Greetings and peace, Eric,
format_quote Originally Posted by
Eric H
Imagine being trapped in a burning building
I see what analogy you're trying to make. The burning building with no way out being the eternal ****ation due to original sin, that there is no way out from except through a saviour (i.e. Jesus, peace be upon him).
I think the analogy has a bit missing though, at the beginning. It should read, imagine somebody trapped you in a burning building, from which there is no way out. No fire exits, whole place consumed by fire and smoke. That person, analogy-wise, according to Christians, is God.
Now, why were you trapped in the burning building? Because one of your forefathers long ago, did something that you have to bear some of the punishment for. This is now not looking so loving, and forgiving.
In Christianity, because of Adam (peace be upon him) eating from the tree, humans became imperfect, and not only Adam (peace be upon him), but all subsequent generations have to bear a punishment from God, fell out of grace with God, mankind's relationship with God was severed, they are born into a state of sin, and death entered the world. God then had an innocent man (who actually is him) killed in a painful, torturous death to repair all of that, there being no other way of redemption. Through what Christians perceive to be his death and resurrection, they believe that that broken relationship is repaired and that man is reconciled with God. Salvation and reconciliation with God can only be achieved through the crucifixion and acceptance of Jesus (peace be upon him) as their saviour, who they believe died for their sins, and to give them eternal life.
In Islam, God forgave Adam and Eve (peace be on them), and guided them, and has sent guidance for us all to follow. He can forgive us all, freely, when we repent sincerely and ask sincerely, resolving not to repeat past mistakes, and does not expect perfection from us, but simply for us to worship Him alone without any associates, persons or parts to His Exclusive Divinity, and to not ascribe divinity to anybody or anything else, and to do our very best and try our very hardest with all our heart, body and soul, to love and obey Him and the messengers He sent. The same thing that every prophet and messenger preached throughout time. God's Mercy opening the doors to salvation and paradise. He can forgive whom He Pleases, and punish whom He pleases.
There is no burning building, no one punishing you for something you didn't do by putting you in a burning building, and no one being unjustly killed by the one who trapped you in the building in the first place.
I wish one day Eric, that you would open your heart to, submit to, and accept the truth, which resonates with the heart and mind, and makes sense. The truth is easy to understand, and clear. As a most likeable non-Muslim on this board, we do have a natural concern for you and a want for you follow the same truth God sent all the Prophets with, from Adam through to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, peace be on them all. We would love to see you accept Islam, and as always, openly invite you and call you to do so, and to ponder and reflect, and re-evaluate and reassess the basis for your own beliefs and doctrines. And it is that to which all people are invited by the Qur'an. Your beliefs regarding God, and which faith you follow, are the biggest, most serious and most important decisions you will ever make, as this life will end one day for all of us, and our position regarding God and His messengers is what makes or breaks our hereafter, which is forever. You owe it to yourself, to not regret in the hereafter, when it'll be too late. Many ex-Christians say they actually feel closer to Jesus's teachings now than when they were Christian.
In the video, the Christian gentleman makes a point of saying that each sin is so great. This while thinking nothing of the greatest sin of all, which is to associate others in God's exclusive divinity, about which Jesus (peace be on him) will say to God, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allah , my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness." (Qur'an 5:116 part- 117)
Some translations of other relevant verses/part verses from the Qur'an:
Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path." (Spoken by Jesus. 3:51 , 19:36 and 43:64)
And say, "Praise be to Allah, who has no son and no partner in His Dominion..." (17:111 part)
Worship Allah exclusively, and do not associate others in His Divinity.. (4:36, part)
Say: "We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and to [all] the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one and another of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)." And whosoever seeks as religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and he shall be in the hereafter, among the losers.(3:84, 85) Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam... (3:19, part)
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed.(14:52) Say, "O mankind, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so whoever is guided is only guided for [the good of] his soul, and whoever goes astray only goes astray to the detriment of it.." (10:108 part) And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly. (2:281)
Peace.