In-Depth Intro to Islam

September 11, 2008 – 9:45 am

This 41 page essay entitled, “A Christian Perspective on Islam” offers a thorough introduction to Islam, including clarification on questions such as “who is Jesus to a Muslim?” and “what does the Qur’an claim about Muhammad?” and “how do Muslims view Shari’a law while living in a non-Islamic country?”

Here’s an excerpt from the section “Two Movements in Opposite Directions”:

When we look into the Bible and the Qur’an, we are bound to notice a clear opposition as regards the development of their teachings about the expansion of God’s kingdom. Put in simple terms, holy war in the Old Testament becomes spiritual warfare in the New Testament, whereas spiritual warfare in Mecca is subsumed under holy war in Medina. [p.33, #6, sec.1]

The author, Chawkat Moucarry, has served as Director of Inter-Faith Relations for World Vision International since 2006. Born in Syria, he earned a doctorate in Islamic Studies at the Sorbonne. For twelve years he served as Tutor and Lecturer in Islamic Studies at All Nations Christian College in England.

Outline of the Essay:

1. The Bible: The Christian Scripture

  1. Falsification Theories
  2. Inspiration Versus Recitation
    • Inspiration
    • Recitation
  3. God Himself Versus God’s Will
  4. Interpreting the Scriptures
  5. Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible
    • Qur’anical Evidence: The Qur’an Commends the Bible
    • Theological Evidence: God’s Word Must Reflect His Attributes
    • Scientific Evidence: The Manuscripts Are Reliable and Predate Islam’s Birth
    • Rational Evidence: Falsification Does not Make Sense
  6. The Verdict of Jesus Christ on the Scriptures

2. God

  1. God in Islam
  2. God in Christianity
  3. The Fatherhood of God in Christianity
    • He Is Our Creator
    • He Cares for Us
    • He Is Merciful to Us
    • He Disciplines Us
    • He Is Our Divine Friend
    • He Loves Us
    • He Is Our Savior
  4. What God’s Fatherhood Does Not Mean

3. Jesus Christ

  1. What Is So Unique About Jesus?
    • Jesus’ Birth
    • Jesus’ Titles
    • God’s Word
    • The Messiah
    • God’s Spirit
    • Jesus’ Mission
    • Jesus’ Sinless Life
    • Jesus’ Claims
  2. A Christian Response to Islamic Objections About Jesus
    • “The Christian Doctrine Does Not Make Sense”
    • “It Is Unfitting for God to Become a Human Being”
    • “Jesus Is God’s Son Only in a Symbolic Sense”

4. Sin and Forgiveness

  1. Sin in Christianity and Islam
    • The Definition of Sin
    • The Seriousness and Penalty of Sin
    • The Scope of Sin
    • The Reparation of Sin
  2. Forgiveness in Islam
    • God Is Sovereign: He Will Eventually Forgive All Muslims
    • God Is Just: He Will Forgive Only Obedient Muslims
    • God Is Merciful: He Will Eventually Forgive All People
  3. Forgiveness in Christianity
    • Islamic Objections to the Crucifixion of Christ
    • A Christian response

5. Muhammad

  1. Proof 1: Biblical Prophecies
  2. Proof 2: Miracles
  3. Proof 3: Islamic Law
  4. Proof 4: Military and Political Success

6. The Kingdom of God

  1. Two Movements in Opposite Directions
    • Jesus
    • Muhammad
  2. Holy War and the Gospel
    • Jihad and Shari’a
    • The Battle Between Islamic Reform and Islamic Radicalism

7. Concluding Reflections

Annotated Bibliography

HT: Andy Naselli

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