I want to share with everyone a response that I received on Session Four. As I stated, it is important for us to educate ourselves and respect the opinions that each of us has to offer. These thoughts are from a good friend of mine, and I love that she has chosen to share her knowledge with us. I am a "newby" when it comes to learning about Islam. I have never read the Koran. What I sent out on Session Four was strictly based on the video given by Beth in Session Four of the Patriarchs. After watching the video, I longed to learn more about Islam. Sue Owensby gave me a book to read called, "Do We Worship the Same God?" It shares a lot of statements with what Cindy has to say below. I feel that we should all seek out knowledge on this so we are prepared to back up our on faith and we will not hold prejudice towards Muslims out of ignorance to what they believe. As believers it is our responsibility to only form opinions if they are educated ones. If anyone else learns something you would like to share with the group (and you know it to be fact) please send it and your sources so we can share among the group!!!
Love to everyone
Thanks Cindy!!!
____________________________
Hello Tiffany. I think about you often and hope you and your family are doing well. I enjoy receiving your email/updates as they usually give me a lot to think about. Today was no different. Sos much so that I am compelled to offer a reply regarding the information presented on Islam. I am no expert or scholar by any means, but I have been fortunate to examine a few of the other world religions in college and at our former church there in Gastonia.
I would offer that most people do not see the good things of Islam (much as others don't see the good sides of Chirstianity). As often is the case, people see only what the media says, that Islam promotes killiing for example. In news of world events,20the media seldom provide a full and complete view of the religion in question.What is happening with radical Muslims today has to do with politics, the economy, with particular geographical regions - but it does not represent the whole of Islam.
Yes, "Islam" means "submission to God" and is related to the word for peace. Allah is the Arabic word that translates into "the God," and it carries the understanding that God is the one and only God. He IS the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. He is not the "Father" but he is the Sovereign and Lord of the Muslims.
It is correct to say there are over ninety names of God in the Muslim tradition and, yes many warn of God's righteousness: The Judge, The Just, The Reckoner, The Avenger, The Depriver. But also lists others considered to be beautiful: Compassionate, Merciful, Source of Peace, Creator, Forgiver, Gracious, Generous, Wise, etc. Again, all are preceded with "The" emphasizing the supremacy of God.
According to the Islamic faith, God has spoken through a number of prophets over the centuries, including those esteemed by Jews and Christians. The Qur'an mentions several prophets and messengers including Old and New Testament figures such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, and John the Baptist. For Muslims, Jesus is a prophet miraculously born of a virgin. The Qur'an honors Mary as an example of great faith. Do Muslims belie ve in Jesus? Yes, they do. (In fact, he is held in such high regard that the speaking aloud of his name is always followed by "Peace be upon him".) The difference is they believe he is a prophet; that he was born without a father. They have respect for him and his mother. They do not consider Jesus to be divine or the Son of God. They do believe Jesus will return to earth to lead the righteous and destroy the false prophet.
Muslims respect Jews and Christians as "people of the Book" - a positive Qur'an expression that indicates that Jews and Christians (1) believe in One God and (2) believe that God has been revealed verbally and God's words can be read and heeded.
Yes, there are some differences - huge differences you might say - between Christianity and Islam. But without a doubt there are very strong simililarities among many of the world's religions. An excellent book I would recommend on this subject is The Religions of Man by Huston Smith.
I am a believer in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.. It is the one and only path for me. I also believe that studying doctrines from other faiths can enrich my own theological understanding.
Thoughtfully yours,
Cindy
1 comment:
Hello my friend,
The desire to be nonjudgmental of Muslims because not all Islamic people are radical extremists or terrorists should be the goal of any loving Christian.
That said, it is very important to be not just informed but cognizant of the threat that those who are extremists pose to Christian and Jewish people.
The truth is, there is more than just a half-hearted effort to indoctrinate many Muslim children to grow up with intense hatred of any who are not of their religious persuasion, and in the U.S. we've been somewhat insulated and isolated from their violent extremism with the exception of the atrocities of 9/11.
I'm glad you brought this up as part of your blog and hope that your readers will avail themselves of educational opportunities to learn more about the agenda of these adherents to the extreme form of Islam.
In reality, they hate everything we believe, love, and stand for-- and their goal is our elimination.
This is a depressing reality, but even worse is the lack of vocal outcry against these extremists by those who are of that religious persuasion but are not in agreement with their terrorist extremism.
For more on this, please check out Brigitte Gabriel's writings and even watch some of her interviews. She understands the threat they pose and brilliantly explains the need for awareness by those of us in the West.
Here is a link for further information: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KoPplTX-Q
Praying for Peace,
Sandy
Post a Comment