Christian “exaggeration” and subsequent misinformation
As Muslims, we are called to holiness and righteousness so it is our duty to speak out over misinformation. Over at this blog we expose hoaxes and other bouts of deception regularly. Sadly, misinformation regularly emanates from Christian comment boards on the internet and we should endeavour to verify their claims prior to accepting them.
Repeating myself
A while ago I was asked to investigate James White’s doctorate; there are people who believe his degree to be fake/forged and were generally accusing White of deception. I found the Christian attacks on White’s doctorate to be unfounded and/or exaggerated.
Sadly, Christians are MISLEADING (wilfully or unknowingly) folk on the internet by making a huge issue out of James White’s doctorate.
Let me reiterate:
~ James White did NOT forge his doctorate
~ James White does have a degree
~ James White is NOT deceiving you over his doctorate
~ Christians are misleading you via their exaggeration and zeal in their attempts to discredit Dr James White’s qualification.
So what are these Christians banging on about?
The only issue here is that of accreditation – James White’s degree was awarded by an unaccredited institution (Columbia Evangelical Seminary). I’ve seen Peter Lumpkins, Dave Armstrong and Paul Owen criticise White’s academic qualifications BUT subsequent commentators are WRONGLY concluding James White has a forged degree and/or is guilty of deception concerning his qualifications - this erroneous concluding is through NO fault of Peter Lumpkins, Dave Armstorn et al.
People are presenting warped understandings of these investigations. It is just an issue of accreditation – White DOES have a degree. From what I can recall from my previous investigations, James White has already commented on the lack of accreditation!
ALWAYS verify information on Christian comment boards as they do have a dishonest track-record on the internet.
Why are MUSLIMS needed to correct Christians?
I have a ton of deception to correct – specifically Christian deception, including material from Kent Hovind, Father Zakaria Butros and Dave Wood.
Please do not ask me to investigate James White’s doctorate – he has a doctorate!
I invite you all to Islam
UPDATE: Christians claimed James White claimed he knew Arabic on his FB, we investigated it:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-did-james-white-claim-to-know.html
UPDATE: Patty Bonds (James' sister) has confirmed James White has a doctorate:
http://abbaslittlegirl.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-brothers-education.html
Related
James White’s book on Islam
Father Zakaria Butrous: Disturbed Lies
Feedback: yahyasnow@hotmail.com
You are correct in noting that White has an unaccredited doctorate and there are no legal issues with this whatsoever, so it's wrong to say that he has "forged" it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't understand what you mean when you say that "it takes a MUSLIM to rebuke them and warn against their misinformation". You are certainly not the first person who has tried to correct some of White's critics on their misrepresentations. Many Christians have done so (in fact, I brought up this issue in reply to Ehteshaam Gulam in the comment section of one of your earlier posts about White, so I think technically you're not even the first person on this blog to rebuke the misrepresenters). So it doesn't "take a Muslim" to make an effort in correcting White's critics. Perhaps you think that it "takes a Muslim" to make those critics stop their misinformation campaign as a result of having been corrected on the matter. But don't hold your breath while waiting for them to stop.
Haecceitas,
ReplyDeleteActually, somebody on this blog did ask me about it previously.
It DOES take a Muslim to rebuke these Christians - I have just done it and I'm a Muslim. Christians WERE misleading folk and a MUSLIM has rebuked them and called them to account.
Sadly, these Christians were misleading MUSLIMS - hence Muslims were being confused over the issue.
I'm NOT claiming to be the first person to rebuke these folk. Of course White would have been the first to do so (more than a decade ago?)
Have you checked ALL the comment sections on this blog? No.
Have you checked my emails? No.
How do you know you have presented this info before me? You don't.
And even, for argument's sake, you did, what difference would it make? Zero!
It has TAKEN A MUSLIM to rebuke these people. OBVIOUSLY this rebuke carries more weight than most others - simply because I'm a MUSLIM and NOT a "fan" of James White. In fact, at times, we criticise him on this very blog!
So, Christians and Muslims will see this as more authoritative - especially considering the fact many internet Christian apologists are engaged, quite actively, in deceptive ways.
In short, Christians are less credible than Muslims on the internet. Muslims, other Non-Christians and even Christians will appreciate this rebuke. I hope it will finally put an end to the confusion.
I know what I have said may appear a little harsh but I'm just putting it in blunt terms.
I'm not going to dress this issue up - Christian apologetics IS littered with deceptive salesman-type figures.
I have just found some real deceptive drivel (about Islam) from Dr Kent Hovind - A Christian missionary.
You may know, at this ministry we DO investigate Christian outreaches and we do showcase their dishonest episodes, hence, you KNOW what I'm getting at!
On this site we have refuted the homosexual allegation directed at Prophet Jesus (p) from the atheist camp (including Pat Condell). Now, you KNOW who Pat Cpndell is...he is the bloke AM feature regularly.
Whilst you Christians feature, promote and celebrate his hatred, MUSLIMS are correcting his insults against Jesus (p).
Food for thought...
More questions of the Christian belief in the Holy Spirit?
Haecceitas, please view the post concerning the Holy Spirit and genuinely ponder upon it. At the end of the day we can argue the toss over smaller issues BUT Muslims want you to come to the Truth.
The only way you will come to the Truth is IF you rethink your beliefs in Christianity.
Muslims are the brothers/sisters of Jesus. I invite all of you to join us by becoming Muslims.
Iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another.
According to White, Catholics aren't Christians. How ironic that you, a Muslim, casually assume that they are, but an anti-Catholic Baptist like White is too ignorant to know it.
ReplyDeleteBut you do have in common with white the characteristic of being quick to call opponents liars, deceptive, etc.
Dave Armstrong,
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by. Yes, Catholics are Christians but if White does not believe you to be so then that is between you folk and him.
As for Whie calling folk "liars", "deceptive" etc.; White, from what I've seen seems to do it in order to detract from his own errors.
As for myself, we call folk deceptive when we catch them in bouts of deception. You may not be familiar with the blog - we catalogue lies/blunders/inaccuracies which are spouted by Christian apologists, thus when we call someone a "liar" theree is a genuine post to back it up.
I have seen a NUMBER of Christian apologists churning out lies. What would you have me do? Not call them liars?
A spade is a spade.
Feel free to browse the blog to get a flavour for the "lies" SONE of your co-religionists are peddling.
I am yet to showcase Dr Kent Hovind's whopper of a lie. Give me time...
I want to state, I am not claiming "all" Christian apologists are dishonest. I am simply stating the fact of there being a deceptive bunch within Christian apologetics.
I know it can be rather crude to call someone deceptive BUT we genuinely have good reason to do so.
This blog does not reflect all Christian apologists.
I assume you value accuracy and honesty, judging by your concern. Fair play to you.
I thank you for your concern.
PS, do have a look at the latest post, as it showcases a screen shot of James White claiming to know Arabic - he does not know Arabic. In this post we did not claa him deceptive. It was left to the reader and to James White to explain the inaccuracy.
Iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another - Proverbs
I do see, upon reading again, that you clearly distinguished my criticisms (and those of Lumpkins and Owen) from those who are claiming outright forgery or deception. That is correct.
ReplyDeleteI know that White has given a rationale for what he did (I interacted with it, though on his blog his comrade says no one has). I think it is perfectly fine to study the Trinity as he did; I simply disagree that this is a legitimate doctorate degree. It is not. And it's false advertising to claim that it is.
It's an important issue because many people see that "Dr." by someone's name and they automatically get more respect. So if it is not a bona fide degree it is proper to point that out.
Meanwhile, he insists that I and everyone who accepts all Catholic teaching cannot possibly be regarded as a Christian.
Talk about false labeling . . . how would you like it if a fellow Muslim said repeatedly and publicly that you were not a Muslim? It's extremely offensive. I've been defending the Christian faith as a Protestant and as a Catholic for over thirty years, and yet White says I'm not a Christian at all. Pretty bizarre . . .
BiographyWhite is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He received a B.A. from Grand Canyon College, an M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Th.M., a Th.D. and a D.Min. from Columbia Evangelical Seminary (formerly Faraston Seminary), a non-accredited seminary where students work closely with a mentor to create an individual curriculum designed to meet their own specific ministerial needs. He has served as a professor of Greek, Hebrew, systematic theology, and various apologetics topics[1] and is a consultant for the Lockman Foundation's New American Standard Bible.[2]
ReplyDeleteWhite is a professional debater, having participated in over 100 public moderated debates, covering topics such as Calvinism, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Mormonism, and Jehovah's Witnesses. His debate opponents have included scholars such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg and popularizers such as Dan Barker and John Shelby Spong.[3]
He also contributes to an apologetics weblog, runs a chatroom on the Alpha and Omega website, and hosts a bi-weekly internet webcast called The Dividing Line, on which he answers call-in questions from listeners. Some of his most noted works have discussed topics such as the King-James-Only Movement and the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. His books have elicited further response from those he criticizes.[4]
He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to his wife Kelli for more than twenty-six years, and has two children, Joshua and Summer.
Yes brother Dave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your clarification. I know yourself, Peter, and Dr Owen have all tried to present information accurately. Sadly, people have drawn the wrong conclusions - through no faul of yours. Subsequently, Muslims have got the wrong end of the stick - hence my confirmation of borther James having his qualification.
Patty Bonds has now confirmed James has his qualification too.
Thank you brother Dave. I find it baffling that folk will claim you are not a christian. You have behaved in a manner which represents faith.
Thank you and I wish you well in your struggle against the economic downturn.
I hope to extend my studies to Catholicism - I hope you and your books will be a good resource for my education.
Thanks
Peace
@Brother TGV19,
ReplyDeleteI have not managed to get hold of a copy of a certificate but his sister has confirmed he has the doctorate.
@Haecceitas
I have just altered to post to remove such an ambiguous comment as it simply detracts from the focal point and it has obviously got your back up. That's not the intention of the post - consider it a miscalculation on my part.
I just wish others were willing to communicate in such a frank and sincere fashion - the internet would be a better place.
Iron sharpens iron as one man sharpens another