Spinoff from Interfaith Dialogue - Salvation and the nature of Sin

[USResident]

Re: Spinoff from Interfaith Dialogue - Salvation and the nature of Sin

@Seminole

No, you don't have divergent views amongst Muslims since there has not ever been any type of reformation within the religion and any differing interpretations are strictly discouraged. One could even say forbidden.

If you think Jesus PBUH as God could not give you an eternal message and it needs to be reformed then you are casting serious doubts about Jesus PBUH being divine or even related to divinity or Gods ability to relate to humans about his existence. Differing interpretations in Islam depend on which level of information you are involved. If you are trying to interpret Allah SWT as differently yes it is discouraged because it polutes the whole doctrine of the religion. If you are trying to interpret things related to punishments, there definitely are varying interpretations however they are not changing the belief about God. Things that change the perception of God are rigid whereas those that deal with conduct mostly is where differing interpretations occur.

@Seminole

Muslims are much more scipturally bound, not requiring followers to think. I happen to think that spirituality isn't that black and white and God requires us to think. IMO fiiguring out how to please God and achieve salvation isn't that difficult and doesn't require memorizing passages or following a strict set of prayers and rituals and living exactly like someone did 1400 years ago or like 1 1/2 billion other people.

Why do you always say we are not encouraged to think? What is it that you don't find us thinking about? There is difference between not thinking and disobeying. I really want to know where you are coming from on this.

@Seminole

If the Bible was inspired by God, then it doesn't matter where the words orignated. God still wants man to follow the teachings, they were inspired by Him. If one believes an angel can recite a book to an illiterate man in a cave that then tells it to others and it all eventually gets put down one book that is protected by God, then it's really not that much of a stretch.

I think as far as I am concerned there is no dispute that Prophetic teachings (including Jesus PBUH) orginated from God. The point of difference is that only Muhammad SAW were preserved as is. If the Holy Spirit inpires Christians then the teachings of Jesus PBUH have no consequence. If Jesus PBUH teachings were preserved properly then why would there be disputes in Christianity about the basic doctrine and Trinity of Jesus PBUH. When Islam came there was no dispute about Muhammad SAW position and Oneness of Allah SWT and there is none to date. The true teachings of Jesus PBUH were never propagated in lieu of the Holy Spirit inspiring the disciples, who simply failed to convey the right message. Every Christian who starts affirming Jesus PBUH as the saviour starts saying he is inspired by the Holy Spirit and is not even able to exact its nature with normal human behavior. Where does the good that non-Christians do come from if they are not inspired by the Holy Spirit then?

@Seminole

Don't lecture me on that, I am only repeating what I have read other Muslims write (right on this site). So much for muslims not differing about the fundamentals of their religion. Whether God intends it to be punishable by death or not, many who advocate sharia thinks it is. Be that as it may, Muslims societies (culture, pressure, intolerance) make it almost impossible for those born into a Muslim family to convert to anthing different .

Not lecturing, if you agee with what I said than can I count on not seeing you arguing about this elsewhere even though you have a proper answer. Apostasy is not a fundamental of Islam. Just like the doctrine of Jesus PBUH and Trinity is abused in Christianity and misinterpreted by so many so is Apostasy in Islam. Apostasy is a trivial and circumstantial issue whereas the things that Christianity is misinterpreting can land you in hell instead of heaven, the gravity of disagreement is much different here. Yes I agree the born muslims are more liable to violence if converting than non-muslims because of this misinterpreted abuse and I do not condone it.