Sunday, 19 June 2016

Muhammad vs Jesus


The ethics and ways of Christ have been viewed by the majority of the world as being one of the greatest set of examples which mankind can take upon themselves to follow. Such things are even truer when Christ stands in comparison to other individuals in the world, especially false prophets.

Many who are being deceived by the liberal media believe that Jesus and Muhammad were both workers of peace, love and compassion. They hold to the idea that both these individuals, in their deepest essence, have come into the world to preach the same message and work the same works. These beliefs have given rise to certain universal theologies like CHRISLAM, which claim that both these men were great prophets of God and that both the bible and the quran stand as perfect revelations of the almighty. 

Within this post, I will be demonstrating by means of a chart how the biblical Jesus stands morally superior to Muhammad, and that those who attempt to push a universal agenda actually stand on shallow ground.

Here are the differences between Muhammad and Jesus: 







Saturday, 18 June 2016

Jesus and Muhammad in light of the Orlando shooting.

On June 12, 2016, a mass shooting terrorist attack and hate crime occurred inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, United States. Fifty people died, including the gunman, who was killed by Orlando police after a three-hour standoff.

The name of the murderer was Omar Mateen. Many claim that Omar was not a Muslim. However, according to telegraph.co.uk, the IMAM of the mosque he used to attend spoke out concerning him:

“The imam of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, where Omar Mateen prayed four days a week, said there were rumours that Mateen was very aggressive, but that he was unusually quiet at the mosque and did not appear to have a single close friend in the community.”

As we see, there is no denying the fact that Omar was a practicing Muslim. The question, however, is whether his actions walked in harmony with the ways of Allah and his prophet, which we will see within this post, actually did.

This post was originally meant to display unto the readers that if Muhammad was here today, he would stand in full support of the actions performed by Mateen in Orlando. However, within the last couple of days, the Muslim community has taken upon themselves the task of attempting to rid themselves and their religion of the blame which arose from the murderer’s hands. The problem is, they have done this by means of attempting to demonstrate that Jesus also taught such things which would stand in support of the Orlando shooting as well. Hence, I will quote to you both the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad to see which one of these truly supports and discourages the tragedy brought forth on June 12, 2016.

The things we are going to look at within this post are the following:
-How Muhammad ordered Muslims to treat Homosexuals
-How Jesus ordered Christians to treat Homosexuals
-How Muhammad ordered Muslims to treat the unbelievers
-How Jesus ordered Christians treat the unbelievers

As we know, the Orlando shooting was performed in a gay bar/nightclub which was filled with those who were part of the homosexual community.

Within the following verses, we are going to see what Muhammad told the Muslim community to do with those who are guilty of sodomy (homosexuality):

Abu Dawud (4462) - The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Loot, execute the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.".

Note: The individual who is named Loot is actually Lot whose story we are all familiar with. According to both the biblical and qur'anic narrative, the people of loot committed sodomy ( homosexuality). These people were known for this sin. This is what the Quran and Muhammad call “ the action of the people of loot”

Abu Dawud (4448) - "If a man who is not married is seized committing sodomy, he will be stoned to death.“

al-Tirmidhi, Sunan 1:152 - [Muhammad said] "Whoever is found conducting himself in the manner of the people of Lot, kill the doer and the receiver."

If Muhammad was here today, would he stand in full support of Omar’s actions? YES

Now, within the following verses, we are going to see what Jesus told his followers to do and what he did with those who are guilty of sodomy (homosexuality):

Note: In actuality, Jesus never speaks about homosexuality within the gospels. However, what we find within the teachings of Christ is that ANY SIN can take us to hell, including anger, insults and adultery. In other words, no sin is greater than another with the exception of blasphemy against the holy spirit. So in order to prove that Jesus stood against the killing of homosexuals or any being for the reason of him/her performing a sin, we are going to look at verses where Jesus:
-Does not kill a sinner who is worthy of death
-Commands us to love EVERYONE
-Does not prescribe a death penalty or justified murder for any wrongdoing, even for the unpardonable sin.

(John 8:2-7):And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more

(Mark 12:30-31):And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Note: Many come to the conclusion that the word neighbor means someone who is in the same religion as you. However, Jesus gave us the definition of who your neighbor actually is. The answer is ANYONE and EVERYONE. Jesus does not give a detailed description of a specific type of person who fits within the category of a neighbor because a neighbor is a general term referring to humanity as a whole. This parable which provides the definition of your neighbor is found within the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Luke verses 26-37.

You can read the parable here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A26-37

Within the Greek, the word for neighbor is πλησίον. This word means
-near
-nearby
-a neighbor.

When we look at Merriam-Webster's dictionary, we see that the definition of a neighbor also includes FELLOW MAN:
-a person who lives next to or near another person
-a person or thing that is next to or near another
-Fellow man

Jesus viewed the word neighbor through the lens of our common residence which is EARTH. We all live within this planet, hence we are all near. We are all neighbors to one another.

In view of all this, we can conclude that the second commandment is to love EVERYONE despite their sin, race and color. This command also includes HOMOSEXUALS. We do not love homosexuals by KILLING THEM, but by being nice to them and teaching them the gospel.

(Mark 3:28-29):Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

Note: The reason why I use this verse in support for Christ standing against the killing of homosexuals is because there does exist ONE sin which is greater than homosexuality and all other wrongdoings. It is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Logically, we would assume that the death penalty or the justification of murder would depend on the severity of the sin. But, what we see here is that the ONLY unpardonable sin which exists in the world is NOT punishable by death, but of everlasting fire. No death penalty was brought forth by Jesus for such a wrongdoing. Hence, it is logical to conclude that if the greatest sin (blasphemy against the holy spirit) is not worthy of a death penalty or of murder, then homosexuality within the eyes of Christ would ALL THE MORE not be worthy of murder or the death penalty.

If Jesus was here today, would he stand in full support of Omar's actions? NO

The Orlando shooting was done in the United States. Within Islamic communities, the states is known as being a nation of the disbelieving seeing as the majority of individuals are Christian. Also, the probability of some of those in the night club in Orlando being Muslim are VERY LOW.

Within the following verses, we will see how Muhammad treated the unbelievers and how he ordered his followers to treat them as well:

Muslim (1:33) - the Messenger of Allah said: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

Bukhari (8:387) - Allah's Apostle said, "I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah'. And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally.“

Quran (9:5) - Then when the Sacred Months (the Ist, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikun (see V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and prepare for them each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Note: Notice that the only way which the unbelievers can escape murder is by paying the Islamic community a sum of money...

In order to further prove that this whole idea of killing the blasphemer or unbeliever is found within the Islamic belief system, here is a discussion I had with a Muslim who threatened to have me killed for simply believing that Jesus is God. 

If Muhammad was here today, would he stand in full support of Omar’s actions? YES

Now, within the following verses, we are going to see how Jesus treated the unbelievers and how he commanded his followers to treat them as well.

(Matthew 5:46-48):For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Note: Within this verse, we are called to universal love. Also, notice how we are NOT ordered to ONLY salute and welcome our brothers. Within the biblical narrative, the word brother refers to your brother in Christ. In other words, it is someone who is in the same religion as you, in this case, Christianity. Loving everyone and saluting the unbelievers is the OPPOSITE of killing them.

(John 6:64-68): But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Note: Notice that in the midst of Christ, there was people who did NOT believe in him. Furthermore, what we see is that many of Christ’s disciples committed APOSTASY and STOPPED following him. Did Jesus command them to be killed? Did he command them to be fought until they submit to Christ? the answer is NO.

(Matthew 5:43-44): Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Note: Jesus did not only command us to love those who are not part of our religion, but he also went as far as to tell us to love those who do WRONG to us, IE our enemies both within and without of the Christian religion. These do not sound like the words of one who is a supporter of slaughtering unbelievers.

If Jesus was here today, would he stand in full support of Omar’s actions? NO

Friday, 17 June 2016

How can Jesus be God if he prayed?

Many who stand within the opposing side like to bring up the fact that Jesus was seen as PRAYING to God. This saying is mostly brought forth by those within the Islamic community in an attempt to disprove the divinity of the Messiah.

Within this post, I will demonstrate that Jesus praying to the father does not necessarily disprove his divinity at all. Furthermore, there is biblical evidence to believe that Jesus praying to the father is not really that similar to the HUMAN and GOD interaction that happens between us and the Almighty during our supplication.

The answer to the above argument is going to be divided into 2 parts which are all going to be situated within this post. Of course, the straightforward answer to this question is that Jesus was also fully human hence him praying to his father would make complete sense. However, there exists other ways in which we can look at such actions performed by the Christ. What we are going to learn are the following things:

-How the definition/meaning of the word PRAY is not limited within the realm of creation and creator interaction.
-How Jesus would sometimes do things which we wouldn’t even dream of God doing as an example to push humanity towards mirroring his actions and words.

Part 1
Within this part, I am going to demonstrate that the term PRAYER/PRAY when applied to Jesus is not limited to its common definition. We are going to prove this using the Logic brought forth by the late Muslim debater Ahmed Deedat.

In a lecture he performed in South Africa, Ahmed Deedat was told that the disciples WORSHIPED Jesus. As a response, he said the following: “If you open a new bible you will find a different word for worship, if you open the RSV you will find a different word for worship. WHAT ARE THE SYNONYMS USED FOR WORSHIP? You see, this word worship, if you ask the roman catholic, you ask them how many types of worships are there? In response, they will tell you there are 3 different types of worship.”

If you are interested in seeing this video, go to the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYMrRwLluw

What we see Ahmed Deedat doing is attempting to prove 
that Jesus was NOT WORSHIPED as God because the word worship has different meanings. Due to his belief that Jesus was a man, he is using the definition/synonym which can be applied to a human. If Deedat is allowed to do this, then the Christians should also be allowed to explore the different meanings/synonyms of the word PRAY both within and without of the biblical narrative and use the definition which can be applied to a DIVINE Christ.

When we look at the Gospels, we see that the word PRAY is used many times. However, it is also used by MAN when his speech is directed to ANOTHER MAN. In other words, we see a completely different definition of the verb PRAY than we are used to seeing:

Luke 14:17-18
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

(the servant and the invited individual are both human)

Mark 5:23
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

What we see from the above passages is that the word pray is not talking about the GOD MAN INTERACTION, but the one used in every day language with everyday people towards those who are of the same nature (Luke 14:17-18).

When we look at the MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S dictionary, we see that there are more definitions to the word pray than we are aware of:

-to speak to God especially in order to give thanks or to ask for something
-to hope or wish very much for something to happen
-to seriously ask (someone) to do something

What we see in the above definitions is that the verb PRAY is not limited to our common meaning of the word. Only one of them refers to an interaction between 2 beings of different natures ( the first one). Because Jesus constantly claims to be God, and because the gospels also bring forth indications that the word PRAY can also mean an interaction between 2 individuals of the SAME NATURE, in other words, just meaning to ask someone for something, we can therefore conclude that the word PRAY when applied to Christ is not limited to its common definition, just like Deedat does not limit the word WORSHIP to its common definition when applied to Jesus.

Now granted that the Greek words differ in the original language in which the New testament was written. Whenever Jesus is seen as praying to God, the Greek word is προσεύξασθαι whereas when it is used within the above verses, the word is usually ἐρωτῶ. Many may view this as evidence that what I am saying is false. But remember, we are speaking about SYNONYMS. If Ahmed Deedat has the right to do such a thing with the word WORSHIP, despite the fact that it is the SAME GREEK WORD when it applies to both Jesus and God, then Christians should be granted the same right. Let us see some synonyms or other definitions for the GREEK word προσεύξασθαι (pray).


According to WORD REFERENCE.COM, we see that a synonym for the Greek word προσεύξασθαι is παρακαλάω. This word means:
-Plead with or beg
-Ask humbly
-Implore

Also, according to the website, προσεύξασθαι can also mean to DESIRE STRONGLY or TO WISH.

So, what we see is that both the English and the Greek words for the verb pray ARE NOT ALWAYS LIMITED to the common definition we provide to them. It can also be a word which is used between 2 people OF THE SAME NATURE and does not always have to refer to a GOD MAN interaction (only ONE of the definitions mentions calling upon God). What this means is that when Jesus prayed, it did not necessarily demonstrate a communication between a being of a higher essence with a being of a lower essence, but of the same nature. When we come into view of this fact, then Jesus praying to God does not automatically disprove his divinity according to the definitions of the word and according to MUSLIM LOGIC displayed by the late Ahmed Deedat.

Part 2
As I stated in my previous post:
“One of the intentions of Christ was to serve as an example for the people to follow. Hence, when we read the gospels, we constantly run into actions which Christ performs which we wouldn’t expect God to do, but he STILL did them AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US TO FOLLOW.

John,13th chapter verses 12-14:
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

We also see such an example within the baptism of Christ. Please refer to my post: http://beyondcontroversy.blogspot.ca/2016/06/if-jesus-was-god-why-did-he-get-baptized.html”

Now granted, there are times where Jesus Isolated himself and prayed alone:

Mark 6:46
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

Luke 6:12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God

So the question arises, How can Jesus serve as an example when he prays ALONE seeing as no one is there to see him? The answer lies within the gospel of Mark and Matthew:

Mark 13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Matthew 25:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

What we see within the above passages is that the content of the gospels ARE ALSO DIRECTED TOWARDS THE READER. In other words, they were also written with the READER IN MIND. So just because Christ cannot serve as an example to the people within his time when he prays alone, this doesn’t mean that he cannot serve as an example to the READER when he does so. Jesus in his infinite knowledge and wisdom knew exactly who and what would be written in his word seeing as he is the inspirer. Hence, It does not lie beyond the bounds of possibility that Jesus performed certain things within his life time as a means to serve as an example to his contemporaries AND TO THE EVENTUAL READERS OF HIS STORY. So, what Jesus was trying to communicate by praying is the following:

IF ALMIGHTY GOD IS WILLING TO HUMBLE HIMSELF IN PRAYER, THEN ALL THE MORE SHOULD WE.

Jesus praying to God served more as an example for humanity to mirror and follow rather than his need for supplication.

To conclude this post, I will leave you with a question: Why would Jesus pray to God in the sense that he was ONLY a human being and a prophet when he is the very one who has the ability to ANSWER PRAYERS?

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And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13

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