Abdul-Haq al-Ashanti & Abdur-Rahman Bowes
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 99 | Size: 1 MB
Whilst seeking the truth, the honest investigator wants facts and this
short work is intended for the sincere few who seek to know the original
belief of the people that followed the teachings of Jesus, peace be
upon him.
Before Nicea should not be viewed as
‘Muslim propaganda’ or bias, rather as an honest look at the evidence
that qualified scholars have provided. This work also wants to move away
from relying on the bible and blindly quoting from it in order to prove
the true teachings of Jesus. Even though there is obviously some truth
in the gospels, it is not the pure Injeel that is mentioned in the
Qur’aan as being given to Jesus.
In assessing the comparisons between
early Christianity and Islam, the facts have been made accessible to the
reader and presented in a manner that does not wish to antagonize. It
is for the readers to make up their own minds and come to a conclusion
about the evidence presented.
Conducted over the last three hundred
years, such research is not a new phenomena. John Toland for example had
written his book The Nazarenes in 1718 wherein he had already noticed
the similar beliefs and practices of the early followers of Jesus and
Muslims. Furthermore, John Biddle wrote The True Opinion Concerning the
Holy Trinity (Twelve Arguments) in 1653, Joseph Priestly wrote eight
books including A General History of the Church, published in 1802 and A
History of the Corruption of Christianity, published in 1871. A.C.
MacGiffert wrote A History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age
published in 1897, The Apostles Creed published in 1902 and The God of
the Early Christians in 1924.
The discovery of the Codex Sinaiticus,
the earliest almost complete manuscript (fourth century), brought with
it more evidence for scholars to utilize. Using both these older sources
and the recent research based upon the discoveries of early Christian
manuscripts the reader will be supplied with that which is accepted as
sound.
During conversations whilst compiling
this work, it was noted that many evangelical Christians would argue
that the Christian scholars quoted in this work for example are ‘not
really Christian.’ One of the ‘Hyde Park Speakers Corner Christian
Fellowship’2 even went so far as to say that there is not a single
theologian who could be called a Christian, because he felt that
theology is an enemy of Christianity. It is certainly true that most
theologians do not understand the Bible to be ‘divine revelation,’
rather a combination of inspiration, commentary and interpretation. In
many cases, these theologians will say that it was Jesus himself who was
the ‘divine revelation’ and will feel perfectly free to reject the idea
that the Bible is unadulterated.
Therefore, it is understandable that
Christians who believe in the Bible as an uncorrupted whole, become
hostile to such scholars. Nevertheless, Christian evangelical
disapproval of theologians is quite contradictory and unreasonable.
Contradictory, because it was on the
grounds of theology that ‘Christian’ doctrine grew and unreasonable, as
most Christians would be grateful that theology ‘explained’ for them
many aspects of their belief. Most of the scholars whom we have quoted
are, to the best of our knowledge, practicing Christians. For example
James Dunn’s book Christology in the Making is illustrative of this
fact. While he says at one point that “there is no real evidence in the
earliest Jesus tradition of what could fairly be called a consciousness
of divinity,” (page 60), he makes no attempt to apologize for his
conviction in Trinitarian Christianity. It is simply the fact that he is
a Christian. Likewise, the New Testament scholar, the late Michael
Ramsey, was an Archbishop in the Anglican church. We are fully aware
that some of the writers whom we have quoted from are Christians so
people should accept their dedicated research.
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Contents:
Introduction
The Crucifixion
Early Christianity
Is Jesus God?
The Trinity
The Bible
Later Christianity and its Parallels in the wider world
Where Does This Leave Us?
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