DO ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO THE SAME GOD?

DO ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO THE SAME GOD?

The Presupposition of Objective Truth How do we evaluate the veracity of different truth claims? The nature of Objective truth Our assumption: that objective truth exists, but I will not prescribe where it resides for now Roland to unpack at a later stage

Do the Major Monotheistic Religions Worship the same God?

Do the Major Monotheistic Religions Worship the same God? Is there just one God that we call by different names? How much similarity is there between Islam, Judaism and Christianity The claims of Islam The claims of Judaism The claims of Christianity Divergence on the Nature of the Son What is the biblical basis

What is our Common Ground People often say: All religions are fundamentally the same, and only superficially different. Whereas in reality: All religions are fundamentally different and at best superficially the same

Our Common Ground A shared history: Christianity is a development from Judaism Islam, which started 600 years after Christ, adopted Judaeo-Christian history, but modified it s contents There are similar characters, but the stories are often different Adam, Eve, Abraham, Job, Noah, for instance The Same God?

Our Common Ground Some similar beliefs One God, who created the universe and everything in it Free Choice Sin Separation Eternal punishment That God will ultimately judge the whole world and hand out punishment and rewards That Angels and Demons exist and operate in our world That God has revealed Himself through Holy Scripture The Same God?

Superficial Similarities: Islam Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God (Aal Imran 3:64a) The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him). The Same God? (Aal Imran 3:64)

Points of Contention: The Quran 9:29: Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah [or tax] willingly while they are humbled. The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 9:30: The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 9:31: They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 4:171 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 but a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 5:72 They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah,- Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 4:157: That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";-but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. The Same God?

What about the Jews? About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease. The Same God?

What about the Jews? He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared. - Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, 18.3.3 63 The Same God?

Points of Contention: Jesus Christ In Islam, we can see a fundamental disagreement in the nature of God in their own scriptures This is not even to mention the character of God With Christianity and Judaism, there is no disagreement in Scriptures: The Jewish Scriptures are our scriptures too The fundamental point of disagreement is with Jesus Christ The Same God?

Points of Contention: Jesus Christ Jesus Identity Christianity Judaism Islam As Prophet The Greatest prophet A False Prophet The Penultimate Prophet His Deity His Crucifixion and Death Fully God Only a man, possibly deluded Not God, but an appointed messenger Empirical Fact Empirical Fact Disavows His Resurrection Empirical Fact Acknowledged, but disputed Disavows The Same God?

What did Jesus actually say?

John 5:37-47 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. Things Jesus said

John 5:37-47 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Things Jesus said

John 5:37-47 There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? Things Jesus said

John 8:39-59 They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did. They said to him, We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father even God. Things Jesus said

John 8:39-59 42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Things Jesus said

John 8:39-59 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God. 48 The Jews answered him, Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? 49 Jesus answered, I do not have a demon, but I honour my Father, and you dishonour me. Things Jesus said

John 8:39-59 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. 52 The Jews said to him, Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be? 54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God. Things Jesus said

John 8:39-59 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. 57 So the Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. Things Jesus said

John 14:3-7 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going. 5 Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? 6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Things Jesus said

The Claims of Christ Summarized I am the culmination of the Old Testament The scriptures all point towards me To love God, and to know God, is to love Me and to know Me To believe God, is to believe Me I am YHWH I am the only way to the Father and Eternal Life Things Jesus said

Do we all Worship the same God? Christianity vs Islam - No Fundamental differences in: The nature of Jesus The work of Jesus The nature of God The character of God Christianity vs Judaism It s (more) complicated The Jews began by worshiping YHWH, as do we But Jesus came as an increased revelation of YHWH They rejected Him & so they have rejected YHWH as their God & therefore God no longer accepts their worship Things Jesus said

Points of Contention: The Quran 3:65: Ye, People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye no understanding?..[3:66-68] 3:69: It is the wish of a section of the People of the Book to lead you astray. But they shall lead astray (not you), but themselves, and they do not perceive. The Same God?

Points of Contention: The Quran 3:70: Ye People of the Book! Why reject ye the Signs of Allah, of which ye are (yourselves) witnesses? 3:71: Ye People of the Book! Why do you clothe Truth with falsehood, and conceal the Truth while ye have knowledge? The Same God?