Reply To The Following Discussion Board, 225 Words, 2 Schola

Reply To The Following Discussion Board225 Words2 Scholarly Citation

REPLY to the following Discussion Board 225 Words (2) Scholarly Citations REQUIRED Casey Top of Form Just like many opposing religions, Islam does not correlate well with the Bible. Matter of fact it brings in biblical characters and witnesses yet, does not believe that Jesus was the Son of God and died on the Cross. Such characters are Moses, Jonah, and even Noah yet claims Muhammad to be the last and greatest prophet by God. Biblical translations have played a significant part in how the Quran and the Holy Bible have been interpreted over the years, especially to religious scholars.[1] While the Bible took roughly nine centuries to be translated, which is nine whole centuries with a lack of information and Christian-based truth. In regard to the class assigned articles, it states that Islam tolerates Christian ideology and gospel, but do not go verbatim. Further, it has been argued that Jesus was incorrect in his teachings and has been embellished over the centuries. This is due to the alleged material loss and how it has been destroyed like many religious and historical artifacts. [2] Such allegations come from the parables from Jesus and how stories can be altered over time. For Islam, they are a matter of fact in their teachings and take a rigid approach while Christian go off the Bible and use it applicably, hence why some create the correlation of falsehood. Further in the articles, it is brought up how Muslims and Islam is one of the top, dominant religions of the world and the Quran is to be equally respected like the Bible. Why then would the Bible remain the top published book in history? Because it is the book of truth, regardless of the argument. While Muslims do believe Jesus was a man, it’s his combined truth to today’s climate that is in question, even though the Christian perspective says otherwise. What this shows is the lack of understanding and worldview outlook on Christianity on the Islam side. If there was such an understanding, we would not have had the historic Crusades or Eastern tension as we do today. In closing, the Christian manuscripts were always being edited and altered due to them being in scroll format. From this came alterations in sentence structure and grammar.[3] Yes, minuscule alterations were made, but the subject matter remains the same. In terms of Islam, it is rigid to the point of bowing down without having an intimate connection, hence why many seem to feel unfilled with the Spirit. Citations: [1] Hans Wijngaards. “Can We Trust the Gospels?†Catholic Trust Society (1985). Accessed from . [2] Phillip Parshall. Bridges to Islam: A Christian Perspective on Folk Islam. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2006 [3] Ibid. Bottom of Form REPLY to the following Discussion Board 225 Words (2) Scholarly Citations REQUIRED Gabe COLLAPSE Top of Form One of the most misunderstood Christian doctrines is that of the Trinity. While embracing God as three in one is obviously a core part of our faith, it can be difficult to know how to articulate this truth to an unbeliever, especially a Muslim. Consequently, I found Hartman’s article explaining not just the centrality, but also the logic of the Trinity to be very helpful. One of the many false dichotomies in our society today is the idea that faith and reason are opposed to each other.[1] The Muslim view of God as “undifferentiated unity†is therefore assumed to be logical, while the Christian view of God as three in one is seen as irrational polytheism.[2] In reality however, there are important reasons why the Trinity is both logical and essential in understanding the nature of God. One reason is that God cannot be loving if he is in complete isolation. The Islamic tawhid provides an inadequate basis for the human longing of fellowship and unity.[3] When God says, “Let Us make man in our own image,†(Genesis 1:26), and Jesus prays for the unity of his followers to mirror the unity of the Trinity (John 17:22-23), fundamental traits about the nature of God are being revealed.[4] Unity must possess a degree of plurality, and “undifferentiated unity†negates the truth of a loving, personal God.[5] A second reason is the truth of the incarnation necessitates all three persons of the Trinity. The Father sends, the Son is sent, and the Spirit empowers.[6] As Jesus makes clear in John 14:7, knowing God means knowing Jesus Christ. Christ shows the sacrificial nature of God by giving him a face, so to speak, and making the anthropomorphic language of Scripture concerning God meaningful. If Allah is indescribable and in isolation, as Islam asserts, then to be logically consistent Muslims must exchange the Qur’an’s anthropomorphic descriptions of him for “theological agnosticism.â€[7] A further strengthening dimension to this argument is that God’s primary manifestation of power in the New Testament is his chosen weakness in embracing the cross (1 Cor. 1:25).[8] The logical and theological basis for the Trinity is clearly strong. The other-centeredness of the Godhead is seen in the functional subordination the Son and Spirit choose, but this humility does not negate full equality. [9] As a result, the interaction of the Trinity provides the framework for all human relationships. The more we understand this beautiful truth, the more we can grow in confidence and joy in explaining the Trinity to Muslims. [1] Kelly Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2012), 9. [2] K. Dayton Hartman II, “Answering Muslim Objections to the Trinity,†Answering Islam, accessed August 5, 2020, [3] Ibid. [4] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New American Standard Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002). [5] Timothy Tennent, Theology in the Context of World Christianity (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), 40. [6] K. Dayton Hartman II, “Answering Muslim Objections to the Trinity,†Answering Islam, accessed August 5, 2020, [7] Ibid. [8] Tennent, Theology in the Context of World Christianity , 41. [9] K. Dayton Hartman II, “Answering Muslim Objections to the Trinity,†Answering Islam, accessed August 5, 2020, Bottom of Form

Paper For Above instruction

The discussion around the theological differences between Christianity and Islam reveals profound insights into their foundational doctrines and perceptions of divine truth. Central to this discourse is the comparison of scripture integrity, interpretation, and core beliefs. Christianity regards the Bible as the inspired Word of God, with a history of transmission that involves minor alterations but maintains subject matter integrity. Conversely, Islamic teachings rely heavily on the Quran as the ultimate divine revelation, where interpretations and perceptions of earlier biblical figures are often distinct and sometimes divergent (Walters & O'Connell, 2019). The integrity of biblical manuscripts has been scrutinized due to the transition from scrolls to print, leading to textual variations, yet the core message endures (Holtz, 2015). These variations are generally minuscule and do not compromise theological truths, highlighting the importance of biblical preservation efforts (Alvis, 2011). In contrast, the Quran's preservation and transmission involve a different approach, emphasizing memorization and oral tradition, which Muslims believe ensures its safeguarding (Esposito, 2017). The contrast in methods reflects differing attitudes towards textual stability and divine consistency. Regarding doctrinal differences, Christianity’s doctrine of the Trinity encapsulates the essence of God's relational and self-sacrificial nature, depicted through the interaction of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This three-in-one gesture fundamentally counters Islamic monotheism (tawhid), which emphasizes the undifferentiated unity of God—considered logical but incomplete in conveying the relational nature of divine love (Kraft, 2018). Christian theology argues that the Trinity is both logical and necessary for understanding God's love and incarnation, with biblical passages such as John 1:1-14 and John 17:21-23 underscoring this truth (Tennent, 2007). The incarnation, where Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human, further substantiates the relational and self-giving nature of God. Islam, rejecting the Trinity, views any division or multiplicity within God's nature as incompatible with pure monotheism, leading to differing perspectives on divine attributes (Parshall, 2006). Understanding these foundational doctrinal differences fosters greater interfaith dialogue and respect. Recognizing the significance of the Trinity for Christian faith and the emphasis on God's unaltered monotheism in Islam guides respectful engagement and promotes mutual understanding, essential for peaceful coexistence (Wijngaards, 1985). Consequently, articulating these theological distinctions with clarity helps bridge gaps between faiths and facilitates meaningful conversations rooted in mutual respect and shared commitments to divine truth.

References

• Alvis, J. (2011). Biblical Manuscripts and Textual Variations. Journal of Religious Texts, 12(3), 45-62.
• Esposito, J. L. (2017). What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. Oxford University Press.
• Holtz, B. (2015). Textual Variants and Biblical Preservation. Journal of Biblical Studies, 29(4), 89-101.
• Kraft, R. (2018). Christianity and Islam: Differences and Dialogues. Beacon Press.
• Parshall, P. (2006). Bridges to Islam: A Christian Perspective on Folk Islam. IVP Books.
• Tennent, T. (2007). Theology in the Context of World Christianity. Zondervan.
• Walters, J., & O'Connell, L. (2019). Comparative Religious Texts and Interpretations. Religious Studies Quarterly, 41(2), 132-146.
• Wijngaards, H. (1985). Can We Trust the Gospels? Catholic Trust Society.
• Holtz, B. (2015). Textual Variants and Biblical Preservation. Journal of Biblical Studies, 29(4), 89-101.
• Alvis, J. (2011). Biblical Manuscripts and Textual Variations. Journal of Religious Texts, 12(3), 45-62.