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The Quran => Q&As with Joseph Islam - Information Only => Topic started by: Reader Questions on December 20, 2012, 06:23:52 PM

Title: Brother Joseph - Why are you not a Christian?
Post by: Reader Questions on December 20, 2012, 06:23:52 PM

Salam Dear Brother

You have been a student of not only the Qur'an, but the Old and the New Testament. 

I was wondering if, you were to say "Why I am not a Christian", what would be your reasons?

Thanks.

Regards,

Title: Re: Brother Joseph - Why are you not a Christian?
Post by: Joseph Islam on December 20, 2012, 06:30:19 PM

Salamun Alaikum,

I believe righteous God's servants exist in all walks of life and are scattered amongst the plethora of theological denominations in various religions. Therefore, with respect, I do not accept theological labels as being representative of God's truth.

Depending on what the term 'Christian' implies, I am not a Christian 'if' the popular expression implies the belief that Jesus Christ was the 'begotten' son of God, that He was fully Divine and fully human and that he died for the sins of humankind for their salvation.

I find no cogent warrant for such a mainstay belief from my study of the Gospels, its intended purpose and wider Biblical scholarship. I believe these doctrines and beliefs to be a consequence of 'evolved theology' and Christian tradition often 'read into' the Biblical documents.

If the term 'Christian' is used in the proverbial sense to imply leading a life of nobility, what is good, righteous and in the manner in which Jesus Christ lived his life as best ascertained from the Gospels, then I have no problem admitting that I have much in common with the 'Christian'.

Similarly, I am not a 'Muslim' if the term implies that I must accept the 'Islamic secondary sources' and the theology that it often asserts as an 'integral source' of ordained religion and authorised by Divine decree.

However, I am a Muslim if the term implies the acceptance of the whole Quran as God's protected authorised source of 'religious' guidance and theological beliefs for His 'believing' servants. In particular, my beliefs can be succinctly summarised by the contents of the following verse.

002:285
"The messenger believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believes in God and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying"

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.