Harmony between the Bible and the Qur'an

Hi Everyone:

A recent comprehensive study concluded that there is harmony between the principal teachings of the Bible and the Qur'an, but that Christianity and Islamic tradition are incompatible. I read it and I believe it. The study is called Brothers Kept Apart, and it can be partially read on-line at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is also available as an e-book for $6 from iUniverse.com

From my previous discussions here, I have found that so few Muslims will read the Bible, yet they continue to criticize their interpretation of Christian tradition. Similarly, few Christians will actually read the Qur’an, but will criticize their interpretation of Islamic tradition.

I have examined the author’s claims and have found that even the most contentious verses in the Qur’an can be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the Bible, the rest of the Qur’an, and the historical record, yet, for whatever reason, Islamic tradition interprets them in a contentious way. This is similar for Christian tradition’s interpretation of the Bible.

It seems that Christians and Muslims are brothers who have been unnecessarily kept apart for the past 1,300 years by their religious leaders.

Regards,
Grenville

Muslims and Christians are brothers

The only parting of ways is that Muslims believe in one God and Christians believe in a "3 in 1" God.

Greetings and peace be with you Grenville;

Thanks for starting this thread, beyond a doubt we are all created by the same God, and the same God hears all our prayers despite all our differences. So that does make us brothers and sisters together.

In the spirit of praying for a greater interfaith understanding and friendship.

Eric

Hi Hamayun:

You have proven my point by reacting to Christian religious tradition rather than what is written in the Bible.

I am convinced that no one converts from Christianity to Islam, instead they abandon their understanding of Christian tradition which they cannot reconcile with the truth. Similarly for Muslims who leave the Islamic tradition that they cannot reconcile with the truth.

Hi Eric H:

I am not talking about the typical interfaith reconciliation compromises that over 95% of adherents on both sides do not take seriously. Rather, there appears to be complete harmony between the principal teachings of both Books, without any compromises whatsoever. I think that you need to read the book.

Greetings and peace be with you Grenville;

Hi Eric H:

I am not talking about the typical interfaith reconciliation compromises that over 95% of adherents on both sides do not take seriously.

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Ok.

Rather, there appears to be complete harmony between the principal teachings of both Books, without any compromises whatsoever. I think that you need to read the book.

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Which suggests that the same God is behind both our faiths. To me this is a reason for interfaith reconciliation, even though 95% on both sides do not take it seriously, there is only one God.

In the spirit of searching for a greater interfaith understanding.

Eric

no doubt He will, one day, let us all know about things on which we differ, perhaps we could put the hatred and lust to kill one another aside until then and instead start competing in doing good deeds which benefit the the needy from amongst us?

Hi Eric:

You are correct. There is one God. However, that fact has not changed the general distrust that Muslims and Christians have beet taught to have for each-other.

If I, as a Christian, knew that the Qur’an does not teach Muslims a contradictory belief, and vice-versa, then we would actually treat each-other as brothers (as opposed to agreeing to respectfully disagree for the sake of peace). The interfaith compromises have not worked for those who need it - the general adherents. However, it has worked for some the leaders who, according to the book, are the ones who have kept Christians and Muslim brothers apart for the past 1,300 years.

Hi Doorster:

Yes, we should help the poor, defend the widow and orphan, assist the stranger, etc. We are taught to “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” If we are brothers, then you are included in my household of faith and should benefit from “especially” treatment.

Our religious traditions may differ, and we will be informed of that by God as you have written; however, our core beliefs should not.

Regards,
Grenville

Hamayun said:

Muslims and Christians are brothers

The only parting of ways is that Muslims believe in one God and Christians believe in a "3 in 1" God.

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Muslims are brothers with Muslims only.

We are COUSINS of the Jews and Christians.

Greetings and peace be with you Grenville;

If I, as a Christian, knew that the Qur’an does not teach Muslims a contradictory belief, and vice-versa, then we would actually treat each-other as brothers

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Sadly I would have to disagree with you, there are hundreds of Christian denominations, yet 95% of what we believe is probably the same. I am a Catholic and we are probably the most dogmatic of all the denominations.

Muslims are divided up into sects, yet most of what they believe is the same.

The last commandment of Jesus was love one another as I have loved you, by this all men will know that you are my disciples. What tends to happen is Catholics only love other Catholics because we only recognise other Catholics as disciples of Jesus.

It is a lack of love for one another that separates us, like Dooster said

instead start competing in doing good deeds which benefit the the needy from amongst us?

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If we could pray together, pray for each other and share in good deeds, then we could overcome all our differences.

In the spirit of praying to One God.

Eric

Greetings and peace be with you AntiKarateKid;

Muslims are brothers with Muslims only.

We are COUSINS of the Jews and Christians

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Yet the same God hears all our prayers, will the same God judge us as cousins?

Will the same God put all the Hindu together and judge them by the scriptures that were given to them? Will he put all the Muslims together and judge them by the scriptures that were given to them, and the same for the Christians?

The same God will know for sure what is in all our hearts, and what scriptures were given to each and every one of us.

Maybe we are not in a position to judge each other, maybe we need to pray for each other that we might all gain salvation.

Even if my Catholic faith is the one true faith, I would not like to see Muslims, Hindu and atheists end up in hell for not believing as I believe.

In the spirit of praying to One God.

Eric

"Maybe we are not in a position to judge each other, maybe we need to pray for each other that we might all gain salvation."

Matthew 7

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

What gets my ire up - when I am called a pagan, kufir or unbeliever.

Follower said:

"Maybe we are not in a position to judge each other, maybe we need to pray for each other that we might all gain salvation."

Matthew 7

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

What gets my ire up - when I am called a pagan, kufir or unbeliever.

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And how do you think Hindus feel when Christians call them pagan or unbelievers? Or maybe the people the early Jews fought who worshipped idols?

I don't go around calling people names!!

Grenville said:

You are correct. There is one God.

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If you genuinely believe there is only one God with no partners or Trinity then you are almost there anyway.

To be a Muslim all you have to do is say: "I testify that there is only one God and Muhammad is his messenger".

Since you already believe in one God and pray to him alone with no partners I would say you are only one step away from being a Muslim.

You don't really "convert" from Christianity to Islam, its more like you start following your religion the way it was intended.

Hi Eric H:

You are entirely correct. Catholics and Protestants generally do not consider the other as genuine believers because of differences of religious tradition. The newer independent churches question the religious traditions of more established churches. Therefore, what divides Christians is not the Bible, but our religious traditions. What keeps us divided is our stubborn unwillingness to critically examine our traditions in order to know the truth.

That is why the book Brothers Kept Apart is so refreshing. The author states:
“In my opinion, the most important lesson from studying history is: never be afraid to re-examine the evidence in order to learn or verify the truth. We should never be afraid to critically examine claims of truth, for truth should be able to withstand rigorous scrutiny.” Walter Phillips

Remember Jesus’ warning to those who thoght that they were believers: “You make the commandment of none effect because of your tradition”.

Hi AntiKarateKid:

If a Muslim follows the Qur’an rather than Islamic tradition, and if a Christian follows the Bible instead of Christian tradition, then Christians and Muslims are brothers who have been unnecessarily kept apart for the past 1,300 years. Read the book.

Hi Follower:

The Bible and Qur’an are clear. God is not pleased with those who worship idols. Those who worship idols are pagans. If you worship idols then you are by definition a pagan, idolator, heathen, etc - take your pick. Those are not derogatory terms, they are English terms. However, if you worship the one and only God, who has defined Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the only Creator, the Almighty who has strength without limit, then you are not a pagan. What are you?

Hi Hamayun:

After reading Brothers Kept Apart, it is obvious that God is One, and Mohammed is one of His messengers. However, the book also identifies where Muslims have been taught to follow Islamic religious tradition rather than those parts of the Qur’an that are in harmony with principal Biblical teachings.

Regards,
Grenville

greetings

I got the book and according to it

The Qur’an appears to teach that Muslims must believe that Jesus:

• was born of the virgin Mary;
• taught the Gospel;
• performed many miracles, including raising the dead;
• was crucified;
• was raised by God; and
• is the Messiah.

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but according to real Quraan it was made to appear so but they did not kill him nor crucify him

I thought I should mention it, I have not read it all yet (but there are quite a few things in it that are not in Quraan, which it thinks that are in Quraan)

if anyone wants to read a preview click on its cover below for a limited number of pages

first, I commend you for coming so far, then, I'll have to say it is not going to happen anytime soon barring a miracle, there is much more to the division than scriptural and traditional differences, there are also the geopolitical issues at hand, which in my view make the larger part of the conflicts at hand.
the qur'an contains the essence of the Torah and Injeel, as such it surpasses both by going beyond them yet holding the principles constant; monotheism being the most important. there can be no going back for a Muslim, to do so would be to regress to an earlier system that is considered to be now largely dysfunctional. the whole point of new prophets is to replace the older traditions,,
religion has been used by the churches and rulers for their own ends, the layperson doe not know much about their own scripture let alone the others'.
economic and social stability brought about mostly by good government and wealth have a larger affect than all the interfaith work done till now..

Hi Doorster:

The Author actually spends two chapters on the crucifixion issue, which he calls the most contentious verse in the Qur’an. His criteria for interpreting verses is to see whether they can be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the rest of the Qur’an, the Bible, and the historical record, and that does not damage the integrity of any evidence. If a verse can be interpreted in such a way, then why choose the most contentious interpretation? He also uses the same criteria for the traditional Islamic interpretation. The conclusion supporting Jesus crucifixion is compelling. I tried cut and pasting sections from the cheap ($6) e-book but was unsuccessful.

Regards,
Grenville

Grenville said:

Hi Doorster:

The Author actually spends two chapters on the crucifixion issue, which he calls the most contentious verse in the Qur’an. His criteria for interpreting verses is to see whether they can be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the rest of the Qur’an, the Bible, and the historical record, and that does not damage the integrity of any evidence. If a verse can be interpreted in such a way, then why choose the most contentious interpretation? He also uses the same criteria for the traditional Islamic interpretation. The conclusion supporting Jesus crucifixion is compelling. I tried cut and pasting sections from the cheap ($6) e-book but was unsuccessful.

Regards,
Grenville

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I really do not wish to upset you because for some reason I like you, but I would rather do my own look-ups when it comes to translating the words from the Quraan.

wa ma qataloohu wa ma salaboohu << where is need or room for interpretation?

peace!

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I tried cut and pasting sections from the cheap ($6) e-book but was unsuccessful.

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is it a secured pdf file?

Grenville said:

Hi Doorster:

The Author actually spends two chapters on the crucifixion issue, which he calls the most contentious verse in the Qur’an. His criteria for interpreting verses is to see whether they can be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the rest of the Qur’an, the Bible, and the historical record, and that does not damage the integrity of any evidence. If a verse can be interpreted in such a way, then why choose the most contentious interpretation? He also uses the same criteria for the traditional Islamic interpretation. The conclusion supporting Jesus crucifixion is compelling. I tried cut and pasting sections from the cheap ($6) e-book but was unsuccessful.

Regards,
Grenville

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Because it was the interpretation of the earliest Muslims who are held unanimously to be the best generation.

I understand that you are trying to get some interfaith love going here but keep in mind that Christians are polytheists according to Islam and thus cannot be our brothers. Cousins and friends yes, but not brothers.