> On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 11:20:04 -0800 (PST), JS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I believe the main problem preventing us from completely agreeing with one > another is that we are using the same word to mean different things. I will > try to explain what I mean below. G: I think I see what you are getting but I'm not sure if you are seeing what I'm saying. Even if you look beyond words, I think it is possible to make a real distinction between what Christianity is saying and what Islam is saying about the possibility of prophesy and revelation after their respective founders. > Gilberto Simpson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 05:51:36 -0800 (PST), JS wrote: [Summarizing differences in Christian and Islamic attitudes towards finality of revelation] > > G: But the same isn't true in Christianity (at least not as I've > > experienced it or studied it). Christianity as a whole CLEARLY allows > > for prophets coming after Jesus. I'm not sure why there is even any > > question. > > J: It seems like you are using Islamic slant on Christianity > > instead of > > Christian slant on Christianity. Christianity as a whole and in > > general, does not allows anyone on the same level as *the > > Christian view* of Jesus, > > to come after Jesus. > G: I am not at all taking the "Islamic slant". I'm exactly taking the > "Christian slant". I quoted several passages from the Bible which > CLEARLY mention prophets after Jesus. > J: Gilberto, my defenition of 'prophet' in relation to Christianity is "the > only Son of God, the Divine". Gilberto: Ok. to be honest that seems like a really unnatural definition of "prophet" which neither Christians, nor Muslims are really using. For example both Christians and Muslims would be willing to call Moses a prophet even though neither of them would call him "the only Son, the Divine". If you want to say that Christians think Jesus has unique attributes than I agree with you. But I don't see how (or why) you are really arguing this point in such a bizzare way. What is even more bizzare is that you are a Bahai and I'm a Muslim. So we both agree that there was at least one prophet to come after Jesus. So in what sense, and with what motivation would you be trying to insist that Christians should actually refuse to believe in prophets after Jesus?? It's like you want to interpret Christianity in an unreasonable way because you'd rather refute it than find some kind of harmony or continuity. > With this in mind, Christianity does not > believe that anyone else will come after Jesus, because He is the only Son > of God and Savior of mankind. Yes. Except for the writers who were inspired with the New Testament, the specific prophets mentioned in the New Testament by name, the future prophets who would be part of the ongoing prophetic office of the church, the two witnesses mentioned in the Revelation according to St. John, who would prophesy, along with those in the endtimes when God's spirit would be poured out on all flesh and the sons and daughters would prophesy and the young men will see visions and the old men will dream dreams. So yes, except for all those people, no one else is coming. > > J: My definition of 'prophet' in relation to Islam is "the Last Prophet, > since He brought a fully authentic Qur'an." In this respect, Islam does not > believe that anyone else will come after Muhammad with another Book of God, > because there is no need for another book if the Qur'an is already perfect. > Gilberto: I don't understand why you would define "prophet" as "Last prophet". Islam clearly recognizes prophets other than Muhammad. In particular the 123,999 or so prophets who came before Muhammad. > J > > Christianity does allow so called 'prophets' after Jesus, > > G: > Then we agree. That's all I'm saying. Islam clearly says that > prophethood ended with Muhammad. Christianity clearly teach that > prophets will come after Jesus. You can say other things to try to > blur that distinction or narrow it. But the difference is there. > J: I completely disagree with you on this. Words are only words. It is > the meaning of words that is important. A prophet from the Christian > perspective is inferior to Jesus the only Son of God, Saviour, and the Only > way to the Father. But rank is a seperate issue, its not part of the definition of prophet. Whether small or large, Christianity certainly allows for prophets to continue after Jesus. Whether small or large, Islam teaches that no more new prophets are coming after Muhammad. Not big ones. Not small ones. Peace Gilberto "My people are hydroponic" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
