Class Notes for Week 1

Islamic and Christian Views of the Death, Resurrection, and Deity of Jesus

  1. Introduction

    2.

    1. Class Outline - subject, objectives (informed, learn to listen)

    2. WEB site for notes - http://home.pacbell.net/jgerman/classnotes.html – has links for each week – also accessable via MVCC WEB site (Go2MVCC.org) at Adult Sunday School Notes

    3. Materials used and suggested

    4. Islamic apologetics - show some materials

    5. Brief "How I got involved"

  2. Some Basics About Islam

    3.

    1. Muhammad

      1. Revolted against polytheism of 6th century middle-east. Stressed monotheism and the "Unity of God". Unitarian, not Trinitarian.

      2. At about the age of 40 began to receive revelations from Allah via the Angle Gabrial.

      3. Early preaching to family and friends. Encouraged by wife.

      4. Revelations received over ~23 year period, memorized – taught parts to others.

      5. Mecca - Message not received well, religious leaders were concerned with politics.

      6. Medina -Muhammad invited to move there - gained religious and political position/power Revelations change in attitude toward Jews and Christians (abrogation).

    2. Islam the Religon

      1. Fundamental message: submission to the Devine will, which is the very meaning of Islam. See Qur-an verses 2:136, 2;132, 5:114.

      2. Anyone who follows Islam as described in the Qur-an is a Muslim.

      3. Return to the one primordial religion that existed from the beginning of history. Others, such as Judaism and Christianity, are man made/modified corruptions.

      4. The sin of Shirk is associating ANY attribute of God to a lessor being: Man, Angles, the rest of creation. Shirk is the unforgivable sin.

    3. Qur-an

      1. Product of God Himself.

      2. Some say the Qur-an is the uncreated speech of God it was in God mind from eternity.

      3. It has always existed.

      4. Some parallel the Qur-an in Islam to Jesus in Christianity. Islam: In the beginning was the word and the word became a book. Christianity: In the beginning was the word and the word became flesh.

      5. Qur-an is the will of God.

      6. Qur-an needed to be "collected" - written down - when Muhammad died he could no longer verify/correct what others had memorized.

      7. Collected up to three times. Possibly by Muhammad but not much historical support. Uthman(collected Qurarish dialect pieces, had written down, verified, burned all other "versions". Possibly one other after Uthman. Uthman MSS is standard today.

      8. Mecca phase.

      9. Medina phase.

    4. Prophets

      1. By tradition as many as 124000

      2. 25, maybe 26, named in Qur-an

      3. [6]5 "Highest":

        1. [Adam-the Chosen of God]

        2. Noah-The Preacher of God

        3. Abraham-The Friend of God

        4. Moses-The Speaker of God

        5. Jesus-The Word of God

        6. Muhammad-The Apostle of God

      4. Each age had a prophet, until Muhammad who was the last, greatest, the "Seal" of all prophets.