I was reading in another thread and I saw where one of our Muslim members I respect posted the following definition of worship:
With that definition I can see how one would think that many of the ritals of certain Christian groups (for instance veneration of Mary or asking saints to inteceede for one with God) would be understood by Muslims as worship, and yet I am also sure those Christians do not view nor intend those rituals as acts of worship which they would reserve (in their mind) for God alone.
What are some other terms you have encountered that we need to learn to identify as perhaps having different meanings depending on one's faith background?
perhaps one could define "Bible," as to what "historically" is the Bible. it's just a book right, biblios is Greek for "book" and IN NO WAY means from God, inspired by God or written by God, just a book? and nothing authoritative about it! and there is ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF WHATSOEVER that is is "from God."
i mean it's confusing for Muslims that Christians refer to the "Bible" as thought they have PROOF that it is from God, when in fact, it is just a book. they cannot say who wrote half of the books of the NT, and they cannot apply a single provable date to when any of it was written! and Christians have written and changed whatever is in there to make it say whatever they want it to.
so when a Christian says, "it's in the Bible!"; well that doesn't amount to a whole hill of beans now, does it?
why don't Christians just own up and say, "you see here, we have this book. we like to pretend it is from God. OF COURSE there's not the smallest, slightest scintilla of PROOF for it, but we like to pretend it is so".
that way there, no Muslims here will be confused about this thing called "the Bible", they can just dismiss any claims by it as UNRELIABLE and UNFOUNDED by FACT! actually it would be nice to see this as a disclaimer for all of the Christian posts here. at least we might think that they are being honest.
yes, i do believe we should should define things here!
and how about trinity while we are at it, eh? just admit it means 3 Gods, but you PREFER to PRETEND that you are monotheistic! at least be truthful!
and while we are at it, could you STOP calling God the Father, God the Father; i mean your own creed, says that the Holy Spirit is the Father of Jesus and not "God the Father." see here:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
i mean come on, don;t you think that "as a God", the "Son" has a right to know who his father really is? or do we need to define father, too?
this thread just might serve some good, after all!
