If we can’t prove his divinity to a non-believer, how could he know that Christ was anything more than a man?
I think you’re unwilling to hold Christianity with the same scrutiny as Islam.
It’s not a very good way to evangelise people, is it?Does Christian extremism and violence not count against Christianity?
I think you’re unwilling to hold Christianity with the same scrutiny as Islam.
It’s not a very good way to evangelise people, is it?Christian extremism and violence doesn’t matter?
So do Jews. Are they evil too?
You should be aware that Mohammed studied Christianity and Judaism in formulating his thoughts.
Well, there’s quite a few things Muslims accept that Christians accept, which the catechism affirms. The most important common ground is that God exists and his will matters. From the Church’s perspective it may not be ideal that there are many religions, but it’s a start if people already believe God exists and his will matters.
Are these truths beyond any scrutiny? If they’re not, is it really surprising that people don’t believe them?
Good question.
Help me understand how in your answer to Trebor you concluded “evil too”? Trebor made no mention of evil.
Yes, there are many elements of human involvement in Christianity like art…and the Magisterium, Sacred Tradition, Apostolic Succession, which are directly involved in the way the truth is interpreted and explained.
Certainly when it comes to the majority of those very examples you’ve given, man-made will certainly mean made-up. The Christian claim is that the magisterium, sacred Tradition and Apostolic succession are not man-made at all but divinely constituted (and innerrant and infallible). If this is not true and they are in fact man-made, then they are made-up and false.
To be clear, the Catechism and Church speak favourably of Muslims and our relationship with them, never about Islam itself or Mohammed (In fact, the section that categorically denies the claim to revelation of Mohammed and other such claimants can possibly be said to display an “unfavourable attitude” towards Mohammed and his religion). I agree that majority of Muslims are excellent folk- But their religion is very much a false religion per Catholic faith and I don’t see why we should feel guilty for pointing out all the holes we see in it. (That is, in the ideas and teachings and claims of Islam- Especially considering its clams about our own religion being a corruption! An idea which it bases on claims to divine authority!) I see good Muslims as good people, innocent followers of Muhammed and believers in One God- I see Islam as a false religion.
Thanks for relating this important distinction. I agree there is nothing wrong with pointing out falsehoods, from the Catholic perspective, about Islam, Protestantism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other religion. Calling Islam a false religion is one thing, but bashing Islam, its beliefs, its holy book, its major prophet, and so on, I view as quite another matter.
In the Old Testament if God used the unbelieving surrounding nations to chastise his Chosen People Israel for their sins and infidelities is it possible that in these New Covenant times He might allow Islam with their extremism to bring into line the so-called Christian Western world.
No. The one “Muslim” I might call “evil” is the ironically-named president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, whose henchmen have killed devout Muslims by boiling them. You can watch a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan discussing this incident and other matters in this video: “Craig Murray on Karimov’s Dictatorship” (it will take about thirty seconds to load).
So why are you calling those things “man-made?” There are many things in the world that are man-made, I’m trying to understand why you are calling Christianity “man-made?” The Magisterium, Sacred Tradition, Apostolic Succession, are only possible because of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. So why are you emphasising “man-made?”
Catholics should not/can not pass judgement on people by saying “they are going to hell.” But there is nothing that says Catholics can not judge right from wrong or say why such & such a religion does not lead to the beatific vision of heaven which is the Blessed Trinity.
Why do you think islam is needed at all to bring in line what you call the “the so-called Christian Western world?” What about Catholicism - is that not good enough?