Feedback archive → Feedback 2011

Recommended Resources

Messianic Christology

by Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum

Jesus in Genesis: The Messianic Prophecies DVD

presented by Dr Jonathan Sarfati

Creation Evangelism in an Islam-Aware World DVD

presented by Dr David Catchpoole

The Qu’ran, Messianic prophecy and Christianity

Published: 26 November 2011(GMT+10)

This week features questions on Islam and Judaism. CMI’s Dr David Catchpoole and Dr Jonathan Sarfati respond.

Wikipedia: Jayson De Leon

N.O. from Sweden writes:

Best CMI

I recently read the article ‘The Koran vs Genesis’ by David Catchpoole,[1] and became somewhat confused by it. I hope you can answer some questions which rose up in my head after I read the article.

Catchpoole’s article tells the story of a young woman who converted to Islam. I have difficulties to understand the young woman’s question; she says that ‘[human] bodies are unclean!’ Is this statement based on Islamic or Christian beliefs about the human being? It is not explained in the article. The next sentence is also difficult to understand; ‘Why would God, who is pure, sully himself by coming down to Earth in human form?’ After all, it is one of the cornerstones of Christianity that Jesus became human, so what’s the matter? How could this woman abandon the Christian faith? In my opinion, it is a very sad story.

Another thing which I wonder about is an older letter by Derel Briarley, printed in the Journal of Creation,[2] which mention a tribe that is described in the Koran, and it also talk about God (of the Bible, I presume). What is that article talking about (I have difficulties to understand)?

But, why are Muslims so hostile against Christians? By the way, you often say that the Koran was written hundreds of years after the New Testament. How can we know this? And, are there any other good arguments we can use to defend our faith against attack from Muslims?

I hope your ministry can answer these questions, and help me to mature in my belief in Christ. I wish to thank you for your homepage.[3]

Sincerely,
N.N.

1. Catchpoole D, ‘The Koran vs Genesis’, Creation 24(2):p. 46-51 (http://creation.com/the-koran-qur-an-vs-genesis).
2. http://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j11_1/j11_1_49-50.pdf.
3. I also want to apologise for my frequent e-mailing of questions to you. I often have questions, and you tend to give very satisfying answers.

CMI speaker and writer Dr David Catchpoole responds:

Dear N., it’s David Catchpoole (CMI-Australia) here, thanks for your enquiry. My responses are interspersed below:

I recently read the article ‘The Koran vs Genesis’ by David Catchpoole,[1] and became somewhat confused by it. I hope you can answer some questions which rose up in my head after I read the article. Catchpoole’s article tells the story of a young woman who converted to Islam. I have difficulties to understand the young woman’s question; she says that [human] bodies are unclean! Is this statement based on Islamic or Christian beliefs about the human being? It is not explained in the article.

The young woman was presenting a line commonly used by Muslims in the West when talking with Christians. There’s no biblical basis for that idea; and it’s possible that there is no basis for it in Islam, either. It’s highly likely this is an example of the “whatever it takes” strategy employed by Muslims (one aspect is called ‘taqiyya’) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (who I’m told call it ‘theocratic lying’).

The next sentence is also difficult to understand; ‘Why would God, who is pure, sully himself by coming down to Earth in human form?’. After all, it is one of the cornerstones of Christianity that Jesus became human, so what’s the matter? How could this woman abandon the Christian faith? In my opinion, it is a very sad story.

Agreed.

Another thing which I wonder about is an older letter by Derel Briarley, printed in the Journal of Creation,[2] which mention a tribe that is described in the Koran, and it also talk about God (of the Bible, I presume). What is that article talking about (I have difficulties to understand)?

You’re not the only one have trouble understanding what is the thrust of Mr Briarley’s letter! In fact, some of the things in his letter are so contrary to CMI’s position today that such would not be published in the modern Journal of Creation! Under the editorial management at that time, letters from correspondents reflecting a diversity of views were published as a ‘forum’, i.e. with a view to airing various opinions on the possible Flood boundary in rock strata, in hopes that a consensus might be achieved. To some extent the Journal of Creation still functions somewhat as a ‘forum’ for creationists to air their views today, whereas in Creation magazine the articles are a much more ‘watertight’ presentation of the biblical creationist position. Please keep that in mind whenever you are reading the Journal of Creation, compared to Creation magazine.

But, why are muslims so hostile against Christians?

While anti-Christian sentiment is not the monopoly of Muslims (note the widespread deriding of Christianity by notable atheists and people from other religions), Muslims have Koranic injunctions ‘justifying’ not only anti-Christian sentiment but also discriminatory and even violent actions.

By the way, you often say that the Koran was written hundreds of years after the New Testament. How can we know this?

Lots of ways. Here’s one you could use when talking with a Muslim who might say that today’s copies of the New Testament have been corrupted, compared to pre-Muhammad copies: The date Muslims claim for Muhammad is clearly more recent than the British Library’s dating of the oldest copy of the New Testament.¹

And, are there any other good arguments we can use to defend our faith against attack from Muslims?

Have you read our article Unfair to Islam? and the ones listed at its foot under “Related articles”? Also, you might be interested in my DVD presentation Creation Evangelism in an Islam-aware world. And also this article: Christianity, Islam and science: Was modern science birthed by Islam?

I hope your ministry can answer these questions, and help me to mature in my belief in Christ. I wish to thank you for your homepage.[3]

Sincerely,
N.N.

1. Catchpoole D, ‘The Koran vs Genesis’, Creation 24(2):p. 46-51 (http://creation.com/the-koran-qur-an-vs-genesis).
2. http://creation.com/images/pdfs/tj/j11_1/j11_1_49-50.pdf.
3. I also want to apologise for my frequent e-mailing of questions to you. I often have questions, and you tend to give very satisfying answers.

You’re very welcome. I hope these answers too are helpful to you.

Sincerely,

David Catchpoole

S.T. from Croatia writes:

Hello :)

First God bless you for your work and I will pray that creationism is taken more seriously in today’s community because I believe that if we can prove that creationism is a fact more people would accept Christianity and world would generally be better place.

But I don’t understand something.

Why don’t Jews accept Jesus as a saviour if he fulfilled all of the prophecies in OT?

Are there some that he didn’t fulfil?

Thanks in advance

CMI’s Dr Jonathan Sarfati, himself a Jewish believer in Jesus, responds:

Dear S.T.

Thank you for writing. This is quite a complex issue, since it involves personal psychology more than evidence. Some of the excuses involve pseudo-theology (“How can a man become God?” No, it’s God becoming man!); “He didn’t bring peace” (He was rejected); “Most Jews don’t believe it” (majority vote is hardly source of truth; most Jews didn’t believe the Old Testament prophets either!).

A problem for the unbelievers is that the Messiah had to come when He did, according to the 70 sevens prophecy of Daniel 9, and at a time before most temple records were destroyed; now it’s impossible to prove that one is a descendant of King David.

The book Messianic Christology by Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum has a whole appendix on this question.

Regards

Jonathan Sarfati

Related articles

• Islam, testimony, and the Trinity
• The Koran vs Genesis
• Unfair to Islam?
• Unfair to Islam? Round 2
• Christianity, Islam and science: Was modern science birthed by Islam?
• The Hebrew language and Messianic prophecies

Notes

1. The Codex Sinaiticus Project. www.bl.uk/aboutus/stratpolprog/ccare/projects/codexsinaiticus/ Return to text.

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