Bible Study Guide

Radical: (What makes a radical a radical? Are some religions more likely to produce radicals than others?")

Someone who takes misplaced faith to extremes and commits drastic action to achieve goals

Radicalism: (What makes a radical a radical? Are some religions more likely to produce radicals than others?")

Belief that the “West” attempts to control their way of life and thus believes that they must destroy the “West” before it destroys them

Are some religions more likely to produce radicals than others?"

Yes;

• Deeper into Christianity → teach through love

• Deeper into Quran →teach through force

Islamic worldview: (Can the Islamic worldview coexist with other worldviews?)

Theistic worldview centered on Muhammad and derives its understanding of the world through the Quran and other holy books

Can the Islamic worldview coexist with other worldviews?

It depends on the different levels on how they perceive worldview

Cultural: (What makes Muslims and Islamists different?)

Follow Islamic practices; gets along with non Muslims

Islamists (What makes Muslims and Islamists different?)

Believe full shariah law should be applied to everyone even w/ violence

Shariah Law (What makes Muslims and Islamists different?)

the moral code outlined in the Quran and other teachings

• Key difference: how Islamist vs Muslims treat the law and in the doctrine of jihad (defense vs active)

• Teaches slavery, wife abuse, heavy tax on non Muslims

Islam means ____

submission

Muslim is _____

one who submits

What does this Muslim submission look like?

Embodied in the ummah (worldwide Muslim community)

Ummah (What does this Muslim submission look like?)

• Ummah keeps Muslims in line

• It is a tradition of ideology, commands, cultural practices, and societal norms

• Traditional structure:

  • Children → adults

  • Women → men

  • family → community leaders

  • community leaders→ Islamic states

• Breaking away from ummah → alienated

How did Islam get started and how large has it grown?

• Muhammad was around 40 and saw visions (first thought it was demons but changed mind)

• was commissioned to become a prophet and spent 23 years spreading the messages

• Conquered a lot of Middle East

Quran (How did Islam get started and how large has it grown?)

“to read/recite”

• the purest understanding of God

• there is one Allah who made all things

• All people must submit to him

• A judgement day will come to judge by deeds

What are some key events in the life of Muhammad and early Muslim history?

• Muhammad fled Mecca to Medinah (hijrah)

• Muhammad captured Mecca and cleansed idols in Kaba

• Islam spread through conquest

• 3 caliphs came after Muhammad

• Ali Ibn Talib’s murder divided Muslims

Hijrah (What are some key events in the life of Muhammad and early Muslim history?)

Beginning of Muslim era and Islamic calender and Muhammad’s Mecca→ Medinah

Caliph (What are some key events in the life of Muhammad and early Muslim history?)

Chief leader; successor of Muhammad

Ali Ibn Talib (What are some key events in the life of Muhammad and early Muslim history?)

Muhammad’s son in law; in power until he got murdered

What are three main divisions of Islams?

Sunni, Shia, Sufism

Sunni (What are three main divisions of Islams?)

believe Muhammad’s successor should be elected

Shia (What are three main divisions of Islams?)

believe Muhammad’s successor should be by bloodline

Sufism (What are three main divisions of Islams?)

less legalistic form; believes in mystical nature and oneness w/ Allah

Difference and similarities in the divisions of Islam

They agree that Quran is important but acknowledge other collections of Muhammad’s teachings

Does Islam recognize a distinction between the spiritual and the secular?

No

Why is conformity important and individuality dangerous to Islam

Freethinking is dangerous because it leads to disagreement and division; conformity → groupthink → blind followers → idolatry

What does Islam teach about the nature of God?

Allah- God (not the name of God)

• He is eternal, self-existent, transcendent, and all powerful

• He created humans not in his image and gave humans free wills at their responsibility

• Allah relates to people only through prophets and teachings

• No trinity and deity of Jesus

What does Islam teach about the word of God?

• Allah communicated his will to humans through a series of prophets (Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus)

• But Muhammad is final word

• Quran is authoritative and uncorrupted

• Islam seeks to replace Christianity

What does Islam teach about Jesus?

• There was a virgin birth and miracles of Jesus

• but he was only a prophet ( Appeared to die and then rose)

What does Islam teach about salvation?

• Quran gives balance: Good vs Bad deeds (if good>bad, then a chance to get into heaven)

• martyr in jihad→ guarantee salvation

What does Islam teach about the final judgement?

• Humanity can advance Allah’s Kingdom by actions and the need for Allah’s mercy

On what sources of revelation does Islam draw? 

Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah

Hadith (On what sources of revelation does Islam draw?)

teachings, rulings, and actions of Muhammad and followers

Sunnah (On what sources of revelation does Islam draw?)

Muhammad’s lifestyle and actions

What does Islam say about humanity?

Humans are Allah’s appointed governors and slaves on earth

What does Islam say is wrong with us?

• Disobedience of Adam and Eve is not a sin but mistake and is forgiven

• It caused humanity to rebel against Allah

• So Allah sent Islam as a way back to perfect, original state

• Everyone is born a Muslim but rebellion leads ppl away from Allah

Jihad (What does Islam say is wrong with us?)

external war vs the unbelievers and internal battle against temptation and developing virtue

Dhimmitude (What does Islam say is wrong with us?)

Christian and Jews may live at peace w/o converting

Jizyah (What does Islam say is wrong with us?)

tax on unbelievers

What does Islam say about how we should live?

Action more important than belief

5 pillars of Islam (What does Islam say about how we should live?)

1. Shahada: confession of faith—there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet; you become Muslim if you confess

2. Salat: 5 prayers a day (Friday noon-important)

3. Zakat: giving 2.5% to poor

4. Sawm: fasting during Ramadan

5. Hajj: pilgrimage

What are the sources of Islamic law and practice?

Quran (shariah), Sunnah (more shariah), Ijma

Ijma (What are the sources of Islamic law and practice?)

Even further interpretation of shariah law

Principle of Abrogation: (What is the principle of abrogation, and how does it create problems for modern Muslims?)

later passages in Quran overrule the earlier passages

Problems w/ principle (What is the principle of abrogation, and how does it create problems for modern Muslims?)

peaceful (1st) is overruled by violence(2nd); when Muslims introduce Quran to nonbelievers they only cite 1st half; devout Muslims → violent