just as Jews do not accept Jesus, often because of irrational prejudices, habit, misunderstanding, or on the grounds that the teachings are inconsistent with each other. And yet some accept other later teachers such as Luther and Calvin. Muslims do not study the Christian Gospels because they consider these to have become corrupted since the time of Jesus. All this is a great pity because each could learn a great deal from the other and, thereby deepen their understanding of their own faith.

After the death of Jesus the religious movement he gave rise to split into two distinct branches:- That based on his teachings (TJ), which should be regarded as the real Christianity (RC). This was headed by James, the brother of Jesus who had been his companion since the beginning and became the first Bishop. This remained faithful to the Jewish Law, but was opposed and persecuted by both Jews and Gentiles and then became a secret or esoteric organisation. This is most probably referred to in the Book of Revelations chapter 12 which speaks of Religion giving birth to a child (Prophet) “who was to rule all nations”, but owing to the persecution by Satan, fled into the wilderness for “a time, times and a half time”. However, traces of its teaching are still to be found scattered in the New Testament Gospels and in the letters of James and Jude. Islam is a continuation and restoration of this Religion.

The other branch is “About Jesus” (AJ) and can be regarded as corrupted Christianity (CC). It was led by Paul who had never met Jesus. This established itself in Rome, and absorbed some of the elements and legends of the Mithra and other pagan religions prevalent in the Roman Empire and was made into its official religion by the Emperor Constantine. In order to establish unity through standardisation all other religions and versions of Christianity were regarded as heretical and suppressed. The standard New Testament, compiled under this regime, is a selection, biased in favour of Paul’s teachings, from a much greater variety of Christian literature most of which has disappeared, but fragments of which have come to light recently.

It can be shown from the present Christian Scriptures themselves that the fundamental teachings of Jesus do not differ from those of Moses or Muhammad, but that modern day Christianity has departed from these teachings.

Human beings can be divided, according to their faculties, into three main aspects, the intellectual, the emotional and the motor (thought, feeling and action. The three impulses of faith, love and hope are connected with these. Though each of the religions deals with all three, there is a difference of emphasis and direction of development between the three.

The Hebrew religion as found in the Old Testament place its emphasis on the Justice of God (He rewards and punishes), hope in the efficacy of practices and rituals and the worldly benefits to be obtained by following the religious Law. (Genesis 12:1-3, 17:4-5, and Leviticus).

 

A study of the New Testament shows that Jesus found many Jews adhering to the letter of the law but ignoring its spirit. He called them hypocrites. Christianity, therefore, emphasises the Compassion of God, concerns itself mainly with love and intentions and with inner salvation.

“For these things (worldly goods) do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you have need of these things. But rather seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Luke 12:30-31

“Neither shall they say , Lo here! or Lo there! for behold, the Kingdom of god is within you.” Luke 17:21

It is evident, however, that another kind of inner hypocrisy or self deception arose in that people began to attribute the most noble motives and intentions to themselves for the vilest of actions. The inner life was also regarded as private, subjective and unreal. Islam, therefore, places a great amount of emphasis on the Truth, hence on faith and the development of awareness, understanding and knowledge, and the greater benefits in the Hereafter where the inner life is objectified.

Many people have erroneously supposed that God as described in the Old Testament is a severe God, whereas God as described in the New Testament is a loving and compassionate God. In fact, however, many verses can be quoted from both Testaments to show that He is both, though there is a difference in emphasis. God as described in the Quran, which has been called the Third or Final Testament, is both a God of Justice, who administers reward and punishment and a God of compassion and mercy. But added to this He is a God of truth, knowledge and wisdom and of great Beauty and Harmony. These qualities are also mentioned in the other Testaments, but not prominently. There is, therefore, a definite progression.

This difference in emphasis must be kept in mind in order to understand the differences in doctrine and practice.

The main teachings of Jesus are given in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 to 7). Many of them are to be found also in the Quran and the Hadith. Christianity may be said to be based on the following principle:-

“Jesus said unto him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all law and prophets.” Matt 22:37-40

This is also a principle in Hebrewism. (Deut. 6:5 and Levit. 19:18). In essence, though formulated differently, it is also fundamental to Islam. It is included in the notion of Surrender.

“Say: Lo! My worship and my sacrifice, and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds.” 6:163

 

The gist of the Christian teaching can be summarised thus:-

Adam, a son of God (Luke 3:38), by his sin of rebellion against God, brought suffering and spiritual death to mankind. God loved mankind so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, one containing His Spirit, to save them (John 3:16-17). Human beings, must accept him through love, that is, they must incorporate him within their life. Thus the divine spirit enters into them and causes their spiritual rebirth and resurrection. This also develops in them love for each other.

This is a wholly self-consistent system of thought. Since the sin spoken of is so fundamental and serious that it came into the world by one son, the originator of mankind, it could only be removed by another. Both Adam and Jesus are called Sons of God because they were born without human fathers and were created and informed by the divine spirit. This condition, where the divine spirit is active in a man, is called Prophethood in Islam (40:15, 2:87). But note the following verse which indicates that the difference is not real but merely a verbal one. It is recognised that both are men.

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:21-22

 

The Quran agrees with Christian teachings in the following:-

That Jesus was a Messenger from Allah (3:49, 19:30), received the Holy Spirit (2:87, 2:254, 5:110), was a Word of God (3:45, 4:171), was born of a virgin (3:48, 19:20-22), came in fulfilment of the Old Testament (3:50, 5:46, 61:6), did many miracles (3:49, 5:110), appeared to have been crucified (4:157), and that he taught the unity and supremacy of Allah (3:52, 5:117, 19:36, 43:64), is the sign of Resurrection (43:61).

The Quran contradicts the Christian teachings as follows:-

That he was not God (5:17, 72,73), nor the son of God (9:19); that there are not three gods forming a trinity (4:171); that Jesus was not crucified by the Jews and did not die on the Cross (2:72, 4:157, 5:110); that salvation is not possible by belief alone (17:15), nor that it is only possible exclusively through Jesus (5:69).

“O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter anything concerning Allah but the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a Messenger of Allah, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers, and say not ‘Three’ - Cease! It is better for you. Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in heaven and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.” Quran 4:171

“Allah did in the past make a covenant with the children of Israel, and raised up among them twelve chiefs; and Allah said, "Verily, I am with you, if you be steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and believe in My Messengers, and assist them, and lend to Allah a goodly loan; then will I remit from you your offences and make you enter gardens beneath which rivers flow: and whoever disbelieves after that, he hath erred from the Even Way (The Path of Rectitude). And because they broke their covenant, We cursed them, and placed hardness in their heart. They perverted the words from their contexts, and forgot a portion of what they were admonished. you will not cease to find treachery from all, save a few of them; but pardon them and bear with them (tolerate or ignore their perversity); verily, Allah loves the kind.  And of those who say: Verily we are Christians, We have (also) taken a covenant; but they have forgotten a goodly portion of the message; wherefore have We excited amongst them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection, when Allah will inform them of what they have done.  O you people of the Book! Now has Our Messenger come to you to expound unto you much of what you used to hide in the Book, and forgiving (or abolishing) much. Now has come unto you light from Allah, and a perspicuous Book - Allah guides thereby those who seek His pleasure, to the way of peace, and leads them out of darkness into light by His decree, and guides them unto a Straight Way.” Quran 5:12-16

Christianity, as already mentioned, added a new dimension to Hebrewism in that the religion brought by Moses was based on Law and, therefore, on Justice and ritual whereas the religion of Jesus was based on Love and, therefore on motives and feelings. Islam adds another dimension to Religion, namely knowledge and awareness. Islam is the religion of Truth. (Quran 9:29, 33, 48:28 and 61:9). A person is judged, that is, his salvation or development, depends on correct actions based on correct motives that are based on correct knowledge. The coming of the Religion of Truth was forecast by Jesus in John 16:12-14 and before that by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:18. This is not accepted by Christians.

It cannot be pretended that these are not serious differences. To say that Jesus is literally the son of God implies that God is a creature like man, reproducing like him. The whole of present day Christianity rests almost entirely on the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, rather than on his teachings.

 In order to show that there are no great differences between the original teachings of Christianity and Islam we will take those doctrines of present day Christianity which differ from the Islamic position, and quote the New Testament to settle the difference. While many Christians believe these Christian doctrines literally, many find them unacceptable and have, therefore, abandoned Christianity. Others, including Priests understand them symbolically.

However, this is not an exercise in disputation. We are concerned only with how these verses are interprets in Islam. The reader may find this interpretation more reasonable.

“ Argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in a way that is better, save with such of them as do wrong: and say : We believe in that which has been revealed unto us and revealed unto you: Our God and your God is One, and unto Him have we surrendered.” 29:46

“ Say: I believe in whatever Scripture Allah hath sent down, and I am commanded to be just among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Unto us our works and unto you your works, no argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and unto Him is the journeying.” 42:15

“Those unto whom We have given the Scriptures, who read it with the right reading, those believe in it.” 2:121

“Unto each nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not dispute with thee of the matter, but summon thou unto thy Lord.” 22:67

 

1. Does Religion depend on blind faith ?

“And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

“Quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesying, prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess 5:19-21

“ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?... Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: The devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:14-20

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Conclusion:- Religion does not depend on blind faith. However, it does not depend on unaided reason either, but requires a transformation of the mind, the cultivation of greater capacities for understanding.

2. Who is God ?

“God is Spirit; and they that worship him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.”” John 4:23

“And they changed the Glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man.” Romans 1:23

“No man hath seen God at any time; the Only Begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him.” John 1:18

Conclusion:- God himself is un-manifest, but He manifests himself through His Spirit. Note that while Jesus was on earth the Only Begotten was in the bosom of the Father.

3. Was Jesus God?

“There is but one God, the Father.” 1 Cor. 8:6

“And Jesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? There is none good, save one, that is God.” Luke 18:19

“Therefore the Jews sought to kill him, because not only had he broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do.” John 5:19

“We have one Father, even God.” John 14:28

“I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and unto my God and your God.” John 20:17

“(Jesus said on the Cross) My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me.” Mark 15:34

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus. “1 Tim 2:5

“(Jesus prayed :) And this is Eternal Life, that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3

“..Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man has seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Tim. 6:15-16

“But in vain do they worship me (Jesus), teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt 15:9

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:21-22

Conclusion:- Jesus was a man and not God. The word Father was used in a special sense, namely, as the Creator of all things, and in particular the source of the Spirit. Jesus did not in fact say that he was the son of God.

The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:-

“I am Ahmad without the M; I am an Arab without the A.”

If we take away the A and the M which represent the beginning and the end, and therefore, refer to temporal phenomena, we are left with Ahad (Unity) and Rab (Lord). In other words, if you remove all the limitations of his worldly existence then there is only Allah. Remove the body and its striving and ambitions then there is only the Spirit. This is perfect surrender. The point is that because of his surrender Muhammad is identified with Allah. Or to put it another way, a prophet is one in whom the divine spirit is active, and through whom God speaks, and he can, therefore, be taken as representing God. The same applies to Jesus, for he, too, according to his own words surrendered, to God. He was a perfect Muslim. To say that Jesus was God is a misunderstanding of this.

The Prophet Muhammad clarifies the situation still further:-

“Allah the Exalted says: I challenge to battle him who bears enmity towards a friend of Mine. When a servant of Mine seeks nearness to Me, with that which I love out of whatever I have prescribed, then I begin to love him. And when I love him, I become his ears with which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks; and when he begs Me for anything I bestow it upon him; and when he seeks shelter with Me, I give him shelter.”

The following verse, sometimes taken as evidence that Jesus is God, should also be understood in the same way. If it is not understood in this way then the verse quoted after it would indicate that Jesus contradicts himself or that the New Testament is not an accurate report. The reader can take his choice.

“Jesus said unto him (Philip)..he that has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

“Ye have neither heard His (God’s) voice at any time, nor seen His shape.” John 5:37

Jesus, as all other Prophets, should be regarded as ‘God on earth’ not in the sense that they are identical with, God, but that they represent God to man, and speak for Him. He was known as Emmanuel, meaning “God with us”, not God Himself.

The Quran tells us:-

“Lo! Those who seek to make a distinction between Allah and His Messengers...such are disbelievers in truth.” 4:150

There are three objections to the idea that Jesus is God:-

(a) It trivialises the idea of God. The idea that a man is God could only have arisen when it was not realised how vast and complex the Universe really is, and how comparatively insignificant this planet and the creatures on it are. This idea, therefore, restricts human consciousness by creating a superstition. The idea derives from and propagates anthropomorphism and anthropocentricity both of which are connected with human conceit.

(b) If God is identified with Jesus, a particular person accepted only by a section of the human population, then we have intolerance and conflict. It is not, therefore, surprising that Christians have persecuted all other faiths. This is regarded as a right, since they alone speak and act for the Lord of the Universe. The unity of mankind cannot be based on such an idea. In order, then, to retain unity, peace and cooperation, it became necessary to curb the power and hold of church and religion. The idea contains the seeds of its destruction. 

(c) The main reason why Islam denies the divinity of Jesus and insists that the Prophet is a man is to focus attention on the teachings rather than on the person as has, to a large extent, become the case in Christianity. Christianity is mainly about Jesus, not about his teachings. The book, the Quran, therefore, holds greater importance in Islam.

4. Was Jesus an incarnation of God ?

“(Jesus said:) I have manifested Thy name unto men which Thou gavest me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them me; and they have kept Thy Word.” John 17:6

“Sanctify them through Thy Truth; Thy Word is Truth.” John 17:17

“I have given them Thy Word.” John 17:14

“I came forth from the Father, and am come into the World. Again, I leave the World, and go to the Father.” John 16:28

“And now, O Father, glorify Thou me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the World was.” John 17:5

Conclusion:- Jesus was not an incarnation of God but manifested the existence and nature of God. However, we are dealing with words which have different connotations for different people. The Islamic view is that he was a revelation of God.

“Then We sent unto her (Mary) Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. She said: How can I have a son when no mortal has touched me, neither have I been unchaste? He said: So it will be. They Lord said: It is easy for Me. It will be that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.” 19:17- 21

“We supported him with the Holy Spirit.” 2:253 and 5:110

The Hindus, too, believe that God incarnates as a man, the Avatar, from time to time. The Avatar, however, is not an incarnation of Brahma, the supreme God, but of Vishnu who is regarded as the creative aspect of Brahma. This is not different from the Islamic doctrine that God sends Messengers and Prophets to the world from time to time. The Messenger is one in whom the Spirit of God is particularly active. The word Incarnation may thus be understood as referring to the residence of the Spirit in the body. However all men have the Spirit of God in them though it lies dormant in most. The purpose of the Messenger is to activate this dormant Spirit. And this quickening or activation is what in Christian terminology is referred to by the word “Son”.  

5. Is God a Trinity ?

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is One.” Galatians 3:20

“But to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him.” 1Cor 8:6

“And this is Eternal Life, that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3

“Jesus said unto her: Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say unto them: I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God and your God.” John 20:17

“We have one Father, even God.” John 8:41

”And Jesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is God.” Luke 18:18

“Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 28:30

Conclusion:- God is not a Trinity. However, Religion or the Divine World is presented to us by means of a Triad, namely God, Spirit and the Prophet. The Prophet knows about God because the Spirit has informed him so, and other human beings know about God because the Prophet has told them so and because they can see it in his life and behaviour. The possibility of accepting this and of development also depends on the spirit within. The three are not collectively God. There is, however, a continuity. The Spirit emanates from God, as the rays of light emanate from the Sun, and this Spirit enters into the Messenger, as the rays of the sun form an image in the mirror. But, neither the Spirit, much less the Image, is independent of God, and cannot be called God.

It is, however, legitimate to say that God is in something if His Spirit is in it, or to say God has done something if he does it through His Spirit or His Messenger. This is no different from saying I have done it though it was my hand that did it. The Quran says:-

 “So believe in Allah and His Messengers, and say not ‘THREE’’ - Cease! It is better for you! - Allah is only one God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth.”

“They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three, when there is no God save One God.” 5:73

 It does not denounce the Trinitarian idea as such, since it implies a Unity having three aspects, but does deny that there are three gods or that God is one of three.

The Trinitarian doctrine was invented by Athanasius of Alexandria and accepted by the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325. The doctrine seems to have been taken from the Romans, perhaps for Political reasons, in order to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire. It appears to have given rise to certain spurious verses which used to be included in 1 John 5 as verses 7 and 8. These are now excluded from all but the Catholic version.

6. What relationship did Jesus have to God?

“The Father is in me, and I in Him.” John 10:38

“Behold the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21

“And this is Eternal Life, that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3

“I can of myself do nothing: As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.” John 5:30-31

“I do nothing of myself, but as the Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And He that sent me is with me. The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.” John 8:28-29

“For Moses truly said unto the fathers: A Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you of your own brethren, like unto me: him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul, which shall not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yes, and all the Prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold these days (of Jesus).” Acts 3:22-24

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 1:8

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city in Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:26-27

Conclusion:- Jesus was a Prophet sent by God in fulfillment of an Old Testament Prophecy. He had surrendered to God. Note also that the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel.

7. What was the mission of Jesus?

“For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the Will of Him that sent me.” John 6:38

“I come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

“Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that hears my words and believes on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come unto condemnation; but is passed from death into life.” John 5:24

“For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matt 9:13

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name.” John 17:12

Conclusion:- The mission of Jesus was to turn men towards God not himself, as has become the case. When Jesus says that he came down from heaven, does this imply that he thought he was God? Not at all as we can see from his words. He was speaking of the origin of his spirit. We all come down from heaven spiritually.

8. What is meant by “Son of God” ?

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

“But as many as received him (the Word) to them gave He power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believed on His name which were born, not of the blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

“Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Cor 3:16

“They which are the children of the flesh they are not the children of God.” Romans 9:8

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.” 1 Peter 1:23

“Verily, verily, I say unto you: except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” John 3:5-6

“The Jews answered him (Jesus) saying: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, because thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: I said, ye are gods? (Psalm 82:6) If he called them gods, unto whom the Word of God came, and the scriptures cannot be broken; say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world: Thou blasphemest, because I said ‘I am the son of God’? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in Him.” John 10:33-38

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you ....That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:44-45

“... the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Luke 3:38

Conclusion:- The phrase “Son of God” is used symbolically. It does not refer to a physical birth but to a psychological regeneration occurring when the Seed or Spirit of God enters into man. This phrase was used to refer to many others besides Jesus, including Adam (Luke 3:38). The idea that men can be sons of God can be found throughout the Bible. (See Exodus 4:22, 2 Samuel 7:13-14, 1 Chronicles 22:10, Jeremiah 31:9, Psalms 2:7). The Egyptian and Roman Emperors used to be called the Sons of their gods, and the early Christians imitated the terminology. (Quran 9:30) Jesus called himself ‘Son of Man’. The term ‘Father’ was used by Jesus to refer to the relationship of man with God in a spiritual sense, and it did not apply only to Jesus as the Lords prayer shows.

“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name...” Matt 6:9

“And call no man your Father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” Matt 23:9

The implication is that we should give priority to our spiritual origin rather than our physical one.

The Quran denies that God has a son, but only in the literal sense.

“The Originator of the heavens and the earth, how can He have a child, when there is for Him no consort, when He created all things and is Aware of all things.” 6:101

In Mark 1:1 we read, "The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus, the Son of God." But a foot note tells us that some ancient authorities omit "Son of God". The New World Translation omits it. In the Acts of the Apostles, King James Version we find the sentence "And Philip said: if thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God" Acts 8:37. This verse has been deleted from many copies of the bible including the New International Version, so that it jumps from verse 36 to 38. Early Christians did not understand the phrase literally but in the Jewish sense.

9. When did Jesus become the “Son of God” ?

“John answered them saying: I baptise with water, but there standeth among you one whom ye know not. He it is who coming after me, is preferred before me.” John 1:26-27

“And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him (Jesus), and a voice came from heaven which said: Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age.” Luke 3:22-23

“But He that sent me to baptise with water, the same said unto me: upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptises with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bear record that this is the ‘Son of God.” John 1:33-34

“Therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the ‘Son of God” “ Luke 1:35 Note:- The text does not say ‘will be’ but ‘shall be called’.

“Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the ‘Son of God’ with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4

Conclusion:- Jesus became a Prophet of God, the Son, when he was thirty years old. That is when his mission began. The phrase “Son of God” has obviously been misunderstood badly in some quarters. However, as he was promised through the Holy Spirit to Mary a virgin, Jesus can be regarded as a “Son o God” from his conception. Islam denies the literal use of phrase and because of the misunderstanding uses the phrase “Servant of God” instead.

10. Was Jesus the “only begotten Son of God” ?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “John 1:1

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14         

“Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise: When his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 1:18

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7

“... Seth was the son of Adam which was the son of God.” Luke 3:38

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1Cor 15:21-22

 

Conclusion:- The end of John 1:1 should read "the Word was God's." Otherwise, "the Word was with God" does not make sense - he could not be both something and with it. Nor does "In the beginning was the Word" refer to God, because God is described as Eternal, "without beginning or end".

John 1:14 says: "We beheld his glory AS OF the only begotten of the Father." It does not say "the glory of." The only begotten refers to the Word of God, not God. The "Word was made flesh" is like saying " the policeman is the Law made flesh". Jesus was not the “only begotten” of God, but “like the only begotten”.

11. Was Jesus the Holy Ghost?

“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10

“(Jesus said) He shall give you another Comforter... even the Spirit of Truth.” John 14:16-17

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused of Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 1:18

“And the angel (Gabriel) said unto her (Mary), the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God” Luke 1:35

Conclusion:- The Holy Ghost or Divine Spirit is sometimes identified with Gabriel. Gabriel only conveyed the message. Note the words ‘shall be called the son of God’ not ‘ is the son of God’ . The Holy Spirit is the Creative Word of God or Logos by which all things are created. (John 1:1 and Quran 2:117). The Quran says-:

“ The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His Word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His Messengers, and say not ‘Three’ - Cease, it is better for you - Allah is only one God. Far be it from His transcendent majesty that he should have a son.” 4:171

This verse, while affirming that Jesus is distinct from God as a creation, also denies that there is a distinction of purpose between God, His Spirit and his Prophet.        This is made clear also in the following:-

“Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah.” 4:80

“ Lo! Those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, and seek to make distinctions between Allah and His Messengers, and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and seek to choose a way between - such are disbelivers in truth; and for disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom.” 4:150-151

12. To whom was Jesus sent?

“But he (Jesus) answered and said: I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matt 15:24       

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying: Go not into the way of the Gentile, and into any City of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matt 10:6

But appearing after his death and resurrection, Jesus is reported to have said:

 “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt 28:19

Conclusion:- Jesus saw his mission as being limited to the Hebrews, though he sent his Apostles to teach further afield. The Christian Church, it is said, was to be based on the Apostle Peter.

“He (Jesus) said unto them (the Apostles), but whom say ye that I am. And Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him: Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven. And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matt 16:18-19

The Catholic Church claims Apostolic Succession for the Popes from Peter who is said to have established the Church in Rome. Therefore, the whole of the authority for doctrine, institutions as well as practices rests in the Church of Rome. However, it cannot be denied by even Catholics that some of their Popes were thoroughly corrupt people spiritually and morally. Succession has only a biological, social or spiritual meaning. In religion it can only have a spiritual meaning. Others claim that what Jesus really meant was that the church would be based on the faith displayed by Simon Barjonah, later titled Peter. There is a play on the word ‘Petra’ which means ‘rock’. Note also that though Jesus did not verbally claim to be the ‘son of God’ he does admit it here. No doubt this refers to the Spirit within him since it is a revelation. Peter had a vision which he interpreted as a justification for taking Christianity to the Gentiles. (Acts 10). He concludes:-

“Of a truth I perceive, that God is no respecter of person: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34-35

Note that God, not Jesus, is mentioned. Later when he preached to the Gentiles:-

“And they of the circumcision (Jews) which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:45

13. Were the teachings of Jesus his own ?

“Holy Father, keep through Thine Own Name those whom Thou hast given me, that they might be one as we are one. While I was with them in the World, I kept them in Thy name.” John 17:11-12

“The words I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwells in me, He doeth the works.” John 14:10

“My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.” John 7:16

“I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me gave me commandments what I should say and what I should speak.” John 12:49

“And the glory which Thou gavest me I have given them that they may also be one with Thee as We are one.” John 17:22

“Jesus said unto him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Matt 22:37-39

“If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him.... He that loves me not keeps not my sayings; and the words which you hear are not mine, but the Father’s who sent me” John 14:23-24

Conclusion:- The religion as taught by Jesus was centered on God alone, and not around Jesus as it has now become. This religion ought to be called Submission to God rather than Christianity. Jesus himself, as the Quran points out, was an example of such Submission, which is, of course, the meaning of the word Islam. The acceptance of Jesus implies following his teachings. The idea that a person merely needs to believe that Jesus is the son of God and this will ensure his salvation is false.

14. Did Jesus die on the Cross and was he resurrected afterwards?

 “Pilate said unto him: Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered: Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” John 19:10-11

“(Jesus) fell on his face, and prayed, saying : O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matt 26:39

“(Jesus said to Mary, after he had been taken down from the cross and laid in a sepulcher from which he emerged) “Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended unto my Father.”” John 20:17.

(Later) “As they (the Apostles) spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them... but they were terrified and afrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit... and he said unto them...Behold my hands and my feet that it is myself: handle me , and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” Luke 24: 36-39

(Certain Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection, and he answered) “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection... for He is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto Him.” Luke 20:34-38

“(Jesus said:)..and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” John 10: 15- 18

“Therefore does my Father love me because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No man takes it from me but I lay it down myself.” John 10:17-18

Conclusion:- The fact is that Jesus was found to be alive after his crucifixion, though the soldiers thought that he was dead and took him down. They were mistaken about this because when one of them pierced him with his spear blood flowed from the wound (John 19:34) which does not happen when a person is dead and his heart is not pumping. Resurrection, as Jesus taught, is spiritual in nature, but Jesus was obviously physically alive. Others, too, have died and been revived. The word ‘death’ could be defined as excluding the possibility of revival, or to include it, in which case there is apparent death. Or it could even refer to transformation as when a seed dies to produce a plant, or when something disappears in one place to appear elsewhere. As Jesus himself said he had to go elsewhere to teach other peoples also (John 10:16). The verses in Mark 16:9 to 20 which refer to the resurrection of Jesus are not regarded as genuine by many scholars and have been dropped from some versions of the Bible. There is some historical evidence that Jesus went to India. A community in Kashmere, North India, claims descent from him.

We read in Matthew 12:39-40 that no sign will be given to the generation of Jesus but that of Jonah. “for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale‘s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The fact is that Jonah was alive in the belly of the whale, not dead. Jesus was placed in the tomb but we read that he was there only between Friday night (Mark 15:42) and Sunday morning (Mark 16:9). This makes one day and two nights - the prophecy was not fulfilled.

 

The Quran states:

“Nay, but Allah hath set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not, save a few.... because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, Allah’s messenger - They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them: and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof: they have no knowledge thereof but pursue conjecture: they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself..” 4:155, 157

The Jews claimed to have crucified Jesus, and indeed, they have been persecuted by Christians over the centuries because of this. But as Jesus points out, and the Gospel narrative confirms, the whole drama was pre-ordained by God and it was Jesus who accepted his role in it. It is not the Jews who killed him but it was Jesus who sacrificed himself. The Quran merely denies that the Jews or Romans were responsible.

People can be forgiven for believing something which appears to be true. Why then, we may ask, does the Quran make an issue out of it? The reason for this seems to be that Christians have, in this and the other doctrines that support each other, made Jesus himself the object of worship and based their religion on miracles rather than on the message of Jesus. This is thoroughly un-Islamic. It is idolatry. They have also vulgarized and reduced the doctrine of resurrection to a superstition, by cultivating the idea of a return in the flesh to this world. It is the Apostle, Paul, who had never met Jesus, who is responsible for the centralization of the Resurrection story in Christianity (1 Cor 1:23). But even he was misunderstood since he speaks of Christ, the power and wisdom of God, rather than the man Jesus.

 But even he speaks about spiritual resurrection.

“There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another....It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body....flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. 15: 40, 44, 50

After the apparent death of Jesus and the disappearance of his body his followers fell into despair. The danger was that they would lose their faith and the religion would die out, making Jesus’ mission futile. Resurrection could be regarded as the revival of faith and the regeneration of the followers. This is probably the purpose of the story. It should be stated that spiritually speaking the physical facts of the case are then quite irrelevant. What counts is whether or not such a revival of faith takes place. Indeed, many Christians are beginning to see this.

In a similar situation after the death of Muhammad one of his companions, Abu Bakr, in order to dispel the general dismay that arose among Muslims, uttered the following words:-

“O people! lo! As for him who used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. but as for him who used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and dieth not.”

He then recited from the Quran:-

“And Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers the like of whom have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dies or is slain, ye will turn back on your heels? He who turns back doth no harm to Allah, but Allah will reward the thankful.” 3:144

This episode caused the difference between Islam and Christianity. No doubt the Prophet Muhammad learnt from the mistake in Christianity and took proper precautions to avoid a repetition. But a proper understanding of what is implied should remove these differences.

However, the Quran agrees that Jesus ascended to heaven:-

“(And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will all return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein you used to differ.” 3:55

The verse does not affirm the Christian position that the Resurrection of Jesus brought about or caused the possibility of Resurrection for mankind, but that his ascent is a demonstration or proof that man will return to God to be judged.

The resurrection story of Jesus is found in the Gospel of Luke which is known to have been based on that of Mark, not on research or personal experience, but there is no mention of this story in Mark’s Gospel. It cannot, therefore, be regarded as a historical fact but a myth which either arose as other myths arise or created for a purpose. The popularity of Christianity is based not on truth but on the consolation which the death and resurrection of Jesus offers the bereaved.          

15. What is the purpose of Religion ?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“Jesus said unto her: I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet he shall live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” John 11:25,26

“And this is Eternal Life that they might know Thee, the only True God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt 25:34

“For these things (worldly goods) do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you have need of these things. But rather seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Luke 12:30-31

“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say: Lo here, or lo there. For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.... And they shall say to you: See here, or see there, go not after them, nor follow them.” Luke 17:20-23

“Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is Perfect.” Matt 5:48

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

“He that findeth his life (worldly) shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.” Matt 10:39

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves can not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt 6:19-21

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (i.e. divide your life between the demands of the worldly and the spiritual.)

Conclusion:- The purpose of religion is inner spiritual development. Sin causes spiritual death. The mission of Jesus, as with other true Prophets, was to bring about spiritual resurrection. Thus, there is good justification for making Resurrection the central theme of Christianity, but only if it is understood correctly. In so far as we are physical beings we must, of course, all die. The teaching is about self-realization, regaining contact with the Spirit within us. These definitions give the story about the death and resurrection of Jesus a different meaning. The first verse quoted above is used by Christians to justify their belief that Jesus is the literal and only son of God. But we already know what the phrase “Son of God” means. The “only begotten”, therefore, refers to the Spirit of God which of course informs all Prophets and also guides others. God’s love, as the Quran repeatedly confirms, lies in this that he has sent the Prophets with guidance for mankind.

16. Why is Jesus to be accepted ?

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works.” John 10:37-38

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. From henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7

Conclusion:- Jesus manifests and is the proof of God. He is not to be followed because of himself, but because of what he brings. Those who cannot understand an invisible and abstract God have a representative of Him in Jesus in so far as the Divine Spirit is within him and acts through him. Since death and resurrection are defined in the spiritual sense and Jesus embodies this, accepting, internalizing him, is to achieve death to worldly life and spiritual resurrection.

“Know ye not , that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in newness of life..... knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Rom 6:3-7.

However, to identify God with Jesus is certainly to limit Him, hence the concept of Allah is not the same as the God of the Christian, but is the same as the God of Jesus.

17. Does acceptance of Jesus alone lead to salvation ?

“Not everyone that saith unto me: Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the Will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 7:21

“Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vein man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19-20

“If ye love me keep my commandments.” John 14:15

“Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7

Conclusion:- It follows that mere intellectual belief is worthless. It is not obedience to Jesus which counts. It is not the suffering of Jesus which saves, but works according to the commandments of God. There are three levels to the religious life - adherence to the Law, Faith, and Identification or complete surrender. Most Christians believe that they are no longer under the Law as the Jews were, because they are now under Grace having accepted the sacrifice of Jesus through faith. Faith, Love and Hope are connected and replaces law. Identification or Surrender refer to Jesus. And they need only attach themselves to Jesus to return to God. They justify this not by the words of Jesus, but those of Paul. But let us look at these words.

“But God commends his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if , when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life....For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law...Therefore as by offence of one judgment (i.e. Adam) came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life....Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound But where sin abounds, grace did much more abound. That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord....Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him...For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he lived, he lives unto God....For sin shall not have dominion over you; for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Romans chapters 5 and 6.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Rom 6:23

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said: Thou shalt not covet...For I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. For that which I do I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate that do I....For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:7-23

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh....For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith, but after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for righteous men, but for the lawless and disobedient.” Timothy 1:9

Though the argument is somewhat complex, what Paul is telling us here is not very different from the Islamic position. It is not that the Law should not exist since we are all sinners and need standards, but that by itself it has no transforming effect, and that it is not the action but the motives behind it which are to be judged. It is the spirit which transforms him and this is a gift of God. He bestows it on whom He will. Law creates inner conflicts between lower selfish desires and the moral standards. Those, however, who have faith, love and hope and behave accordingly, will conform to the law quite naturally without such inner conflicts. It sets them free. They do not need the law to tell them to behave in this way. Indeed, they will be able to do greater good rather than merely being prevented from doing evil. He is presuming, of course, that those who accept Jesus will have done so because they have been given this love by the grace of God. This leaves out all those who have received no such Grace, those who deceive themselves, have wishful fantasies or merely claim to be Christians. The Islamic position, however, differs from this in the following respects:-

(a) True acceptance is surrender and is not merely verbal or sentimental. People accept a religion from a great many motives, psychological, political, social or commercial. Grace is certainly a gift of God and cannot be obtained by such means. It can hardly be said that the various religious conflicts and the works of the Inquisition were inspired by love.

(b) The inspiration can be provided through any genuine prophet or teacher who is inspired by God and devotes his life to the service of God. He sacrifices his worldly life. It does not have to be only Jesus. Indeed, Christianity itself spread through the teachings of other persons.

(c) The divine law provides a discipline which modifies behaviour and creates suitable social conditions which can eventually transform people. The impulses of faith, love and hope are potentialities in man which need only correct conditions to emerge. Man was made perfect. The fall of man refers to the suppression of these impulses. However, faith, love and hope are spiritual qualities and, therefore, come from God just as the Law does. They cannot be created by man. He can only make himself receptive.

18. Is salvation only possible for Jews and Christians ?

“Jesus said unto him: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then: Show us the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works sake.” John 14:9-11

“Verily, verily, I say unto you: He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep... I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door, by me if any man enters in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and shall find pasture.” John 10:1-9

“And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10 also Matt 12:31

“But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man, save the Spirit of man which is in him. Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.” Romans 2:10-11

“But as many as receive him (The Word) to them gave He the power to become the ‘Sons of God.” John 1:12

“And I (Jesus) say unto you that many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt 8:11-12

“But in every nation he that fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:35

“Not as though the word of God has taken none affect. For they are not all Israel which are of Israel. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is: they which are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God. But the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:6-8

“And think not to say within yourselves: We have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise children unto Abraham.” Matt 3:9

“Know ye, therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Gala 3:7

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was of promise. Which things are allegories. For these two covenants: one from Mount Sinai which genders to bondage which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and answers to Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children.” Gala 4:22-25

Note : Hebrewism and Christianity are regarded as superior to Islam by some Jews and Christians because the former derive from Isaac, the son of Abraham’s first wife, while the later derives from Ishmael, the son of Abraham’s second wife. But the verse makes it clear that this story has a spiritual not a physical significance.

“And John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he follows not us: and we forbade him because he follows not us. But Jesus said: Forbid him not, for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” Mark 9:38-40

“(Jesus said:) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and show it unto you.” John 16:12-14

“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matt 21:43-44

Note:- Though it may be argued that this prediction refers to the replacement of the Jews by the Christians, it must also apply, for the same reasons, to the rise of Islam.

Conclusion:- A person is a physical entity, but the Way, the Truth and the Life are not physical concepts. Therefore, if contradictions are to be avoided, we may presume that the words used by Jesus refer to the Spirit within him and which informed him. Whereas it may well be true that the only way to God and salvation was through Jesus in his time, this cannot be the case in the ages before him, or in the ages after him when religion became corrupt as Jesus himself predicted. Indeed, He also predicted the coming of the next Prophet who was to be obeyed (John 16:12-14). We are saved by following the Spirit of Truth whether it exists in ourselves or in some Teacher. The Quran corrects the misunderstanding by affirming twice that whoever believes in Allah, and the Judgment and does right shall obtain salvation. (2:62 and 5:69)

The idea that salvation is only possible by becoming a Christian has made Christianity most intolerant of other religions as History shows. Indeed, it is the only intolerant Religion. After it became the established religion of the Roman Empire it persecuted other rival religions to extinction. During Muslim rule Christian, Jews and other faiths enjoyed full tolerance. In contrast, having overthrown the Muslims who had cultivated a high civilization over many hundreds of years in Spain, the Christians persecuted, expelled or forcibly converted Muslims, Jews and other peoples to Christianity. The Inquisition was established which practiced torture. A process now known as ethnic cleansing took place in Spain and is still attempted wherever Christians try to obtain powers. It cannot be claimed that this Christian behaviour is in accordance with the teachings of Jesus whose kingdom was not on earth but in heaven. One consequence of this attitude is that all Western political systems, in order to maintain peace and order, had to banish religion from public life. The result of this is that value systems and morality were removed from the economic, political, cultural and even the Legal systems leading to all the social, psychological and environmental problems mankind is facing today.

19. Does prayer require the mediation of Jesus?

“(Jesus said:) After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy wilt be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matt 6:9-13

Conclusion:- This is known as the Lord’s Prayer and is a model on which other prayers should be based. Note that no where in this prayer is Jesus mentioned. All present day Christian prayers, however, include the words “ for Jesus Christ’s sake.” It is assumed, wrongly, that a prayer is invalid if it is not offered through the mediation of Jesus. Note the similarities and differences between this prayer and the prayer contained in the opening chapter of the Quran which summarizes the whole of it.

“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee alone we worship; Thee alone we ask for help. Show us the Straight Path, the path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace; not the path of those who earn Thine anger, nor of those who go astray.”

20. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost unforgivable ?

“Even so the things of God knoweth no man but by the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor 2:11

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and doeth His Will, him He heareth.” John 9:31

“For whatever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

“We know that whosoever is born of God sins not, but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not.” 1 John 5:18

“And if I say the truth why do ye not believe me? He that is of God hears God’s Words. Ye, therefore, hear them not because ye are not of God.” John 8:46-47

Conclusion:- It is only through the Spirit that we can recognize Spiritual Truths. And it is only these which can bring about spiritual revival. In so far as the Spirit of Truth refers to Muhammad, the Christians are exhorted by their own scriptures to accepted him.

21. How is one saved ?

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” John 3:5-6

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, temperance.” Gala 5:22-23

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom, to another the Word of Knowledge by the same Spirit. To another Faith by the same Spirit, to another he gift of Healing by the same Spirit. To another the working of Miracles; to another Prophecy; to another the Discerning f Spirits; to another diverse kinds of Tongues; to another the Interpretation of tongues. But all these works that one and self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” 1 Cor 12:7-11

“Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect.” Matt 5:48

“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain: Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matt 17:20

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

“ But he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Gala 6:7

“For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die.” Romans 8:13

“And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Conclusion:- Religion, it appears, is not at all what people generally suppose it to be. A person is not a Christian by physical birth. He is required, being fertilized by the spirit, to give birth to and develop a new Spiritual body within him with new, higher faculties. He has to accept it consciously and live his life with consciousness, conscience and will. This is not possible for a materialistic and sensual mind. He has to reconstruct himself upon a firm foundation. This is also the Islamic view.

   The gist of true Christianity is this:- Human beings are spiritually dead. They have degenerated (Fallen). They have lost contact with the divine spirit within. It is not possible for them to obtain salvation unaided. Regeneration or resurrection is possible only by spiritual rebirth. This can be achieved by accepting, or internalizing, the Word of God, the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God which was active in Jesus. He was the ‘Word of God’, and the Sacrament of the Bread and the Wine representing the flesh and blood of Jesus, symbolizes this internalization. Although this is not a purely intellectual acceptance, it is not merely a matter of sentimentality either. Birth is only the first step. Growth and development must also take place. It involves following the teachings of Jesus and imitating his life. This can, of course, also be done by accepting any other true Prophet who brings theWord of God and in whom the Spirit is active.

22. Did Jesus atone for the sins of man ?

“For every man shall bear his own burden...Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that shall he reap. But he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Gala 6:5,7

“In my Father’s House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.” John 14:2

“For Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God., being put to death in the flesh but quickened in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

“Since by men came death, by man came also the Resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:21-22

“And he is the propitiation of our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the world.” 1 John 2:2

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us, and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

“Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29

“For where a testament is, there must also be he death of the testator...and almost all things are by the law purged with blood and without shedding blood is no remission... So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of the many.” Hebrews 9:16, 22, 28.

Conclusion:- The Hebrews used to sacrifice a goat to bear their sins away. (Leviticus 9:15). This represents the sacrifice Abraham was required to make of his beloved son, but a goat was substituted in the last moment. The Muslims also commemorate this with sacrifices. The outer ceremony exists to reinforce an inner repentance from sin. The death of Jesus Christ is regarded by Christians in a similar light. In view of the first few verses quoted above which state categorically that everyone is responsible for his own actions and must bear its consequences, it is not possible to accept the doctrine of Vicarious Atonement. The meaning of the other verses must, therefore, be different.

It is perfectly true that Jesus suffered, not for his own sins, but because of the sins of others. It was their hate, prejudice, bigotry and ignorance which persecuted him. He knew that this would happen if he made people uncomfortable by pointing out their defects to them. He was willing to accept this in order to enlighten and transform them. In this he showed his love for mankind. It is this sacrifice which created an awareness of their sins in many people, causing some to return love with love. It produced in others a contact with conscience and a sense of guilt because they saw within themselves the self-same qualities which led to the persecution of Jesus. There is little doubt, therefore, that a new psychological technique was introduced into the world. The possibility for overcoming sins and for spiritual regeneration by touching conscience was provided. This could be seen as neutralizing those social conditions, represented by the Fall of Adam and Eve, which first led humanity astray. Adam and Eve, after their sin, became ashamed of their nakedness and covered themselves up, hiding themselves from themselves (Genesis 3:6-7 and Quran 7:20-26). This may well symbolize a barrier in the mind to self-consciousness and self-examination. It is only after this that the need for Prophets arose. It seems, therefore, that two definite stages in the history of mankind are marked by these stories. The development of mankind undergoes stages similar to those in the child. At first the emphasis is on physical development and action, then on emotion and feeling, then on thought and intellect, and finally on consciousness. The Mission of the Prophet Moses can be seen as creating the ritual and social conditions in which the mission of Jesus became possible. His mission could not have taken place except among the Jews so prepared. Christianity is based on the love of and attachment to Jesus. Children do undergo a stage of hero worship. But the fact remains that it is still up to the individual to accept or not, and behave accordingly.

The Christian technique has the following stages:-

(a) People must be made aware that they are sinners, that they have fallen, that they function at less than their potentialities. Jesus is the perfect man in whom the Divine Spirit was active, and is an external representation of the perfect man or the divine spirit within the person. Therefore, to persecute Jesus is to persecute the inner perfect man or spirit and vice versa.

(b) The disability created by the feeling of guilt and unworthiness, arising from this awareness, must be removed. This is done by emphasising the love and forgiveness of God. God so loved man that he sent his Spirit.

(c) That the regeneration of man can only take place by receiving the Spirit of God. Since Christ is identified with this Spirit, this means taking in Christ.

Transformation is achieved not by mere intellectual understanding of all this, but by feeling its truth. This is not often achieved and itself depends on the Spirit. Generally speaking. the third factor is usually neglected though wishful thinking and fantasy causes people to claim such a transformation. This can be verified by a study of the behaviour of crusaders and others who felt absolved and even justified in the sins and atrocities they were committing in the name of Christ. This is not to say that those who professed Islam were not also guilty of the same. Herein lies the tragedy - the conflict between people equally deluded.

The three ingredients of Religion, namely the awareness of sins, errors and defects, the mercy and love of Allah, and transformation through the Spirit, are also central to Islam, but here they are deprived of the symbolism and mythology. Though the possibility for regeneration has been provided by Christianity, and special techniques were developed in Monasteries, general techniques and conditions for achieving it, were yet to be introduced. To set this process going, it appears, was the task of the Prophet Muhammad. Though obedience to the Law and love of the Prophet is also part of Islam, the understanding and following of the teaching is more important than the person of the teacher. The Quran has priority and the Prophet has not been deified. As far as the Muslim is concerned, therefore, the possibility of salvation, having been established in the past, is taken for granted. The last stage has not yet been achieved. This requires adulthood, independence with personal responsibility. Thus Muhammad is the last of the Prophets who named no successor.

There is, however, another way of looking at this. There is an apparent contradiction between the Justice and the Mercy of Allah. Justice demands that every action should have its consequences. Forgiveness appears to flout this law. To retain both principles requires the notion of a ransom. Someone pays in equivalent terms. If we, for instance, forgive someone a debt to us, then we undertake to bear it. Jesus, who was like Adam, paid for the sin of Adam. This makes the unjustifiable assumption that Allah cannot create something from nothing and that, therefore, to produce one state something else must necessarily be destroyed. Apart from not being compatible with the idea of Allah, it would not allow evolution. The Quran agrees that Jesus was like Adam. (Quran 3:59). Man, it is claimed suffers from Original Sin, from the influences coming from the disobedience of Adam (that is, the ability to repress, flout and contradict our own nature as well as nature at large). Jesus made amends for this by introducing the influences of his complete obedience and sacrifice. The one caused the Fall and the other enabled the Ascent. However, we may enquire: if payment is required where then is the Mercy of God? The Christian answer requires the doctrine that Jesus was the son of God whom He sacrificed for love of man. Apart from the fact that the doctrine also requires the resurrection of Jesus which destroys this sacrifice, it seems a rather tortuous way of justifying God’s Mercy. It has also given some Christians the impression that evil is inherent in man, and that they can do nothing to achieve salvation but need only to accept Jesus. As far as the Muslim is concerned such complexities are irrelevant. Human beings were made perfect, have the appropriate faculties to make the ascent and the mercy of God is evident from the fact that He provides the instructions of how to do this through the Prophets and the Scriptures. The same faculties which cause us to do evil can be used to do good, repent and by making amends, repay the debt. Had there been no Fall, then no Prophets would have been needed. The sending of the Prophets to guide man and the possibility of regeneration are sufficient indication of the Mercy of God. They do not flout the Justice of God, but have lawful consequences.

This Christian doctrine appears to have been an adaptation of certain Myths found in ancient Babylon, Egypt and India where it is said that the Universe was created by the self-sacrifice, the disintegration of the deity. This seems to be a Pantheistic view of the Universe and resembles the Big Bang Theory is science. However, since the Universe is created by the Word or Spirit of God, the plurality which we see in the Universe can certainly be symbolized in this way. But, from the Islamic point of view this plurality is an illusion caused by the limitations of the mind, the Fall. In fact all things interact and are inter-dependant. The ascent requires increasing awareness of this Unity.

The same story appears in a modified form in the Hebrew story of Abraham sacrificing his son. Note that it is not Abraham, but his offspring, and that he was not, in fact sacrificed, but a goat substituted instead. Thus the symbolism has been twice shifted. Christians, however, regard this event as symbolizing and forecasting the sacrifice of His son by God which makes the original ritual redundant. Here, the son, too, did not die but was resurrected. Death and resurrection, of course, refer to a natural law. Nature dies in winter and is resurrected in spring. Hence the celebration of Christmas and Easter, festivals taken over from Pagan religions. In so far as the fundamental substance is always conserved, then the destruction of something always means the construction of something else, or conversely, the construction of something, involves destruction of something else. We cannot progress to a higher state without dying at a lower. But this process refers to Creation, not the Creator. Jesus, as the son of God, is also taken in Christianity as symbolizing the Created world (John 1.1-3). The Created World is then, in a sense, the offspring of God, Religion, therefore, has made some progress in that the Universe does not arise from the disintegration of God but of his son.

Islam insists that the world as we see it, is not made of the substance of God, but created by the Word of God from nothing, and will dissolve into nothing. In other words, the World is pattern and order and we do not see the substance at all. In this it agrees with modern science, except that the latter does not see these as a manifestation of God but of Chance. There is, however, here a new and final stage in the development of religion. But these differences may be regarded as quarrels about words. Even if the original Unity disintegrates into multiplicity, the fact remains that all these multiple units are not independent, but inter-connected and interdependent. Thus, the Unity is not in fact destroyed, but merely appears to be so in perception or thought. It is a condition of fallen man. The resurrection of Jesus, therefore, symbolizes and facilitates the regeneration of man to a state when he will once again see the Unity.

The correct way of looking at these Myths is probably as follows:- The Original Unity is seen as disintegrating into a multiplicity by fallen man. He has, as it were, apparently killed or sacrificed God. But God sends His Spirit (Son) into the world of limitations and multiplicity, in the person of a Prophet who represents Him, to guide man despite the fact that man continues to persecute, kill or sacrifice him. This is like God sacrificing His son. But in fact the Spirit cannot be killed. The function of man is to restore the original Unity, to evolve and aid evolution, to reverse the process of disintegration and involution. This is like resurrecting God (in thought). Mankind is itself the sacrifice in so far as its spirit is sent into the world of limits and suffering. The Prophet is an example of this, and to mankind. To accept the Prophet is, therefore, to accept one’s proper function. This Myth expresses what is understood unconsciously about the fundamental nature of existence. Needless to say Islam does not require such a myth since its contents are explicitly expressed in its teachings. It should be noted that the Prophet Muhammad, also regarded as representing the created world, was also killed, though by poisoning. But this fact was not elaborated into a central theme in Islam.

It may be concluded that the controversy between the two religions is not a real one, but one of formulation. Both agree that man has fallen, and this could have no meaning unless he fell from a state of potential perfection. Both agree that God is merciful and has provided man with a way to salvation. Both accept Jesus. But surely even Christians cannot claim, after looking at the world, that he took away the sins from the world. He only provided a way to salvation.

It should, however, be noted that while works are necessary to prepare the ground, the reception of the Spirit is a gift of God. It cannot be created, purchased or forced. And the works have no significance except by the faith and intention behind them. The radio set, as it were, has to be repaired in order that it can receive the information in the radio waves which exist everywhere.

23. Who are the damned ?

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness, revelling and such like; of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in the past times, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Gala 5:19-21

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15

“For the love of money is the root of all evil.” 1 Tim 6:10

Conclusion:- It is not the things of the world that are bad but that attachment to them, and being controlled by them, is psychologically or spiritually destructive.

24. Is Christianity the only valid or true religion ?

“Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (i.e. after the death of Jesus by the Gentiles)” Acts 11:26

“My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.” John 7:16

“Think not that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets: I am come not to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you: Till heaven and earth pass away one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt 5:17-18

“God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:21

“Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.” Rev 19:10

“I have many things yet to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when the Spirit of Truth shall come, he will guide you into all Truth.” John 16:12-13

Conclusion:- The word “Christianity” is a misnomer. The doctrines were not those of Jesus. There is a Universal Religion, the Church of God, which has always existed and will continue to exist. Genuine Prophets within this religion arose before Jesus and would arise after him. Jesus himself is proof of the existence of Prophethood.

25. Is man purely a physical body ?

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” Gen 1:27

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen 2:7

“Know ye not that ye are temples of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you?” 1Cor. 3:16

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” 1Cor 6:19-20

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt 10:28

“The soul that sins, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is Spirit.” John 3:5

“But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, ye the deep things of God. What man knows the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10-11

Conclusion:- Thus a distinction is made between the physical body and the soul, created from the breath of life. The word “man” when used in the scriptures refers to this soul rather than the body, which after all is nothing but a machine. However, this soul is not immortal. It can be destroyed and is destroyed by sin, though resurrected by the spirit. However, there is a problem. Both Christianity and Islam speak about not only heaven but also of hell where the souls of the wicked will go. But if the soul is destroyed by wickedness how can it exist in hell? According to some theories Hell simply means the fire which burns up rubbish. On the other hand the soul could be made of certain substances which cannot be destroyed, only its structure disintegrates to various degrees.

26. Is there life after death ?

“Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die. And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain... but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed its own body. All flesh is not the same: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars... So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in in-corruption.... It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body... And so it is written: The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.. Now I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit in-corruption. Behold I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last Trump; For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” 1 Cor 15:35-52

“In my Fathers house are many mansions...” John 14:2

“For when they rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels in heaven.” Mark 12:25

“(Jesus said to the thief who was crucified with him and about to die:) Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

Conclusion:- The body which survives is not a physical body, but a spiritual one whose state depends on what a person has made of it, on what he has sown. It does not apply to those who are spiritually dead and have cultivated nothing. Gahanna (Hell) originally meant the dump outside cities where rubbish was burnt. However, Fire is used as symbol for suffering and transformation as in cooking or industry. It also distils and burns away impurities.

There appears to be some ambiguity in Christian teachings about Judgment, Resurrection and Paradise.

 (a) A person may enter paradise or hell immediately after physical death or (b) there will be a day of resurrection when everyone will be revived, judged and then sent to paradise or hell. (c) Or it is only the virtuous who will inherited the earth.

In the last verse quoted above, the coma was introduced only in the 9th century. There are no punctuation marks in the original text. It is claimed that the verse should read:-”Verily I say unto you today, thou shalt be with me in paradise.” This seems to be more correct since Jesus was not taken up to heaven until several days later. If this is so then Paradise (The Garden of Eden) may well be on earth at a later date as some sects claim. The Old Testament tells us that the Garden of Eden was on earth (Genesis 2:8-25). Jesus does tell us and prays that:-

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt 5:5

“Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10

 Jesus is reported to have said:-

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto you: Ye must be born again.” John 3:5-7

“For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Matt 22:30

“Neither shall they say, lo here! or lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21

Jesus also predicted that in the last days there would be wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecutions, many false prophets misleading people and great distress and suffering.

“immediately after the tribulations of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn... And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds.” Matt 24:29-31

Paul tells us:-

“And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows) how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Cor 12:3

These and other scriptures indicate that there are four possibilities:-

(1) That paradise and hell refer to experiences in this life. Some people are in a state of ecstasy or happiness to various degrees, while others are miserable and suffering. Indeed, mentally, they may even be in a different world. In so far as the nature of world itself depends on how we see , interpret and relate to it, then we must assume that the real world is, in fact, a collection of many different worlds, and we can take our choice.

(2) That the spiritual body which survives physical death has to be produced within a person. This is done through a special teaching and discipline. This body has to be conceived and nourished before it is born. Only such a body enters higher realms of existence.

(3) That the Day of Judgement and Resurrection refers to troubled times and disasters created by unregenerate man. A Prophet then comes, religious regeneration takes place, and there is separation between the good and the evil. It is the humble who inherit the earth. There will be a time of peace, prosperity and development, the Millennium. There are in fact two periods of Resurrection (Revelations 20). A group of very highly developed persons will be spiritually resurrected (The Quran calls them the Foremost) They will guide mankind spiritually During the Millennium.

(4) The second resurrection refers to a time at the end of the Millennium when Satan will again be active briefly. Then owing to spiritual development there will be mass transformation of man. Some Christian sects (e.g. Jehovah Witnesses) believe that the second resurrection means the physical resurrection of all the good people of the past who will live forever on earth which will have become a paradise, while the wicked will be destroyed completely. There is no Hell. This does not seem to be a correct reading of the scriptures.

27. What is death?

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying:- Of every tree of the Garden thou mayest freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen 2:16-17

“And unto Adam He said: Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” Gen 3:17

“And the Lord God said: Behold, the man has become as one of Us, to know good and evil; and now lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever; therefore, the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken.. So He drove out the man...” Gen 3: 22-25

“Behold all souls are Mine...the soul that sins, it shall die. But if a man be just and do that which is lawful and right......etc.....hath walked in My statutes and hath kept My judgments to deal truly, he is just and he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.” Ezek. 18:4-9

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Conclusion:- These Hebrew and Christian teachings regarding the nature and status of man are the same as those of Islam. Man has three parts:- A physical body made from the earth, a Divine Spirit which makes him an agent of God, and a Soul (life or mind) which is the resultant of this combination. He ought to behave in a god-like manner. But he sinned (literally, missed the mark). He was made perfect but he degenerated. This is the cause of his suffering and death. Death, it is obvious, does not here refer to physical death, but to spiritual death. The spirit is withdrawn from the soul and he functions at a much lower level than he could. Once this is understood then resurrection can also be understood. It consists of psychological or spiritual regeneration. 

28. Was the mission of Jesus complete?

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him. But ye know him, for he dwells with you and shall be with you.” John 14:16-17

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. “ John 15:26

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:12-14

“ A certain man planted a vineyard...and let it out to husbandmen and went to a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant that he might receive from him of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto then another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed. And many others; beating some and killing some. Having yet, therefore, one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying they will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, this is the heir; come let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall, therefore, the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” Mark 12:1-10

Conclusion:- According to this parable told by Jesus, about the succession of Messengers or Prophets, there was yet another prophet to come after the son, namely one symbolized as the father. Since it is a parable, it cannot possibly mean literally that God himself would descend, nor that Jesus is his son. Religion develops as understanding grows. Another Prophet was to come to explain that which the disciples of Jesus could not understand or had misunderstood. Christians believe that the Prophecy in these verses came to pass at Pentecost when the Spirit descended on the disciples and faith was revived (Acts 2). This, however, was understood as a fulfillment of the prophecy by Joel, not Jesus (Acts 2:14-20) Jesus specifically mentions a person, another Comforter like Jesus. The description of this person fits the Prophet Muhammad in all respects. The Quran, for instance, was spoken by him as he heard it. Even before his Prophethood he was known as the Truthful One. And he certainly spoke of and confirmed the mission of Jesus, elaborated and explained his teachings. However, the Comforter is also identified with the Holy Ghost or Spirit and sometimes with the Archangel Gabriel. Understanding comes by the activity of the Spirit within man. We must not be naive in our understanding. Since a Prophet is made by the activity of the Spirit within him, there is no contradiction. The mission of Jesus himself began after the Spirit descended on him (John 1:32). And the mission of Muhammad began similarly after he received revelations through Gabriel. If we look at 1 John 2:1 we see that the same word which has been translated as “Comforter” has been translated here as “advocate” and refers to Jesus, a Prophet. Note also the words “another comforter” in John 14:16 who is called the “Spirit of Truth”. There cannot be more than one Holy Spirit.

The Quran tells us:-

“And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel, Lo! I am a Messenger of Allah unto you, confirming that which was revealed before me in the Torah, and bringing Good Tidings (The Gospel) of a Messenger who cometh after me whose name is Ahmad (The Praised One). Yet when he hath come unto them with clear proofs they say: This is mere sorcery. And who doth greater wrong than he who invents a lie against Allah when he is summoned unto the Surrender (Islam)? Allah guides not wrongdoing folk. Fain would they put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however much the disbelievers are averse.” 61:6-8

And, indeed, Islam spread despite the opposition of Christianity. Ahmad is another name for Muhammad and means “The Praised One” and implies one who has received the grace of God. It has the same significance as the Greek word “Periclytos” which resembles the word “Paracletos” translated in the New Testament as “Comforter” but meaning “Advocate or helper”. There could have been a mistranslation. But even if not, there were certainly many Christians who expected a person, a Prophet, and accepted Muhammad as the promised one. Jesus was accepted by some Jews for a similar reason. And both were rejected by the literal minded and the spiritually blind.

In the New Testament we read:-

“For Moses truly said unto the fathers: a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” Acts 3:22

This refers to the following verses in the Old Testament:-

“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” Deuteronomy 18:15

This verse is taken by Christians to refer to Jesus, since the phrase ‘midst of thee’ refers to the Jews. But there is another verse similar but not quite like it.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put My words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.” Deuteronomy 18:18

 This may be taken to refer to Muhammad. The brethren of the Hebrews from among whom the Prophet was to come can be interpreted as referring to the descendants of the other son of Abraham, Ishmael, while the Hebrews, Moses and Jesus arose from the descendants of Isaac. Though Christians assume that it also refers to Jesus, Muhammad was much more like Moses in that both founded a nation, complete with its own administration, laws, political and military action, whereas Jesus was wholly other-worldly. The Quran is a record of what God spoke through him. However, the verses can also be regarded as a general forecast about the coming of Prophets in times of Spiritual darkness and then refers to other prophets as well as to Jesus and Muhammad.

The return of Jesus is also expected by Christians and Muslims, but each expects him to re-establish their own version of religion. However, since Islam regards all true Religion to be one, then there is only a distinction between true and false religion, and Jesus will re-establish the true religion, which by definition is Islam. Not that Islam, regarded as religion among many, is the only true religion, but that all true religions are Islam.

29. Will Jesus Return in person

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also” John 14:3

“And then (after great tribulations on earth) shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” Matt 24:30

“When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them from one another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. “ Matt 25:31-32

“Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing into heaven? This same Jesus which was taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him...” Revelations 1:7

Conclusion:- The ascent and descent of Jesus are obviously symbolic. All the nations of the world could hardly see the same phenomena at the same time. It is not flesh but the spirit which rises into heaven. Jesus is to return in Spirit, and people will understand with their inner eye. There is to be a world wide religious revival. Jesus speaks about the coming of the Son of Man which could refer to a Prophet in general. Daniel tells us,

“I saw in the night vision, and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

Now, if this prediction refers to the first coming of Jesus as it seems to do since it refers to an event which follows the fall of the four kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, then the phrase ‘Like the Son of Man” seems to mean that the phrase refers to a Messenger or Messiah in general and Jesus was one of these. The manner of his coming is described in the same way as the manner of his return in the New Testament. He was certainly a person of blood and flesh in the first place and he would, therefore, be a person of blood and flesh in the second. If it is interpreted as referring to his second coming because the Book of Revelations symbolism is similar to that used by Daniel, then the phrase must mean that another prophet similar to Jesus would come.

30. What is predicted for the future of mankind

“Many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nations shall rise against nations, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places. All these are the beginnings of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake...And many false prophets shall rise and deceive many.....And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached to all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When therefore, ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the holy place (Whoso readeth, let him understand)....For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened....Immediately after those tribulations of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and powers of the heaven shall be shaken and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven...” Matt 24:5-9, 11, 14-15, 21-22, 29-30

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breaking, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

“There appeared a great wonder in the heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars, and she being with child cried travailing in birth and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his head... and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to deliver for to devour her child as soon as it was born, and she brought forth the man child which was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days.... And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which kept the commandment of God and have the testimony of Christ.” Revelations 12:1-6,17

“I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns...and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abomination of the Earth.... For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” Revelations 17:3,5, 18:3

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the keys of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hands. And he laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years and cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:1-3

“And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had they received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first Resurrection.” Rev 20:4-5

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea..... and a fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” Rev. 20:8-9

“And I saw the dead small and great stand before God; and the Books were opened; and another Book was opened which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged everyone according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” Rev 20:12-15

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. An I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away... But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whore-mongers and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with Fire and brimstone, which is the second death..” 21:1-4, 8

“ And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof....And he showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as a crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb in the midst of the street of it and on either side of the river was there the Tree of Life which have twelve manner of fruit and yielded her fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations... And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light; and they shall reign forever and ever. Rev 21:22-23, 22:1—5

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Conclusion:-  These verses are highly symbolic. The description of Paradise as a Garden with rivers and fruit trees is also found in the Quran. The woman with the sun, moon and stars refers to Religion, in this case Christianity which gave birth to Jesus. But Jesus was persecuted and religion fled into the wilderness. This could refer to the Arabs, non Jews and to Islam. The sequence of events are as follows:- (1) Jesus completes his mission and disappears. There is a great despair for a period after which there is a revival of Christianity. (2) Christians were unable to understand the teachings of Jesus and Christianity degenerates.. (3) Another Prophet, the Spirit of Truth, is to come to complete religion. (4) There is a general degeneration of mankind mainly because of the intervention of political and commercial interests. (5) Christ or one like Christ returns and establishes a civilization which lasts 1000 years. This civilization is guided by the spirit of the Saints. This is the first resurrection and does not apply to the dead of the past. (6) Satan is loosed and Spiritual degeneration takes place once again. (7) A new earth and a new heaven are created. All the dead are resurrected, judged and separated. Humanity is transformed.

From the Islamic point of view, the main objections to Christianity are the following:-

(1) That they have trivialised the concept of God from the absolute, unitary, self-existing and all pervasive origin of the Universe and all things in it to a man, converting into a superstition. And this has led to widespread atheism. (2) The Christian Scriptures are not the words of Jesus inspired by God but reports and speculations by third parties and there are numerous contradictions between them. (3) The central tenets of Christianity, namely the Divinity of Jesus, the Trinity and Vicarious Atonement were not taught by Jesus as can be seen by examining the New Testament. These doctrines were made up by the Church. (4) The stories about the birth, nature and death of Jesus ought not to be taken as literal history but are mythology that have symbolic meaning and derive from other past religions such as Mithraism and the Religion of Ancient Egypt. In particular they relate to the understanding of the people of the past. (5) The doctrines do not make rational sense. The doctrine of vicarious atonement that salvation depends on the death of Jesus is not compatible with the Divine Justice. And if Jesus was resurrected then his death was no sacrifice. It is repentance that earns forgiveness and salvation from the destruction that sin causes.

 

Essentially, therefore, the original Christian teachings do not differ from those of Islam. It is only the terminology and style of the teaching and the techniques for achieving the goal which differ. The interpretations of the Scriptures and deviations from them, by the various sects differ in Christianity as much as in Islam. It is this which produces the illusion that Christianity and Islam, and indeed, Hebrewism, are different religions rather than a developing continuity.

It may, therefore, be said with justification that Jesus was a Muslim, and that a true Christian is a Muslim. Or that a Muslim is a true Christian Indeed, Islam may be regarded, in a sense, as being a sect of Christianity. Islam however does not insist that Christians should believe what Muslims believe, and that they can only be saved if they do. It is deeds rather than doctrines which count. (2:111-113). The doctrine itself may be judged by its results on behaviour. Muslims cannot, however, understand that if Christians believe in their religion, that it comes from God, how is it that they regard themselves as having the right to alter its rules and teachings, thereby converting it into something else. There can be no transforming value in anything which is itself transformed to suit human prejudices.

----------<O>----------

 

The position of Jesus in Islam can be seen from the following words of the Prophet Muhammad:-

“ If anyone testifies that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partner, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, that Jesus is Allah’s servant and messenger, the son of His handmaid, His Word which He cast into Mary and a Spirit from Him, and that paradise and hell are real, Allah will cause him to enter paradise no matter what he has done.”

Note: To testify implies belief, behaviour and effort in accordance with belief, and the courage to affirm these beliefs to others. It should not, therefore, be supposed that an evil man, a criminal, tyrant or lecher will enter paradise merely by making a verbal affirmation.

“I am the nearest in kin to Jesus, son of Mary, in this world and the next. The Prophets are brothers, sons of one father by co-wives. Their mothers are different, but their religion is one. There has been no prophet between us.”

“Neither believe nor disbelieve the people of the Book (Jews and Christians), but say : We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us.”

 “What would you do when the son of Mary would descend amongst you and would lead you as one amongst you?” Abi Dhi’b asked Abu Hauraira :” Do you know what the words - He would lead as one amongst you - means? When asked for an explanation, he said “He (Jesus) would lead you according to the Book of your Lord (The Quran) and the Sunna (traditions) of your Apostle (Muhammad).

“The Prophets before me were sent only to their peoples, whereas I was sent to all mankind.”

“It is not right for a man that Allah should give him a book, wisdom and prophecy, and that then he should say to man: Be my servants rather than of Allah.” 3:79

 

It is necessary to point out that Christianity, as presented by the Apostle Paul, is a logically consistent system. Paul was well versed in Greek Philosophy. This system may be described as follows:-

Man contains the spirit of God. Indeed, the Quran confirms this. (32:9). A prophet is one in whom this spirit is active, while in ordinary fallen man it is dormant. This is why a Prophet is required and his mission is to reactivate or resurrect the spirit. The Quran affirms that no one can be saved except by the message of the Prophets and the spirit of God (10:100-101, 2:2-5, 257, 6:107-108,123-126, etc). The Prophet may, therefore, be identified with God. The Quran confirms that we should make no distinction between the Prophets and God (4:150), and that to obey the Prophet is to obey God (4:80). And yet the Quran tells us not to take the Prophets for God (3:79-84). This is the point where Islam and Christianity diverge. The Muslim takes the identity between the Prophet and God as being one of purpose, while the Christian takes it as one of substance. In a sense they are right, but only if they are speaking exclusively of the spirit. But the spirit within an individual cannot be the whole of the spirit of God. We now know how vast the Universe really is. Most thinking people would, therefore, find it far beyond reason that a man living on this speck of dust could be the Lord of the Universe, originating, controlling and maintaining it.

Once the Prophet is identified with God then three consequences follow:-

1. The connection between the Prophet on earth and God in heaven has to be explained. This gives rise to the notion of the Trinity.

2. The death or disappearance of the Prophet has to be explained. This gives rise to the notion of the self-sacrifice of the Prophet, his physical death and resurrection, and the continued presence of his spirit.

3. Since it is not possible for man to follow or imitate a god then we have the notion of vicarious atonement and salvation by faith in the Prophet alone. It is true, of course, that without such faith the state and behaviour of a person cannot change, but faith without works is not faith.

Though Islam accepts the teachings of Jesus, it nevertheless has certain criticisms of Christianity:-

1. No distinction is made between the teachings of Jesus and the elaboration, interpretations and adaptations of these teachings by others. The teachings of Jesus have not been fully and accurately transmitted. There are differences between the various accounts even in the four Gospels and the letters of Paul.

2. No allowance has been made for the manner of speech or writing, and everything is taken literally. The original meaning of the words is not the same as those given to them today even when allowances for translation into another language is made. In particular myths were created which were then taken literally, thereby reducing them to superstition.

3. Many of the practices of the Church are not those introduced by Jesus. Monasticism and the Church organization were not created by Jesus. Many features of the Pagan Fertility Religions, which Hebrewism came to replace, were re-introduced into Christianity, e.g. the worship of Mary as the ‘Mother of God’ which makes her for many the supreme goddess, festivals such as Easter and Christmas. The dress of priests and rituals of the Church may have come from Buddhism. Some doctrines are adaptation of ancient Egyptian and Roman ones such as the notions of the ‘son of God’.

4. Some Christian sects have re-introduced idolatry. There are statues in their Churches and homes, and the worship of saints is widespread. A great number of superstitions are connected with these practices. Christianity is more about the person of Jesus than about his teachings and this, too, is idolatry.

5. Religion has become a source of comfort, reassurance and security rather than of transformation. It is used more like a psychological crutch. In many cases its function is mere self-maintenance. Even the organized Churches are willing to modify their doctrines and practices to accommodate current prejudices or fashions, to change with the wind, rather than provide direction and goals.

These objections are also recognized by many Christians. But others, usually priests who are often more enlightened, excuse these things on the grounds that the common or simple people require myths, spectacles and concrete symbols. But it may also be pointed out that there is no transforming value in things which cater for existing limitations, they merely reinforce them and keep people tied to them. Had Moses, Jesus, Muhammad or Buddha had the same attitude there would have been no new religions.

All this, however, applies also to Muslims.

 

To summarise the Islamic position against Christianity:-

The New Testament consists of reports by third persons about what Jesus said and did. There are contradictions between these various accounts. Some of these reports have also been arbitrarily excluded from the accepted Bible.

The New Testament also includes additions and subtractions to the text, and misinterpretations and mistranslations, though some of these have been recently rectified.

The doctrines and practices taught by the organised Church differ considerably from what Jesus taught. The following quotations show this:-

“And this is life Eternal that they should know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent. I have glorified Thee on earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. … I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word….While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name.” John 17:3,4,6,12

“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10

“Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day : Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them: I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

“And I say unto you that many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12

----------<O>----------

Contents