Ayatollahs for Jesus

[The idea]

Some Muslims claim that Jesus of Nazareth is a recognized Islamic prophet and even use the letters "pbuh" ("peace be upon him") after every mention of his name.

Is that merely a tactic to make it easier to convert Christians to Islam? Perhaps the following questions could, if answered, provide relevant evidence to support a "yes" or "no" answer to that question. Does anyone happen to know any of the answers?

1. In countries where the official religion is Islam and where there are legal restrictions on the preaching of Christian doctrines, what were the circumstances of the enactment of those laws? In particular, were such laws put in place with the consent of Islamic religious authorities?

2. In countries where the official religion is Islam and where there are legal restrictions on the preaching of Christian doctrines, is there (or was there in the past) an important legal distinction between
(a) preaching doctrines that reflect Jesus' status as a genuine and highly respected Islamic prophet; and
(b) preaching other doctrines of Christianity?

3. Does any country where the official religion is Islam recognize some version of the New Testament (abridged but unedited) as officially (i.e. legally) consistent with Islam?

4. Has any country where the official religion is Islam provided any official, positive encouragement for Christian preachers to preach the doctrines in such an abridged version of the New Testament to the general public in that country?

[geni]

christians used to be considered people of the book.

[Abdul Alhazred]

Muslims believe that Jesus was the second-greatest prophet.

Christians believe he is God.

No, not compatible belief systems, even if at times Muslim governments have tolerated Christians.

[LW]

Originally posted by The idea
Some Muslims claim that Jesus of Nazareth is a recognized Islamic prophet and even use the letters "pbuh" ("peace be upon him") after every mention of his name.

Replace "some" with "all", it's in the Koran. Surah 19:30-35:

[19.30] He said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet;
[19.31] And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and poor-rate so long as I live;
[19.32] And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed;
[19.33] And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life.
[19.34] Such is Isa, son of Marium; (this is) the saying of truth about which they dispute.


Islam differs from Christianity also in that according to Koran Jesus didn't die on the cross but was taken alive into heaven. Surah 4:156-159:

[4.156] And for their unbelief and for their having uttered against Marium a grievous calumny.
[4.157] And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.
[4.158] Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
[4.159] And there is not one of the followers of the Book but most certainly believes in this before his death, and on the day of resurrection he (Isa) shall be a witness against them.

[The idea]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred
Muslims believe that Jesus was the second-greatest prophet.

In other words, Muslims are simply told that "Jesus was the second-greatest prophet" and they repeat that statement?

Depending on the meaning of the word "prophet", there are a couple of possibilities for an actual belief:
(1) Muslims could specify some impressively correct predictions that Jesus made.
(2) Muslims could identify some collection of statements that Jesus made, statements that Muslims believe were divinely inspired.

If you say that Robin was the "second-greatest super-hero", you might be saying that you are very impressed by both Batman and Robin or you might be saying that you are very impressed by Batman and you aren't at all impressed by such super-heros as Superman or Spiderman. Robin might be a distant second, a genuinely "second-rate" super-hero, in the pejorative sense of the term "second-rate".

[Mojo]

Originally posted by The idea
In other words, Muslims are simply told that "Jesus was the second-greatest prophet" and they repeat that statement? Isn't that how religions usually operate? The book says something (or more usually, some authority figure claims that the book says something), so as far as adherents to the religion are concerned, that's the way it is.

[Abdul Alhazred]

Originally posted by The idea
In other words, Muslims are simply told that "Jesus was the second-greatest prophet" and they repeat that statement?

By implication, since Muhammad is the last and greatest.

But the real sticking point for Muslims is the bit about Jesus being God.

There are also faiths that accept Muhammad but say there are later and greater prophets. The Baha'i were largely driven out of Iran for that. Their main HQ is now in Wilmette, Illinois.

http://www.rreini.com/personal_bahai/houseofworship.htm

[geni]

Originally posted by Abdul Alhazred
By implication, since Muhammad is the last and greatest.

But the real sticking point for Muslims is the bit about Jesus being God.

There are also faiths that accept Muhammad but say there are later and greater prophets. The Baha'i were largely driven out of Iran for that. Their main HQ is now in Wilmette, Illinois.

http://www.rreini.com/personal_bahai/houseofworship.htm


Their "Universal House of Justice" which in theory (and proably in practice as well) runs the relgion is based in Haifa, Israel

[The idea]

In other words, Muslims are simply told that "Jesus was the second-greatest prophet" and they repeat that statement?

Originally posted by Mojo
Isn't that how religions usually operate? The book says something (or more usually, some authority figure claims that the book says something), so as far as adherents to the religion are concerned, that's the way it is.
Perhaps I should have asked this:

If, in the process of becoming Muslims, students are taught that Jesus was the second-greatest source of divinely inspired statements in the history of the world, then wouldn't you expect some of those students to want to read those allegedly divinely inspired statements?

You see, I didn't intend to ask whether the only support for a statement was the fact that an authority figure had asserted the statement. I intended to ask about the meaning, in the minds of the adherents, of an authority figure's statement. To an adherent of the religion, is a statement merely a sequence of noises that one repeats like a parrot?