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,
I’ve often been told that the Torah and the Injil were only for the Jews. However, two problems: The Pickthall translation doesn’t hide it: He hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad)
John Fontain recently debated David Wood on the Islamic Dilemma, which points out that the Qu’ran both affirms the Torah and Gospel while contradicting them. John has a rather different
Those who attempt to say that the Qur’an teaches the corruption of the earlier scriptures, often appeal to Qur’an 5:48, but this argument turns on the translation of the word
I’m reading through the Qu’ran one last time this year and wanted to follow along with a Tafsir. I discovered Quran Garden which was just the sort of thing I
The Qur’an claims that if it were not from God, there would be many contradictions in it. However, there is one Qur’anic verse which presents an inherent contradiction! In chapter
The sun sets in muddy spring (18:86) Semen comes from between backbone & ribs (86:6-7) Stars are missiles to shoot devils (67:5) If a fly lands in your drink, one
The Qur’an speaks about Allah helping the followers of Jesus and keeping them “uppermost”, but this presents a dilemma since, historically, this has to refer to Trinitarian Christians… which is
Are you looking for something to watch this afternoon over a nice cup of tea? You might enjoy “Ostrov”, a movie about a fictional 20th century Eastern Orthodox monk, Father Anatoly. It’s a beautiful picture into Orthodox spirituality and was even praised by The Patriarch of Moscow, Alexei II.
If you ever come and visit my parish, you may notice the following icon on the iconostasis:
When people visit my church and notice this icon, they often ask me who this is. Raguel is an angel which is not named in the canonical writings of the Bible. He is, however, spoken of in the non-canonical work, the Book of Enoch.
“And these are the names of the Holy Angels who keep watch. Uriel, one of the Holy Angels; namely the Holy Angel of the Spirits of Men. Raguel, one of the Holy Angels; who takes vengeance on the world, and on the lights. Michael, one of the Holy Angels, namely the one put in charge of the best part of humankind, in charge of the nation. Saraqael, one of the Holy Angels; who is in charge of the spirits of men who cause the spirits to sin. Gabriel, one of the Holy Angels, who is in charge of the Serpents, and the Garden, and the Cherubim.
Book of Enoch, Chapter 23
His name means “Friend of God” and is often referred to as the archangel of justice, fairness, harmony, vengeance and redemption.
It might seem strange to some that we render an icon of a character in a non-canonical book, but if the Epistle of Jude can refer to that non-canonical work and still remain Scripture, why not?
Bless the Lord, oh my soul Sing praise to Him and Him alone Bless the Lord, oh my soul Sing praise with me, you Heavenly hosts
And I can’t help myself There is no one else Like You, God And I could sing a song A hundred miles long But it won’t compare
And I can’t help myself ‘Cause there is no one else Like You, God And I could sing a song A thousand miles long But it won’t compare
Hallelujah, sing to the Lord Hallelujah, my soul, my soul rejoice Hallelujah, sing to the Lord Hallelujah, my soul, my soul rejoiceMy soul, my soul rejoice