Bible and quran text analysis reveals violence more. Written by a lifelong christian and a former muslim, this theological critique. All this violence naturally makes one feel intimidated by muslims more than we. In this video, he addresses whether the book of joshua provides a warrant for violence and. Regardless, all the historic violence committed by the hebrews and recorded in the old testament is just thathistory.
In his bestselling book the god delusion, atheist richard dawkins refers to the god of the old testament as a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser. Answering jihad is a personal, challenging, and respectful answer to the many questions surrounding jihad. By timothy fox there is a better way forward, a way that upholds both truth and compassion. Finally, im glad that geisler and saleeb provided an appendix on islam and violence. How is the islamic idea of jihad different from the violence. Those who know almost nothing about the old testament section of the bible would do well to start reading and rereading both in the book of psalms and the book of proverbs. Compassion is probably the last word you would expect to find in a book about jihad. Ultimately, the final marching order of islam is jihad. It therefore gives unvarnished reports of acts of violence, whereas in other ancient cultures rene girard has elaborated on this 4 violence was veiled in silence, referred to. This website is for people of various faiths who seek to understand islam and muslims.
That there was violence in the old testament is indisputable. He wants to disclose violence which is at the root of islam, and that the quran. What we see though, in deuteronomy 9 and 11, for example, is that this was judgementthe judgement of god coming upon a small group of people relative to all the people that existed. Can we be absolutely certain of the theory that the violence in the old testament is merely constructed stories, relying on recognized archaeological data. Answering islam, a christianmuslim dialog and apologetic. Structured around 18 questions about jihad, radical islam, sharia, muhammad, and more, the book provides an examination of history, as well as perspectives from contemporary scholars. I was watching a debate recently between david wood and shabir ali on whether or not the bible is a book of peace. Instead, the character of the people of godnow made up of jew and gentileis dominated by such behaviors as faith in christ working itself out in love, selfsacrifice, praying for ones enemies and persecutors. Reviews this collection of essays in an invaluable addition to new testament studies that should stimulate much discussion. That promise was fulfilled 400 years later, affording the amorites many generations to repent and change their ways before the hebrews finally attacked. That term was coined by gary wolf in a 2006 article in wired magazine. An extreme threat of violence and pain is precisely what the doctrine of hell is.
Such familial descriptions have given rise to many discussions and debates especially between christians and muslims. I have the following questions in my mind as a response. Mar 18, 2009 old testament violence is an interesting case in point. War and violence in the old testament speaking the truth. This third suggested solution for the problem of divine violence in the old testament is simply to say that the bible is wrong. Jun 16, 2016 most of the violence in the old testament was not commanded but simply recorded, but there were a few battles that were commanded. Mar 10, 2016 is there violence and warfare in the old testament. There are three major religions that has abraham as a major patriarch. War and violence in the old testament speaking the truth in.
Marcion did this by getting rid of the old testament, but he didt stop there. Such violence is therefore an expression of gods will, for good or ill. Jan 02, 2020 first, the violence prescribed by god in the old testament was intended for a particular time and limited to a particular people group. Mar 18, 2010 violence in the quran, he and others say, is largely a defense against attack. And here, in the old testament, you see in the old testament you have a very, very central theme all the way through the old testament. Most of the violence in the old testament was not commanded but simply recorded, but there were a few battles that were commanded.
The church of course remained steadfast and maintained all of the inspired books in the canon including the old testament. The old testament was found to be more than twice as violent as the quran. I was wondering if any of you have read or know of a book which addresses the issues of violence and war in the old testament from a christian perspective. The last prophet in the old testament declares gods word, then i will draw near to you for judgment. Only 6 chapters into the book of genesis, god is already planning on destroying the world with a flood. After the events of september 11 th, the issue of violence and religion has once again come into intense discussions and debate. Unlike nearly all of the old testament verses of violence, most verses of violence in the quran are openended, meaning that they are not necessarily restrained by historical context contained in the surrounding text although many muslims choose to think of them that way. Islam and the rewriting of biblical history and theology.
Why did god condone such terrible violence in the old testament. All those who are outside of christ will receive the spiritual judgment of god in hell. Old testament for further reading, studying, and learning the bible, please refer to our new site it has an advance search, audio, dictionary, commentaries, outlines and. Answering islam evaluates the claims of orthodox islam from a christian point of view, appealing especially to the quran and the bible. Dec 19, 2015 atheists are good at pointing out the violence in the old testament and making the bible into an immoral, unethical book. God destroying the idolaters, god destroying the sinners, god destroying the unrighteous, for the sake of his plan to save the whole creation and to forgive the sinners in. Many were shocked to find out that islams holy book the koran provides specific injunctions to engage in acts of violence as part of the holy war jihad in the. A christian response to islam glendale christian church. Answering islam does not pretend to be a text book on islam. Is islamic jihad any different from the violence of the bible. We had a muslim caller tonight who asked about violence in the old testament.
Finally, i m glad that geisler and saleeb provided an appendix on islam and violence. But thats exactly what nabeel qureshi desires for us to show muslims in answering jihad. The authors, a christian apologist and a former muslim, provide apologetic answers to prepare christians for ministry in the islamic context. The new testament law does not differ with the old testament in the areas of proper values, ethics, mercy, and justice. No, it doesnt, because of the questionable nature of. In the fall 2002 issue of free inquiry, dawkins wrote. Where did christianity and muslims split in the old testament. The new testament leaves behind the violent, tribal, insideroutsider, rhetoric of a significant portion of the old testament. The quran mentions the torah, the zabur psalms and the injil gospel as being revealed by god to the prophets moses, david and jesus respectively in the same way the quran was revealed to muhammad, the final prophet and messenger of god according to muslims. The violence of the old testament patterns the atonement of christ. They are part of the eternal, unchanging word of allah, and just as. The fact that god commanded the killing of entire nations in the old testament has been the subject of harsh criticism from opponents of christianity for some time.
Lawson stone shares 7 points we must keep in mind when encountering violence in the old testament. God clearly ordered the hebrews to annihilate the canaanites and surrounding peoples. Five differences between sharia and old testament law by. There was in essence no christianity in the old testament but i believe i understand the nature of the question so i will proffer an answer. The problem of violence in the old testament centers mainly around the stories of israels struggle to settle the land of canaan. First, the military violence in the old testament was often mentioned as a fact of history rather than the command of god. These stories center on the books of joshua and judges. How is the islamic idea of jihad different from the violence in the bible. Immediately following the horrific terrorist attacks on 911, many westerners began to take notice of islam for the first time. Warfare in the old testament was designed to purge the promised land of the canaanites a group of whom are the amorites, and this was gods promise to abraham. The violent god of the old testament brazen church. But nabeel carefully distinguishes between the roles such violence plays in the history of both religions and whether violence is acceptable for the christfollower today.
Sam harris, a neuroscientist, began writing his book the end of faith. Old testament and the issue of rape revisited answering. Violence does the quran really contain over a hundred verses promoting violence. The quran contains at least 109 verses that call muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of islami. Oct 01, 1993 answering islam evaluates the claims of orthodox islam from a christian point of view, appealing especially to the quran and the bible. Answering islam, 2d ed the crescent in light of the cross. The eye for an eye injunctions of the old testament were designed to be prohibitive in their thrust, i. Many were shocked to find out that islam s holy book the koran provides specific injunctions to engage in acts of violence as part of the holy war jihad in the. As soon as christians and others of good will condemn the islamic justification and foundation for resorting to violence in the name of god. Everything done in the new testament is still being done in relation to the old testament.
It refers to a new breed of atheists that arose in the aftermath of the muslim attacks on america on september 11, 2001. How is the islamic idea of jihad different from the. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner. It is, however, a reply to the claims and charges typically made against and on christianity by islam, as its title suggests. It has been adopted by a large percentage of christians, and is, i admit, the most. As soon as christians and others of good will condemn the islamic justification and foundation for resorting to violence in the name of godjustifications found both in the quran and the life of prophet. Quran as a whole is slightly shorter than the new testament. Common solutions to the problem of violence in the old. What is someone who believes in the bible to make of all the violence in the old testament.
It contains a lot of brief, yet informative articles about different aspects of islam. By the standards of the time, which is the 7th century a. It details many quranic teachings and how christians can refute the claims. Violence in the bible and the quran answering islam.
A look at what judeochristian scholars say about the authenticity and preservation of the old testament. It raises key issues relating to the violent language of the new testament and, one hopes, will fuel much research in this vital area and facilitate a mutual consideration of the new testament from the perspectives of jewish and christian scholars alike. Jun 28, 2017 notorious south african muhammadan polemicist yusuf ismail, and a ahmed deedat wannabe, is fond of quoting judges 19 as an example of the bible condoning mass rape supposedly with gods approval, in order to divert attention away from the fact of his false prophet permitting and sanctioning the rape of captive women, even in cases where. An analysis into whether the quran is more violent than the bible found killing and destruction occur more frequently in. In the cross and resurrection, we see the convergence of the old testaments holy war pattern.
How is the islamic idea of jihad different from violence in the bible. Christian perspective on violence in old testament. Servant songs in the book of isaiah in the hebrew bible, has been a. Im glad that geisler and saleeb provided an appendix on islam and violence. The bible describes true believers as gods children and people bent on evil as the devils children. Maurice bucaille, the bible, the quran and science, trans. Adam is said to be son of god and jesus is the one and only son of god. A few chapters later, god rains down fire and brimstone on the cities of sodom and gomorrah gen. After the events of september 11th, the issue of violence and religion has once again come into intense discussions and debate. Violence in the old testament part 1 lawson stone youtube.
Old testament for further reading, studying, and learning the bible, please refer to our new site it has an advance search, audio, dictionary, commentaries, outlines and promises. So establish some starting points by looking in a general way at the question of violence and war in the old testament. Why did god condone such terrible violence in the old. In that department, we from the muslim fareast feel that this book is great, parexcellance. As soon as christians and others of good will condemn the islamic justification and foundation for resorting to violence in the name of god justifications found both in the quran and the life of prophet muhammad we are quickly told that the bible especially the. Yahweh clearly ordered the hebrews to annihilate the canaanites and surrounding peoples. Because god liked abels animal sacrifice more than cains vegetables, cain kills his brother abel in a fit of religious jealousy. However, the violence of the bible is a human problem, a case study in primitive ethics and human violence which were projected onto the gods throughout history, our god included among them. Yes, it does, because undeniably violence and wars were recorded in the bible and many of them were waged in the name of god. Violence in the quran, he and others say, is largely a defense against attack.
Old testament violence is an interesting case in point. The old testament enemies of god received the military judgment of god in conquest. Bible and quran text analysis reveals violence more common. The quran is a vast, vague book, filled with poetry and contradictions much like the bible. Explore what jihad is, how it relates to isis and islamic terrorism today, and the most appropriate response we should make. This book details the beliefs of islam and how they are a corruption of the old testament and the gospels, combined with the random thoughts of mohammed. I would like to get comments on the following websites text. The popular message is that islam is one of the great world religions, a peaceful religion, a foundation of world civilization, its golden age was the high point of history, and it preserved western thought while we were in the dark ages.
The conquest of canaan had clear limits, geographically and historically, making it very different from the continuing islamic commands regarding jihad. No one can read far in the old testament without encountering numerous acts of violence that are sanctioned in the text and attributed to both god and humans. It is this challenge that assures the future of books like answering islam. Notorious south african muhammadan polemicist yusuf ismail, and a ahmed deedat wannabe, is fond of quoting judges 19 as an example of the bible condoning mass rape supposedly with gods approval, in order to divert attention away from the fact of his false prophet permitting and sanctioning the rape of captive women, even in cases where these women were married cf. The mental abuse constituted by an unsubstantiated threat of violence and terrible pain, if sincerely believed by the child, could easily be more damaging than the physical actuality of sexual abuse. Over the years, these texts have been used to justify all sorts of violence. Qureshi wrestled with islams traditions and scripture, concluding that islam glorifies violent jihad arguably more than any other action a muslim can take.
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