Islam

Competing Religious Competing Religious Worldviews:Worldviews:

IslamIslam

APOL 6543APOL 6543

Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.”

Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”

Context firstContext firstWhy compare religions?Why compare religions?

One Point of View:“Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 7:13-14)

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus of Nazareth (John 14:6)

God

Islam

Buddhism

Mysticism

Ba’hai

Another Point of View: Different Paths to the Same Goal?

Are all religions on the same Are all religions on the same path?path?

• There is some similarity between most or all religions

• But…. On the most basic level of theology, all other religions (except Judaism?) are incommensurate with Christianity

• If Islam is right, then Jesus Christ is just a prophet, he is not a path to salvation

Comparing worldviewsComparing worldviews• James Sire in The Universe Next Door (1997) defines a

worldview as “a set of presuppositions which we hold about the basic makeup of our world”

• A “Good” worldviewA) It is true (how do we determine that again?)B) It answers satisfactorily questions we need answers

(What types of questions again?)C) It causes believers to be better than they would

otherwise be

• Now, let’s explore our next competing world religion

Competing worldview #3Competing worldview #3IslamIslam

• Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam is monotheistic

• In Islam, God is more akin to a neo-platonic idea of God in that he is very distant and removed from man

Islamic Theological itemsIslamic Theological items• Kabira (Big sins)

– Murder, adultery, drunkenness, disobey parents, neglect Ramadan or Friday prayers, shaving the beard, forgetting the Koran after reading it, etc.

– Forgiveness with repentance• Saghira (Little sins)

– Deceit, anger, lust– Forgiveness if greater sins are avoided and good

deeds are performed• Shirk

– Association of other gods with Allah– No forgiveness

Islamic theological issues, cont.Islamic theological issues, cont.• Salvation by own effort• Charity atones for sins• Earn grace, earn the favor of Allah, earn

salvation, earn paradise

• Salvation is earned through the efforts of those who were pre-selected by Allah to inhabit a very sensual paradise

Islamic WorldviewIslamic Worldview• God is very distant from mankind• Is Islam, Allah determines everything,

even who will choose to follow him• It is God’s will that people suffer

• God, in Islam, can be characterized as arbitrary in his decisions

Islamic ScripturesIslamic Scriptures• The Qu’ran– Based on ‘revelations’ from Gabriel to

Mohammed– Compiled in the 7th century– Contains 114 chapters (suras) arranged from

longest to shortest– Quite repetitive– Slightly shorter than the New Testament

• Early Period in Mecca. Muhammad sees himself as following tradition of Judaism. Muslims pray toward Jerusalem.

• Early Medina period. Mohammad begins to be politically powerful. The idea of Jihad introduced.

• Later Medina and Meccan period. Muhammad strongly opposed to Jews and Christianity. Islam definitely a distinct religion.

Mohammed had 15 wives & led conquering armies

Islamic views on ChristianityIslamic views on Christianity• Muslims interpret the Trinity as…– God, Mary, and Jesus

• Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet but was not killed on the cross

Engaging with Muslims in Engaging with Muslims in apologetics…apologetics…

• Islamic errors in the Qu’ran (responses)• Islam’s conception of the Trinity (responses)• Islam’s perspective on Jesus (responses)

• Is this worldview a good one?

• Class discussion