The BIG Questions (I): Who Made Us?

source: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/524/

by Laurence B. Brown.

At some point in our lives, everybody asks the big questions: “Who made us,” and “Why are we here?”

So who did make us? Atheists speak of the Big Bang and evolution, whereas all others speak of God. Those who answer “I don’t know” are atheist for all intents and purposes, not because they deny God’s existence, but because they fail to affirm it.

Now, the Big Bang may explain the origin of the universe, but it doesn’t explain the origin of the primordial dust cloud. This dust cloud (which, according to the theory, drew together, compacted and then exploded) had to come from somewhere. After all, it contained enough matter to form not just our galaxy, but the billion other galaxies in the known universe. So where did that come from? Who, or what, created the primordial dust cloud?

Similarly, evolution may explain the fossil record, but it falls far short of explaining the quintessential essence of human life—the soul. We all have one. We feel its presence, we speak of its existence and at times pray for its salvation. But only the religious can explain where it came from. The theory of natural selection can explain many of the material aspects of living things, but it fails to explain the human soul.

Furthermore, anyone who studies the complexities of life and the universe cannot help but witness the signature of the Creator.[1] Whether or not people recognize these signs is another matter—as the old saying goes, denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. (Get it? Denial, spelled “de Nile” … the river Ni … oh, never mind.) The point is that if we see a painting, we know there is a painter. If we see a sculpture, we know there’s a sculptor; a pot, a potter. So when we view creation, shouldn’t we know there’s a Creator?

The concept that the universe exploded and then developed in balanced perfection through random events and natural selection is little different from the proposal that, by dropping bombs into a junkyard, sooner or later one of them will blow everything together into a perfect Mercedes. In the color and trim of our hearts’ desire, no less.

If there is one thing we know for certain, it is that without a controlling influence, all systems degenerate into chaos. The theories of the Big Bang and evolution propose the exact opposite, however—that chaos fostered perfection. Would it not be more reasonable to conclude that the Big Bang and evolution were controlled events? Controlled, that is, by the Creator?

The Arabs tell the tale of a nomad finding an exquisite palace at an oasis in the middle of an otherwise barren desert. When he asks how it was built, the owner tells him it was formed by the forces of nature. The wind shaped the rocks and blew them to the edge of this oasis, and then tumbled them together into the shape of the palace. Then it blew strands of sheep’s wool together into rugs and tapestries, stray wood together into furniture, doors, windowsills and trim, and positioned them in the palace at just the right locations. Lightning strikes melted sand into sheets of glass and blasted them into the window-frames, and smelted black sand into steel and shaped it into the fence and gate with perfect alignment and symmetry. The process took billions of years and only happened at this one place on earth—purely through coincidence.

When we finish rolling our eyes, we get the point. Obviously, the palace was built by design, not by happenstance. To what (or more to the point, to Whom), then, should we attribute the origin of items of infinitely greater complexity, such as our universe and our lives?

Another classic argument for atheism focuses upon what people perceive to be the imperfections of creation. These are the “How can there be a God if such-and-such happened?” arguments. The issue under discussion could be anything from a natural disaster to birth defects, from genocide to grandmother’s cancer. That’s not the point. The point is that denying God based upon what we perceive to be injustices of life presumes that a divine being would not have designed our lives to be anything other than perfect, and would have established justice on Earth.

Hmm … is there no other option?

We can just as easily propose that God did not design life on Earth to be paradise, but rather a test, the punishment or rewards of which are to be had in the next life, which is where God establishes his ultimate justice. In support of this concept we can well ask who suffered more injustices in their worldly lives than God’s favorites, which is to say the prophets? And who do we expect to occupy the highest stations in paradise, if not those who maintain true faith in the face of worldly adversity?

I would hope that, by this line of reasoning, we can agree upon the answer to the first “big question.” Who made us? Can we agree that if we are creation, God is the Creator?

If we can’t agree on this point, there probably isn’t much point in continuing. However, for those who do agree, let’s move on to “big question” number two—why are we here? What, in other words, is the purpose of life?

Questions & Answers

Why did you leave Christianity?

Is Jesus God?

Trinity?

What about Son of God?

So then who is Jesus?

Did Jesus died for our sins?

Advice for the truth seeker...



waLlaha'lam

Gerakan Kristianisasi

sumber:
http://www.darulkautsar.com/

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TA'RIF

Gerakan Kristianisasi adalah sebuah gerakan keagamaan yang bersifat ‘Politik Penjajahan’. Gerakan ini muncul selepas kekalahan pihak Kristian dalam Perang Salib sebagai usaha menyebarkan agama Kristian ke negara-negara dunia ketiga, terutamanya kepada ummat Islam. Objektifnya ialah untuk menguasai bangsa-bangsa tersebut.

SEJARAH PENUBUHAN DAN TOKOH-TOKOHNYA

Raymond Lull adalah orang Kristian pertama yang memperkenalkan konsep kristianisasi, selepas kegagalan pihak Kristian dalam Peperangan Salib. Dia bersungguh-sungguh belajar bahasa Arab, menjelajah negara-negara Syam sambil berdialog dengan ulama-ulama di sana.

Para mubaligh Kristian bermazhab Katholik telah memasuki benua Afrika sejak abad ke 15M ketika Portugal menjumpai negara-negara baru tersebut. Setelah itu mubaligh-mubaligh Kristian bermazhab Protestan pula dihantar oleh orang-orang Inggeris, Jerman dan Perancis.

Peter Heling sejak awal lagi sudah masuk ke dalam masyarakat lslam di pantai Negara-negara Afrika.

Sedangkan Baron du Betez, sejak tahun 1664, membangkitkan semangat orang-orang Kristian sehingga ia berjaya mendirikan sebuah akademi yang menjadi pusat latihan mubaligh Kristian.

Mr. Cary adalah tokoh yang unggul dalam gerakan Kristianisasi mengatasi mereka yang sebelumnya. la muncul menjelang akhir abad 18M dan awal abad 19M.

Paderi Henry Martin (meninggal tahun 1812) sangat besar peranannya dalam menyebarkan mubaligh-mubaligh Kristian ke negara-negara Asia Barat. Dia telah menterjemahkan Bibel ke dalam bahasa India, Parsi dan Armenia.

Dalam Tahun 1795 M Dewan Gereja Protestan bersatu dengan orang-orang Kopti di Mesir untuk menubuhkan sebuah Misi Kristian yang bertugas menyebarkan ajaran Injil di Afrika.

David Livingstone (1813 -1873), seorang pelancong lnggeris, telah menjelajah ke tengah-tengah benua Afrika. Sebelum menjelajah benua itu, dia dikenal sebagai seorang paderi.

Pada tahun 1849 M missi-missi Kristian mula dihantar ke negara-negara Syam. Perancangan yang intensif dilakukan untuk menguasai beberapa wilayah di kawasan negara-negara tersebut.

Tahun 1855 M Pertubuhan Pemuda Masehi ditubuhkan. Anggotanya terdiri dari pemuda-pemuda berbangsa lnggeris dan Amerika. Tugasnya terbatas pada usaha menanamkan keyakinan Ketuhanan Almasih pada diri mereka sendiri.

Tahun 1895 M Persatuan Mahasiswa Kristian Antarabangsa ditubuhkan. Persatuan ini berusaha menyelesaikan masalah-masalah yang dihadapi pelajar-pelajar sekolah di berbagai negara. Seiring dengan itu dilancarkan pula kempen 'cinta kasih' (ajaran Kristian) kepada mereka.

Samuel Zwemer, Ketua Misi Kristian untuk negara-negara Arab di Bahrain dan Ketua Persekutuan Kristian di Timur Tengah, bertanggungjawab menerbitkan majalah berbahasa lnggeris berjudul ‘Muslim World’. Majalah ini mula diterbitkan pada tahun 1911 dan masih lagi diterbitkan sehingga hari ini oleh Hartford.

Zwemer memasuki Bahrain dalam tahun 1890 M. Sejak tahun 1894 gereja-gereja reformasi Amerika menaja dan membiayainya sepenuhnya kegiatannya. Kejayaan dari aktiviti sosial dan kemanusiaan Zwemer yang paling menonjol antara lain ialah penubuhan misi-misi kedoktoran dan perubatan di negara-negara Teluk. Diikuti dengan pembukaan Pusat-pusat Kebajikan Masyarakat di Bahrain, Kuwait, Musqat dan Amman. Zwemer boleh dianggap sebagai salah seorang tokoh gerakan kristianisasi terbesar di abad moden ini.

Kenneth Cragg, pengganti Zwemer untuk mengetuai majalah Muslim World, pernah menjadi pensyarah Universiti Amerika di Kairo dan menjadi Dekan Jurusan Theologi Masehi di Lembaga Misi Kristian Hartford. Bukunya yang terkenal, Panggilan Menara Azan, diterbitkan pada tahun 1956.

Louis Massignon, penasihat gerakan kristianisasi di Mesir. Ia adalah salah seorang anggota Lembaga Bahasa Arab di Mesir dan pernah menjadi penasihat Departmen Kolonialisme Perancis untuk Urusan Afrika Selatan.

Daniel Bills berkata, "Institut Pengajian Tinggi Robert di lstanbul (sekarang Universiti Amerika) tidak lagi menjadi pusat pengajian tinggi yang ekslusif, baik di segi sukatan pelajaran ataupun fasiliti yang disediakannya. Sekarang telah menjadi institut pengajian tinggi Kristian yang benar-benar terbuka. Pengasasnya adalah seorang mubaligh Kristian. Malah sampai sekarang pimpinannya mestilah seorang pendakwah Kristian."

Paderi Syantor pada masa penjajahan Perancis menjadi Ketua Akademi Yesuit di Beirut dalam tempoh yang agak lama. Mr. Nibrouse, Rektor Universiti Beirut Amerika tahun 1948 M berkata: "Sejarah telah membuktikan bahawa pendidikan adalah alat paling berkesan kepada para mubaligh Amerika untuk mengkristiankan Syria dan Lebanon."

Don Huk Crey, tokoh terbesar dalam Persidangan Kristian Louzon tahun 1974 M, adalah seorang penganut Kristian bermazhab Protestan. Dia pernah menjadi mubaligh Kristian di Pakistan selama 20 tahun. Pernah menjadi mahasiswa Fuller School of International Mission. Selepas Persidangan Kristian di Colorado pada tahun. 1978 M, dia menjadi pengarah kepada Lembaga Samuel Zwemer. Lembaga ini aktif dalam bidang penerbitan untuk menyebarkan kajian-kajian khusus tentang cara-cara kristianisasi terhadap Ummat Islam. Ibupejabatnya terletak di California. Berbagai latihan dan rekrut dijalankan untuk melahirkan para pendakwah Kristian dalam segala bidang kepakaran.

Jesus Christ - Son of God? (part 1): The Meaning of “Son of God”

source: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/547/

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Son of God, son of David, or son of Man? Jesus is identified as “son of David” fourteen times in the New Testament, starting with the very first verse (Matthew 1:1). The Gospel of Luke documents forty-one generations between Jesus and David, while Matthew lists twenty-six. Jesus, a distant descendant, can only wear the “son of David” title metaphorically. But how then should we understand the title, “son of God?”

The “Trilemma,” a common proposal of Christian missionaries, states that “Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or the Son of God, as he claimed to be.” For the sake of argument, let’s agree that Jesus was neither a lunatic nor a liar. Let’s also agree he was precisely what he claimed to be. But what, exactly, was that? Jesus called himself “Son of Man” frequently, consistently, perhaps even emphatically, but where did he call himself “Son of God?”

Let’s back up. What does “Son of God” mean in the first place? No legitimate Christian sect suggests that God took a wife and had a child, and most certainly none conceive that God fathered a child through a human mother outside of marriage. Furthermore, to suggest that God physically mated with an element of His creation is so far beyond the limits of religious tolerance as to plummet down the sheer cliff of blasphemy, chasing the mythology of the Greeks.

With no rational explanation available within the tenets of Christian doctrine, the only avenue for closure is to claim yet one more doctrinal mystery. Here is where the Muslim recalls the question posed in the Quran:

“…How can He have a son when He has no consort?...” (Quran 6:101)

…while others shout, “But God can do anything!” The Islamic position, however, is that God doesn’t do inappropriate things, only Godly things. In the Islamic viewpoint, God’s character is integral with His being and consistent with His majesty.

So again, what does “Son of God” mean? And if Jesus Christ has exclusive rights to the term, why does the Bible record, “...for I (God) am a father to Israel, and Ephraim (i.e. Israel) is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9) and, “...Israel is My son, even my firstborn” (Exodus 4:22)? Taken in the context of Romans 8:14, which reads, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” many scholars conclude that “Son of God” is metaphorical and, as with christos, doesn’t imply exclusivity. After all, The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion confirms that in Jewish idiom “Son of God” is clearly metaphorical. To quote, “Son of God, term occasionally found in Jewish literature, biblical and post-biblical, but nowhere implying physical descent from the Godhead.”[1]Hasting’s Bible Dictionary comments:

In Semitic usage “sonship” is a conception somewhat loosely employed to denote moral rather than physical or metaphysical relationship. Thus “sons of Belial” (Jg 19:22 etc.) are wicked men, not descendants of Belial; and in the NT the “children of the bridechamber” are wedding guests. So a “son of God” is a man, or even a people, who reflect the character of God. There is little evidence that the title was used in Jewish circles of the Messiah, and a sonship which implied more than a moral relationship would be contrary to Jewish monotheism.[2]

And in any case, the list of candidates for “son of God” begins with Adam, as per Luke 3:38: “...Adam, which was the son of God.”

Those who rebut by quoting Matthew 3:17 (“And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased’”) have overlooked the point that the Bible describes many people, Israel and Adam included, as “sons of God.” Both II Samuel 7:13-14 and I Chronicles 22:10 read, “He (Solomon) shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son.”

Entire nations are referred to as sons, or children of God. Examples include:

Genesis 6:2, “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men…”

Genesis 6:4, “There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men…”

Deuteronomy 14:1, “Ye are the children of the Lord your God.”

Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD…”

Job 2:1, “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD…”

Job 38:7, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Philippians 2:15, “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation…”

1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! … Beloved, now we are children of God…”

In Matthew 5:9 Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Later in

Matthew 5:45, Jesus prescribed to his followers the attainment of noble attributes, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Not exclusively his Father, but their Father …