The Bible's Old Testament prophesied the coming Messiah--revealed in the New Testament as Jesus of Nazareth--for several thousand years and in many ways. Qur'anic scripture agrees somewhat with the Bible by presenting Jesus as a sinless, even virgin-born prophet (sired by an angel), but departs sharply from the Bible in claiming that Jesus is not the Savior and Son of God. The claim that Jesus is a Person of the Triune God as portrayed in the Bible is considered blasphemous by Islamic teaching. Even the claim of Christ's crucifixion is disputed by Muslims. Yet, Christians maintain the historical veracity of Jesus' claims to deity and the proof of an actual crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus is revered, but not divine; God reveals information about Himself, not Himself as a knowable Person.These are significantly contrasting truth-claims.
Which is the correct position, historically and theologically? Furthermore, is this even a proper question to pose, since many claim that all religions have some of the truth about divinity, while all of them lead to "It" or "Him"? The Faith and Science Lecture Forum of Atlanta has assembled a four-member panel to explore "Who is the True Jesus?" Designed for fair treatment of both sides, scholarly representatives of both faiths will lay out their arguments in a cordial, moderated format. (The moderator is well-known and regarded ABC News Religion Correspondent, Peggy Wehmeyer.) In recognition of the significance of this moderated discussion, we have assembled articles and testimonies that will delve into these sometimes contentious issues.
Check out the resources and the live and taped opportunities to experience the debate in our Special Focus.
—Byron Barlowe, Editor/Webmaster, Leadership University
Who is the True Jesus? A Comparative Analysis of the Jesus of the Qur'an and the Jesus of the Bible Faith and Science Lecture Forum Both Islam and Christianity honor Jesus, but do they see him in the same way? Is there any harmony on his identity between the two understandings? Those and other questions will be addressed deeply at Who is the True Jesus?, a debate being sponsored by the Faith and Science Lecture Forum (FSLF) in Atlanta on October 19.
FSLF president, Jim Tumlin, says the goal of the debate is to "examine the narratives on the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth in the Qur'an and the New Testament. We will examine the origins of these two documents with the hope of elucidating who the true Jesus was and whether the differences between these two great religions can be bridged." You can see the debate live on the Web, via satellite or on tape.
Islam Parveen Singh A broad study of Islam, looking at its background, origins, pillars of faith, articles of faith, and differing viewpoints on the Person of Jesus Christ.
What Is Islam? Rick Rood A basic primer: the history, current status, basic beliefs and practices of Islam are surveyed. Also, a Christian response to Islam is offered.
Important Views of Biblical Christianity World Religions Index Table on Major World Religions This article is part of the World Religions Index Table on major world religions. This article explores Biblical Christianity in six areas: Introduction, God, Man/Universe, Salvation/Afterlife, Morals, Worship.
Important Views of Islam World Religions Index Table on Major World Religions This article is part of the World Religions Index Table on major world religions. This article explores Islam in six areas: Introduction, God, Man/Universe, Salvation/Afterlife, Morals, Worship.
Salvations: Truth and Difference in Religion First Things "Salvations: Truth and Difference in Religion" was written by S. Mark Helm and is here reviewed by Paul J. Griffiths. A perennial question for Christianity has to do with the status of other religions and their members. From the review: "In these days of interfaith dialogue, or at least debate, there are inevitably substantial articles on Muslim-Christian dialogue, Muslim-Jewish dialogue, Christianity and Islam, Judaism and Islam. These and other similar articles are written by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish contributors reflecting different points of view, supported at times by different bibliographies."
The "I AM" Sayings Prove Jesus to be Divine Adel Mohammed El Naggar Examines the "I AM" sayings of Jesus, from a historical, literary, lexical, syntactical, structural and theological approach. Concludes that the "I AM" sayings prove the deity of Jesus the Christ. When Jesus uttered these solemn words, He sought to convey the astounding fact of his divine nature--as did the Apostle John when he recorded these life-giving words.
Connecting With the Divine Marilyn Adamson An article that discusses Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and New Age; their main characteristics and perspectives on God, humanity and salvation.
John Hick's Pluralistic Hypothesis and the Problem of Conflicting Truth-Claims Keith E. Johnson What is one to make of myriad of religions that exist in the world today? For many years philosopher John Hick found this question disturbing. Does Hick's hypothesis offer an adequate solution to the problem of the conflicting truth-claims of various religions? Johnson writes, "First Hick examines disagreements regarding matters of historical fact. One notable example is the disagreement between Christians and Muslims regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. Muslims claim Jesus did not die on a cross while Christians maintain that he did. Aside from a few other cases, Hick maintains that there are relatively few instances of genuine historical conflict between religious traditions. Most historical debates are between adherents of a particular tradition."
The Story of Bassam (Middle East) The story of someone coming out of an Islamic background. Bassam says, "I was really struck by one thing in the Bible, namely the teaching that no one is righteous but Jesus.... My father delivered me to the Security Forces and they arrested me and put me in prison for converting out of Islam. I had a very bad time there, as they tortured me to force me to return to Islam."
The Story of Zia Nodrat Fellowship of Faith The incredible life journey of a blind Afghan whose Christian faith and abilities led him on a dangerous faith adventure, likely ending in martyrdom.
The Story of Abdul Saleeb Abdul writes, "I sincerely welcome any interaction that Muslim friends might have with my testimony. Since both Muslims and Christians believe that our eternal destinies depend on our right relationship to God here on earth, therefore, it is of utmost importance to seriously consider not only the Qur'anic claims but also the claims of Jesus Christ. If the Socratic dictum is true that 'the unexamined life is not worth living,' it is even more true that 'the unexamined faith is not worth believing.'"
For more similar testimonies and articles, see our World Religions Index.
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