MISCONCEPTIONS AND THEIR CAUSES Misconceptions about Prophet Jesus (p):

Say: 0 People of the Scripture! Stress not in your religion other than the truth, and follow not the vain desires of folk who erred of old and led many astray, and erred from a plain road.

(Maida: 77)

This verse of the Qur'an refers to the two root causes of Christian disbeliefs and alterations in the true message of Jesus (p).

i. They derived their false beliefs and wrong concepts from the misguided polytheist nations like the Greeks.

ii. They committed excesses in the respect and love of Prophet Jesus (p) and associated him as a partner to Almighty Allah.

When Paul promulgated the self-made idea about Jesus (p) as having a combination of human and divine qualities, he actually created a difficult puzzle to solve. Three kinds of explanations were presented to solve it:

a) Whoever inclined to the human side of Jesus (p), he declared him as son of God and one of three, i.e., Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

b) Whoever was leaning towards (self-made) divine side of Jesus (p) he declared him to be the physical appearance of God and hence called him God or Lord.

DIALOGUE WITH CHRISTIANS

c) There were others who wanted to find a happy medium. They used complex, verbatim so that he may be considered a human being and at the same time divine.

In fact, Pauline Christianity proclaims monotheism and Trinity at the same time. The sayings of Jesus (p) which we find in Gospels clearly proclaim that there is one God and there is no partner to Him. Christians cannot deny this. However, in the beginning they developed misunderstanding about "Word of God" and

"Holy Spirit" and this misled them to believe in the divinity of Jesus (p) and "Holy Spirit". Therefore, they have created a complex puzzle for themselves that is to believe monotheism and Trinity at the same time. Christian scholars are struggling to solve this puzzle for the last 2000 years. Several sects came into existence due to this problem and they have their separate churches. This difficulty is self-created and not by Allah or his Prophet Jesus (p). The root cause of this puzzle is the excesses committed in relation to Prophet Jesus (p). There is only one solution, that they abandon the idea of divinity of Jesus (p) and Holy Spirit and believe in one God Almighty (Allah) and do not make anyone His partner.

The 'Word of God':

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His apostles. Say not "Trinity”: desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah. Glory is to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. Nisa 4:171

The Gospel of John has put in a great deal of Alexandrian and Gnostic mysticism around the doctrine of the "Word" (Greek, Logos). Christians took this word equivalent to Allah's quality of speech. Then they hypothesized that this quality of Allah entered Mary's womb and was born in the form of Jesus (p).

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This way the misconception of divinity of Jesus (p) started among Christians. The Qur'an tells us that Jesus (p) was son of Mary and therefore a man, but a messenger of Allah with a mission from Allah and therefore, entitled to a status of honor and respect. He was created without father, with a word bestowed on Mary, i.e., "Be" (Kun) and he was.

The "Holy Spirit":

In the above quoted verse, Allah calls Jesus (p) spirit proceeding from Him. In another verse Allah declares:

. We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of apostles; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you an apostle with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!

(Baqarah:2: 87)

Both of the above verses mean that Allah bestowed Jesus (p) that virtuous spirit which did not know evils.

It was a spirit of truthfulness and possessed high moral values. This explanation was given to the

Christians, but they committed excesses in this matter. They said that the Holy Ghost is Allah's own spirit which entered into Jesus (p).

Therefore besides Jesus (p) and Allah they accepted Holy Ghost as third part of God. The Qur'an warns those Christians who have invented and adopted this false belief of Trinity.

Misconceptions about Mary:

Christians declared Mary as the Mother of God. There is not a hint about divinity of Mary in Gospels.

Christian world was unaware of such misconception about Mary for three hundred years after Jesus (p).

In the last part of 3rd century, some scholars of Alexandria first time used the word "Mother of God" for Mary. Then gradually this misconception started spreading among Christians.

Dialogue with Christians

In the beginning the Church did not accept this misconception and called these people as misguided. In 431 C.E. a council of Christian leaders met at City of Ifsos. This council first time used the word "Mother of God" in Church's official language. Thenceforth, this rancor of worshiping Mary started spreading inside the Church. Her sculptures were placed in churches and people worshiped her idol. They started praying to her, ask her for help, and call her in their needs. Although in later years Protestants raised their voice against this misconception, but the Roman Catholic Church still accepts the same disbelief.

Misconception of Man's Original Sin:

The divine Scriptures have never presented the idea of man being sinner from birth. Christianity has invented this misconception and believes in it for 1700 years. Now some biblical scholars themselves admit that there is no basis for this concept in the Bible. A famous German scholar, Rev. Herbert Haag has written a book "Is Original Sin in Scripture". He states in his book that at least till third century this belief was non-existent that man is sinner since birth. Then this idea started developing. The Christian scholars rejected it for two centuries. At last, in fifth century, St. Augustine introduced this misconception into the basic beliefs of Christianity, through his self styled logic.

Misconception of Jesus’ (p) Sacrifice on the Cross for Man's Eternal Sins:

This misconception is invented as part of the previous one. It is claimed that man is sinner since birth and one has to accept Jesus (p) as personal saviors for salvation as he died on cross for man's eternal sins.

This misconception is totally illogical and absurd, when one looks at the following questions:

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i. Nobody in this world can be punished for someone else's crimes. Then why an honorable person like Jesus (p) should have been punished for other's sins?

ii. If accepting Jesus (p) as personal savior is the only way to salvation, then what is going to happen to all the Prophets? Judaic and Christian's holy books testify they never knew about him?

Therefore, it is evident that above misconceptions are self-made and not based on the true teachings of the Prophets'. Jews and Christian holy books testify to the fact that Prophet Abraham (p) used to worship only Allah and this was his message not to make any partners to Allah. Therefore both Jews and

Christians have deviated from that right path and are committing the greatest sin, i.e., Shirk.

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Dialogue with Christians

10 HISTORICAL POSITIONS OF THE GOSPELS

We cannot find an authentic book today which consists of true revelations of Allah to Jesus (p) like the Qur'an. Similarly we can't find collections of sayings and preaching of prophet Jesus (p) in his own words like Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The so called 'Canonical Gospels' are actually written by authors who were not Jesus’ (p) disciples. A brief historical review of four Gospels follows:

1. Gospel According to Mathew:

Mathew is presented by some as Jesus’ (p) companion as noted by A. Tricot in his commentary to the translation of the New Testament:

"Mathew alias, Levi, was a custom officer employed at the toll-gate or customs house at Capharnaum when Jesus called him to be one of his disciples".

This opinion is no longer held today. According to the comments of the Ecumenical Translation origin of this gospel is as follows:

"It is normally considered to have been written in Syria perhaps at Antioch or in Phoenicia because a great many Jews lived in these countries".

Many authors date it back to 80-90 C.E. Author is well versed in Jewish writings and traditions. He would fit fairly well the description of an educated Jew turned Christian. Mathew borrowed heavily from Mark's Gospel although the latter was not one of Jesus’ (p) disciples. Out of its 1068 verses, 470 are same as in Mark's Gospel.

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2. Gospel According to Mark:

Mark was not a disciple of Jesus (p). He never met Jesus (p). He was Peter's companion in Rome. This book was written between 63-70 C.E. Text reveals a major flaw. It is written with a total disregard to chronology. It contradicts Mathew and Luke with regard to the sign of Jonah. The final section of Mark's Gospel (16: 19-20) is considered by modern authors to have been tacked on to the basic work.

3. Gospel According to Luke:

Luke never met Jesus (p). He was cultivated Gentile convert to Christianity. His attitude towards Jesus (p) is apparent. He leaves out Mark's most Judaic verses and highlights Jesus’ (p) incredibility at Jesus’

(p) words. This is striking example how evangelists make Jesus (p) say whatever suits their personal outlook.

He was Paul's follower and remained with him. He represents Paul's ideas in his Gospel. Date of its compilation is not certain. It was probably written between 57-79 and 80 C.E.

4. Gospel According to John:

Its author is not John the disciple of Jesus (p).

According to Ecumenical translation of the Bible the majority of Critics do not accept the hypothesis that this Gospel was written by John. It was written in 90 C.E. or even after that.

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Dialogue with Christians