Written by Steven Barto, B.S. Psy., M.A. Theology NO DOUBT THE ABOVE TITLE strikes you as a bit odd coming from a Christian theology blogger. Please know that I believe Islam to be a false religion; that there is only one God, in three persons, and that Jesus Christ is wholly God and wholly man. …
Let’s Go to Theology Class: Perspectives on the Crusades
The following summary is from my most recent class in pursuit of my master’s degree in theology at Colorado Christian University. The Crusades became a new hot topic around the turn of the 21st century (March 2000), with Pope John Paul II and each succeeding pope making apology for them. Beginning with the horror of …
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It’s a Matter of Intent
At the National Prayer Breakfast on February 5, 2015, President Barack Obama brazenly criticized the "terrible deeds" committed in the name of Christ. "Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history," Obama said, hinting that individuals often hijack religion for their own murderous ends. He continued: "And lest we get on our high …
The Other Texts
EACH OF THE WORLD'S major religions have sacred texts that form the cornerstone of their belief. These tomes typically instill laws, morals, character, and spirituality in its followers. As with the Bible, a religious text might be considered the inerrant Word of God. Texts can be literal, metaphorical, or both. Christianity has combined the Jewish …
Unveiling Islam and Muhammad
For nearly 95 percent of the world's population, conversion to Christianity often means disowning, disinheritance, expulsion, arrest, and even death. At this moment, for the sake of the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:16-20), men and women are being whipped into submission, tortured, imprisoned, beaten, and banned from their families. Homes are being torched, entire families …
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward: Conclusion
This is the final installment in a 19-week series from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Weeks one through eighteen covered eighteen questions people have most commonly asked Qureshi about jihad and Islam. These questions explore the origins of jihad, the nature of jihad today, and …
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Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward Question #18 – What Does Jesus Have to Do With Jihad?
This is the eighteenth in a 19-week series from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Weeks one through eighteen will cover eighteen questions people most commonly ask Qureshi about jihad and Islam. These questions explore the origins of jihad, the nature of jihad today, and …
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward- Question #17 – How Does Jihad Compare With the Crusades?
This is the seventeenth in a 19-week series from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Weeks one through eighteen will cover eighteen questions people most commonly ask Qureshi about jihad and Islam. These questions explore the origins of jihad, the nature of jihad today, and …
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward – Question #16 – What Does Jesus Teach About Violence?
This is the sixteenth in a 19-week series from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Weeks one through eighteen will cover eighteen questions people most commonly ask Qureshi about jihad and Islam. These questions explore the origins of jihad, the nature of jihad today, and the …
Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward Question #14- Why Do Some Christians Call God Allah?
This is the fourteenth in a 17-week series from Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward by Nabeel Qureshi, author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus. Weeks one through sixteen will cover sixteen questions people most commonly ask Qureshi about jihad and Islam. These questions explore the origins of jihad, the nature of jihad today, and …