Muslim Christian Dialogue

7. The Doctrine of Atonement and Original Sin

THE DOCTRINE OF ATONEMENT AND ORIGINAL SIN

C. If redemption of sin through the crucifixion is not Jesus's teaching then whose was it?

M. This Doctrine of Atonement was accepted by the Church 325 years after Jesus left the earth at the Council of Nicene. It contradicts the Bible itself as the following passages state in (Deuteronomy 24:16) "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers, every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (Jeremiah 31:30): "But every one shall die for his own iniquity..." (Ezekiel 18:20): "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." So Adam and Eve were responsible for their own sin. The Qur'an says they both repented and they were both forgiven by Allah.

C. But these are in the Old Testament.

M. You know you are all the time differentiating between the Old and New Testaments, yet Jesus said time and again, that he came to fulfill the Law and not one tittle must change of the Torah as revealed to Moses (pbuh). It is an article of faith of the Christians to believe in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament so be careful of rejecting what is mentioned there. But to satisfy you, read what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1 and 2.

C. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

M. Read I Corinthians 3:8.

C. "Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one; and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." But the Church tells us to believe in Original Sin!

M. There you are! It is the doctrine of the Church, and not of Jesus. Let me read to you what "Major Yeats Brown" wrote in his book, "Life of a Bengal Tiger" regarding the original sin. He writes: "No heathen tribe has conceived so grotesque an idea involving as it does the assumption that man was born with a hereditary stain for which he was not responsible; and it was to be atoned for, and that the Creator, of all things, had to sacrifice His only 'son' to neutralize this mysterious curse." He goes on further to say that because of this belief he does not wish to be a Christian. This man is using his God given intellect and can see the glaring wrong of this belief that is being foisted on the innocent people by the Church. 69 Read Matthew 19:14 for proof that the children are born without sin.

C. Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

M. So every child is born without sin and all children belong to the kingdom of heaven. Did you know that it was Paul who abolished the Mosaic Law? Read Acts 13:39.

C. "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses."

M. Now I want to ask you this: Suppose that your close friend or relative murdered someone, would you allow your son who is innocent, to be killed in his place and say that you wish to atone for that person's action? I mean does that make sense to you or to any intelligent person?

C. I would never allow that! How can I, when my son did not commit any crime.

M. Exactly! Now can you believe that any person living a life of lust, and enjoying everything forbidden as written in the ten commandants (the Law) will enter Paradise just by saying "Jesus died for my sins" and God will accept that?

C. That's impossible!

M. Correct! So how can anyone be so foolish to think that God will give any person Paradise by disobeying His Law? I mean here in this world we have to make an effort for just one loaf of bread for our stomachs and the Church is teaching that Jesus "died" for all Christians' sins, and they will enter Paradise, which is the most beautiful, everlasting abode, by living a life of 70 lust and people just accept it blindly! To top it all, every murderer, rapist, robber, pedophile that got away in this world, will be forgiven and go to this most wonderful place without any punishment and put all their sins on innocent Jesus (pbuh)? If that is true, then why are the Christian nations of the world punishing the Christian criminals of this world for the crimes they are committing? I mean if according to your doctrine God forgives whatever you do here including murder, rape etc, and the believing Christians punish their own fellows in this temporary world does it not show that there is something wrong with this doctrine? According to any normal person it is fair to punish crime and to reward good efforts. God is just and fair. Human laws can never supercede God's law. Or are you saying that human laws are better than God's law?

C. Wait a minute. That is a lot you have just said. Of course God's law is perfect. You know I have given all of the abovementioned points mentioned by you a lot of thought in the past and have asked these very same questions to my priest. He told me not to question but to believe. This made me realise then that I had to look at other religions for answers. Hence my reading of the Qur'an and other Islamic books, and this dialogue with you.

M. Let me ask this question. Why do you believe in the resurrection, if Paul who never saw Jesus or ever met him, admitted that this was his gospel?

C. Where is it written?

M. Read 11 Timothy 2:8.

C. "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my (Paul) gospel." But we have to believe it. It is for redemption of sins.

M. According to the Church's teaching it is of redemption, but as you have seen in the preceding arguments it is false. Islam is based on reason and is a pure teaching of all Prophets of Allah, not contaminated with paganism and superstition.

C. That is the belief I am looking for.

M. Don't you think that now is the time to consider accepting the Shahadah (Witness)?

C. Yes, now I am ready to accept the truth of Islam, so I shall read it. Please help me to pronounce it in Arabic. "I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, Who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammed is His slave servant and messenger." "Ashhadu Allah Ilaha illal-Lahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh."

M. Al-Humdulillah! (Praise is to Allah). You have now entered the fold of Islam and are a Muslim. Now you will have to learn about the obligatory duties and practice them. Any Imam / Sheikh will be happy to teach them to you. They are all very simple and practical.

N.B.: The rest of the discussion will be conducted between two Muslims: M and m.

m. Tell me, has Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) been prophesied in the Bible?

M. Most definitely! We will discuss that later. Here I want to read to you what Allah says in the Qur'an: 7:v157 & 158. "Those who follow the messenger, the unlettered Prophet, (who can neither read nor write) whom they will find described in the Torah and Gospel (which are) with them. He will enjoin on them that which is right and forbid them that which is wrong. He will make lawful for them all good things and prohibit them only the foul; and he will relieve them of their burden and the fetters that they used to wear. Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light (Qur'an) that is sent down with him; they are the successful. Say (O' Muhammed): Lo! I am the messenger of Allah to you all- (the messenger of) Him unto whom belongs the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no God save Him. He gives life and He gives death. So believe in Allah and His messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him that happly ye may be led aright." "Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed to HIM. HE forgiveth (all sins) save that to whom HE will. Whosoever ascribth partners to ALLAH; he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin (which will never be forgiven). Qur'an. 4:v48.