Northern Virginia Catholic Bible Study & Apologetics House rules/notes… 1. Online via Meetup/Zoom or In Person at St. John Neumann Catholic Church 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191 https://saintjn.org/ 2. Meetup is www.meetup.com/catholicbiblestudy Zoom Meeting Logon info is the same every week: Zoom ID: 861 1782 2081 Password: 406952 3. I will send out Meeting Recaps the same night as our sessions – these are unedited versions without pictures. An edited version with pictures will be posted on our website https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/recaps before the next meeting. Taylor will notify everyone at that time. 4. Questions encouraged. If you have questions about anything, you can ask in the chat box, email the Meetup group, or me at ron@hallagan.net. 5. Respectfulness. We will be discussing differences between religions and Christian denominations, and we agree to be respectful at all times. Specifically, Protestants are our friends and brothers in Christ; in fact, I personally owe part of my return to the faith to them! 6. No politics. It would be easy for us to self-destruct, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to learn/understand/apply the Bible and our Catholic faith. 7. Catholic Prayer & Fellowship. Are you interested in praying with other Catholics during the week? Fellow member Jason Goldberg has started “Catholic Prayer, Fellowship, and Spirituality Meetup.” Sign up at: https://www.meetup.com/online-catholic-prayer-fellowship-and-spirituality/. 8. “The Chosen” TV series. All of us seek a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is not always easy. It can help if we have seen and heard Him. The Chosen captures Jesus better than any show I have ever seen. Highly recommended. 9. RSVP Reminder: Please RSVP whether you are attending the meeting or just reading the Recaps afterwards. The more RSVPs, the more Meetup will give exposure to “Catholic Bible Study” – a good thing! Consider it your way of evangelizing! Please RSVP when you get the Meetup invite weekly. Bible Study Format: Each week of the month has a repeating topic, as shown below. Each meeting: 5 min greet, prayer, 10-15 min Catholic topic, 40-45 min main topic. Week 1: Gospel Week: Sermon on the Mount, cont’d Week 2: Bible Week (Gen àRev): We are in EXODUS, the 2nd book of Moses. Week 3: Survey Topics Voted on by Members: We are currently in Comparative Religions.
Ö 1) Jesus’ Greatest Parables Ö 2) Hell, Purgatory, Heaven 3) Christian Comparisons/World Religions 4) Great Women in the Bible 6) Book of Revelation 7) Major Heresies and Church Councils Week 4: Member Questions (submitted in advance): 1. Does the path get harder the closer we get to God? Things that were bad before now look bad. Acedia. Monks/nuns 2. The History of the Mass going back to Cain & Abel, all leading to the sublime meaning of the Eucharist. 3. Can you review origin and meaning of the 12 statements of belief in the Creed? 4. “Who am I?” It seems we all ask this question at some point in our lives. Some ask it all the time. How do you answer this? 5. Are Charity and Love synonymous? How are they different? What are the 4 highest forms of Charity? 6. How many Gospels have the story of Jesus’ calming the storm? Are they the same story? 7. Why was God full of vengeance and violence in the OT? Or was that simply an interpretation by those of that time? 8. Can you provide an intro/overview of the OT books? Catholic Catacombs Website: https://catholiccatacombs.wixsite.com/website/recaps Opening Prayer Dear Lord Thank you for your promise that where two or three of us are gathered in your name, You are there! We welcome you among us tonight as we continue to learn about other religions and cultures. In the process, may we gain greater appreciation for your love and forgiveness. And as You taught us to pray: Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily Bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us all. Amen. Major upcoming holy days in the Church…
Pentecost Sunday – May 28
I had an inquiry about Rev 19:20 in the chatbox last week, I think it was Mike. No specific question attached to it.
Rev 19:20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Q: What are any of these things referring to? Revelations is one of the coming topics so any involved discussion will have to wait. As a short response, I will share that these are symbolic terms that would have been understood by John’s contemporaries.
The beast and the false prophet refer to the Roman Empire and the Emperor.
Those with the mark of the beast who had been deceived were the worshippers of the emperor, who called himself the son of God.
Being thrown into the fiery lake refers to their ultimate defeat. Comparative Religions We have concluded Protestantism and Orthodoxy (available Catholic Catacombs website) and now move on to Islam.
Islam is similar to Christianity in that it accepts the Jewish Bible, is based largely upon Jewish ideas and traditions, and accepts a number of events in the New Testament. However, the philosophical underpinnings of Islam are more closely aligned with Judaism. Whereas Christianity incorporates the idea of the “Trinity,” Islam like Judaism believes in one all-powerful and infinite God.
A main difference between the two religions, however, lies in the nature of their revelation:
Judaism is based on a unique, historical event of a divine revelation experienced by the entire nation.
Islam is based on the prophetic claims of a single individual who then convinced others to follow his ways.
Also, while Abraham’s son Isaac became the forefather of the Jewish people, the Islamic line is descended from Abraham’s other son, Ishmael.
Interesting facts
- Founded by Mohammed in AD 630-640, Islam is the third major religion to claim Abraham as their father in faith. Judaism and Christianity are the others.
- Muslims believe through faith in one God, omnipotent, omniscient, all-merciful, the author of all good, and in Mohammed as His prophet as expressed in the formula: "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is God’s prophet.”
- Practically speaking, Islam consists of five observances:
- The word Islam has several root meanings, but for the religion it primarily means to "submit" or "surrender," as in one's entire submission or surrender to the will of God. More specifically, it means a follower of Muhammed, who created Islam.
- A practitioner of Islam, or follower of Muhammad, is called a Muslim, which is derived from the word Islam. Someone who is skilled in Muhammad's teachings and practices it in the heart is called an Imam, which is also taken from the word Islam.
- The Qu’ran (or Koran)
The sacred text of Islam is called the Qu'ran, or Koran. The word is Arabic and means “recitation,” which is likely because Muhammad said the Angel Gabriel dictated it to him.
The Qu'ran is divided into 114 chapters, called "suras," and is revered as the word of God, dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel, and accepted as the foundation of Islamic law, religion, culture, and politics. In other words, every aspect of life. There is no separation of church and state.
They believe in the authority and sufficiency of the Qu'ran, in angels, jinn (genii), and the devil, in the immortality of the soul, the resurrection, judgment day, and in God’s absolute decree for good and evil when a man’s good and evil will be weighed against each other to determine one’s fate.
Q: What is the difference between angels and Jinn (genii)?
Angels were made from God’s light. They are not gender specific and do not have free will but were only created to do God’s will and that’s all they do. Angels don’t have families and don’t eat, drink, or sleep. Angels can fly across space in a second and can go through doors or anything else.
The Jinn were created by fire, have both genders, they marry and have offspring. The Jinn have free will and Satan is fallen Jinn. Jinn can’t move around like angels and have space restrictions like humans. Jinn can go through doors and walls but can’t go through metal or steel.
They believe men are smarter than the Jinn, and the Jinn are smarter than the angels.
Q: How often are Biblical characters mentioned in the Qu’ran?
- Interestingly, within the 114 chapters in Qu’ran, Abraham is mentioned 70+ times, Moses over 130 times, and Jesus 25 times. Mohammed is only in 4 places – Ch. 3:144, Ch. 33:40, Ch. 47:2, Ch. 48:2 – but that may be due to the Qu’ran being dictated to him).
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Angel Gabriel dictating the Qu’ran to Mohammed
Interesting facts, continued.
- In Chapter 3, verses 45-55, the Qu’ran goes into detail about Jesus. It refers to him in the following names: the word of God, the spirit of God, and Jesus Christ. These names hold much power, meaning, and symbolism.
- The Qu’ran goes on to highlight the many miracles of Jesus, many of which Christians are very familiar with. It details that He created a live bird with mud, cured a man born blind, cured a man with leprosy, spoke when he was 2 days old, and gave life to the dead. It even documents how Jesus went to heaven, that He is alive and will come again. Interestingly, the Qu’ran makes no mention that Mohammed is alive, and does not mention that he will come back. He is not documented performing miracles and he is not referred to by any special names.
- No actual women are named in the Qu’ran, except for one—Mary, the mother of Jesus. Two entire chapters – Chapter 3 (Family of Mariam) and Chapter 19 (Mariam) – are dedicated to the story of Mary. Within these chapters, it explains that Mary is without original sin, was a virgin, and went to heaven with her physical body.
- The Catholic Encyclopedia describes the numerous biographies of Mohammed but they are not reliable as they were written over 100 years after Muhammad passed, with no eyewitnesses. Thus, our primary source for information is only what is available in the Qu'ran.
- There is no central hierarchy in Islam, which comprises two main theological schools and political factions, with many subdivisions.
o The Sunni (Orthodox) represent 90% of Muslims and uphold the legitimacy of the succession of the first three caliphs – Abu Bakr, Omar, and Uthman. The Sunni have four principal theological schools and these are further subdivided into 41 sects.
o The Shia (Schismatics) represent 10% of Muslims and champion the divine right of Ali (Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law) over the successions of these caliphs whom they call "usurpers," and whose names, tombs, and memorials they insult and detest. The Shia are mainly in Iran and India and have 32 different sects.
o All total, there are 73 sects of Islam. In spite of these divisions, however, the principal articles of faith and morality, and the rituals, are substantially uniform.
Origins and Early Growth of Islam
To understand how Islam spread so easily, we must understand that many Arab tribes had been living side by side for a very long time with large Jewish communities. The influence that Judaism had on the Arabs cannot be overstated. In fact, the effect of the strong monotheistic views of their Jewish neighbors was so profound that whole tribes of Arabs had accepted monotheism even before the rise of Mohammed. It is because of this closeness to the Jewish community, whom they held in the highest regard, and with whom they got along very well, that many Arab tribes had already adopted and practiced many of the local Jewish laws and teachings.
Understandably, this made it much easier for Mohammed to incorporate a large number of Jewish traditions into his Islamic religious teachings, without any protest from his Arab constituents. The teachings of there being One merciful God, the importance of prayer, giving charity, the implementation of certain dietary laws, the idea of a day set aside for extra prayer and spiritual development (Friday — instead of the Sabbath), fasting and repentance, were all culled from the local Jewish population, and from their knowledge of Torah gained through the local Jewish laymen and scholars. Because of the close proximity to the Jews, Mohammed himself was in touch with local Torah scholars (about whom he writes in the Qu’ran in very favorable terms), providing him with access to an in-depth knowledge of the Torah and its commentaries.
As mentioned above, Mohammed was also taken with Jesus and considered him a prophet sent by God. However, he believed the Gospels were corrupted and that Jesus was not the Son of God and did not die on the cross (another “lie”) and therefore did not die for our sins.
Q: How was Mohammed familiar with Jesus and the Gospels?
There are several theories. One is that he received all his knowledge from the Angel Gabriel.
The other is that Christianity had spread into North Africa but one prominent version of it was a heresy started in Egypt by Arius (the Arian heresy) in the 4th century. Arius denied the Trinity and the divinity of Christ – just like Muslims later would . Arius said Jesus was another created being, just like us, but he the highest created being. This was much easier to explain (and understand!) than the Trinity, and Arius was very charismatic and cut a fine figure, enabling him build a large following. So large in fact that he was called before the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD to explain himself. As he relayed his story to the world’s bishops gathered there, you might recall that the elder Biship of Myrna – St. Nicholas – walked up to the front where Arius was speaking and slapped him. The council not only condemned “Arianism” but then published the Nicene Creed to prevent these kinds of deviations from occurring. If Arius wanted to remain in the Church, he was told he had to renounce his teachings, but Arius did not comply and Arianism spread for the rest of the century. The division led to bloodshed in the streets, especially in Alexandria, Egypt, until a later emperor stepped in and put down the Arians. Arianism did not end, however, but went underground in the heart of North Africa. A hundred years later, Mohammed takes on many of the same teachings – no Trinity, Jesus wasn’t the Son of God, didn’t die for our sins, etc. – but also that Jesus was greater than all other created beings.
All that said, Mohammed had a deep belief in the narratives of the Old Testament (Torah). He wrote of Adam, Noah, and of course of Abraham and Ishmael. He also wrote of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and of Israel’s affliction in Egypt and about all the miracles performed for the Jews in Egypt. He wrote about the Exodus, about the miracles in the wilderness such as the manna, and water from rocks (Sura 2:57,60; 20:80). He speaks of Moses, together with Abraham, with the highest esteem. Mohammed believed Moses received the Torah directly from God at Mt. Sinai.
Basically, we see that Mohammed originally wrote the Qu’ran as “an extension” to the Torah (as Mohammed clearly stated, “Before this Book there was Moses’ Book…” and other similar references – Sura 2:41,48–51,53,87; 3:30; 17; 4:164; 7:143; 20:12-13; 46:12,30,33, and in many other places, too numerous to detail. Some believe that His hope was that by giving serious recognition to the Jewish people and their Torah, they would accept him as their “final prophet.”
However, the Jews did not come over as he had hoped. There have been questions raised about Mohammed’s literacy and he made a number of serious mistakes when he related certain events of the Torah in the Qu’ran. He placed Pharaoh, Haman, and the creation of the Tower of Babel all in one period (Sura 28:38) when these were thousands of years apart. He also writes that Mary, the mother of Jesus (Sura 19:28), was the sister of Aaron and Moses, when they were actually 1200+ years apart. These would seem to make the Qu’ran simply a man-made book of laws and a man-made religion that included numerous mistakes copying the Torah. Perhaps it is no surprise that in Sura 15:6–7, 17:90, 20:80, 20:133, his own people ask Mohammed for some small miraculous signs (like to bring forth a spring of water from the ground) to prove that he was really sent by God, yet Mohammed constantly refuses and replies, “God suffices as a witness between me and you” (Sura 17:96). The only proof or evidence given of the Divine origin of the Qu’ran was how “well written” it was. Of course, such a comment is up for discussion, although I have been impressed with some of the writing myself.
Q: Is there Muslim confusion about what the Trinity is?
In some circles, yes, which is understandable since the Trinity is difficult to grasp. Some Muslim commentators hold that 5:116 refers to Mary as being part of the Christian Trinity (Father, Son, and Mary). Of course, this is a mistake. It is the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – Three Persons in One God.
Q: Does Mohammed speak about the Jews specifically in the Qu’ran?
The Muslim attitude toward Jews in particular is reflected in various verses throughout the Qu’ran, the book of Islamic faith. In Sura 2:61, it says, "They [the Children of Israel] were consigned to humiliation and wretchedness. They brought the wrath of God upon themselves, and this because they used to deny God's signs and kill His Prophets unjustly and because they disobeyed and were transgressors." According to the Qu’ran, the Jews try to introduce corruption (Sura 5:64), have always been disobedient (Sura 5:78), and are enemies of Allah, the Prophet and the angels (2:97-98). Interestingly, Mohammed seems to have taken a page directly out of Jesus’ criticisms of the Pharisees.
The Dhimmi
Still, because the Jews (and Christians) are "People of the Book," they were given protection under Islamic law in what is known as the "dhimma" ("writ of protection"). The dhimma was extended by Muslim conquerors to Christians and Jews in exchange for their subordination to the Muslims. Most people subjected to Muslim rule usually had a choice between death and conversion, but Jews and Christians who adhered to the Scriptures were treated as dhimmis (protected persons) and allowed to practice their faith. That said, this protection did little to ensure Jews and Christians were treated well by the Muslims. One integral aspect of the dhimma was that being infidels, they still had to openly acknowledge the superiority of the true believer – the Muslim.
As for the many disparate tribes of Arabs in the 7th century, Islam was not difficult to implement because of their exposure to the surrounding Jewish communities, and it gained such preeminence that Mohammed was able to inaugurate his religious reforms and political campaign, which ended with the conquest of all Arabia and the fusion of the numerous Arab tribes into one nation, with one religion, one code, and one sanctuary.
Beyond the Arabs, Mohammed’s religion spread mostly by force. Once Mohammed realized that the Jews (and eventually Christians — in Sura 19) would not accept him as a true prophet, Mohammed presented Islam as an entirely new faith, and turned against these religions with a vehemence.
Here are but a sample of the verses that gives Islam its reputation of violence. Keep in mind, they represent less than 1% of the Quran, but the more extreme factions of Islam (e.g., terrorists) find justification in them.
4:89 — “They long that you should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that you may be upon a level (with them). So, choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever you find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them.”
5:33 — “The just retribution for those who fight God and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.”
8:12 — “I will instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers: smite you above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them…”
8:39 — “And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere.”
9:5 — “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem.”
There are far more verses in the Qu’ran about goodness, kindness, charity, and justice. Some examples:
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for God, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, God is more worthy of both. So follow not personal inclinations, lest you be unjust. In justice one can stand firm. There is only honesty in working for justice (4:135).
“God commands justice and fair dealing...” (16:90).
They ask you, O Muhammad, what they should spend? Say, "Whatever you spend of good is to be for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, God is knowing of it." (2:215)
Allah enjoins justice, kindness and charity to one’s kindred, and forbids indecency, wickedness and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed (16:90)
Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers. Do not squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are Satan's brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. (17:26 - 27)
Q: Do Muslims believe in Judgement Day and Heaven?
Yes, they believe in Judgement Day, Heaven, and Hell.
They do not believe that Jesus died for their sins. Therefore, on Judgement Day, God will judge each individual by his or her deeds – as though on a scale – and if the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds, they will go to Heaven. If not, they will go to Hell. The only way to receive sufficient forgiveness is to accomplish more good deeds during this lifetime. This is similar to Judaism.
Those who enter Heaven will be given endless physical pleasures, including large mansions, beautiful gardens, 800 servants, 72 beautiful virgins, and the finest wines with no aftereffects.
Additional Questions from Members
Q: When saying that God blessed Ishmael and said he would be the father of a nation, did that imply that part of Islamic belief comes from divine inspiration because they derive from Ishmael?
No. Divine inspiration followed the covenant relationship with Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph to Moses and David which led to Jesus Christ. There was no covenant relationship with Ishmael.
Q: Did Yahweh sanction Islam?
No. Christianity does not accept that Islam was dictated by the Angel Gabriel, which would make no sense after Gabriel’s conversation with Mary. God in the entire OT points only to the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ (and then God personally confirms it at Jesus’ Baptism, at the Transfiguration, through Jesus’ many miracles, and the Resurrection). Jesus alone is “the truth, the way, and the life” (Jn 14:6).
Q: Did the Arab tribes that accepted many of the Jewish teachings before Mohammed worship Yahweh?
Noorul answered: They worshipped Allah (I assume this refers to Yahweh) plus other gods.
Islam Today
Although there are extreme factions within Islam that we are well aware, the majority of Muslims do not believe in violence. The Qu’ran also speaks at length about kindness to others, charity, patience, respecting parents and elders, keeping promises, and controlling one’s anger and there are many who reject violence.
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Also, after the fall of Rome, much of the mathematical, astronomical, and biomedical sciences were carried forward by the Arabic-Islamic world which underwent remarkable development during the 8th to 13th centuries, a flowering of knowledge and intellect that later spread throughout Europe and greatly influenced both medical practice and education around the world.
Next up (June 20) – Hinduism and Buddhism
Closing Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We thank you for the blessing of exploring other religious beliefs together.
We especially thank our Muslim brothers and sisters for their shared believe in You
We ask that your love and grace follow each of us as we return to our daily lives, refreshed and blessed by You.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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