Ask a Muslim

[chrisb]

Grace and Peace,

From what little I’ve read the Islamic teaching of Tawheed (oneness of God) was influenced heavily by Arianism and Plotinus’ works on Neo-Platonism.

Arians argued that the One God (Father or Allah) begot (created in the sense of emanation from the One God) the Logos (i.e. Christ) as a manifestation of the Nous (i.e. Divine Mind) which can be achieved through contemplation by the Psyche (i.e. individual souls) by the emanations of God in His Creation.

Muslims argue that the One God does not ‘share’ His Divine Nature within His emanations in the same sense that the Orthodox make a distinction between God’s Essence and Energies.

The problem is that Trinitarian Christianity has brought the Son and the Holy Ghost into the realm of God’s Essence and not as merely elements of His Energies (i.e. emanations).

All three groups hold to a very platonistic view of God only we disagree over the placement of the ‘begotten’ Son and the ‘emanating’ Holy Ghost within our understanding of the Divine Nature.

Any thoughts?

 

[Larry1700]

My dear friend why ae u kidding urself? Jesus CHOSE the crusifixion? Is that why he cried and begged God and sai elai elai lama sabachtani?! Is that why he told his disciples go get a sword to protect me? This is not the behavior of one who is gladely chosing to be killed.

Yes, Arab, Jesus CHOSE to allow Himself to be crucified. Before He arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover, He told His apostles that he would be persecuted and killed. Peter begged Jesus not to go, but Jesus rebuked him. Jesus knew what would happen, and he still travelled to Jerusalem to undergo the persecution and crucifixion. Why? Because He knew that He was offering Himself as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, to atone for our sins. He clearly chose to be crucified — for me, and for you, if you simply choose to accept it and live according to His teachings.

As far as your quote regarding the sword, I believe someone else in this forum has already addressed that point.

O People of the Book (Christians)! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His messengers. Say not “Trinity” : desist: it will be better for you: for God is one God: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son.

This is indeed very interesting. I’m having difficulty following your logic.

1. You believe the Qu’ran was given to Mohammed by God.
2. The Qu’'ran says that Jesus was a messenger of God, and if I understand the quote from the Qu’ran that you provided, the Qu’ran says that Jesus was God’s Word, and a spirit proceeding from God.
3. The Qu’ran says don’t say Trinity, and Muslims don’t believe that Jesus was God.

However, Jesus (whom you believe to be the messenger and Word of God) said “I and my father are one,” and “He who has seen me, has seen the father” as well as other things supporing the Trinity, you’re apparently saying that God sent a faulty messenger and Word (Jesus). You have also disagreed with other things Jesus said (including the many verses quoting Jesus about his upcoming sacrifice of his body for us).

Again, I simply can’t follow your logic.

By the way, I don’t know if you believe that the Old Testament is the word of God or not, but if you do, read Isaiah 53, which prophesis about Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus CHOSE to humble Himself from his exalted place in Heaven to become man, and to undergo suffering and death for all of us, including you.

 

[MrS]

where is arab…

I noticed that some of his posts came at or near times usually reserved for their prayers…

perhaps is has been confined to the Mosque

 

[justinmyrtr]

persecution of christians has nothing to do with islam its cultural, they arent following islam.

where is this conclusion drawn from?

thx

 

[Larry1700]

where is arab…

Yeah, arab hasn’t posted since yesterday morning. Maybe he’s doing something more constructive. I should be doing something more constructive too. I came back to catholic.com after a long time, and got involved in a few threads, and now I’m addicted to it again. Just like chocolate!!!

Did anyone else receive a private message from “haba2han” to visit muslim.org ? To be honest (and I’m somewhat ashamed to say this) I’m a little reluctant to let my computer address be accessible by a muslim group. Yes I have a firewall, etc., but if there’s someway for them to gain access to the personal information of me or my family, I’m a little nervous about what might happen, now or in the future.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Yes, Arab, Jesus CHOSE to allow Himself to be crucified. Before He arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover, He told His apostles that he would be persecuted and killed. Peter begged Jesus not to go, but Jesus rebuked him. Jesus knew what would happen, and he still travelled to Jerusalem to undergo the persecution and crucifixion. Why? Because He knew that He was offering Himself as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, to atone for our sins. He clearly chose to be crucified — for me, and for you, if you simply choose to accept it and live according to His teachings.

As far as your quote regarding the sword, I believe someone else in this forum has already addressed that point.

This is indeed very interesting. I’m having difficulty following your logic.

1. You believe the Qu’ran was given to Mohammed by God.
2. The Qu’'ran says that Jesus was a messenger of God, and if I understand the quote from the Qu’ran that you provided, the Qu’ran says that Jesus was God’s Word, and a spirit proceeding from God.
3. The Qu’ran says don’t say Trinity, and Muslims don’t believe that Jesus was God.

However, Jesus (whom you believe to be the messenger and Word of God) said “I and my father are one,” and “He who has seen me, has seen the father” as well as other things supporing the Trinity, you’re apparently saying that God sent a faulty messenger and Word (Jesus). You have also disagreed with other things Jesus said (including the many verses quoting Jesus about his upcoming sacrifice of his body for us).

Again, I simply can’t follow your logic.

By the way, I don’t know if you believe that the Old Testament is the word of God or not, but if you do, read Isaiah 53, which prophesis about Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus CHOSE to humble Himself from his exalted place in Heaven to become man, and to undergo suffering and death for all of us, including you.

A Muslim would explain this away by saying that those statements made by Jesus in the Bible were alterations to the original text that were made later, and that Jesus never said that stuff in real life.

 

[justinmyrtr]

No u dont. Have u been to a Muslim country? Come and see for youself

i have been to a muslim country, i spent three months in muzaffarabad pakistan, i met kind, intelligent, respectful people, who are very moral in their day to day activities . for three months i developed sincere relations with them. However, they are also very honest in their words. they knew i was catholic. they also were not afraid to express that preaching a faith that is not Islam, is a threat in itself to islam. therefore it is justifiable to take the life of a man who openly teaches another faith. so while they are very friendly and appear to be very trustworthy, a christian cannot trust a muslim. the other perspective is, that muslims who live in a muslim country view muslims in america as liberal, and accuse them of tolerating other faith’s, and say that this is not the teaching of the Quran. Since there is no final authority in islam, and interpretations of the quran are left up to individual who has the authority to say who’s right? or whos wrong?

 

[MugenOne]

I spent 2 years living in the most repressive country on the planet, Saudi Arabia and I have to agree with what you said. On the outside, yes, Muslims are very friendly. But you have to be very suspicious especially when they know you are Christian. Because I was an American advisor in KSA, Saudis respected me and never asked me to convert to Islam. In the market place, yes, Saudis had asked me to convert.

i have been to a muslim country, i spent three months in muzaffarabad pakistan, i met kind, intelligent, respectful people, who are very moral in their day to day activities . for three months i developed sincere relations with them. However, they are also very honest in their words. they knew i was catholic. they also were not afraid to express that preaching a faith that is not Islam, is a threat in itself to islam. therefore it is justifiable to take the life of a man who openly teaches another faith. so while they are very friendly and appear to be very trustworthy, a christian cannot trust a muslim. the other perspective is, that muslims who live in a muslim country view muslims in america as liberal, and accuse them of tolerating other faith’s, and say that this is not the teaching of the Quran. Since there is no final authority in islam, and interpretations of the quran are left up to individual who has the authority to say who’s right? or whos wrong?

 

[exoflare]

I spent 2 years living in the most repressive country on the planet, Saudi Arabia and I have to agree with what you said. On the outside, yes, Muslims are very friendly. But you have to be very suspicious especially when they know you are Christian. Because I was an American advisor in KSA, Saudis respected me and never asked me to convert to Islam. In the market place, yes, Saudis had asked me to convert.

This is interesting, as it confirms what I’ve experienced so far. Most Muslims do manage to be very friendly on the outside, but every now and then something slips from their mouth that makes you wonder. Also, I noticed that they don’t mind your religion as long as you don’t talk about it. The more devout they see you are, however, the more nervous or distant they get. You can NEVER discuss the subject of religion objectively with them… for the Muslim it will always turn into a contest to spout as many subjective selling points for Islam as possible, even if he tries to make it appear very subtle.

 

[Montalban]

This is interesting, as it confirms what I’ve experienced so far. Most Muslims do manage to be very friendly on the outside, but every now and then something slips from their mouth that makes you wonder. Also, I noticed that they don’t mind your religion as long as you don’t talk about it. The more devout they see you are, however, the more nervous or distant they get. You can NEVER discuss the subject of religion objectively with them… for the Muslim it will always turn into a contest to spout as many subjective selling points for Islam as possible, even if he tries to make it appear very subtle.

The Koran and Islamic advice is against Moslems making *close *friends with non-Moslems

 

[Catholic_Dude]

I spent 2 years living in the most repressive country on the planet, Saudi Arabia and I have to agree with what you said. On the outside, yes, Muslims are very friendly. But you have to be very suspicious especially when they know you are Christian. Because I was an American advisor in KSA, Saudis respected me and never asked me to convert to Islam. In the market place, yes, Saudis had asked me to convert.

Im interested in hearing a story or two. So how did it go when they would ask you to convert, what kind of topics did they bring up and such and how did you respond?

 

[MugenOne]

CatholicDude,

They normally asked me if I am a Muslim or not. Then, they started saying how great Islam and stuff like that. Oh, I liked to mess with their heads when they started talking to me about religious. You have to play psyche with them since you know they are very “religious.” After you are tired with them, tell them something in this nature, “inshallah (God willing) one day my heart will lead me to Islam. Before then, I’ll need your prayer.” What you are doing is partly admit to them that there is Allah and you are kinda like Muslim. They will walk away and never bother you again. Trust me, it works!

MugenOne

Im interested in hearing a story or two. So how did it go when they would ask you to convert, what kind of topics did they bring up and such and how did you respond?

 

[slyboots]

I am not sure where to put this post.

I am beginning to become concerned about the Islamic countries ability to overcome us.
I am not sure what to call my feeling about this. Fear is too strong a word. But concern sounds much too weak.

Our military is strong and brave. But the radical muslims are insane Our people care about living. Radical Islam cares only about dying. Our people would never offer our babies to be martyrs by becoming human bombs. They do. Martyrdom is glorified in Islam. Death is the desired outcome. They school their children in hate of life. What is to be done about such people?

Prayer is important. But what else can we do. They do not respond to love and assistance from us.

Their people once conquered much of Europe once. What can we do to keep it from happening again? And keep it from happening here?

 

[st_bernard]

I am not sure where to put this post.

I am beginning to become concerned about the Islamic countries ability to overcome us.
I am not sure what to call my feeling about this. Fear is too strong a word. But concern sounds much too weak.

Our military is strong and brave. But the radical muslims are insane Our people care about living. Radical Islam cares only about dying. Our people would never offer our babies to be martyrs by becoming human bombs. They do. Martyrdom is glorified in Islam. Death is the desired outcome. They school their children in hate of life. What is to be done about such people?

Prayer is important. But what else can we do. They do not respond to love and assistance from us.

Their people once conquered much of Europe once. What can we do to keep it from happening again? And keep it from happening here?

Gratia et pax vobiscum,

Read St. Augustine’s City of God.

Gratias.

 

[Libertas]

Here is one that no Muslim has been able to answer for me.
How has the Bible been corrupted? And when was it corrupted?
We have documents dating from the very first century A.D. that show us that what was written then is what is written now.
So without using the Quran, do please show me how we corrupted the Bible.

 

[exoflare]

Here is one that no Muslim has been able to answer for me.
How has the Bible been corrupted? And when was it corrupted?
We have documents dating from the very first century A.D. that show us that what was written then is what is written now.
So without using the Quran, do please show me how we corrupted the Bible.

That’s why they call it blind faith… I think even the Muslims realize deep down that is all they are clinging on to. But when you become so dependent on your comfort zone it can be hard to leave. This is how all cults operate.

 

[exoflare]

Here is one that no Muslim has been able to answer for me.
How has the Bible been corrupted? And when was it corrupted?
We have documents dating from the very first century A.D. that show us that what was written then is what is written now.
So without using the Quran, do please show me how we corrupted the Bible.

That’s why they call it blind faith… I think even the Muslims realize deep down that is all they are clinging on to. But when you become so dependent on your comfort zone it can be hard to pick yourself up and face the world for what it is. This is how all cults operate.

 

[arab]

Here is one that no Muslim has been able to answer for me.
How has the Bible been corrupted? And when was it corrupted?
We have documents dating from the very first century A.D. that show us that what was written then is what is written now.
So without using the Quran, do please show me how we corrupted the Bible.

watch this documentary
as for the guy who said its blind faith, look at what ur doing first! The Bible has HUNDREDS of uncientific facts! Facts which are simply impossible yet you follow it!

 

[kellie]

watch this documentary
as for the guy who said its blind faith, look at what ur doing first! The Bible has HUNDREDS of uncientific facts! Facts which are simply impossible yet you follow it!

With all respect arab, that is not answering the question posed by Libertas.

How was the Bible corrupted and when?

 

[MrS]

watch this documentary
as for the guy who said its blind faith, look at what ur doing first! The Bible has HUNDREDS of uncientific facts! Facts which are simply impossible yet you follow it!

perhaps instead of just this hit-n-run non-answer… you could provide some of the unscientific facts…

And what does the word “faith” mean to a muslim???

.