Christianity a Journey from Facts to Fiction
How a Jewish Prophet, Jesus of Nazareth changed into Christ, who
allegedly died for the sins of the believers is the theme of this book!
This is a book by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the previous international leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad
The person of Christ is vitally important to the contemporary world.
His importance does not remain confined to the Christian world alone but
also to other major religions such as Judaism and Islam in particular.
If these powerful religions were to unite in one common understanding
about the nature of the person of Christ, his first and also his
promised second advent, then such an understanding would lead to the
resolution of many problems confronting mankind today. Unfortunately,
even the very basic facts about the life of Jesus, his purpose, ideology
and person are completely misunderstood. In their perception of these
aspects, these religions are so strongly at odds with each other that a
bitter rivalry among them becomes inevitable.
When we look at the facts of Crucifixion and consider what happened and
why it happened, Redemption and its related philosophy, we find
conflicting answers from various early sources. I have chosen to address
this question solely from a logical point of view. I believe that this
is the only platform, common to all, which can be used for a fruitful
constructive dialogue. Otherwise, any discussion on the basis of what
the individual scriptures present, along with their various
interpretations, would lead to a tangle of controversy from which it
would be difficult to wriggle out of.
Two thousand years have already come to pass, yet based on the
scriptures alone, no solution, which could be equally acceptable to all,
has been reached. The crux of the problem is that the very reliability
of certain scriptural claims is further compounded by their various
divergent explanations. Also, immense complications arise out of the
gradual growth of conflicting understandings revolving around the
historical person of Christ. The vision of a historic perspective
generally tends to be fogged and obscured. By any standards, the passage
of two millennia is no ordinary obstacle in perceiving events as
distant as the time of Jesus. Human logic and reason, further aided by
the dawn of scientific knowledge, has neither creed, nor colour nor
religion. It is common to all peoples and religions alike. Logic and
logic alone could provide us with a basis for consensus.
I will attempt to examine the problem from different vantage points.
First, let me begin with Christianity and view it as the Christians see
it and then critically analyse it under the magnifying glass of reason. I
must emphasize however, that I do not mean to be disrespectful in any
way to Christians or to the person of Jesus Christ. As a Muslim, it is a
fundamental article of my faith to believe in the truth of Jesus
Christ, and to accept him as a special and honoured messenger of God,
holding a unique position among the prophets of Israel. But where truth
demands, in all fairness to logic, common sense and human understanding,
one cannot abstain from revising one’s views on Christianity. My
purpose is not to drive a wedge between Christians and Christ. On the
contrary, I wish to help Christians come closer to the reality of Jesus
Christ and away from the myth created around him.
Time can distort reality into myths and legends. Influence of such
legends only serves to distance man from the realities of life. As a
result, faith becomes imaginary and unreal. Whereas true faith has its
roots in the verities and facts of history, it is very real and potent
enough to bring about significant changes in human society.
In the endeavour to understand the true faith and teachings of Jesus, it
is essential to sift out the fact from the fiction and truth from myth.
The search for truth is the ultimate purpose of this exercise. I hope
that you will bear with me and understand that I mean no offence to
anyone’s beliefs or sentiments.
A critical approach is essential to save the world of Christianity from
unfortunate moral degradation; the course of which they are finding so
hard to reverse. According to my analysis, contemporary youth is fast
losing its faith in God.
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