Are
Christians Idolaters?
Question:-
Are Christian Idolaters? It seems so in so
far as they worship the Messenger Jesus, his mother and various statues in
their churches.
Critic:-
I assume nobody has ever told the vast
majority of Muslims that not all Christians believe that Jesus was "the
son of God" in the Trinitarian sense.
Comment:-
Those who have come in contact with
Christians probably know about this. Others have no reason to know it.
Critic:-
Muslims do not understand the Christian idea
of Trinity.
The Islamic view of Jesus is not, in my
opinion, truly consistent. I do not believe that the logical false equation
1+1+1=1 is a good comparison with the Christian Trinity. If you grant that all
things are possible for Allah it seems to me that you must acknowledge he could
make a mortal man into an immortal. If you grant that, on judgement day, he
will return to life everyone who has ever died then it seems to me that he
could return someone to life before judgement day.
Comment:-
All things are possible for God, but He has
made this world according to laws. (He may have made other worlds according to
other laws) which means that certain things are necessary, some are possible,
others are impossible. We have also been given minds that can understand and
deal with this world. We are told that Allah does not contradict Himself.
Critic:-
If all things are possible for Allah then he
should be allowed to divide himself into two beings (assuming that is what he
willed to do). The Quran assures us that Allah has not divided himself into two
gods. But into a god and a prophet seems not to be denied.
Comment:-
We cannot allow this. It is Allah who has
said in the Quran and other scriptures that He is One.
No. If Muslims have misconceptions about
Christian doctrine perhaps you would like to tell us how you see it.
All Christians that I know regard Jesus as
one of the three gods in a Godhead. They say He is the Son of God, not
symbolically as in Romans 8:14 or John 1:12 or John 10:33-35 and Psalms 80:61,
where the phrase means "those who are led by the word or spirit of
God."
The phrase "Son of God" is symbolism.
As John 1:12 -13 (and John 3:5-7) clearly tells us that anyone can become the
"son of God" if he follows the Word of God. This certainly agrees
with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23 that obedience to God is
necessary.
As I have shown several times, the NT affirms
many times that only the Father is God.
No. I think it is Christians who have
misunderstood the teachings of Jesus and their own Scriptures.
Critic 2:-
Jesus is both man and God, being both mortal
and immortal.
(1) Jesus is "immortal" in the
sense that he exists forever.
(2) Jesus was "mortal" in the sense
that he was capable of suffering somatic termination (i.e. death), and did in
fact suffer such.
Comment:-
(1) We are all immortal in so far as we are
all to be resurrected.
(2) Jesus was mortal in that he was born,
existed in the flesh, was dependent on food, and died like the rest of us.
A Muslim:-
Muslims criticise Christianity for being
irrational. But they should better not touch the aspect of rationality for this
hardly has any interconnections with religions in general. Personally, I do not
believe in a being that is mortal and immortal at the same time either, but do
you consider some of the following rational?
- Noah packing a pair of all living arts into
one ship
- Moses escaping through a divided sea
- Jesus being born without Mary having gotten
pregnant through any man
- Jesus being taken to Allah without his body
anywhere to be found, while the people crucified someone else.
All of this (any many other stories, you and
I believe because it simply is in the Quran. And the same Quran declares a man
called Muhammad God's last Prophet, while that Muhammad himself is the person
reciting the Quran.
Comment:-
It is perfectly true that many Muslims, like
adherents of other religions, simply accept without thought everything they
have been taught or read about their religion and many are naive literalists.
But those who think a little realise, as the
Quran also affirms, that some things are similitudes, metaphorical, symbolic or
allegorical. It is not irrational to understand things in this way (though it
is illogical) or to seek to understand things rather than reject them.
That is just the point. The objection is to
literal understanding of what is symbolic.
I for one am quite willing to accept the
Trinity as applying, NOT to God, but to religion, because it is presented to us
by God, the Prophet who carries the Word of God and the Spirit which gives us
understanding. I can also see that Trinity could refer to three aspects of God
- His essence, His Word and His Spirit. <
All this is perfectly rational.
But that is NOT how ordinary Christians
understand the Trinity, (though some may have a more sophisticated
understanding.). The Trinity is NOT taught by Jesus. It is NOT even in their
scriptures but is a made up concept.
Critic:-
When we approach the Quran (or the Bible) we
should want to do "exogenesis". We should want to read out of the
Quran what the Quran says, not what we want the Quran to say.
I believe that the Quran means Christian by
the term Kafir. If my reading is correct the Quran allows marriage to those
unbelieving women who are not Christians. That would imply Jews, Sabaeans,
Magians, Hindus, Buddhists, Scientologists and even Atheists. If you listen to
certain Christian evangelists it also includes Catholics, Orthodox and Masons.
Comment:-
You are telling us what you believe, not what
the Quran says.
Critic:-
Note that I have concluded that the Quran
makes a sharp distinction between Jews and Christians and that "People of
the Book" means only Jews. It seems very plausible to me that, in the
Quran, KFR includes Christians.
Comment:-
The word "Kaffir" refers to someone
who denies truth and is best translated as "Infidel", meaning one who
does not have fidelity, loyalty or faithfulness to Allah.
It is the opposite of "Muslim", one
who surrenders to Allah.
The term "Kaffir" can apply to
anyone no matter what Religion he professes. On the other hand a person can be
called "Muslim" whatever religion he professes. These terms refer to
realities and are not labels. So, correct, these terms can include some
Christians, and they can also exclude some. Whether someone thinks Christians
are Kaffir or not depends on which group is being looked at, or which features
rather than others are being look at, or how they are seen by the person who
makes that assessment.
The People of the Book are those who have the
Taurat, Zaboor and Injeel. But God sent other Messengers besides Moses and
Jesus with His word. By analogical extension, therefore, it could mean the
followers of other genuine Prophets sent by God, the teachings through whom are
also the Word of God.
As the Quran says:-
"Verily, whether it be of those who
believe, or those who are Jews or Christians or Sabaeans, whoever believes in
Allah and the Last Day and acts aright, they have their reward with their Lord,
and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve." 2:62
Such people would be regarded as Muslims
according to:-
"He hath named you Muslims in old
times and in this scripture, that the messenger may be a witness against you,
and that ye may be witnesses against mankind..." 22:78
"And verily We have raised in every
nation a messenger proclaiming: Serve Allah and shun false Idols. Then some of
them there were whom Allah guided and some of them there were upon whom error
had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequences
for the deniers. " 16:36
"Unto each nation ( community or
group) have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not
dispute with thee over the matter but summon them unto thy Lord. Lo, thou
indeed followest right guidance." 22:76
Critic 3:-
As Muslims are permitted to marry Christian
women, they can not be idolaters. That is how I understand it...
A Muslim:-
Nice argument.
But I think it fails because 2.221 refers to
mushrikat (those who attribute partners to God) and 5.5 refers to those to whom
the Book was given earlier.
Comment:-
In so far as Christians think that Jesus is a
god and they worship him, Mary and various saints they are certainly idolaters.
But the Quran tells us:-
"They are not all alike. Of the
people of the Book there is an upright community, reciting the revelations of
Allah throughout the night, falling prostrate (in Surrender). They believe in
Allah, and in the last day, and bid intelligent (or right) conduct, and forbid
what is stupid (or wrong), and vie with one another in good works; these are
among the righteous." 3:113-114
"Say, O people of the scriptures, ye
have naught of guidance till ye observe the Torah and the Gospels and that
which was revealed unto you from your Lord. That which is revealed unto thee
(Muhammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the rebelliousness and disbelief
of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk. Whosoever believes
in Allah and the Last day and does right, there shall no fear come upon them
nor shall they grieve." 5:68-69
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