Religion
See other Religion Articles
Title: Franklin Graham: ‘Islam and Christianity Clearly Do Not Worship the Same God’
Source:
Breitbart
URL Source: http://www.breitbart.com/big-govern ... y-do-not-worship-the-same-god/
Published: Jan 24, 2016
Author: Thomas D Williams, PhD
Post Date: 2016-01-24 20:55:03 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 5685
Comments: 36
In a series of tweets late Saturday night, Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, laid out his opposition to the recommendation of the college’s faculty council that the school drop its plans to terminate a professor who published her belief that Islam and Christianity worship the same God, which Graham said was “no minor issue.” Professor Hawkins of @WheatonCollege published her belief that Islam & Christianity worship the same God. This is no minor issue. 1/3 — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 23, 2016 I can tell you–Islam and Christianity clearly do not worship the same God. https://t.co/p6wa8YzbGJ 2/3 — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 23, 2016 Islam denies that God has a Son. They deny that Jesus is God. They do not believe in a Triune God– Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. 3/3 — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 23, 2016 How the faculty council at @WheatonCollege can support Professor Hawkins being allowed to teach students is deeply concerning. — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) January 23, 2016 In December 2015, Larycia Hawkins, who teaches political science at Wheaton College, was put on administrative leave after wearing a hijab to school in solidarity with Muslims. Wheaton is a private evangelical Christian college, which has sometimes been called the “evangelical Harvard” because of its reputation for academic rigor. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast Hawkins announced that she would wear the hijab to demonstrate support for Muslims in the aftermath of the shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, California. She also used the gesture as a platform to express her belief that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. In a separate Facebook post, Graham said both his father and mother attended Wheaton College, where they met for the first time. “I’m surprised and disappointed that the faculty council there is now recommending the college drop their plans to terminate a professor who published that she believed Islam and Christianity worship the same God in December. This is no minor issue that should be debated,” Graham wrote. The fundamental issue for Graham is the theological question of the nature of God and therefore the mission of the college. “Islam denies that God has a Son,” Graham wrote. “They deny that Jesus is God. They do not believe in a Triune God–the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I can tell you–Islam and Christianity clearly do not worship the same God.” “How the faculty council can now support this professor being allowed to teach students is deeply concerning,” he concludes. The Wheaton College website, which identifies the school as “explicitly Christian,” includes a statement of faith that unequivocally lays out its Christian beliefs. “WE BELIEVE in one sovereign God, eternally existing in three persons: the everlasting Father, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life; and we believe that God created the Heavens and the earth out of nothing by His spoken word, and for His own glory,” it reads. In her defense, Hawkins wrote: “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book,” though it is unclear which “book” she was referring to, since the portrayal of God in the Christian Bible differs on a number of essential points from that offered in the Qur’an. Being people of a book could just as well apply to Maoists following the “little red book.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, for instance, states that the “Christian faith is not a ‘religion of the book.’ Christianity is the religion of the ‘Word’ of God, ‘not a written and mute word, but incarnate and living.’” Hawkins also invoked Pope Francis as having stated “we worship the same God,” though such an affirmation is not without ambiguity. To say, as Francis did, that Muslims “worship the one living and merciful God, and call upon him in prayer,” means at minimum that Muslims do not worship an idol, or false God, but it does not imply that their understanding of God coincides with that of Christians. While Christians, Jews, and Muslims all claim to worship “the God of Abraham,” the understanding that each has of God is not theologically identical. While all monotheists intend to worship the one God, their beliefs concerning who God is vary considerably–and sometimes in essential points, as Graham pointed out. Thus, in 2007, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, now the prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, could assert that Muslims and Christians “do not believe in the same God,” underscoring the differences in doctrine concerning who God is. Christians may well continue to debate the matter of whether in their worship of God, or “Allah,” Muslims are really worshipping the God of the Bible—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For now, one prominent evangelist has said “no.” 
Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God, celebrated evangelist Franklin Graham said in response to the controversial claim by a faculty member at Wheaton College in Illinois.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 34.
#1. To: cranky (#0)
(Edited)
I'm sure you could find Jewish rabbis who would tell you that Judaism and Christianity do not worship the same god. We try to bridge these divides by wallpapering over them with terms like Judeo-Christian. Even though I've never met a Judeo-Christian or seen a Judeo-Christian church. You see a similar habit to try to lump Islam with Judaism and Christianity under the term "Abrahamic religion". Judaism does have a lot more in common with Islam than either has with Christianity.
God revealed his word to the Jews. He kept part of it hidden. The New Testament is the old testament revealed. It is bizarre that a christian such as yourself would make such a ridiculous statement.
To take just one example, both Judaism and Islam are fanatically monotheistic. Christianity has a Trinity instead. Neither Islam nor Judaism has a son of God in them. Even Judaism's Messiah is not a co-equal Son of God. You can't entirely ignore these differences.
One more for now. Now remember I said the New Testament is just the Old Testament revealed and clarified. Now for the trinity mentioned again in the old testament. Isaiah 48:16King James Version (KJV) 16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
And would you apply your literal reading to Genesis 6? 6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
That means that Adam and Eves children had sex with each other to perpetuate the species.
But the sons of Adam and Eve are just called Cain and Abel. They were never called sons of God. Would you call Cain a "son of God"? In the Bible, the title "sons of God" is pretty rare, though you see it used at least 8 times in the New Testament to indicate Christians.
In the Bible, the title "sons of God" is pretty rare, though you see it used at least 8 times in the New Testament to indicate Christians. They were sons of God. God created Adam and Eve. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't this before the fall?
What difference would that make? Clearly, you have a problem with your literal reading in Genesis 6. You're trying to explain away why "sons of God" as used in Genesis does not mean "sons of God" in the sense of Christians in various New Testament passages or the term "son of God" as applied to Jesus alone, not to Abraham or David or Solomon or any other Jew. So you are saying "sons of God" denotes Cain and Abel (possibly among other sons of Adam and Eve)? Seriously?
Clearly you are full of it. Clearly you don't believe the Bible is 100 percent accurate. On the other hand I think God and his Bible are infallible. You think there are mistakes. I don't. Seems you have the problem with a literal reading. You also asked what difference it would make it it was after the fall. Well the relationship changed.
Just your literal reading of it.
That is a good stupid one. Here is what I think it means. They were the sons of God. What do you think sons of God means?
The text declares them as such. But what did they mean by that specifically? Vic loves these Genesis discussions.
Genesis is crucial because it establishes the definitions of words, of origins and of structures of the rest of Scripture. Of course, my belief in God does not repose on Scripture at all. Scripture, for me, is a reference book to clarify things (perhaps), regarding God, and a source to see what men wrote down that God said.
I thought you might have a comment on the phrase 'sons of God' in the text of Genesis 6.
#35. To: TooConservative (#34)
I do. But I look at the audience and I know what will happen if I open my word hoard and speak. So I am holding back, because I'm tired of getting spit on for telling the truth.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestTitle: Franklin Graham: ‘Islam and Christianity Clearly Do Not Worship the Same God’
#4. To: TooConservative (#1)
Judaism does have a lot more in common with Islam than either has with Christianity.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#4)
It is bizarre that a christian such as yourself would make such a ridiculous statement.
#12. To: TooConservative (#7)
#13. To: A K A Stone (#12)
Now for the trinity mentioned again in the old testament.
So is this telling us that Jesus and his "brothers" were running around in Genesis 6 having sex with hot chicks?
Genesis 6 King James Version (KJV)
#18. To: TooConservative (#13)
Anyway, it's interesting that you support Trump and so do I. Perhaps you have not thought through what stopping illegal immigration, having universal health care that isn't Obamacare, and putting a tarriff on Chinese goods MEANS.
#19. To: A K A Stone (#18)
That means that Adam and Eves children had sex with each other to perpetuate the species.
#20. To: TooConservative (#19)
But the sons of Adam and Eve are just called Cain and Abel. They were never called sons of God. Would you call Cain a "son of God"?
#21. To: A K A Stone (#20)
Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't this before the fall?
#28. To: TooConservative (#21)
Clearly, you have a problem with your literal reading in Genesis 6.
#30. To: A K A Stone (#28)
Seems you have the problem with a literal reading.
#31. To: TooConservative (#30)
Just your literal reading of it.
#32. To: A K A Stone, Vicomte13 (#31)
Here is what I think it means. They were the sons of God.
#33. To: TooConservative (#32)
Vic loves these Genesis discussions.
#34. To: Vicomte13 (#33)
Replies to Comment # 34. I thought you might have a comment on the phrase 'sons of God' in the text of Genesis 6.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 34.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]