Islam
I
want to say first of all that though I disagree with the tenets of
Islam a number of the Islamic people I have known are very fine,
ethical and loving people. Just as within Judaism and Christianity
there are extremists who point to a number of Bible passages to
justify their anger and extreme positions, there are those within
Islam who read only those passages in the Koran that justify, and
even appear to promote, violence. Among mainstream Moslems it is
taught that there is to be concern for all humans and special regard
for “people of the book” meaning Moslems, Jews, and Christians.
I
did extensive computer work a few years ago for two different Oriental rug companies. In both cases the owners were Iranian (Persian)
Moslems. In both places numerous employees were also Iranians of the
Moslem faith. I found them to be kind, generous, loving people.
Where
did Islam come from? Certainly in the 7th century A.D. A
tradesman named Mohamed had a religious experience in which he
believed he had a vision in which angels told him that there was only
one god whose name is Allah and that a book which he named the Koran was
given to him.
The
Koran includes writings that are apparently the same as much of the
Hebrew Old Testament including both its description of God as a God
of love and the teaching that the beings God created are to obey the
commandments of God. In fact the word “Islam” means “submission”
In
the early centuries of Christianity the church and its adherents
struggled ith “the nature of Christ”. Who was this person who
appeared among us, taught and worked miracles, was put to death and
buried but apparently rose again then ascended to heaven?
So
a church council (a meeting of representatives of the church
everywhere) was called to meet in Nicea (in what is now Turkey) to
clarify and write its statement of this issue. So in time it wrote
what is called “The Nicene Creed” which is repeated regularly in
many churchs, It is a strong statement:
The
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of
Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one
substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from
heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and
was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He
suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according
to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right
hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the
quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of
Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father
and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the
prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I
acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the
resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Note
that the creed clearly declares that Jesus is God. Now, as a Christian I
believe that but there were people in the early church who said “I've
got to think and pray about it for a while longer” Mohammad came
along and said “Flesh is flesh and Spirit is spirit. God is a
spirit and Jesus was flesh so Jesus was not God”. Islam teaches
that Jesus was a prophet and that at the end of the age he will
return and set up a world-wide Islamic government.” Literally
millions of marginal Christians left the Christian community and
became Moslems.
I
do believe Jesus will return and I am willing to live with whatever
he does after that but I am quite sure he will not set up an Islamic
world government.
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