Aside from Your Whole Religion Being a Lie, There’s Plenty of Common Ground!
Here’s a heartwarming quote from a very popular film director in Iran.
“It is fascinating for Christians to know that Islam gives such devotion to and has so much knowledge about Jesus,” [Nader] Talebzadeh told AFP.
“By making this film I wanted to make a bridge between Christianity and Islam, to open the door for dialogue since there is much common ground between Islam and Christianity”…
Of course, he doesn’t believe (as most Muslims do not) that Jesus was the Son of God nor that Jesus was actually crucified. Thus, Jesus was actually a liar through most of the New Testament. That or the Bible is completely and utterly wrong. And the doctrine of salvation on which most Christians rest their faith is a fraud since not only did Jesus not die, he was rescued from crucifixion by God. So those disciples who later went around evangelizing the world with the story of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. You know, the ones who claimed to have been eyewitnesses? Liars, every last one of them.
Besides that, though, plenty of common ground!
Oh, did I mention that Muslims of Talebzadeh’s stripe believe that Jesus’ Second Coming isn’t all that much of a much. It’s just the opening act for the Twelfth Imam, who will bring the entire world under subjection to Islam. Well, those parts of the world that haven’t already been conquered by Muslims by then.
So…yeah…you Christians. What’s wrong with you for not embracing all that common ground? After all, you and Talebzadeh (oh, and Mad Mahmoud also, if you’re keeping score) can just laugh and laugh about how you both agree there was a human being named Jesus who existed at some time in the past. Right before he demands you pay your infidel tax or die.
(via Hot Air)
More after the jump.
UPDATE: Look, the point here is not that we shouldn’t be friends with people who don’t believe what we believe. Many of my friends don’t hold my religious or my political beliefs and I think life would be incredibly boring if I only spent time with people who believe just like I do.
That said, I don’t see the common ground at all (and I don’t think I made that point plain). If his point is that both Muslims and Christians can agree that Jesus existed and was more important than just the average carpenter on the street, then he doesn’t have much of a point at all. See, I could say the same thing about his faith. I could very easily say that I have common ground with Muslims because I believe Mohammed was a good teacher who said many important things. Of course I don’t believe all that stuff about him talking to God but, yeah, I’ll say he was a revered teacher and deserves respect for that. That Koran stuff is bunk, though. See how that might chafe?
The difference is that if a non-Muslim filmmaker were to say that, they’d have to hire a few bodyguards or learn how to live with their head on a swivel, watching for the Muslim knife. I’m sure we remember Theo van Gogh who was killed for a whole heck of a lot less than saying the entire foundation of Muslim faith is wrong. On the other hand, there won’t be any Christians coming after Talebzadeh for his movie. That’s a difference that outweighs any slight amount of common ground we have with the most prominent Muslims who speak publicly for the faith today.
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Category: Featured, Gimme that Old Time Religion
no of course the bible isn't completely and totally wrong.
The only parts that are wrong are the silly parts. Like where God created all of the animals in one day. Or the parts about it being OK for you to sell your daughter into slavery or to have more than one wife or that Methuselah lived 800 years or that the earth is less than 10,000 years old.
All the rest of the things are completely OK
Oh except for the part about burning witches that part is wrong also
Youo're entitled to believe that, though I certainly believe you're incorrect. Please, though, don't insult me by trying to make me believe that we have common religious ground.
Jimmie, do you really believe that John Ryan is incorrect in implying that the earth is more than 10,000 years old? I thought you at least had a passing interest in science. But I guess you have always liked scientifically indefensible science. And John didn't even try to say Islam and Christianity had common ground.
But I will. I'm of neither religion, and from my perspective, they are alomst the same. Same God, same history (almost), and very similar teachings (most are from Jesus in both). The primary difference, as you pointed out, is in the divinity of Christ. From an outside perspective, that's pretty much irrelevant. To you, it's important. But to the Muslims, the belief in the divinity of Christ is wrong, but a fairly minor faux pas. From their perspective, they see the similarities, not the differences. Maybe you should look to see the same.
Here's the thing. I don't need Islam to "see the similarities" in my religion and they don't need me to do the same with theirs either. It is not necessary for religions to be similar in order for them to live next to each other.
However, you have to cut things down the middle. It is important to my beliefs that Jesus is divine. It's also important to a Muslim that Mohammed received the words of Allah directly from him and that the Koran is the direct words of Allah. I believe that is incorrect but I have no problem believing that Mohammed was a generally noble guy who did some pretty good things in his life. To me, that's no big deal to accept. To a Muslim, especially a Muslim of Talebzadeh's stripe, that's enough to have me executed. See the difference?
Everything else is a theological discussion that's not really relevant to the issue (but which I'll take up a little bit here if you want). As for what John said…I was pretty much responding in kind to his comment and at least trying to tie it to the point of the original post.
Well, the Muslims don't believe he was the son of god, or the messiah, and neither do the Jews. They never did. It's the Xians who rewrote the script from, and added stuff to, the Jewish books, and the Muslims did same. The Mormons added some more nonsense. Funny stuff! Since most people are gullible, they eat this stuff up!
Let's see if it's true what they say about the Religious Right blogs and websites. They love to censor.
Two points, Revver.
1) Everyone "loves to censor". That's why you don't say most of the stupid stuff that pops in your head. That said, since I pay for this website, if I choose to delete your comment, I can and you have nothing at all to say about it.
2) I don't really have an interest in substantively rebutting your first points because you obviously aren't interested in a conversation. You're simply interested in trying to tick me off and getting me to edit your post so you can sit in your basement with that nice warm feeling of having won a tiny battle in some large religious war that only you are fighting.
God did in fact created the world in the time claimed… The only reason why the bible is wrong is for the fact of white people, (Not caucasian) all them Romans, and the rest of whites who grabbed the original "bible" and changed it according to their benefits… So, it is wrong, but the original one was not…
This man on top of me is at war with christians and catholics