Christian-Muslim Relations. CCC 841;LG 16; NA3
841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."330
330 LG 16; cf. NA 3.
LG is the Lumen gentium NA is Nostra aetate.
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_c...entium_en.html
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126); But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature",(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_c...aetate_en.html
3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
etymology of Allah and Semitic closeness
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Leslie
I'm sorry, that was a typo. I ment 1000 AD.
And I still say that they do not worship the God of Abraham. Allah is not Yahweh.
I have laid below the etymology of Allah and also the meaning of the word Semitic for the purpose to demonstrate against your literistic adherence to state what is an obvious misconception. Allah is not Yahweh, which to you does not sound the same. However, if you check the Christian Scripture translations into Arabic, you are going to be surprised that Allah is in fact Yahweh. The reason it is should be obvious when you look at Allah's roots having the same similarities with the Aramic and Hebrew. But again, I think any O.T. scholar is going to agree that the theological monotheistic conception of Islam is the very same as Judaism. Both have lineages that go back to Abraham; both believe in One God. Other than that, what can we say? If they are presented with the Gospel and the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to the truth, it is at that conjecture where whether their righteousness comes from God or not... for the natural inclination of the righteous by God is going to gravitate to the Gospel on the merits of truth and love.
Allah etymology from the Oxford English Dictionary:
[a. Arab. allah the (true) God, contr. of al-ilah, i.e. al the + ilah god = Aram. elah, Heb. eloah.]
Semitic:
b. In linguistic sense: The distinctive epithet of that family of languages of which Hebrew, Aramæan, Arabic, Ethiopic, and ancient ***yrian, are the principal members. Hence (in Semitic scholar, studies, grammar, philology, etc.) concerned with the Semitic languages.
zoroastrianism off topic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Leslie
Do you believe that the Zoroastrians worship the same god too?
Also, if I'm not mistaken Allah never required sacrifices for sin did he?
Based on what I read about it in wikipedia, there are certainly interesting comparisons. It is definitely a preChristian religion, which seems to have some influence in its cl***ic antiquity with Cyrus II releasing the Jews from captivity. Its following is certainly not a major religion and it is a complicated religion in various respects, so much of anything I say on it would be out of ignorance. For instance, I do not know if Zoroaster ever made a claim to descend from Abraham or to the Abrahamic faith in one God. It seems that in some respects Ahura Mazda is one God, but I cannot say for any certainty how this God is viewed in terms of an impersonal or personal God and its make up in relation to Jewish and Islamic theology of One God.
Besides, I think Zoroastrianism is off topic since it is not discussed in the Catechism, the LG, nor the NA quotes I have given.
But to answer your question, I would have to be consistent in the N.T. presentation of Romans 1 and 2; namely that nobody is without excuse knowing sin from cause-effect relations incurring the wrath of God and seeing God's nature through his creation and that they practice the things of the law unto themselves to be considered righteous by God. This is the main crux of the Catholic teaching here. You must refute Romans 1 and 2 to make me believe that salvation is not possible for those who do not know Christ and his Gospel... I say that Christ extends his salvation to these ignorant yet righteous group of individuals regardless of their ignorance so that both Romans 1 and 2 fulfills John's message that there is no salvation apart from Christ.
Will have to start a new thread on extra ecclesiam...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Leslie
So according to the Catholic Church, a person could worship a pagan god, like the muslims, and still go to heaven?
Also, what about this?
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus
According to Romans 1 and 2, and according to the scripture p***ages that is referenced in the quotes I have given a person meeting these requirements still have to go through Christ at the judgement where every knee shall bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. Go check it out. Sentence by sentence if we have to.
Outside the Church there is no salvation? Guess you should start a new thread. If I introduce any material related to it, we will eventually find ourselves off-topic. When we can check the context of which "Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus" in its own context, I think we can revisit how it relates to this discussion. Remind me to also point to John Paul II's encyclical "Ut unum sint." Also, we should be able to visit the CCEL site. Just for my own reference to a new post on the subject matter... wikipedia has mentioned Saint Cyprian of Carthage in the third century made that phrase. It is accepted by both the East and the West, so it is not just something made up by the Vatican.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra_E...am_nulla_salus