Re: Christianity and Islam: Can both have a conversation without argument?
Hello Cocomir, welcome to the forum.
Can we have conversation without argument?. Why not?.
Some people in my mother family are Christians, I have enough much Christian friends, and I studied in Catholic elementary school. So, having conversation with Christians is something that I have been familiar with.
Re: Christianity and Islam: Can both have a conversation without argument?
Welcome, my friend. No problem with that. In real life, I talk to Christians all the time. And Buddhists. And Hindus. Makes life more interesting to have variety in conversation.
I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Hi, I am new to this site. I would like to have a conversation with someone who would like to share their beliefs with me. I don't understand thia board yet or how to start a conversation with someone!
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Hi there!
You can find out quite a lot from browsing through the historical threads. Some of the things you may want to know will have been discussed sometime in the past. If you do have a query on the topic you could post a question on that thread itself or start a new one.
On this thread, what you are asking is a very wide topic and how do we start? Perhaps you could have indicated an area....
Hence I can only start by taking a 'cue' from you. I see that you are a Christian, hence what are my beliefs (as you are indirectly asking me) would have to be viewed from your perspective. I guess it would be,
• Every man (and women) was born free of sin. They will be judged on their deeds. No man (or woman) will bear the sins of any other.
• Allah gave us 'free-will' and all choices are made by ourselves. Allah does not make the choices for us.
• Jesus was one of the prophet of islam
• The Quran is protected by Allah and that the Psalms, the Torah, the Bible and the Quran are all continuation of revelations sent to us.
• That there will be 'judgement day'.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
The thing is that God's message to mankind was always one. If you believe that there is one God who is the same God from the beginning of time to the end, then you will realize that it is not possible for God to change His message or His nature. Since, as a Christian, you believe that God sent many Prophets including Abraham and Moses, then you'll agree that the message brought by Jesus would be the same as the ones brought by Abraham and Moses (and all other Biblical Prophets and Messengers). Now you should compare the message you believe to be brought by Jesus with those brought by previous Prophets. Did any of the previous Prophets clearly say that God is three-in-one or Jesus is God? No, nowhere will you find that.
Thus, you can reason that there is no way that Jesus would have preached this belief. Hence, trinity and godhead of Jesus are incorrect beliefs. Jesus' actual teachings were altered somewhere during the course of history.
Now compare the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) with the previous Prophets' messages and you can see that the teachings and belief of Islam are in line with those of the previous Prophets. Thus, you can reason that Islamic belief about God and Jesus (that God is one and Jesus is a human and Prophet) is correct.
Re: Christianity and Islam: Can both have a conversation without argument?
Greetings and peace be with you cocomir75; welcome to the forum, and thanks for starting this thread.
I have been a Street Pastor for the last six years, Christians from eight denominations come together, we pray for each other, we pray for our town. We wonder the streets until around 3 - 4 am in the morning, trying to inspire kindness and care. It has been a profound journey, we come into contact with depression, anger, violence, drunks, drugs and the majority of people we meet are just so wonderful, so many people shake our hands and say, thanks for caring.
My thoughts have always been, that it would be so wonderful if people of all faiths could come together, pray for each other, pray with each other, then try and bring kindness to the community in the same way.
Could we pray for each other?
In the spirit of praying to 'One God' the creator of all that is seen and unseen.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
I have loved and appreciated every single response. Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer to my 'forum.' I definitely liked hearing of the major beliefs that greenhill told me about. I appreciated the point of view of Christianity from a Muslim's perspective by dreamin. I appreciated Eric H's heart for wanting oneness and unity and finding the ultimate solution instead of focusing on problems, that definitely helped me see how I should be praying for everyone no matter what. I liked muslim girl's honesty of not having Christian friends but belief that unity can be found. I feel incredibly blessed to have learned so much through a blog and from people that I do not know and some that do not share the same beliefs. Thank you all!
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
format_quote Originally Posted by cocomir75
I have loved and appreciated every single response. Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer to my 'forum.' I definitely liked hearing of the major beliefs that greenhill told me about. I appreciated the point of view of Christianity from a Muslim's perspective by dreamin. I appreciated Eric H's heart for wanting oneness and unity and finding the ultimate solution instead of focusing on problems, that definitely helped me see how I should be praying for everyone no matter what. I liked muslim girl's honesty of not having Christian friends but belief that unity can be found. I feel incredibly blessed to have learned so much through a blog and from people that I do not know and some that do not share the same beliefs. Thank you all!
I hope the conversation doesn't end here. I'd like to know your thoughts as well.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Greetings and peace be with you Dreamin;
I hope the conversation doesn't end here. I'd like to know your thoughts as well.
What are people's thoughts on being able to pray with each other and pray for each other despite all our differences, how could we progress to collectively sharing together in good deeds?
In the spirit of searching for a greatest meaning of 'One God'
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Muslim roughly means the one who has submitted to the Will of God, so before he actually does anything the question that comes to his mind is "would this action bring me closer to God or further from God? Is this wrong or right?". One might refer to it as Taqwa or be God-fearing or God-conscious.
With that in mind, it's not up to the layman to decide what is good and what is bad, we leave that to the scholars and even the rightful scholars would not claim to know exactly what God would deem as good or bad. Which is why we have what we call Fatwa, it is an opinion based on the scholar's knowledge. For example the Quran or Sunnah does not say whether Marijuana is halal(permissible) or haram(impermissible), so how is one to know whether partaking in marijuana is good or bad? So the scholars; based on what they know about the Quran and Sunnah will derive a ruling on the permissibility of marijuana. "So it makes one intoxicated? Then it would be under the same category as alcohol.".. this is just a simplistic example and I hope one doesn't take it too literal.
So if one were to ask whether muslims can pray with someone of a different faith, all I can say is that it is not in my place to give an answer to that as I have very limited knowledge on it's permissibility. One might say "How can it be bad in any way?", the thing is that that statement alone is made based on one's own limited knowledge. To use an analogy of why it could be bad, it could be similar to a situation where both you and a friend are trying to go to the same destination, but you know that your friend is heading the wrong direction, and instead of helping him out with the direction you instead validate it by giving him a pat on the back.
However does this mean, that you and your friend cannot cooperate? Of course not. Maybe the both of you are in a disagreement as to which is the right direction but you both agree that on the way there you ought to be helping out whoever needs help. In this sense, cooperation is not impossible.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Greetings and peace be with you Hulk; and thanks for your reply,
So if one were to ask whether muslims can pray with someone of a different faith, all I can say is that it is not in my place to give an answer to that as I have very limited knowledge on it's permissibility. One might say "How can it be bad in any way?", the thing is that that statement alone is made based on one's own limited knowledge.
Thanks for trying to clarify
To use an analogy of why it could be bad, it could be similar to a situation where both you and a friend are trying to go to the same destination, but you know that your friend is heading the wrong direction, and instead of helping him out with the direction you instead validate it by giving him a pat on the back.
Islam and Christianity, are we both on the way to salvation, via different paths? I know I cannot divert you onto the Christian path, I could pat you on the back and say, hope we will meet again in heaven, but do we then go our separate ways? Once we part company, there seems little we could do for each other apart from pray for each other. But should I pray that you become a Christian, or should I pray that you will find salvation, even if you choose to remain a faithful Muslim?
There is a story from Ghandi that I like, A Hindu goes to Ghandi and says, I am cursed, I have killed an innocent Muslim.
Ghandi said, You must adopt a Muslim child, and bring him up to be a good Muslim.
However does this mean, that you and your friend cannot cooperate? Of course not. Maybe the both of you are in a disagreement as to which is the right direction but you both agree that on the way there you ought to be helping out whoever needs help. In this sense, cooperation is not impossible.
I have highlighted the bit that has meaning for me.
Blessings
Eric
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
Assalamalecum,yes u r welcome, to start off with we muslims believe that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is alive as Allah mentioned in ch 4 v 157-158 of Quran and Allah says in ch 43 v 61 of Quran says return of Jesus christ (pbuh) to earth will be one of the signs of judgement day.
Re: I simply want to have a conversation about Islamic beliefs
format_quote Originally Posted by Eric H
Islam and Christianity, are we both on the way to salvation, via different paths? I know I cannot divert you onto the Christian path, I could pat you on the back and say, hope we will meet again in heaven, but do we then go our separate ways? Once we part company, there seems little we could do for each other apart from pray for each other. But should I pray that you become a Christian, or should I pray that you will find salvation, even if you choose to remain a faithful Muslim?
Good questions, thought provoking
I would say that we pray to God Almighty, that HE guide us to the Truth, and we keep asking, keep begging HIM, like children clinging to the hem of a parents garment, pleading with them for that candy bar... this is how I believe we should approach out Creator - as needy human beings who do not know how to attain the undeniable truth, unless HE wills it so. SO we should ask for it, and ask for the better things like "understanding, empathy, the ability to help those who we were previously unable to help" etc...
The question is of salvation - and I believe that in order to earn it, one must not only follow the faith as best as one can, but one must also help others to reach salvation through deeds - good works. And in doing so, one is walking that path also...
I don't believe in the idea of being "saved" simply because we "believe" - this I find very escapist and against the teachings of all the prophets and messengers - many there will be in hell who used to say "we believe" but their actions were contradictory to their word. The proof of your belief, is in your actions. Not the tongue. The tongue only states what it wants to state.
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