gnostic
The Lost One
I am rather skeptical about the whole religion thingy, including the Christian bible (gospels, letters and revelation, etc).
However, as a student of mythology, I have to study ancient literature to understand. (Of course, I don't always understand the whole mystic thingy, especially when I am dealing with symbols and motif. But that a different story.) So I have to do this scholarly research and all when I am reading such literature.
And when you are dealing with these religious or mythological literature, you'll have to not just cherry-picking a verse here or verse there, and then try to twist something out of those verses to mean something other than the original context.
Now John 15:26-27 and John 16:1-15, in Christian teaching referred to the Holy Spirit, with other names like the Spirit of Truth and the Advocate.
Now Jesus said:
He was speaking to his closest disciples (apostles) here. I would think that this mean that it would happen in the apostles' lifetime, and not some 500 or 600 years later with Muhammad.
You have to ask why the Muslims have the tendency to ignore this part in the verse. Did Muhammad appeared to Jesus' apostles after Jesus left?
I don't think so.
And Muslims who advocate that this Spirit is Muhammad, completely ignored what happen in Acts 1. Jesus again explained to his surviving apostles (minus Judas Iscariot) about the Holy Spirit, arriving shortly after Jesus ascends:
This is the second time, Jesus specify a specific time that the Holy Spirit will arrive. "In a few days", not years or century from then.
And Jesus spoke of bestowing this power of the Holy Spirit to them - the apostles.
You will have to ask yourself, would Muhammad be able to bestow any power on Jesus' apostles, when he is not even born yet; not for another 5 centuries.
I will have to say, despite not being a Christian, that I would dismiss Muslims' claim that this spirit of truth or advocate or whatever name it is, to be Muhammad. Clearly it is poor scholarship and Muslim propaganda.
However, as a student of mythology, I have to study ancient literature to understand. (Of course, I don't always understand the whole mystic thingy, especially when I am dealing with symbols and motif. But that a different story.) So I have to do this scholarly research and all when I am reading such literature.
And when you are dealing with these religious or mythological literature, you'll have to not just cherry-picking a verse here or verse there, and then try to twist something out of those verses to mean something other than the original context.
Now John 15:26-27 and John 16:1-15, in Christian teaching referred to the Holy Spirit, with other names like the Spirit of Truth and the Advocate.
Now Jesus said:
John 16:7 said:But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
He was speaking to his closest disciples (apostles) here. I would think that this mean that it would happen in the apostles' lifetime, and not some 500 or 600 years later with Muhammad.
You have to ask why the Muslims have the tendency to ignore this part in the verse. Did Muhammad appeared to Jesus' apostles after Jesus left?
I don't think so.
And Muslims who advocate that this Spirit is Muhammad, completely ignored what happen in Acts 1. Jesus again explained to his surviving apostles (minus Judas Iscariot) about the Holy Spirit, arriving shortly after Jesus ascends:
Acts 1:4-5 said:On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
This is the second time, Jesus specify a specific time that the Holy Spirit will arrive. "In a few days", not years or century from then.
And Jesus spoke of bestowing this power of the Holy Spirit to them - the apostles.
Acts 1:7-8 said:He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
You will have to ask yourself, would Muhammad be able to bestow any power on Jesus' apostles, when he is not even born yet; not for another 5 centuries.
I will have to say, despite not being a Christian, that I would dismiss Muslims' claim that this spirit of truth or advocate or whatever name it is, to be Muhammad. Clearly it is poor scholarship and Muslim propaganda.