I disagree respectfully. I think those new to catholism and christianity in general should avoid the Koran. Primarily because it is written as polemically opposite the church. It removes the value of baptism, holy orders, the Eucharist , and creates in its wake confusion for christians not strong in their faith. Remember the Holy Bible is the inspired word of God in the words of men. This is part of our Christian faith. However, to muslims their Holy Koran is the word of God period. Now, those christians who are strong in their faith formation and teachings of the church could try to read it get to know the muslim mindset and if they do they’ll quickly, see some of contradictions the Koran gets wrong about christianity one is the view that the christian trinity is God the Father, Mary, and Jesus,is one such example, the other is the denial of Jesus’s death and resurrection. However, anyone weak or unsure in the faith should not read book.
Very well written. I greatly agree. I am Maronite Catholic. We are one of the eastern rites from Lebanon. We were heavily involved in the Lebanese Civil War, in which a coalition of Orthodox and Catholics defended ourselves from Shi’ite, Sunni and Druze aggression, even as they were warring amongst themselves.
Furthermore, al-Qur’an permits things that are grave mortal sins and are not beneficial to be studied by catechumens. Sometimes, we Catholics are guilty of practicing false ecumenism - that is, inter-faith relations without the call to convert. Some take it even further, even feeling it necessary to abase their own Catholic faith in order to appease non-Catholics. If al-Qur’an is to be studied, it should be studied by grown adult confirmed members of the Church under the guidance of a clergyman.
Furthermore, the negative verses of al-Qur’an must be evaluated, no matter how rough it may make Islam look. If we are to understand Islam, we must understand al-Qur’an - ALL of it, not just the flowery, poetic Surahs. I mean, the verses that command people to commit violence against non-Muslims, as well as the ones which permit pedophilia and sex slavery.
al-Jihad:
**Quran (8:12) - “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them”
Quran (8:67) - “It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land…”
Quran (9:5) - “So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.”
Quran (9:14) - “Fight against them so that Allah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people.”
Quran (9:29) - “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
Quran (9:123) - “O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness.”
Quran (17:16) - “And when We wish to destroy a town, We send Our commandment to the people of it who lead easy lives, but they transgress therein; thus the word proves true against it, so We destroy it with utter destruction.”
Quran (48:29) - “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard (ruthless) against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves” **
