Asalamu Alykum brother Wanderer
Just a side note, I do recall that brother Joseph has also made it clear that the People of the Book have been given an
option.As far as your question regarding ‘conversion’ is concerned; if one prefers to follow Islam underpinned by the Quranic way of life as a righteous, committed believer, then this should not necessarily be seen as a contradiction of verses 5:44-47. It can be posited as an option though not an 'expectation' as is usually the belief of the traditional masses. That I feel, is the difference.
I hope that clarifies, God willing
Joseph
Just a few other thoughts which are I'm still trying to figured out but I think I'll share so someone may add their own thoughts as well and try to get a conclusion Insha'Allah.
Now regarding the punishments found in the Mosaic Law. If the Scriptures that we have today are the same as what was in the hands of the People of the Book at the time of Prophet Muhammad (and theres no need to assume otherwise without proof as I had been told there is proof they are and were 1600 years old), then the laws for adultery, fornication circumcision etc would be legitimate. If it was not legitimate then it would of been the perfect time for the Quran to correct such punishments as we know they are not light punishments.
What the Quran did mainly corrected was the doctrines that was
read into the Scriptures and not what was really sourced from them (trinity, Jesus and God, doing good to all humans, not only certain people are chosen for heaven etc). I mean, there is verses in the Quran that
do refer the Jews and Christians back to their own Scriptures 5:42-47. These verses are cannot be overlooked and seem to be explicit and cannot be denied or we need to really go back and really figure out what 5:42-47 is really asking and portraying.
Otherwise How is one to say which law, ritual, practice, punishments, etc are the correct ones from the Mosaic Law when God Himself did not confirm or correct those laws in the Quran? He just referred them back to the Books that was in their hands(despite the fabricated changes.)
So it could safely be posited that the laws are intact and God did not deem any changes to them.
It might be a shock to some including myself that the laws contained in the Mosaic Law, like stoning, circumcision, etc are authentic. Especially after one had realized and were glad to realize that these laws were not from a Quranic perspective.
After all the Quran does also command punishments that at first glance may seem very harsh. One then might realize the justice behind the laws.
Sometimes I think that its not because of the
absence of stoning, or the cutting hands off the unordinary thief that makes me a believer in God, its really more of the arguments put forth, the perfectness, consistency, the structure, parables, the answers given to ones thoughts and much more that are portrayed.
After all, there is still somethings that the Quran may disapprove of which might not fit to ones desires but still is required to believe.
Some today are giving excuses and reading into the the Quran that its permissible to eat
any meat even if Gods name is not mentioned while slaughter, that allegorical meanings are read into the Quran and disproving of the miracles, that praying and fasting is not part of the religion etc.
Hope to hear more about this topic.
I would still like to hear brother Joseph elaborate just a little more on this as well, as we know the seriousness of this topic.
Salam