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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: MUSLIM OBJECTIONS TO CHRISTIANITY
In this chapter, we will focus on Muslim theological disagreements with Christianity. This will necessarily be the longest in this section, and will still not provide an exhaustive comprehensive discussion, but will hopefully prove helpful to you in anticipating and dealing with some common Muslim objections to the Christian message.
Most of these objections are easily dealt with and fall apart with a basic analysis. Sometimes all we need to do is to ask our contact if they are willing to apply the same objection consistently to both Islam and Christianity, as objecting to something in Christianity while accepting it in Islam is clearly a double standard and irrational (such as objecting to the crusades yet accepting the Armenian massacre or Mohammed massacring Jews in Madina). I will try to give some answers to the most common Muslim objections, rather than highlighting the regular objections we get from any non-Christian, such as the alleged non-existence of God or the similarity between certain Christian doctrines and pagan ones.
Muslims supposedly should approach any religious discussion with Christians in the manner outlined in the Qur’an:
That is to say:
- They should argue with good words and in a good manner.
- They should believe in the Books that came before Mohammed.
- They should believe they worship the same God as Christians and Jews and we all have to obey Him.
If the conversation gets heated, then, you might need to remind them of what the Qur’an teaches.
Now, Muslim objections generally fall into one of these categories, which we will discuss in turn.
- Belief in the preservation of the Qur’an and the corruption of the original Bible.
- Challenges to the validity of the Bible as they believe it has been abrogated (abolished and replaced) by the Qur’an.
- Objections to the Trinity.
- Objections about the Crucifixion of Christ.
- Claims about prophecies concerning Mohammed in the Bible.