Please read: Dear Friend

Excerpt:

Okay, so you brought up a few different points, and I want to give answers to them; before I do, however, I’d like to pontificate a little regarding our positions: We are both believers, and I assume we have both experienced the spiritual. We both want to serve God, the one true God. Our goals, in this sense, are united. Our divisions come in points of fact: Primarily, the question regards Jesus. The tricky part comes in that, wanting each other’s good, we both run the risk of stepping on the other’s toes. I think myself sufficiently thick skinned that I would encourage you to be open and frank with me, but I, conversely, am unsure how far is too far as I respond to you. I hope then, as I try to respond, you understand that what I herein write is written in honest affection, desiring good for both our sakes.

The first point of order, then, is whether or not Christian’s are mistaken in calling Jesus God. I understand that your position holds most sources I would normally cite, i.e. biblical sources, as unreliable, and I, I am sure you know, hold a similar view of the Quran. Here our problems multiply as we fall into the convoluted subject of textual criticism. I considered providing what biblical proof texts I could and asking for proof of the corruption, and if you think this beneficial, I am more than happy to do so. However, I think a more general approach may be in order first: The central Christian claim on which our faith falls is an historic claim: The Resurrection of Jesus. Now, I understand second hand that the Quran is unsilent regarding the issue, and that the general Muslim position is that Judas (the betrayer) was crucified and people thought it was Jesus. I do not know if that is what you believe, or if that is even in the Quran. To be exact, then, I would like to know your position on the resurrection. If Jesus rose from the dead, then I think this a very good proof of His divinity and the Christian scriptures.
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