Religion is an English word derived from Greek word Re-Ligare which means ‘to bind together’. Though the etymological meaning of religion and any of its definitions do not fulfill the application of ideas, i.e., Christianity, Islam and similar others, but it has been used to define those ideas. Revealed religions of the world - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - and the Holy scriptures of those testify that all the revealed religions are linked in tradition and continuity. This article provides a general understanding of the revealed religion of Christianity. The purpose of this article is not to provide a definitive interpretation of Christianity because of the vastness of the subject. Basic point we strive to make is that there are varied interpretations of different aspects of the religion and there is greater need for introspection and openness.
The New Testament says that “For I suppose that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. You heard how it was said to our ancestors, you shall not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you; anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls a brother fool will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls his traitor will answer for it in the hell fine” (Matthew 5:20-23) This word of Jesus Christ definitely means that he did not came in this world to preach an independent religion, he came to fulfill the former revealed law preached by prophets up to Moses. Jesus Christ was not intended to establish a new religious order. He was sent by God to fulfill the Moses’ law. Jesus Christ said that “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not abolish them but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the law until all its purpose is achieved”. (Matthew 5: 17-18).
This word of Jesus Christ is directly order for all of his followers to follow the law for whom Jesus was sent but they do not, why? Because, St Paul said that “But now we are released from the law, having died to what was binding us, so we are in a new service, that of the spirit, and not is the old service of a writer code” (Romans 7:6). How dare Paul said that! He taught against Jesus Christ to live with his follower’s skins. Here any one may put a question that according to Christianity the purpose of law or Jesus Christ was to free them from original sin and he freed his followers form that sin through his death. But we know from the old law, to complete what Jesus was sent, that the purpose of law was to establish and fulfill the covenant what was held between Moses and God. And that was the law. The Covenant is: “I am Yahweh you God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. You shall have no other gods to rival me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or nay likeness of anything. Is however above or on earth beneath or is the water under the earth. You shall not bow them or serve them. You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, Honor your father and mother so that you may live long is the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal; you shall not give false evidence against your neighbor. You shall not set your heart on your neighbor’s house. You shall not set your heart on your neighbor’s spouse, or servant, man or woman, or ox, or donkey, or any of your neighbor’s possessors. (Exodus 20:2-17)
Christianity is a continuation and an extension of Judaism. Moses’ duty, which was to fulfill his covenant with God was incomplete. He could not complete his mission. And therefore, Jesus Christ was sent to only Jews people to fulfill Moses’ covenant with God. On The other hand, St Paul interprets Christianity as an universal religion for all of the community living in this world. But New Testament testifies that Jesus’ religion is only for Jewish. “He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. These twelve disciples Jesus sent out, instructing them as followers: “Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town: go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Matthew 10: 1-6).
In Christianity Jesus Christ is regarded as the son of God. Because of his virgin birth they regarded that God is his spiritual father. In regard this we find in many places of Bible that Jesus Christ recall the God by the word “Father: for example, “Everything has been entrusted to my father; and no one knows the son except the father, Just as no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chosen to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27) But we know that Jews people called their God as father in their local language during the reign of Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ uses the word father to be closer with Jews. So, in a bid to interpret these vital relations between Jesus and God, one need to take the local tradition and make nuanced interpretation. In another New Testament, it is said that “be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you lose all reward from your father in heaven”. (Matthew 6:1) Here Jesus Christ use the word father to refer God.
This statement of Jesus clearly indicates that here father does not mean a biological or spiritual father, it is a shadow word. It refers only God as his name. In another of New Testament we see that “As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting. Take piety on us, son of David.” (Matthew 9:27).
The God of Christianity is a same as the God of Judaism but it differs in name. The name of God in Christianity is “Elijah: New Testament testifies that “And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, eli, lama, sabachthani? (That is my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) When some of those who stood there heard this, they said “The man is calling on Elijah” (Matthew 27:46-47). This verse also states that Jesus is only human born. Like this Old Testament said that “God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am Yahweh, To Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I appeared as EI Shaddai, but I did not make my name Yahweh known to them (Exodus 6: 2-3).
These verses prove that Christianity is not any new religion but an extension of Judaism. Another proof of this point is that the Holy Bible consists of both Old Testament and New Testament, Jewish and Christian scriptures. However, religion is a matter of faith and belief and the purpose of this statement is not to contest the faith. This is just one among many interpretations. And everyone is absolutely entitled to one’s faith. From interfaith perspective, other should not say the faith is wrong or there are loopholes in one religion. This point should be put in proper perspectives.
Another common practice of Christianity is their using of cross as their religions symbol. They honor it with special reverence. Some days ago I was watching a movie named Agora. In one scene I saw that a Roman Jewish leader threw a cross on the floor and a Christian follower took it hurry with special veneration. It seemed to me that without cross to be a Christian is incomplete. But a Christian scholar named Brinsley Le Poer Treuch wrote in his book Men among Mankind’ that “It is interesting to note that the cross was not adopted as symbol of Christianity until long after the death of Jesus”. But again this is one opinion and one claim of fact only. There are counter-facts and that does not negate the deep veneration in which Christians put the cross because the crucifixion of Jesus is part of fundamental beliefs of Christianity.
As a prophet of God Jesus Christ had got some revealed instructions from God and he ordered his followers about the great commandment: “do not share anyone as god with God and love your neighbors.” All of his message and teachings were revealed but in today bible what appears to us is not a revealed text. Most of the part of New Testament is Paul’s letter what was not revealed.
Christian scholar Dr. W Graham Scorggie had written in his book Is the Bible word of God? that “those books have passed through the minds of men, are written by the language of men, were penned by the hands of men, and hear in their style the characteristics of men”. Again it should be argued that of great importance is what the concerned faith community says about this. Their beliefs and values are what should matter because it is they who derive spiritual satisfaction out of the belief. We often fail to understand this nuanced truth and think that if we have got an opinion, interpretation or perceived fact that go counter to beliefs of a faith community, we have gained a point. That is not what an interfaith angle of looking at a religion is.
Today, Christianity is divided in many parts i.e. Catholicism, Protestantism and so on and their religious texts, Bible, took different forms in compilation. Their faith on God is same but the belief about Jesus is different. Catholic Christian believes Jesus Christ as the spiritual son of God. On the other hand, protestant Christian believe him as a human born. All the sects of Christianity recall Jesus Christ by the word Lord, our Lord. But according to New Testament Jesus Christ said that “It is not anyone who says to me” Lord, Lord. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven but the Person who does the will of my father in heaven? When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord did we not prophecy in your name? Drive out demons in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me all evil doers. (Matthew 7: 21-23)
These verses make it clear to us that Jesus was not lord he was only a human being. In another places of New Testament we find that “But to prove you that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Then he (Jesus) said to the paralytic get up, pick up your bed and go off home. And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe come over the crowed whey they saw this, and they praised God for having given such authority to human being (Matthew 9: 6-8) These verses also clarify that he was nothing more than any general man biologically but spiritually his special privilege was that he was a messenger of God. Bible made a sketch of Jesus as the cause of dissension. As the New Testament says that “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother, daughter in law against mother in law, a person’s enemy with the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) After observing these verses we may say that how much corruption they do within religion. They also conduct Jesus Christ as an ungrateful son. New Testament testifies that “He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly his mother and his brothers were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, who is my mother? Who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, here are my mother and my brothers. Any one does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12: 46-50)
Today’s Christians believe that Jesus Christ was killed in cross. Last few weeks I made extensive study about Bible but it is true that it is hard to find conclusive evidence or definitive statement about Jesus’ death in cross. Bible clears that Jesus was hanged on cross but he was talking than. There have no single word that Jesus had died in crucifixion. Here is a contradiction in Bible that narrated “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shallt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is an accused of God) that thy land be not defiled, which the lord they God giveth thee for an inheritance”. (Duetrenomy 21:23) This verse testify that hanging on cross is a curse of God. So, how Jesus as a prophet of god (or son of god according to Christianity) hanged on cross, famous Christian scholar John Rebem wrote on his book Inquest on Jesus Christ that “not a single passage of the scriptures says that Jesus had to die, or had to died………. Today it is possible to prove that Jesus new life began not with resurrection but with ascension” He also wrote in the same book that “the clear, definite and certain conclusion is Jesus did not die on the cross.”
Kenneth Cragg, a famous Christian scholar of Jerusalem, wrote in his book The Call of Minaret, p.277, argued that “New Testament is … condensation and editing; There is choice, reproduction and witness. The Gospels have come through the minds of the church behind the authors. They represent experience and history.” So this kind of debate will continue. What is important is the dispensation of different faith communities. Faith communities should rise above narrow or biased interpretation of religious events or religious texts. Most often interpretations do not take on board all historical facts and also fail to comprehend the underlying message.
The New Testament says that “For I suppose that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. You heard how it was said to our ancestors, you shall not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you; anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court. Anyone who calls a brother fool will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and anyone who calls his traitor will answer for it in the hell fine” (Matthew 5:20-23) This word of Jesus Christ definitely means that he did not came in this world to preach an independent religion, he came to fulfill the former revealed law preached by prophets up to Moses. Jesus Christ was not intended to establish a new religious order. He was sent by God to fulfill the Moses’ law. Jesus Christ said that “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not abolish them but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the law until all its purpose is achieved”. (Matthew 5: 17-18).
This word of Jesus Christ is directly order for all of his followers to follow the law for whom Jesus was sent but they do not, why? Because, St Paul said that “But now we are released from the law, having died to what was binding us, so we are in a new service, that of the spirit, and not is the old service of a writer code” (Romans 7:6). How dare Paul said that! He taught against Jesus Christ to live with his follower’s skins. Here any one may put a question that according to Christianity the purpose of law or Jesus Christ was to free them from original sin and he freed his followers form that sin through his death. But we know from the old law, to complete what Jesus was sent, that the purpose of law was to establish and fulfill the covenant what was held between Moses and God. And that was the law. The Covenant is: “I am Yahweh you God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves. You shall have no other gods to rival me. You shall not make yourself a carved image or nay likeness of anything. Is however above or on earth beneath or is the water under the earth. You shall not bow them or serve them. You shall not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, Honor your father and mother so that you may live long is the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal; you shall not give false evidence against your neighbor. You shall not set your heart on your neighbor’s house. You shall not set your heart on your neighbor’s spouse, or servant, man or woman, or ox, or donkey, or any of your neighbor’s possessors. (Exodus 20:2-17)
Christianity is a continuation and an extension of Judaism. Moses’ duty, which was to fulfill his covenant with God was incomplete. He could not complete his mission. And therefore, Jesus Christ was sent to only Jews people to fulfill Moses’ covenant with God. On The other hand, St Paul interprets Christianity as an universal religion for all of the community living in this world. But New Testament testifies that Jesus’ religion is only for Jewish. “He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. These twelve disciples Jesus sent out, instructing them as followers: “Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town: go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Matthew 10: 1-6).
In Christianity Jesus Christ is regarded as the son of God. Because of his virgin birth they regarded that God is his spiritual father. In regard this we find in many places of Bible that Jesus Christ recall the God by the word “Father: for example, “Everything has been entrusted to my father; and no one knows the son except the father, Just as no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chosen to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27) But we know that Jews people called their God as father in their local language during the reign of Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ uses the word father to be closer with Jews. So, in a bid to interpret these vital relations between Jesus and God, one need to take the local tradition and make nuanced interpretation. In another New Testament, it is said that “be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you lose all reward from your father in heaven”. (Matthew 6:1) Here Jesus Christ use the word father to refer God.
This statement of Jesus clearly indicates that here father does not mean a biological or spiritual father, it is a shadow word. It refers only God as his name. In another of New Testament we see that “As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting. Take piety on us, son of David.” (Matthew 9:27).
The God of Christianity is a same as the God of Judaism but it differs in name. The name of God in Christianity is “Elijah: New Testament testifies that “And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, eli, lama, sabachthani? (That is my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) When some of those who stood there heard this, they said “The man is calling on Elijah” (Matthew 27:46-47). This verse also states that Jesus is only human born. Like this Old Testament said that “God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am Yahweh, To Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I appeared as EI Shaddai, but I did not make my name Yahweh known to them (Exodus 6: 2-3).
These verses prove that Christianity is not any new religion but an extension of Judaism. Another proof of this point is that the Holy Bible consists of both Old Testament and New Testament, Jewish and Christian scriptures. However, religion is a matter of faith and belief and the purpose of this statement is not to contest the faith. This is just one among many interpretations. And everyone is absolutely entitled to one’s faith. From interfaith perspective, other should not say the faith is wrong or there are loopholes in one religion. This point should be put in proper perspectives.
Another common practice of Christianity is their using of cross as their religions symbol. They honor it with special reverence. Some days ago I was watching a movie named Agora. In one scene I saw that a Roman Jewish leader threw a cross on the floor and a Christian follower took it hurry with special veneration. It seemed to me that without cross to be a Christian is incomplete. But a Christian scholar named Brinsley Le Poer Treuch wrote in his book Men among Mankind’ that “It is interesting to note that the cross was not adopted as symbol of Christianity until long after the death of Jesus”. But again this is one opinion and one claim of fact only. There are counter-facts and that does not negate the deep veneration in which Christians put the cross because the crucifixion of Jesus is part of fundamental beliefs of Christianity.
As a prophet of God Jesus Christ had got some revealed instructions from God and he ordered his followers about the great commandment: “do not share anyone as god with God and love your neighbors.” All of his message and teachings were revealed but in today bible what appears to us is not a revealed text. Most of the part of New Testament is Paul’s letter what was not revealed.
Christian scholar Dr. W Graham Scorggie had written in his book Is the Bible word of God? that “those books have passed through the minds of men, are written by the language of men, were penned by the hands of men, and hear in their style the characteristics of men”. Again it should be argued that of great importance is what the concerned faith community says about this. Their beliefs and values are what should matter because it is they who derive spiritual satisfaction out of the belief. We often fail to understand this nuanced truth and think that if we have got an opinion, interpretation or perceived fact that go counter to beliefs of a faith community, we have gained a point. That is not what an interfaith angle of looking at a religion is.
Today, Christianity is divided in many parts i.e. Catholicism, Protestantism and so on and their religious texts, Bible, took different forms in compilation. Their faith on God is same but the belief about Jesus is different. Catholic Christian believes Jesus Christ as the spiritual son of God. On the other hand, protestant Christian believe him as a human born. All the sects of Christianity recall Jesus Christ by the word Lord, our Lord. But according to New Testament Jesus Christ said that “It is not anyone who says to me” Lord, Lord. Who will enter the kingdom of heaven but the Person who does the will of my father in heaven? When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord did we not prophecy in your name? Drive out demons in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me all evil doers. (Matthew 7: 21-23)
These verses make it clear to us that Jesus was not lord he was only a human being. In another places of New Testament we find that “But to prove you that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Then he (Jesus) said to the paralytic get up, pick up your bed and go off home. And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe come over the crowed whey they saw this, and they praised God for having given such authority to human being (Matthew 9: 6-8) These verses also clarify that he was nothing more than any general man biologically but spiritually his special privilege was that he was a messenger of God. Bible made a sketch of Jesus as the cause of dissension. As the New Testament says that “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother, daughter in law against mother in law, a person’s enemy with the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36) After observing these verses we may say that how much corruption they do within religion. They also conduct Jesus Christ as an ungrateful son. New Testament testifies that “He was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly his mother and his brothers were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, who is my mother? Who are my brothers? And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, here are my mother and my brothers. Any one does the will of my father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12: 46-50)
Today’s Christians believe that Jesus Christ was killed in cross. Last few weeks I made extensive study about Bible but it is true that it is hard to find conclusive evidence or definitive statement about Jesus’ death in cross. Bible clears that Jesus was hanged on cross but he was talking than. There have no single word that Jesus had died in crucifixion. Here is a contradiction in Bible that narrated “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree but thou shallt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is an accused of God) that thy land be not defiled, which the lord they God giveth thee for an inheritance”. (Duetrenomy 21:23) This verse testify that hanging on cross is a curse of God. So, how Jesus as a prophet of god (or son of god according to Christianity) hanged on cross, famous Christian scholar John Rebem wrote on his book Inquest on Jesus Christ that “not a single passage of the scriptures says that Jesus had to die, or had to died………. Today it is possible to prove that Jesus new life began not with resurrection but with ascension” He also wrote in the same book that “the clear, definite and certain conclusion is Jesus did not die on the cross.”
Kenneth Cragg, a famous Christian scholar of Jerusalem, wrote in his book The Call of Minaret, p.277, argued that “New Testament is … condensation and editing; There is choice, reproduction and witness. The Gospels have come through the minds of the church behind the authors. They represent experience and history.” So this kind of debate will continue. What is important is the dispensation of different faith communities. Faith communities should rise above narrow or biased interpretation of religious events or religious texts. Most often interpretations do not take on board all historical facts and also fail to comprehend the underlying message.
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