Sam Shamoun - Open Letter and Challenge

Hi Sam

This is the first time in roughly a year that I have been back in the blogosphere. As I was convalescing I did have a gander at cyber-apologetics which did include Googling your recent activity; leading me to Paul Williams Blog. I want to contrast  your actions with those of Dr Shabir Ally's actions(the achievement of his doctorate).

Wasting time in abusing and aggravating the very people that you claim to evangelise to is something that has plagued you throughout your apologetics career. The discerning amongst the Christians and Muslims may wonder; how can you reconcile the Christian belief that the Holy Spirit resides within you whilst carrying such discourtesy, provocation and abuse towards Muslims through decades of 'evangelism'?

Look Sam, contrast your actions with your counterpart, Dr Shabir Ally. Who is acting and seen as more 'Christ-like' - you or him? Why are Muslims such as Brother Paul Williams and Dr Shabir Ally seen as more 'Christ-like' than a full-time, experienced Christian evangelist like yourself?

A Challenge for Sam (and others)

I'd like to invite you to take the Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad Challenge! Relax. It's not a debate or anything confrontational. I'm challenging you to watch one YouTube video featuring each one of them every day for the next 30 days. Watch with an open heart with the goal to improve as a person. Their material is about self-improvement and education - I bet you will come out a better character and more enlightened. Please try it. You have nothing to lose.

Advice

Aside from the challenge, I'd like to ask you to try to escape from the trap of internet apologetics. Is it really good for you? Perusing the net all testosterone and ego fuelled hunting for debate opponents from the opposing side is not good for anyone. I know this may possibly be your only source of income but surely this type of vocation does not show you in a positive light. Has it done anything good for you? Or have you simply idled away decades of your life?

Now is the time to re-evaluate. Please do take the Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad Challenge.

Thanks

What Every Christian and Muslim Should Know About the Bible - Forged Interview (Bart Ehrman)

2 Hour Interview with Bart Ehrman about Forgeries in the Bible (New Testament)



Interviewed by Ian Punnett on Coast to Coast AM, Bart Ehrman explains that many books of the New Testament are forgeries written by unknown authors.

 

Sharia Law against terrorism:

http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/terrorism-is-hirabah-in-sharia-law-by.html

 

Christians having dreams and converting to Islam:
http://thefactsaboutislam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/christians-are-having-dreams-and.html

Polish women in Britain and British Christian Islamophobes

 

Russell Brand: Haters of Islam Encourage Muslims towards Extremism

 

Learn about Islam:

http://www.thedeenshow.com

Email: yahyasnow@yahoo.co.uk

Early Christian Prostration and Prayer Mats: Christians Praying like Muslims BEFORE Islam.



 Early Chistians Prayed Like Muslims and Jesus...

Speaking of the 7th century, Diarmaid McCulloch tells us Christians were praying like Muslims before the coming of Islam:

…the characteristic prostration of Muslim prayer was then normal in the Christian Middle East, where it still survives in some traditional Christian communities. Prayer mats, still one of the most familiar features of the mosque today, were extensively used by the Christian monks as far apart as Syria and Northumbria or Ireland before the coming of Islam. [A History of Christianity, Diarmaid McCulloch, Penguin Group, 2009, p258]

Why would early Christians pray like Muslims?

Could it have anything to do with Prophet Jesus (p) worshipping God in the manner in which Muslims pray? In fact, even Christian sources point to this:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [Matthew 26: 39, NIV]

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” [Mark 14:35-36, NIV]

Also see: Luke 22:39-46

Apart from the glaring theological problem which Trinitarians encounter from such passages (i.e. that of Jesus worshipping God!) we can clearly see that Jesus appears to pray in the manner of the Muslims according to Christian sources. Thus, from these passages we can understand the usage of prayer mats within Christian communities prior to the coming of Islam.

Note: The word Father (Abba) is simply a Jewish term for God. It is not to be taken literally, Professor Geza Vermes writes: Jesus prayed there in the solitude, invoking God as ‘Abba’, ‘Father’ or My Father’. The word is given in Aramaic in Mark and in Greek in Matthew and Luke. Abba is a familiar but also respectful expression. It is not the equivalent of ‘Daddy’, as some New Testament scholars have unwisely ventured to propose. [‘Jesus’ Nativity-Passion-Resurrection, Geza Vermes, Penguin books, 2008, p. 208]

What Does Son of God’ Mean?

May Allah send His Peace and Blessings upon all His Messengers. Ameen

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