"I think that if the Fall is not historical, then H. G. Wells was correct.
Christianity collapses like a house of cards."
Not if the Fall isn't true. The Fall as we perceive it was largely invented
by St. Augustine. As I explained in an earlier post, most of the other
early church fathers believed something very different, but Augustine
acquired the power to declare them heretics, so his verion won out.
"I didn't mean to give offense here. I apologize."
As I said before, no apology is necessary, because I know you didn't mean it
the way it sounded.
"I meant that more in the sense that I don't see what you have retained, not
that you don't think you have retained the essence. I wouldn't see a reason
to continue Christian beliefs if I had your position. It would contradict
my standard of epistemology and standard of truth. And if my standard of
truth doesn't change, then I would be required to reject christianity in
order to maintain logical consistency."
Then as a fellow Christian I have to ask two questions. First, what is more
important to you, your "standard of epistemology and standard of truth" or
Jesus Christ? Secondly, who is the God you worship, "logical consistency"
or Jesus Christ. Please do not misunderstand, I am not criticizing your
beliefs. As before that is between you and God. I am only trying to get
you to think about what your beliefs are founded on. To paraphrase
Scripture, how would it profit a man to be logically consistent but loose
his soul?
"Anyway, yes they believe Allah = Jehovah, but they deny the incarnation and
the trinity etc. Someone is wrong."
What they believe is that the god Jews call YHWY and Christians call Jehovah
was really Allah revealing himself in different ways. As such, they believe
that their god is the true God, whereas the Christian god is simply Allah in
disguise. Christians, however, believe that Jehovah is the true God and
that Allah is a figment of the Arab imagination. So they believe in two
separate sources, two separate contexts, for their respective authorities.
As such, it is understandable that Christians would believe God can become
human, whereas Muslims would believe that to be blasphemy. Even the passage
you quote from the Koran establishes that. So within their respective
contexts, both religions are right.
"As I said in my other post, I need to get some writing done. If you want,
you can have the last word. I am going to take a break from internet soon.
And I have to get my house fixed up to sell."
Good luck!
Kevin L. O'Brien