Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by David Catchpoole
Summary
Whatever sets itself against Christhumanism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age, etc.a key to its demolition ((2 Corinthians 10:5) is to show that its origins view (unlike Genesis) does not fit with reality. My name is Muhammad, the young man said to a fellow student at university in Australia. Muhammad?, she replied, Where have I heard that name before? After he, a Muslim, explained that Muhammad1 is the name of the Great Prophet of Islam, the young lady, raised in a church-going family, asked about the differences between Islam and Christianity. The Muslim man explained that probably the most fundamental difference is that the Koran2 speaks of Jesus as a prophetdefinitely not the Son of God. That evening, the Australian-born student told her father of the encounter, and asked, Dad, Ive been thinking our bodies are unclean! Why would God, who is pure, sully himself by coming down to Earth in human form? After her father failed to give a reasoned answer, she turned her back on the church, converted to Islam and later married a Muslim.3 Such a question requires only a basic understanding of the Atonement to answer. Salvation required a sacrificial last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) to shed His blood in death, one who was a physical descendant of the first, yet sinless. This could be fulfilled only through God incarnate, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:12, 22). Notice, though, how all this is built upon the foundational Genesis truths of the first Adam bringing in sin and death, and the first shedding of blood as a covering for sin (Genesis 3:21). The increasing confusion caused in the church by long-age compromises (which, by putting suffering, death and bloodshed before Adam, undermine these truths) is a major reason why so many today cannot give reasoned answers to basic Gospel-related questions (contravening 1 Peter 3:15). This leaves young people in the church vulnerable to being tossed by winds of false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Following September 11, the increased prominence of Islam in the media, and public declarations by government (and many church) leaders that Islam is a great religion, will likely raise further questions in the minds of many young people in the churches. E.g. Do Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God? and What does the Koran say about the Bible? 1
Many Christian commentators have sought to raise awareness of fundamental doctrinal differences between the Koran and the Bible (see below), but few people are aware of how the Muslims holy book starkly contradicts the Biblical account of our origins.
Evolution-believing Muslims seem to be far more numerous, and vocal, than creationist Muslims. They have a substantial strategic advantage precisely because the Koran is so vague, nebulous and seemingly open to various interpretations.6 They delight in pointing out that, in contrast, There is absolutely no ambiguity whatsoever in the Biblical description of the Creation in six days followed by a day of rest, the sabbath, analogous with the days of the week.7 These evolution-accommodating Muslims are adamant that the days of Creation in the Koran mean in reality very long Periods, or Ages, or Aeons.7 Muslim apologists gleefully point out that the Koran is compatible with evolution where the Bible is not, e.g.: Neither here nor anywhere else in the Holy Qur-n is it affirmed that Adam was the first man, or that there was no creation by God before Adam, nor that Adam lived or man was created, or the earth made, only six thousand years ago.8,9 Longage Muslims exploit the Bibles explicit detail of the Flood, too. They say that because the Bible clearly says there was a recent global Flood, while science says there was not, the Bible is wrong and the Koran is thus confirmed to be right!10 Some of the Muslim literature even claims that the Koran shows that Allah revealed to Muhammad details about the big bang, ancient universe and evolution long before scientists began to discover such facts.11
Christian awareness
In the same way that being aware of evolutionary challenges to our faith helps us to be ready with answers,12 so, too, we need to be aware of what religions, including Islam, actually say, in order to be better prepared to answer our childrens questions.13 When men teach things that are contrary to the Bible, we are commanded to actively oppose such ideas (2 Corinthians 10:5). Christians need to be ready to help guide young people through the kinds of intellectual crisis of faith that many confront in their teenage years whether because of exposure to evolutionary teaching, or to other religions. Knowing that the Word of God accurately explains our world ahead of all opposing ideas not only strengthens our own faith, but gives us the confidence to reach out in love to challengersincluding Muslims.
So why so many irreconcilable differences between Genesis 111 and the Koran? A Muslim might say that todays copies of the Bible have been corrupted. But the earliest Biblical manuscripts (e.g. in the British Museum14) date from before Muhammad, demonstrating the reliability of our current copies. A further challenge for the Muslim would concern the presence of death, suffering, grief, etc., in the world. Consider the following exchange between American TV host Larry King and Georgetown Universitys Islamic professor of theology, Maysam Al-Faruqi: KING: Maysam, if you believe in heaven and paradise, then dying is good? AL-FARUQI: Absolutely. And dying is perfectly natural, its the end of things. KING: Why do we treat it tragically? AL-FARUQI: Well, there is the pain 15 So in this Muslim (also theistic evolutionary) view of death as perfectly natural, why grieve and wail at the death of a loved one? The Islamic professors answer, Well, there is the pain begs the question: So pain and suffering are a natural part of Gods good (Koran 32:7) creation, too? Clearly, Muslims have no satisfactory answer. But the Bible explains that death, violence, pain and decay entered a once-perfect Creation as a result of Adams sin in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17, 3:19; Romans 5:1217; 8:1922; 1 Corinthians 15:2122). Thankfully, this situation is only temporary, as God gave his Son, Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, that those who believe in Him can look forward to the coming restoration, to a world with no more death, mourning, crying or pain, i.e. no more Genesis Curse (John 1:18, 3:16; Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:4, 22:3).
In conclusion
Muslims claim to respect Jesus and other Biblical figures, which has caused many to think Islam may be an additional revelation from the Creator, building on a Biblical foundation. However, the differences between the Koran and the Bible are massive, beginning with the foundational history in Genesis, upon which the Gospel is squarely based. This evidence is consistent with the Christian claim that the Bible is the Creators truthful, sole revelation, and that the Koran, despite some superficial resemblances, is a radical departure from its teaching. The Bible teaches of a God of love for whom death and suffering were not a part of His original creation; sin caused the world to fall from original perfection. By contrast, and in common with theistic evolutionary corruptions of Bible doctrine, the Koranic view of death and suffering has them as intrinsic to creation, a natural part of the way things are. Not surprisingly, therefore, the worldview of Islam leads to a radically different
understanding of the nature of God, humanity, salvation and the world in general. This must affect not merely the stance of individuals, but entire cultures.
The Bible describes clearly what was made on No clear details of each creation day. each day of Creation Week. The Big Bang is Some vague clustering of the days in 41:9 excluded by this sequence (E.g. Earth before 12.2 Sun). Creation in 6 Days which are clearly Earthrotation days (c. 24 hours). Man and the animals were created vegetarian (Genesis 1:2930). No death and suffering in the original creation. Creation also in 6 Days2 but could easily be interpreted as millions of years (see main text). Carnivory (and thus death and suffering) apparently integral to life on the created Earth from the first. The Koran (6:142, 16:5, 40:79) says that cattle were created for man to eat. The Koran speaks of Adams (and his wifes) nakedness becoming apparent to them after they sinned (20:121; also implied by 7:22), yet also implies that they were wearing some kind of raiment prior to the Fall (Koran 7:273). Jesus Christ was a created being. Koran 3:59 The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; he created him from dust .
All things were created through Christ and for Christ. He was pre-existent to Creation (e.g. Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Micah 5:2; John 1:13, 10; 3:13; 6:62; 8:35, 58; 17:5, 24; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:1617; Hebrews 1:2).
set on the (earth) mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth in four Days So he completed them as seven firmaments in two Days. Return to text. 3. O ye Children of Adam! Let not Satan seduce you, in the same manner as he got your parents out of the Garden, stripping them of their raiment, to expose their shame . Return to text.
No mention of snake or serpent in the Koran (except for a reference to Moses stick-tosnake transformation). Satan enticed Adam and his wife. Koran 20:120 But Satan whispered evil to him: He said, O Adam! Shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity1 and to a kingdom that never decays? Koran 7:2021 Then began Satan to whisper suggestions to them He said: Your Lord only forbade you this tree, lest ye should become angels or such beings as live forever.
The serpent enticed Eve, denying she would die. (Genesis 3: 15) You will not surely die, the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
The Lord God made garments of skin for Raiment mentioned, but no mention of skin Adam and Eve, and clothed them. (Koran 7:26). (Genesis 3:21) After the Fall, Adam and Eve still on Earth, but barred from Eden (Genesis 3:2324). Adam and Eve were shifted from Paradise (not on Earth) down to Earth (7:24, also 2:36).
After the Fall, man will now eat through Toil and sweat were an integral part of the painful toil and (as a result of the Curse original created Earth. Koran 90:4 Verily We on the land) by the sweat of your brow have created man to toil and struggle. 7
(Genesis 3:17, 19). Death is an enemy, that entered after No reference in the Koran to death being an Adam sinned. (Genesis 2:17; 3:19; enemy, or anything other than an integral Romans 5:12, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:2122, part of the original created Earth. 26). Ground now cursed; the whole creation now groaning, in bondage to decay. (Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:2022; Revelation 22:3). Apparently, the bad things are not a consequence of the Fall, but integral to the original Creation.
Ark caulked with palm fibre (Koran 54:13 14). No mention of Ark size.
Duration of rain (40 days/nights), time afloat No mention of any time periods for the (150 days), total duration (370 days) of Flood. Flood (Genesis 7:12, 24; 8:4, 14). Eight people survived the Flood (1 Peter The number on board is not mentioned. The 3:20), i.e. all of Noahs family (Genesis 7:1, Koran claims one of Noahs sons was 7). drowned (11:4243), and puts a question mark over whether Noahs wife survived (66:10, 11:40).2 Man granted permission to eat meat after the Man ate meat on Earth from the beginning Flood (Genesis 9:3). (6:142, 16:5, 40:79). I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it There is no mention of the rainbow, or its will be the sign of the covenant between me significance, anywhere in the Koran. and the earth. Never again will the waters
Regarding the different languages, the Koran (30:22) says: And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors
The Bible says that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12), while the Koran says that only through Islam (obedience to Allah and his prophet Muhammad) can one avoid the Blazing Fire (Koran 3:85; 48:13). The Koran denies Christs death and Resurrection. Various passages in the Koran (e.g. 4:155159) say that Allah made it appear to the Jews as if Jesus was crucifiedin the meantime, Allah took Jesus up to Heaven. While the Bible says that as descendants of Adam, all are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23), the Muslim view is that man is born innocent.1 The Koran refers to sin as earned (4:111, 6:120, 24:11). The Koran denies that God is Triune (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).2 (Muslims do not address God as Father, believing that no man can be a son of God.) and the Christians call Christ the Son of Allah. Allahs curse be on them: How they are deluded away from the Truth! (9:3031). While the Bible says that it is by grace that we are saved through faith alone, not by works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:89), the Koran (23:102103) tells a very different story: Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy,
they will attain salvation: But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide. While the Bible calls Christians to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19), this is to be done with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)Christians do not use the weapons of the world to preach the Gospel (2 Corinthians 10:35). But for Muslims, a very different approach is prescribed in the Koran. E.g. then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them (9:5). And, I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: Smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them. (8:12) While the Bible instructs a husband never to be harsh with his wife and to sacrificially love her as Christ loved the church, and not to deprive one another (1 Corinthians 7:5; Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19); the Koran (4:34) says: As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them . The Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The Koran does not.
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