Islam and Christianity in the West

[Aero_Hudson]

Great article over at conversantlife.com. Some of the key points of the article are...

- The plight of evangalists from a group called "Frontiers" and some of the challenges they face in Pakistan and other Muslim countries and their aversion to the "West" and as a result Christianity.

- Difference between forms of Liberalism, the good and the bad, and how this impacts efforts to bridge the gap between Muslims and Christians.

- 3 examples of showing Muslims Christ's love to include...
* We can better understand the how radical Islam has widened its following. Islamic radicals protray the West and morally currupt and athestic. Moreover, nothing incites animosity more than Westerners portraying Islam as a religion of violence
* Americans should show Muslims our more traditional face and not the face of pop culture and Hollywood.
* Christians and Muslims should work together to fight influence of the "bad" type of Liberalism in our society and abroad

Take a look and let me know your thoughts. Thanks everyone and Happy Monday!

http://www.conversantlife.com/global/is ... t#continue

 

[Armor of God]

The article makes some valid points. I have a few comments:

1) The items under "liberal #1" are better described as the foundation of a democratic society. I wouldn't associate any of them with a liberal or conservative ideology.
2) I fully agree the "liberal #2" ideas are what is destroying this country and painting a supposed Christian nation like the USA as a bunch of hypocrites. This kind of liberalism in our secular society is entering into the church and undermines the authority of scripture. They go hand-in-hand and usually once a church goes liberal, the authority of scripture is questioned and comes under fire. That is how you end up with a church ordaining gay pastors and the like.
3) I agree most Muslims do not condone jihad. However there are about 1 billion Muslims in the world and the statistics I have heard are 8-10% are associated with groups set on jihad. That is almost 100 million people and is an alarming number.

I disagree with conclusion that Muslims and Christians agree on many values. There is the misconception out there that Christianity and Islam are both descendents of Abraham therefore share many values. When it comes to ideas about God and theology, they are very far apart. Here are just a few off the top of my head, there are many more:

- Islam is a works based religion, Christianity is grace based
- Islam teaches you cannot know God, Christianity teaches a personal relationship
- Islam teaches God can change his mind and deny you entrance into paradise, Salvation is guaranteed with Jesus
- Islam teaches Jesus was a prophet, the bible teaches he is God
- Islam teaches Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity does
- Islam does not accept the idea of a trinity, Christianity does

The best way to reach Muslims is with the truth of scripture and to explain how Jesus is the only way to salvation.

 

[Aero_Hudson]

Check out the definition of Liberalism after the click below. I think you will find that "Conservatives" have effectively given "Liberlism" a bad name by twisting it in mainstream society. What many consider "Liberal" today is not what "Liberalism" is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

This is a bit off topic so if we need to establish a new thread, I can do that or you can Armor if this requires quite a few more posts. Let me know.

 

[Armor of God]

Check out the definition of Liberalism after the click below. I think you will find that "Conservatives" have effectively given "Liberlism" a bad name by twisting it in mainstream society. What many consider "Liberal" today is not what "Liberalism" is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

This is a bit off topic so if we need to establish a new thread, I can do that or you can Armor if this requires quite a few more posts. Let me know.

Well, I responded to this thread under the premise it was about reaching the people of Islam. If the real reason for this thread is to paint liberal ideology as "misunderstood" and just as correct as traditional mainstream Protestant ideology, than I think you are mischaracterizing the intent.

There is a reason why "liberal" has a negative connotation among many Christians and it's rightly deserved. I have studied a lot of higher textual criticism and Documentary Theory from the 19th century liberal theologians (where current liberalism get's it ideas) and will be more than happy to debate (and refute) that ideology.

So what is the intent of this thread? Reaching Muslims or arguing to redefine "liberal" into something more palatable for Christians to accept?

Side note: Wikipedia is not a valid or accepted source in academic circles and I would suggest if you want to make a more credible point to use something else.

 

[Aero_Hudson]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism[/url]

This is a bit off topic so if we need to establish a new thread, I can do that or you can Armor if this requires quite a few more posts. Let me know.

Well, I responded to this thread under the premise it was about reaching the people of Islam. If the real reason for this thread is to paint liberal ideology as "misunderstood" and just as correct as traditional mainstream Protestant ideology, than I think you are mischaracterizing the intent.

There is a reason why "liberal" has a negative connotation among many Christians and it's rightly deserved. I have studied a lot of higher textual criticism and Documentary Theory from the 19th century liberal theologians (where current liberalism get's it ideas) and will be more than happy to debate (and refute) that ideology.

So what is the intent of this thread? Reaching Muslims or arguing to redefine "liberal" into something more palatable for Christians to accept?

Side note: Wikipedia is not a valid or accepted source in academic circles and I would suggest if you want to make a more credible point to use something else.[/quote:3ofhvq9c]

A couple of thoughts...

- If you refer to the statement below I think you will have your answer at what this thread is about and the option on the table of pursuing the Liberalism topic further. I thought I was pretty clear.

This is a bit off topic so if we need to establish a new thread, I can do that or you can Armor if this requires quite a few more posts. Let me know.

So...you have your answer. If you would like a debate, please feel free to start another thread.

- So sorry about using Wikipedia...didn't know that we were having an "academic" discussion on a forum for Christians. I thought we were having a friendly discussion. If I somehow insulted your delicate sensibilities on academics, please consider this as unintentional. Wikipedia is convenient when posting in forums and that is why I used it. I also have a Political Science degree myself and did not feel that what was on the site was offbase. Politicians use the term "Liberal" as a negative connotation to manipulate the electorate and to make the other side look like whatever negative term they would like to associate with them. I have to say they have done a great job.

Armor, not sure why you are posting with me with such disdain. This topic was to get a dialogue going about Islamic / Christian relations and not meant to be divisive in anyway. If you took it that way, I truly apolgize. I would like to begin posting with you specifically without doing so negatively.