With this post I want to outline my understanding of the Islamic doctrine of Holy Scripture, ie how it understands the Koran. I could be mistaken in this; if someone can show that I am, I would be immensely grateful. The Christian understanding of Holy Scripture is not what people like Richard Dawkins would have you believe, ie that it is seen as infallible. That is an Islamic conception of Holy Scripture. The contrast can be put like this: in Christianity Scripture points outside of itself to something more holy, which is the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas in Islam the man Mohammed points beyond himself (or is a channel for) something more holy, which is the Koran.
"The point I want to bring out here, for this sequence, is that, if your doctrine of Scripture is Islamic then your room to manoeuvre is distinctly limited."
Jesus said, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life."
The Bible also says "We see through a glass darkly," and because of our human imperfections there are parts of Scripture on which sincere Christians may legitimately differ. Infant baptism, predestination vs. free will, end times scenarios, church polity, there are areas in which we cannot be too dogmatic. But there are many other areas in which we have a very limited room to manoeuvre. In some cases we have no room to manoeuvre: that God exists; that the soul lives after death and will be judged; that Christ was born of a virgin; that in Christ dwells all the fulness of the godhead bodily; that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
The biggest differences between Islam and Christianity do not come from different understandings of the completeness or eternity of Scripture, though there are differences there. The biggest differences are in the content. This means that Christians who have the strictest, most literal understanding of the divine inspiration of Scripture, will still end up in a very different place from those who have the most literal views of the Koran.
This is because of the vast differences between the teachings and the examples of Christ and Mohammed, and also great differences on what is required to obtain mercy and forgiveness from God; and on what God requires of us ethically in our daily lives.
"The point I want to bring out here, for this sequence, is that, if your doctrine of Scripture is Islamic then your room to manoeuvre is distinctly limited."
Jesus said, "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life."
The Bible also says "We see through a glass darkly," and because of our human imperfections there are parts of Scripture on which sincere Christians may legitimately differ. Infant baptism, predestination vs. free will, end times scenarios, church polity, there are areas in which we cannot be too dogmatic. But there are many other areas in which we have a very limited room to manoeuvre. In some cases we have no room to manoeuvre: that God exists; that the soul lives after death and will be judged; that Christ was born of a virgin; that in Christ dwells all the fulness of the godhead bodily; that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
The biggest differences between Islam and Christianity do not come from different understandings of the completeness or eternity of Scripture, though there are differences there. The biggest differences are in the content. This means that Christians who have the strictest, most literal understanding of the divine inspiration of Scripture, will still end up in a very different place from those who have the most literal views of the Koran.
This is because of the vast differences between the teachings and the examples of Christ and Mohammed, and also great differences on what is required to obtain mercy and forgiveness from God; and on what God requires of us ethically in our daily lives.