Argument from Literature
Joe Heschmeyer has a very thoughtful take on a particular argument used by both Mormons and Muslims..
Wine in the Qur’an
16.67
2.219
5.90
Ralph Woodrow on Alexander Hislop
Ralph Woodrow wrote about Alexander Hislop’s “The Two Babylons”…
Many preferred my book over “The Two Babylons” because it was easier to read and follow. Sometimes the two books were confused with each other. Letters in a steady flow were received praising my book. Only occasionally would there be a dissenting voice. ONE WHO DISAGREED was Scott Klemm, a high school history teacher in southern California. Being a Christian, and appreciating other things I had written, he began to show me EVIDENCE THAT HISLOP WAS NOT A RELIABLE HISTORIAN. As a result, I realized that I needed to go back through Hislop’s work, my basic source, and prayerfully check it out!
As I did this, it became clear-Hislop’s “history” was often only mythology. Even though myths may sometimes reflect events that actually happened, an arbitrary piecing together of ancient myths can not provide a sound basis for history. Take enough tribes, enough tales, enough time, jump from one time to another, from one country to another, pick and choose similarities-why anything could be “proved”!
The concern about not having anything pagan in our lives can be likened to a ship crossing a vast ocean. This concern has taken us in the right direction, but as we come to a better understanding as to what is actually pagan and what is not, a correction of the course is necessary in our journey. This is not a going back, but a correction of the course as we follow “the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4:18).
Although we challenge some of Hislop’s claims in THE BABYLON CONNECTION?-this is not intended as an attack against him personally. As far as we know, he was a dedicated Christian, a brother in Christ. Nor is it our goal in writing this book to merely discredit another book. Instead, it is our desire that this effort will help us understand “the way of God more perfectly” (cf. Acts 18:26), find a biblical balance, and glorify Him who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Halloween is NOT Pagan
Randomly Changing Perspective
One of the first things which struck me about the Qur’an the first time I read it was how it can suddenly and jarringly jump to a completely different scene, and even change who is speaking. For example, the following verse is clearly Allah speaking…
That is Paradise, which We will grant to whoever is devout among Our servants – Quran 19.63
…and then suddenly and without warning we now shift to the angels speaking as a group…
We only descend by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs whatever is before us, and whatever is behind us, and everything in between. And your Lord is never forgetful… – Quran 19.64
The Torah and Injil are for mankind!
I’ve often been told that the Torah and the Injil were only for the Jews. However, two problems:
- The Qur’an never explicitly tells the Jews to follow the Injil, only the Christians
- The Qur’an actually describes both as “guidance for mankind”, even if the translations often try to obscure this:
The Pickthall translation doesn’t hide it:
He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and hath revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong). – Qur’an 3:3
If you’re doubting the Qur’an, check the earlier scriptures!
Three times the Qur’an says what someone should do if he doubts the Qur’an… consult those who have knowledge of the earlier scriptures:
- “If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt.”
– Qur’an 10:94 - “We did not send ˹messengers˺ before you ˹O Prophet˺ except mere men inspired by Us. If you ˹polytheists˺ do not know ˹this already˺, then ask those who have knowledge ˹of the Scriptures˺.”
– Qur’an 21:7 - “If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt…”
– Qur’an 16:43