Posted in Preaching, tagged Marriage, servant, Slave, Voddie Baucham on July 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Here is a great and convicting sermon by Voddie Baucham, who is a father, husband, pastor, author, professor, conference speaker and church planter. He currently pastors at Grace Family Baptist Church.
Also, please feel free to check out his blog site:
Posted in Apologetic Links, Cornelius Van Til, Greg Bahnsen, Presuppositional Apologetics, presuppositionalism, Reformed on July 30, 2012| 2 Comments »
Here’s are links rounded up from the internet that would be of interests to the Presuppositionalists!
1.) Chick-fil-A and the Attack of the Tyrannatots— Doug Wilson witty take on the whole issue of secularized “Tolerance”
2.) J.W. Wartick’s Review of Presuppostional Apologetics— J.W. Wartick’s has written a lot on Christian apologetics, and have recently focused on Presuppositional apologetics with a critical appraisal. For a non-Presuppositionalist, he has been one of the more charitable critic.
3.) La Apologética Presuposicionalista- Some of Greg Bahnsen’s works being translated into Spanish! Knowledge of this link is courtesty of Jamin Hubner.
4.) The Necessity of the Concept of the Christian God for Mathematics— Applying Presuppositionalism to the area of Mathematics.
5.) The Recent Rise of Covenantal Apologetics Part 3: James Anderson’s Influence-– A series on how Presuppositionalism has gotten more popular, and in particular in this post to the contribution of James Anderson.
6.) Triablogue on Wintery Knight on Van Til.
7.) Unguided Matter and Motion Cannot Yield Life— Author Mike Robinson applying Presuppositionalism.
Posted in A.W. Tozer, audiobook, Christianity, Devotional books, Theology on July 27, 2012| 5 Comments »
Review
Worthwhile Christian devotional read. I think the book addresses mainly those who have their theology right in their intellect, but might not have that as something they embrace in their daily lives and devotion towards God. To that end, this book is a great call and challenge for believers to truly pursue God. Good call that Christianity is not just head knowledge for head knowledge sake. The question I did have was Tozer’s reference to prevenient grace, which I noticed mentioned at least twice in the book–was Tozer an Arminian or did he used this term in a way different than the traditional definition?
Free 10 Part Audio MP3
If you must purchase a copy of the book, get it on Amazon here.
Posted in christian apologetics, Islam, Quran on July 26, 2012| 24 Comments »
What originally began on July 15th, 2012 as a special one week focus on Islam here at Veritas Domain ended up being a twelve day marathon! Among the things posted are resources available on the internet outside our blog concerning many facets of Islam: awareness of the problem that Islam poses including debates, documentary, videos and written media such as books and thesis. We have also attempted to provide our own apologetic and evangelism resources here as well. Concerning our written sources, I wish to provide here an index to those materials that we have written ourselves.
Posted in Bible, christian apologetics, Christianity, Jesus Christ, koran, Quran on July 26, 2012| 7 Comments »
This is the last installment in this series (unless another pressing passage needs to be addressed). Surah 4:157 is probably the strangest passage Muslims try to use to prove that the Quran teaches that the Bible has been textually corrupted. Instead of establishing that the Bible has been corrupted, Surah 4:157 is an excellent example of how the Quran has the problem of conflicting and contradicting the teaching of the Bible while suffering from the problem that the Quran as a whole upholds the Bible as authoritative and having been faithfully transmitted. Thus, any contradiction that the Quran has with the Bible poses a problem that is internal to the Islamic religion/worldview.
Below are three English translations of this passage, though afterwards all citation of the Quran will be from Yusuf Ali’s translation:
Sahih International
And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah .” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
Yusuf AliThat they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
ShakirAnd their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but it appeared to them so (like Isa) and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.
From this verse, a Muslim apologist proceeds with the following reason:
Here is another explicit verse speaking of Bible corruption, the Quran states that if anyone believes that Jesus died and was crucified they then follow nuthing but CONJECTURE which is corruption. Which book today tells us that Jesus died and was crucified? The Bible, so hence the Quran here does call the Bible corrupt. So it cant get anymore clear than that.
But does this verse really teaches that the Bible has been corrupted? Let’s take a closer look at the Quran itself and this Muslim apologist’s argument.
Establishing the Context: Surah 4 is titled “The Women.” It is a long chapter in the Quran that addresses many social issues such as sex, marriage, inheritance, etc. Verse 157 is situated in a section beginning at verse 153 through 176 which focuses on the subject of the unbelief of the people of the Book (Jews and Christians).
Exegesis
(1) It is rather strange that anyone can say of Surah 4:157 that this “is another explicit verse speaking of Bible corruption” when nowhere within this verse or the surrounding context does it have anything to do with Scripture nor the Bible. Furthermore, there are not any verbs for “writing,” hence this verse cannot be the basis for proving that the written transmission of Scripture has been textually corrupted since it does not even address the topic of writing, let alone the Scriptures of the Jews or Christians!
(2) Again, this verse cannot be “another explicit verse speaking of Bible corruption.” Our Muslim apologist wrongfully thinks that following conjecture is the same thing as textually corrupting the text of Scripture when he states: “Quran states that if anyone believes that Jesus died and was crucified they then follow nuthing but CONJECTURE which is corruption.” Again, looking at Surah 4:157, following conjecture is not the same thing as corrupting the transmission of God’s revelation in the Old or the New Testament!
(3) Closer examination of Surah 4:157 further refutes our Muslim assumption that following conjecture is equal with textual corruption of the Bible from what it originally says. The Muslim apologist asked rhetorically, “Which book today tells us that Jesus died and was crucified? The Bible, so hence the Quran here does call the Bible corrupt.” Of course, it’s the Christian portion of the Bible (the New Testament) that teaches “Jesus died and was crucified.” However, Surah 4:157 was not talking about Christians and the followers of Christ when it describes those who had “only conjecture to follow.” The beginning of the verse shows clearly that the subjects are those that “said (in boast), ‘We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’” Surah 4:157 is talking about the Jewish religious leaders who were against Jesus and had Him put to death, not Christians and their Scriptures! If conjecture is the same thing as changing the transmission of Scripture as this Muslim assumes, and in light of his other assumption that the corrupt change done to the Scripture (Old Testament) was to teach “Jesus died and was crucified” (I’m not talking about Messianic prophecies but that “Jesus” was the name and referent of the one who died and was crucified) then how come there are no textual evidence of Old Testament manuscripts mentioning “Jesus died and was crucified?” It is a puzzling quagmire the Muslim apologist has gotten himself into when he tries to force Surah 4:157 to talk about the Scriptures, when it’s not talking about it at all.
(4) Furthermore, in the greater context of Surah 4, Surah 4:157 could not possibly teach that the Bible has been textually corrupted unless Muslims want to say that this verse contradicts with what the rest of the Surah’s view of the Bible: namely, that the Bible is still authoritative and without textual corruption. Readers should consult part 2 of this series to see how Surah 4:46 at first glance might seem to deny the Bible’s faith textual transmission ends up affirming instead, along with the discussion of Surah 4:47 as further support.
(5) Everything stated earlier is not to say that Surah 4:157 does not conflict with the New Testament’s teaching that Jesus Christ the Son of Mary was killed and crucified. Of course it does, but Surah 4:157 does not say that the Bible has been corrupted from it’s original content.
(6) Can the Muslim apologist reason that since Surah 4:157 contradicts what the Bible teaches, and that the Quran and the Bible ought not to contradict then therefore it’s the Bible that has been textually corrupted? The Muslim cannot resolve this difficulty with this conclusion since the door to this conclusion is closed by the context of Surah 4 and the whole of the Quran when it affirms the Bible’s authority and accurate transmission. Instead, this allows the Christian apologist to make the case that in light of Surah 4:157 contradicting with the Bible’s Matthew 27-28, 1 Corinthians 15, etc., in light of the Quran’s own bibliology, it’s the Quran’s that’s in trouble when it conflicts with the Bible’s teaching. And that’s the dilemma for the Muslim: Why does Surah 4:157 not submit to the authority of God’s revelation in the Bible but conflict against it? If the Muslim affirm what the Quran teaches, that the Bible is authoritative and has not been lost nor forgotten, then they ought to reject what the Quran teaches in Surah 4:157. However, if the Muslim instead affirm Surah 4:157 as true while rejecting the New Testament teachings, inherently they still reject what the Quran teaches, concerning the Bible’s authority and faithful transmission. Either way, the rational dilemma is there: Muslims will have to deny the Quran themselves sooner or later.
Instead, hear the Words of the New Testament and it’s organic unity with the Old Testament:
3 For I delivered to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
As verse 3 makes it clear, Christ did die–and he died “for our sins.” That’s what the Bible teaches. I pray that those Words go deep and God will use it to bring about faith in anyone reading this who have not yet trusted in the Person and Works of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection to make righteous those who realize their sins and need to be reckoned right with God.
Posted in Gospels, tagged Islam on July 25, 2012| 8 Comments »
Continuing with our series on the attack against traditional authorship of the Gospels by some Muslims, here is the last part of the series that will be focused on the Gospel of John.
Arguments for Traditional Authorship of John
Here is what Irenaeus says in the first century concerning John being the author,
John, the disciple of the Lord…expresses himself thus: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God’” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.8 [ANF, 1:674]).[1]
On another note, Irenaeus (c. A.D. 180) is the first to clearly say that John the apostle wrote the Gospel of John and that he published it too at Ephesus where John resided.[2]
As for Turtullian, here is what he says in second century about the Gospel of John and the other Gospel writers,
The same authority of the apostolic churches will afford evidence to the other Gospels also, which we possess equally through their means, and according to their usage—I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew—whilst that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter’s whose interpreter Mark was. For even Luke’s form of the Gospel men usually ascribe to Paul (Tertullian, The Five Books Against Marcion 4.5 [ANF, 3:657]).[3]
Augustine says this in the fourth century concerning John and the apostles
Certain of them also—namely, Matthew and John—gave to the world, in their respective books, a written account of all those matters which it seemed needful to commit to writing concerning Him” (Augustine, The Harmony of the Gospels 1.1.1 [NPNF, 6:160]).[4]
Augustine also said this about Apostle John,
The most eminent of the four evangelists” (Augustine, The Harmony of the Gospels 2.6.18 [NPNF, 6.235]).[5]
In light of the external evidence that have been provided regarding the authorship of the fourth Gospel being from John himself, we too must cover the internal evidence in order to effectively rebuttal the attacks from rationalists like F.C. Baur who argued that the fourth Gospel was not written until A.D. 160. If it was written during that time as suggested by F.C. Baur, then that means John could not be the author. John wrote earlier than that. Since he wrote earlier, evidence heavily favors John as the author of the fourth Gospel.[6]
Sadly, some Muslim apologists will implement the sources that runs parallel to liberal scholars in order to justify their reasoning that there is no evidence to know who wrote the Gospels. Their method, which is not really different from rationalists who implement the higher-criticism method, is an attempt to contaminate the authenticity and historicity of the Gospels. The implication is that if one cannot have evidence for who the authors are, then how can Christianity account for reliability in authenticity? Also just a footnote—not only does the discovery of a papyrus fragment (P52) of the Gospel of John in the collection of the John Rylands Library (“dated at least at A.D. 150 and perhaps as early as A.D. 130”), demolished the liberal and rationalists’ view, because papyrus fragment (P52) points to the idea that the Gospel of John is easily pushed back into at least the first century when the Apostle John was alive.
On another note, internal evidence, which stands on its own feet, makes it evident that John clearly wrote the Gospels even though the author does not identify himself by saying, “I, John, wrote the this book,” etc.[7] . The Gospel of John is not like the Book of Hebrews, whereas the author does not disclose his identity, but John, like the other three Gospel writers, makes it evident that he wrote it . External evidence proves it and internal evidence proves it too.
In light of internal evidence, the writer claims to be an eyewitness in these following passages: John 1:14; 19:35; 21:24-25.[8] Other internal evidence would be his implementation of an accurate knowledge of Jewish customs and Palestinian topography before Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70; and also his implementation of vivid details as an eyewitness of Jesus ministry (2:6; 6:19; 21:8).[9] Clearly his style of writing was Semitic because John was a Jew.[10] Another potent internal evidence would be the author’s reference to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” as indicated in John 21:20, 24. By process of elimination—in relation to the phrase the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” James could not be the author because he was martyred early in church history (Acts 12:1-5); and it cannot be Peter as indicated in John 13:23 and 21:7.[11] Cleary, by process of elimination, it had to be John, the son of Zebedee, even though he is not identified by name in the Gospel of John.[12]
CONCLUSION
Some maybe asking by now, why does it matter who wrote the Gospels? Instead some propose that we should focus our concerted efforts on defending the reliability of Gospel rather than discussing traditional authorship. However, knowing who wrote the Gospels, is linked to the reliability of the Gospels. To deny authorship, poses problems because it opens up the door for a discussion of dating and the use of the higher-criticism method.
In response, I believe that quoting Professor Gary W. Derickson, a professor at Western Baptist College at Salem, Oregon best describes the danger of anti-traditional authorship view. He eloquently answers the question by saying,
The church fathers were unanimous in naming Matthew as the first Gospel to be written and in identifying the apostle Matthew as its author. Their testimony indicates that it was the dominant Gospel in the early church and contains nothing about any literary dependence between writers of the two Gospels. The issue of apostolic authorship is at stake in one’s viewpoint on this matter. If at any point a Gospel writer, be it pseudo-Matthew or any other Gospel writer, has embellished eyewitness testimony to promote his own theological viewpoint, that is a violation of biblical inerrancy that lies outside the boundary of evangelicalism.” [13]
Clearly, there are many pertinent points Professor Derickson stated, but what hits the nail on the head, is the notion of one who denies traditional authorship, is one who has an agenda in promoting one’s own theological agenda (i.e. undermine the supernatural, inerrancy, destroy the historical reliability of Christianity, etc.); and clearly, it is a “violation of biblical inerrancy that lies outside the boundary of evangelicalism.”
Denial of the traditional authorship of the Gospels poses great concern because one of the major key issues that is at stake is that of apostolic authority.[14] While some may say it is not important to know who wrote the Gospels or not, it does matter because men like Peter, Paul, and John all appealed to apostolic authority.[15] For example, John says that he saw, heard and handled the embodied Eternal Life (1 John 1:1-4).[16] Not only was John an apostle, but he witnessed and experience what Christ did. As for Peter, the validity of his writings grew out from his eyewitness relationship with Jesus Christ when he was on earth as well (2 Peter 1:16-18); and Paul based his authority on direct revelation that he received from Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).[17].
The legitimate recognition of Peter and Paul as the apostles of Christ is a very fundamental point at stake because the non-apostolic Gospels such as the Gospel of Mark and Luke as well as the epistles of the NT all had apostolic connections that resulted in their acceptance by the early church.[18] To say that we do not know who wrote the Gospels would dismember the apostolic connection between the non-apostolic Gospels and the epistles of the NT that all had connections to the apostles.
Since this series is mainly about the traditional authorship of the Gospels, it is important to emphasize that denying traditional authorship opens up the door to rationalism and speculation. However, as argued already throughout this series, rationalism and speculation of who wrote the Gospels, can be avoided because internal and external evidence supports the orthodox understanding of authorship. The church fathers relied on the evidence of the apostles and the evidence from eyewitness accounts. In the context of this series, the early fathers and the early church recognized the four authors of the Gospels. To deny them, opens up the door to accepting frauds who were never apostles and those who never had apostolic connections.
As Christians, we must be careful with the critics’ attack against the authorship of the Gospels. Their attacks against traditional authorship of the Gospels are a smokescreen for their humanistic endeavors against the reliability of the inspired, supernatural Gospels governed by God.
To attack the traditional authorship of the Gospels is an attack not only in the face of external evidence, but also internal evidence. To attack external evidence is to jeopardize patristic evidences from historical people who were closer to the times of Jesus than we are; and to attack internal evidence is to undermine inerrancy and the supernatural Words of God, in favor for the idolatry of rationalism.
For the Muslim apologists or any other critique against the Gospels, his or her attacks are attempts in justifying their reasonings that Christianity is an unreliable faith that cannot account for truth. On another note, it is also opportune to keep in mind that if a Muslim was to ever attack Christians for using patristic evidence to establish the traditional authorship of the Gospel, it would be decorous to point out to Muslims that they too must also appeal outside the Quran to establish their major aspect of the Islamic faith such as the story of Muhammad, and the Muslim account of the origin of the Qur’an. If they are skeptical of the Bible, we too must be skeptical of the Qur’an and the Hadith. And if they say that Christianity cannot account for truth because we do not know who wrote the Gospels, then they need to provide answers to verses from the Qu’ran that upholds the Gospel and other books of the Bible (Surah 2:59; 2:79; 2:106; 3:78; 4:136; 4:46; 4:157; 5:13; 5:46-48; 29:46; 53:36; etc.). Even in their own books, the Qu’ran upheld and upholds the Holy Bible. Please see SLIMJIM’s work explaining the Qu’ran’s support of the Bible: Are there verses in the Quran that shows the Bible’s corruption? Part 1: Introduction, Are there verses in the Quran that shows the Bible’s corruption? Part 2: Surah 4:46, Are there verses in the Quran that shows the Bible’s corruption? Part 3: Surah 5:13, Are there verses in the Quran that shows the Bible’s corruption? Part 4: Surah 2:79, Are there verses in the Quran that shows the Bible’s corruption? Part 5: Surah 4:157
Moreover, here are some important quotes from the early church fathers that I would like to share that substantiates the claim of traditional authorship. The first one is from Justyn Martyr (second century) regarding his acceptance of traditional authorship of the Gospels,
For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them” (The First Apology of Justin 6 [ANF, 1:185]).”[19]
Tertullian in the second century said,
The evangelical Testament has apostles for its authors…since there are apostolic men also, they are not alone, but appear with the apostles and after apostles” (The Five Books Against Marcion [ANF, 3:347]).
As for Irenaeus during the second century, he said,
The opinion of the apostles, therefore, and of those (Mark and Luke) who learned from their words, concerning God, has been made manifest” (Against Heresies 3.15.3 [ANF, 1:440]).[20]
It is my prayer and hope that Christians all over the globe will not be staggered by the attacks of opponents of traditional authorship of the Gospels. As Christians, we must have confidence on the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They were men who were used as instruments of God to write. These were men moved by the Holy Spirit and men who wrote for the glory of God. 2 Peter 1:20-21 points this truth out,
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
These were not men who wanted to write for their own interests. In terms of what they wrote which is inspired, here is what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Paul clearly points out in the second letter to Timothy that God’s Words are inspired (θεόπνευστος), meaning God-breathed. Since God’s Word’s are God-breathed, we need to be bold in our defense and proclamation of God’s truth. No matter what methods opponents use to attack traditional authorship in order lacerate away the supernatural origin and historical reliability of the Bible, we must hold the fort and not be staggered.
In closing, here is a wise saying from Dr. Robert Thomas regarding the battle Christians face from the book titled, The Jesus Crisis: The Inroads of Historical Criticism into Evangelical Scholarship.
The Jesus crisis should be a source of serious concern for the Christian church. God will somehow overcome the crisis. His Word will remain intact for He is sovereign and omnipotent. His truth will prevail. He will not allow gospel truth to disappear. But He will carry out His will as the church, Christ’s bride, reasserts the integrity of His Word. Believers should exert themselves to alleviate the crisis. Believers do so by maintaining an uncompromising stand on what He has written and not questioning its accuracy at any point. Hopefully, the church will do so immediately by raising her voice against the enemy who already has his foot in the door and is seeking to pry it wide open.[21]
Christians who take the issue of historical-criticism or rationalism lightly should be seriously concerned because it is a tool used by the enemy to undermine biblical inerrancy and the supernatural reliability of Scripture. The rationalists along with their presuppositions towards the Holy Bible are attackers of our omnipotent and sovereign God. But they can’t win and they will never prevail in the war.
Because souls are at stake, God will never allow His Word to be in a state of confusion or in a state where the Word is not able to withstand hostile enemies of His Word. As soldiers of Christ, we must be maintaining our stance as Dr. Thomas said:
By maintaining an uncompromising stand on what He has written and not questioning its accuracy at any point.”
If we compromise, we open up the doors for people to attack, which will cause doubts on the accuracy of God’s Word. And those who are feeble and gullible will fall prey to the rationalists’ instruments.
In light of all the arguments made so far, I believe that traditional authorship glorifies God because they were the people authorized to write on God’s behalf. If people try to unauthorize them, they will have a difficult time accounting for consistency, truth, and reality. And that will not glorify God.
Bibliography
Abbott-Smith, George. A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. 3d ed. Edinburgh, England: T. & T. Clark, 1950.
Derickson, Gary W. “Matthean Priority/Authorship and Evangelicalism’s Boundary.” The Masters Seminary Journal 14, no. 1 (Spring, 2003): 87–103.
Linnemann, Eta. Historical Criticism of the Bible Reflections of a Bultmannian Turned Evangelical: Methodology or Ideology. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2001.
Pentecost, Dwight J. The Words. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1891.
Reymond, Robert L. A New Systematic Theology of the Christian. 2nd ed. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
Thompson, Keith. “Who Wrote the Gospels? Internal and External Arguments For Traditional Authorship.” Answering Islam: A Christian-Muslim Dialog. http://answering-islam.org/authors/thompson/gospel_authorship.html (accessed May 31, 2012).
Thomas, Robert L. Charts of the Gospels and the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.
Thomas, Robert L., and F. David Farnell. The Jesus Crisis: The Inroads of Historical Criticism into Evangelical Scholarship. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998.
Thomas, Robert L., and Stanley N. Gundry. The NIV/NASB Harmony of the Gospels. Peaboy, Massachusetts: Print Press, 2003.
[1] Robert L. Thomas, Charts of the Gospels and the Life of Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 79.
[2] Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry, The NIV/NASB Harmony of the Gospels (Peaboy, MA: Print Press, 2003), 299.
[3] Robert L. Thomas, Charts of the Gospels and the Life of Christ, 78.
[4] Ibid, 80.
[5] Ibid, 80.
[6] Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry, The NIV/NASB Harmony of the Gospels, 299.
[7] Ibid, 299-300.
[8]Ibid, 300.
[9]Ibid, 300.
[10]Ibid, 300.
[11] Ibid, 300.
[12] Ibid, 300.
[13] Gary W. Derickson, “Matthean Priority/Authorship and Evangelicalism’s Boundary,” The Masters Seminary Journal 14, no. 1 (Spring 2003): 87.
[14] Ibid, 100.
[15] Ibid, 100.
[16] Ibid, 100.
[17] Ibid, 100.
[18] Ibid, 100.
[19] Robert L. Thomas, Charts of the Gospels and the Life of Christ, 78.
[20] Ibid, 79.
[21] Robert L. Thomas and David F. Farnell, “The Jesus Crisis: The Inroads of Historical Criticism into Evangelical Scholarship,” 383.
Posted in Bible, christian apologetics, Quran, Surah 2 on July 24, 2012| 7 Comments »
Among the proof text Muslims use to claim that the Quran teaches that the Bible has been textually corrupted, Surah 2:79 seems to be their strongest case. Yet this is not without problem. Below are three English translations of this passage, though afterwards all citation of the Quran will be from Yusuf Ali’s translation:
Sahih International
So woe to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allah ,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
Yusuf AliThen woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:”This is from Allah,” to traffic with it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.
ShakirWoe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: This is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
(Accessed: http://quran.com/2/73-85)
Note what one Muslim apologist extrapolate from the text,
So basically this means they made copies and added their own ideas and desires and said this is from God, and when you do this over a long period of time the original book gets lost and is gone and that is what happened. So they wrote books with their own hands and claimed it is from God i.e. the Torah.
But does this verse really teaches that the Jewish Scripture has been lost due to textual corruption? Let’s take a closer look.
Establishing the Context: Surah 2 is titled “The Cow.” It is the longest chapter in the Quran, coming in at 286 verses, and addresses a variety of issues. Some have seen this Surah as the summary of the Quran. Verse 79 is situated in the section beginning in verse 40 through 86 that focuses on the Children of Israel. Thus, verse 79 is specifically referring to the Jewish Scripture (the Old Testament).
Exegesis
(1) One things to keep in mind for the rest of the observation that follows is that while this verse states that they “write the Book with their own hand,” it does not state that the “Book,” that is the Scriptures, have been “lost and is gone” as our Muslim apologists claim the verse teaches. Such verbs are not present in the text and readers should be cautious with going too far beyond what Surah 2:79 actually states.
(2) There are further complications to the view that this verse teaches the original Jewish Scripture has been “lost and is gone,” when one realizes that Surah 2:79 is not referring to all the Jews in their treatment of Scripture, but only some particular subset of the Jews. This point is important because if some of the Jews were wicked to tamper and attempted to corrupt the text of Scriptures, there are the other subset of Jews that were not doing so. Thus, there cannot be a global textual corruption of the Bible where the original would be thoroughly “lost and gone.” Verse 78 establishes whom “those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands” in verse 79 were. Note that verse 78 refers to the antecedent subjects as a subgroup of the Jews rather than all the Jews when it stated, “there are among them illiterates” rather than “all among them illiterates.” In light of the fact that they were called illiterates makes this very likely to be a minority group since Jews are historically typically literate. Again, this verse is only discussing about some among the Jews which makes it improbable that there would be a global textual corruption of the Scriptures to the extent that the original has been forever lost and forgotten.
(3) Further support that verse 79 refers to only a subset of the Jews can be found in the beginning of verse 80 which states, “And they say, “Never will the Fire touch us, except for a few days.” These subset of Jews don’t believe in the eternal torment of the wicked, and given that the Hebrew manuscripts we possess today does not deny eternal punishment (but rather affirm it), it seems that whatever minority of Jews that wrote down “Scripture” contrary to it has not been able to manage to corrupt the Bible lost and forgotten forever.
(4) The context of the rest of Surah 2 does not support the view that the Quran teaches the Bible’s corruption. For instance, Surah 2:62 affirm that the content of the Bible is still God’s salvific Word: “Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.“ Rather than affirm the Bible’s corruption, the rest of the context of Surah 2 affirms the contrary, that the Bible is still God’s Word.
Posted in Bible, christian apologetics, Christianity, Islam, Quran on July 23, 2012| 7 Comments »
Continuing with our series, Surah 5:13 is another proof text Muslims use to try to establish that the Quran teaches the Bible has been textually corrupted. Here I provide three English translation of this passage, though afterwards all citation of the Quran will be from Yusuf Ali’s translation:
Sahih InternationalSo for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
Yusuf AliBut because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few – ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.ShakirBut on account of their breaking their covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard; they altered the words from their places and they neglected a portion of what they were reminded of; and you shall always discover treachery in them excepting a few of them; so pardon them and turn away; surely Allah loves those who do good (to others).(Accessed: http://quran.com/5/10-16)
But does this verse really teaches that the Jewish Scripture has been corrupted textually? Let’s take a closer look.
Establishing the Context: Surah 5 is titled “The Table.” It is a chapter that’s 120 verses in length, and primarily addresses the question of Jews and Christians who are not Muslims. Verse 13 is situated in a section beginning at verse 12 which discusses about Allah withdrawing from unbelieving people of the Book, with verse 12 indicating that verses 12-13 refers to the Jews since verse 12 explicitly refers to “Children of Israel.” It is clear that the Jewish Scriptures are in view here.
Exegesis
At a superficial glance, two phrase in Surah 5:13 might seem to suggests that the written text of Scripture has been corrupted: “they change the words from their (right) places ” and they “forget a good part of the message that was sent them.”
(1) It is difficult to establish that this verse teaches the corruption of the written manuscripts of the Bible when the verse itself does not even mention writing whatsoever. Don’t forget that it does not necessarily follow that just because the verse says words were changed and forgotten that it must mean it refers ONLY to the activity of written transmission of the Scripture, since one may forget the content when reciting it audibly, practically in daily living, etc. Thus right off the bat, this verse cannot be serve as proof that the written transmission of Scripture has been textually corrupted since it does not even address the topic of writing.
(2) Concerning “they change the words from their (right) places ,” one must remember that Surah 4:46 said the same thing with the similar phrase that the Jews “displace words from their (right) places.” As Part 2 of this series already established, the phrase referring to changing or displacing “words from their (right) places” cannot be referring to the corruption of the written Scriptures, since in that same verse it also affirm the faithful transmission of the Jewish Scripture! In fact, “displace words from their (right) places” seems to be more idiomatic than literal, and whatever this idiomatic phrase means, it cannot be referring to the corruption of the written record of Scripture. In fact, Sahih Translation takes this phrase to mean “they distort words from their [proper] usages,” a reference to misinterpretation rather than textual corruption of the Scriptures.
(3) Concerning, the phrase “and forget a good part of the message that was sent them,” note that in order for one to forget something they must at least had that thing at one time to begin with.
(4) Concerning the previous point, one might say that the Scriptures were actually forgotten long ago before the Quran was written. However, considerations of the larger context of the rest of Surah 5 makes this improbable since within Surah 5 itself it would go on to appeal to the Jews and Christians to affirm their own Scriptures! One must reckon with Surah 5:65-69 which talks about the People of the Book (Jews and Christians, explicitly both mentioned in the passage as well) and their Scriptures. Note verse 66 affirmation of the Law (Jewish) and the Gospel (Christian): “If only they had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.” Apparently from verse 65, both the Jewish and Christian Scriptures were “sent to them from their Lord.” Verse 68 then goes on to affirm the present ongoing reality of the Bible (both Jewish and Christian Scripture) as God’s revelation: “Say: “O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” It is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrow thou not over (these) people without Faith.” Note the affirmation in verse 68 was stated in two ways: (a) First as foundational: “ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord,” and (b) secondly, note the present tense “is” in “t is the revelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord.” Apparently, Surah 5:68 presupposes the Jewish and Christian Scripture to still be God’s Word (rather than the corruption of God’s Word). Finally, Surah 5:69 affirm that the content of the Bible is still God’s salvific Word: “Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” Rather than affirm the Bible’s corruption, the rest of the context of Surah 5 affirms the contrary, that the Bible is still God’s Word.
(5) Adding more weight against the current Muslim interpretation is the fact that historically, Muslims did not interpreted Surah 5:13 to mean that the Bible has been corrupted. From the Tafsir, we noted that Muslim commentators commenting on this verse accused the Jews of altering the punishment of adultery (which brings death):
(What do find of the ruling about stoning in the Tawrah) They said, `We only find that they should be exposed and flogged.’ `Abdullah bin Salam said, `You lie. The Tawrah mentions stoning, so bring the Tawrah.’ They brought the Tawrah and opened it but one of them hid the verse about stoning with his hand and recited what is before and after that verse. `Abdullah bin Salam said to him, `Remove your hand,’ and he removed it, thus uncovering the verse about stoning. So they said, He (`Abdullah bin Salam) has said the truth, O Muhammad! It is the verse about stoning.’ The Messenger of Allah decided that the adulterers be stoned to death and his command was carried out. I saw that man shading the woman from the stones with his body.” Al-Bukhari and Muslim also collected this Hadith and this is the wording collected by Al-Bukhari.
(Accessed: http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=776&Itemid=60)
Note the following observation from this citation:
(a) Muslims still went to the Torah to prove their point, with the assumption that it was not corrupted: “They brought the Tawrah…”
(b) The Jews according to the Muslim account, still had an uncorrupted Bible because they had to try to hide it with their hands: “but one of them hid the verse about stoning with his hand”
(c) The Jews according to the Muslim account, still had an uncorrupted Bible because they had to avoid reading it: “and recited what is before and after that verse.”
(d) Readers of the Bible will note that the text has not been corrupted since it still record accurately that the penalty for adultery in the Old Testament is stated to be stoning.
(e) Nowhere in the Bible today do one find that the penalty in the Old Testament for adultery was only that they should be exposed and flogged.
Conclusion
After a closer inspection of Surah 5:13 itself, with idiomatic consideration in light of Surah 4:46, alongside consideration of the larger context of Surah 5 and looking into the Tafsir of the Quran for Surah 5 as a historical witness, we must conclude that Surah 5:13 is insufficient to prove the thesis by contemporary Muslims that the Quran teaches the Bible has been textually corrupted.
Posted in christian apologetics, Christianity, Evangelism, Muslims, Ramadan on July 22, 2012| 4 Comments »
It’s an important season for Muslims around the world, and are you aware of it? It’s Ramadan. And as Christians it’s a great opportunity for us to talk to our Muslim friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Ramadan is a time of fasting during the day (though they eat at night). This year, Ramadam began in the evening of Thursday, July 19, 2012, and ends in the evening of Saturday, August 18, 2012.
The following are some tips in making the most of opportunities to share your faith with a Muslim you know.
(1) Asks Questions about your Muslim friends’ faith.
It’s okay to admit that you don’t know everything about Islam. Take the time to asks questions about Islam. And asks a lot of questions for the sake of understanding! I think doing this will also help build a bridge–and also allow deeper communication next time with the same individual or with others. Furthermore, it invites Muslims to be comfortable enough to asks questions about Christianity as well.
(2) Forgo Lunch–to talk to your Muslim friend about spiritual matters.
The gesture shows that there are also other things more important than physical food only too, in your life. This allows for the allocation of more time to talk to a classmate or co-worker rather than a short passing comment or question.
(3) Suggests your Muslim friend come over to your place for dinner when they break their fast.
True Christian hospitality in evangelism goes a long way, even if they decline. Since good spiritual discussions often requires time, having your friends over for dinner allows you the oppourtunity to talk about matters more in depth than during break time or lunch time at work or school. Don’t forget that this allows your whole family to be a Christian testimony to your friend as well.
(4) Purchase your Muslim friend a Bible.
I’ve found in my experience that Muslims have a high view for the Quran–and I think they can understand Christians ought to have a high view of the Bible too, seeing it as the revelation from God. Get them a Bible–and personalize it with a written note to them so that way it’s not you just thumbing your Bible at them as something seen as a smack down. Even consider getting them an Arabic Bible if it’s needed (though find out first–it’s a stereotype to assume all Muslims know Arabic just as it is that all Christians knows English).
(5) Don’t forget to emphasize Jesus as the Savior of Sins for those who come to him.
Sharing the gospel might be hard–and offensive. Of course we ought not be unnecessarily offensive ourselves with our personality and conduct. Share with them how your life’s attempt to deal with guilt of sins before Jesus–and how Jesus redeemed us with His death and Resurrection. Don’t forget that in all things, to share the Gospel as the remedy of our failure to be able to perfectly obey God’s requirement. Make the Good News the Good News in light of the Bad News of our sins.
Posted in Apologetics, tagged Gospel, Islam on July 21, 2012| 6 Comments »
Last post I did was titled, Muslim Writers’ Attack Against Traditional Authorship of the Gospels, Matthew and Mark: Part 2. In this post, I will cover Luke and Acts. Some of you maybe asking why are you adding Acts? since Acts is not part of the Gospel. As I mentioned in my last post, I said,
I think it is important to cover it because Acts is associated with Luke since he wrote not just the Gospel of Luke, but the Book of Acts too.
Arguments for Traditional Authorship of Luke and Acts
As for the external evidence, here is what Irenaeus has to say about Luke,
Thus did the apostles simply, and without respect of persons, deliver to all what they had themselves learned from the Lord. Thus also does Luke, without respect of persons, deliver to us what he had learned from them, as he has himself testified, saying, ‘Even as they delivered them to us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word.’”[1]
In regards to Luke, Turtullian says this about Luke the physician and the disciple who learned from Paul and the apostles.
Luke, however, was not an apostle, but only an apostolic man; not a master, but a disciple, and so inferior to a master—at least as far subsequent to him as the apostle whom he followed (and that, no doubt, was Paul) was subsequent to the others….Inasmuch, therefore, as the enlightener of St. Luke himself desired the authority of his predecessors for both his own faith and preaching, how much more may not I require for Luke’s Gospel that which was necessary for the Gospel of his master.
In terms of the internal evidence, Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1 point out the same person. Luke 1:3 says,
It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus.”
Acts 1:1 says,
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach.”
As you can see, both verses are referring to the same person who is no other than Theophilus, who is no other than Luke. This name Theophilus is probably a reference of him being a chief magistrate in Greece or in Asia Minor.[2] Although the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts have similar language, style, and interests, there is more to show in regards to how Luke and Acts are written by the same author.[3] To accomplish that, we must venture into the “we” passages, which are passages in Acts, where the author includes himself as an eyewitnesses of the events concerning the disciples’ affairs after the resurrection of Christ.[4] For example, Acts 16:10-17 indicates that Luke was involved in a missionary journey with Paul, Timothy, and Silas to Macedonia, by using the first person plural (“we”).[5] Here is an example of how the first person plural is used from that passage,
We sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
Other verses you can refer to that implements the first person plural with Luke being involved is: Acts 20:5-16; 21:1-18; 27:1-28 and 28:16.
Second internal evidence to consider is the identification of being a physician (Colossians 4:14).[6] The Gospel of Luke, which is written by the physician Luke, reveals an astute interest in precise medical terminology when compared to the other Gospels. For example, Matthew 8:14 and Mark 1:30 implements the use of πυρέσσω (“fever”) in relation to Peter’s mother-in-law, but Luke uses a slightly different term: πυρετῷ μεγάλῳ (“high fever”).[7] On another note, instead of using the term λεπρὸς (“leper”) as Matthew 8:2 does, Luke 5:12 uses πλήρης λέπρας (“full of leprosy”).[8] The specific medical terminology used by Luke clearly fits Luke’s medical profession.
Third main factor to consider is Luke’s carefulness to detail. For example, Luke 1:1-3 says,
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus.”
Clearly, as a physician, Luke was careful with detail because he wanted to record what was accurate.
[1] Robert L. Thomas and David F. Farnell, “The Jesus Crisis: The Inroads of Historical Criticism into Evangelical Scholarship,” 65.
[2] Keith Thompson, “Who Wrote the Gospels? Internal and External Arguments For Traditional Authorship,” Answering Islam: A Christian-Muslim Dialog, 7.
[3] Ibid, 7.
[4] Ibid, 7.
[5] Ibid, 8.
[6] Ibid, 8.
[7] Ibid, 8.
[8] Ibid, 8.
Posted in David Wood, tagged Islam, Sharia Law on July 21, 2012| 5 Comments »
Posted in Quran, West, tagged Muslim Brotherhood, Sharia Law on July 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »
To see the rest of the series from the 10 part course, please see this link:
Posted in Islam, tagged America, Dating, Hadith, Harry Porter, Honor Killing, Husband, Jihad, Marriage, Quran, Western, Wife on July 20, 2012| 6 Comments »
Harry Potter star, Afshan Azad, badly beaten by her father Abdul Azad, and his son Ashraf attempted honor killing earlier this month because of her relationship with a Hindu man.
Aasiya Hassan had her head chopped off by her “moderate” Muslim husband.
More honor killings.
Posted in Islam, tagged Arizona, Hadith, Honor Killing, Islam, Phoenix, Quran, USA on July 20, 2012| 3 Comments »
Aiya Altemeemi, aged 19, suffered a punishment last February that none of her schoolmates in Phoenix, Arizona could have imagined: her father cut her throat with a kitchen knife. When she escaped to her bedroom, her mother and sisters followed, tied her to her bed, taped her mouth shut, and beat her. And this was not the first time: previously, when Aiya had expressed reservations about marrying the 38-year-old man her parents had chosen as her husband, her mother had shackled her to the same bed and burned her with a hot spoon. Despite such treatment, Aiya, who arrived from Iraq with her parents around three years ago, soon after announced to stunned reporters that she understood why her mother had assaulted her: “Because I talked to a boy, and that is not normal with her, that is not my religion. My religion says no talking to boys.”
Continue to read.
The young girl’s mother said its normal to do so.
Posted in Islam, tagged Hadith, Islam, Jihad, Quran, Terrorism on July 20, 2012| 4 Comments »
List of Islamic Terror Attacks For the Past 30 Days
| Date | Country | City | Killed | Injured | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012.07.19 | Nigeria | Maiduguri | 2 | 0 | Two traders at a market are murdered in cold blood by Boko Haram gunmen. |
| 2012.07.19 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | A 52-year-old leader of the Ahamdi minority is shot in the head by defenders of mainstream Islam. |
| 2012.07.19 | Egypt | Sheikh Zweid | 2 | 0 | Bearded Islamists in robes machine-gun two local soldiers along a city street at point blank range. |
| 2012.07.19 | Afghanistan | Faryab | 8 | 6 | A woman and child are among eight civilians ripped to pieces by a Taliban bomb. |
| 2012.07.18 | Pakistan | Spai | 14 | 0 | Eight members of one family, including women and young children, are disassembled along with six others by a bus bomb attack on Shia pilgrims deemed ‘enemies of Islam.’ |
| 2012.07.18 | India | Kerala | 1 | 2 | Campus Islamists stab three Hindu students, one of whom bleeds to death. |
| 2012.07.18 | Pal. Auth. | al-Shati | 1 | 0 | A 17-year-old girl is strangled by her father and brother over a moral issue. |
| 2012.07.18 | Bulgaria | Burgas | 7 | 30 | A Shahid suicide bomber detonates on a bus carrying Israeli tourists, killing seven and injuring dozens more. |
| 2012.07.17 | Afghanistan | Washer | 9 | 7 | Sunni radicals stage an ambush that leaves nine Afghans dead. |
| 2012.07.17 | Nigeria | Jos | 1 | 0 | A 10-year-old boy dies from splinter injuries from a Boko Haram RPG attack on his home. |
| 2012.07.16 | Somalia | Mogadishu | 7 | 5 | Proponents of Sharia detonate a bomb under a car that decapitates the driver and leaves six others dead. |
| 2012.07.16 | Yemen | Taez | 4 | 4 | A 5-year-old girl and her father are among four people gunned down in a brutal attack. |
| 2012.07.15 | Iraq | Diyala | 3 | 10 | A 3-year-old girl is among three Iraqis taken down by Mujahideen attacks. |
| 2012.07.15 | India | Kerala | 1 | 0 | A Hindu activist is attacked and murdered by Muslim radicals. |
| 2012.07.15 | Pakistan | Sheehan | 4 | 1 | Three children between the ages of 2 and 9 are torn apart in their home by shrapnel from a Lashkar e-Islam mortar shell. |
| 2012.07.14 | Afghanistan | Aybak | 23 | 60 | A Fedayeen suicide bomber detonates at a packed wedding, sending nearly two dozen souls to Allah. |
| 2012.07.14 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | Lashkar Jhangvi kidnap, torture and murder a 16-year-old Shiite. |
| 2012.07.14 | Pakistan | Haripur | 1 | 0 | A 21-year-old mother is beaten to death by her conservative brother on suspicion of an affair. |
| 2012.07.14 | Iraq | Rashidiyah | 5 | 2 | Sunni militants machine-gun five local cops at point-blank range. |
| 2012.07.14 | Pakistan | Baddar | 3 | 5 | Tehreek-e-Taliban militants murder three people. |
| 2012.07.14 | Syria | Muhrada | 4 | 0 | Two woman and a child are among four people torn to shreds by a Shahid suicide bomber. |
| 2012.07.14 | Thailand | Pattani | 1 | 0 | A 41-year-old man is gunned down in a Muslim drive-by. |
| 2012.07.14 | Somalia | Mogadishu | 1 | 3 | Militant Islamists kill a civilian with a roadside bomb. |
| 2012.07.13 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | A Shiite father of three is murdered by Sipah-e-Sahaba gunmen. |
| 2012.07.13 | Pakistan | Quetta | 7 | 22 | Islamic ‘extremists’ are suspected in a blast at a rally that leaves seven dead, including a 7-year-old girl. |
| 2012.07.13 | Iraq | Baghdad | 1 | 1 | A woman is killed in her own home by Islamic ‘insurgents’. |
| 2012.07.13 | Indonesia | Bogor | 0 | 4 | A Sunni mob attacks Ahmadi minorities with knives and machetes. |
| 2012.07.13 | Nigeria | Maiduguri | 5 | 6 | A Boko Haram suicide bomber murders five bystanders outside a mosque. |
| 2012.07.13 | India | Baghpat | 0 | 2 | Two policemen are beaten by an enraged mob of Muslims after arresting two clerics. |
| 2012.07.13 | Afghanistan | Laghman | 1 | 2 | A women’s ministry official bleeds out following a Taliban bombing of her family vehicle. |
| 2012.07.12 | Thailand | Yala | 1 | 0 | A 40-year-old man is shot six times in the torso by Islamic ‘separatists’. |
| 2012.07.12 | Pakistan | Lahore | 10 | 8 | Tehreek-e-Taliban fundamentalists enter a barracks and shoot ten sleeping policemen to death. |
| 2012.07.12 | Pakistan | Quetta | 1 | 0 | A Shiite boy is shot to death by Wahhabis. |
| 2012.07.12 | Pakistan | Jaffarabad | 1 | 0 | A Hindu is shot to death by drive-by Jihadis. |
| 2012.07.12 | Iraq | Mosul | 5 | 3 | Terrorists take down five Iraqis. |
| 2012.07.11 | Afghanistan | Zhari | 4 | 2 | Taliban infiltrators shoot four local cops to death in their sleep. |
| 2012.07.11 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 23 | One person is killed when terrorists attempt to blow up a bus carrying space agency employees. |
| 2012.07.11 | Yemen | Sanaa | 22 | 24 | An al-Qaeda suicide bomber targets a police academy, slaughtering about two dozen young aspirants. |
| 2012.07.11 | Philippines | Tumahubong | 6 | 27 | Six rubber plantation workers are shredded by Abu Sayyaf bombers while on their way to work. |
| 2012.07.11 | Pakistan | Karachi | 2 | 0 | A man and his 2-year-old son are gunned down by sectarian Jihadis. |
| 2012.07.11 | Pakistan | Mian Gundi | 2 | 0 | A prayer leader is among two Shiites kidnapped and beheaded by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Sunnis. |
| 2012.07.11 | Syria | Aleppo | 17 | 0 | Seventeen Palestinians are kidnapped and murdered by Sunni terrorists. |
| 2012.07.10 | Iraq | Ramadi | 4 | 4 | A shocking attack and brutal by Mujahideen on a police checkpoint leaves four officers dead. |
| 2012.07.10 | Iraq | Baghdad | 3 | 14 | Sunnis bomb a bus carrying Shiites, killing three and injuring fourteen. |
| 2012.07.10 | Philippines | Sumisip | 0 | 8 | An Abu Sayyaf bomb injures eight local soldiers. |
| 2012.07.10 | Pakistan | Shamsabad | 1 | 0 | A teacher is shot dead on the way to work on the same day that Taliban militants blow up two schools. |
| 2012.07.09 | Pakistan | Gujrat | 8 | 4 | Hardline Islamists open fire on a group of security personnel, killing eight. |
| 2012.07.09 | Afghanistan | Kandahar | 5 | 30 | Two children are among five people pulled into pieces by three Shahid suicide bombers. |
| 2012.07.09 | Iraq | Samarrah | 2 | 0 | Two Iraqis are shot to death by al-Qaeda. |
| 2012.07.09 | Saudi Arabia | Awamiya | 2 | 1 | Sunni cops are accused of firing randomly at Shiites, killing two. |
| 2012.07.09 | Iraq | Mosul | 7 | 7 | Seven Iraqis are murdered by Islamic ‘insurgents’. |
| 2012.07.09 | India | Gaziabad | 1 | 0 | A Hindu man is the victim of a targeted killing by Muslims. |
| 2012.07.08 | Afghanistan | Musa Qala | 5 | 0 | Sunni fundamentalists massacre five local cops with a roadside bomb. |
| 2012.07.08 | Afghanistan | Arghistan | 18 | 30 | Eighteen civilians, including women and children, are torn to shreds by Taliban bombers. |
| 2012.07.08 | Nigeria | Barkin-Ladi | 23 | 1 | Two politicians are among twenty-three Christians, including women and children, slaughtered by Muslims during a funeral for other victims of Islamic terror. |
| 2012.07.08 | Pakistan | Kot Ghulam | 1 | 0 | A Christian laborer is pulled out of his truck and shot point-blank by a Muslim. |
| 2012.07.07 | Pakistan | Karachi | 2 | 1 | Two brothers are murdered by sectarian Jihadis. |
| 2012.07.07 | Afghanistan | Chora | 6 | 1 | Three children are among six civilians blown to bits by Sunni hardliners. |
| 2012.07.07 | Afghanistan | Gereshk | 1 | 1 | A child is dismantled by a Taliban bomb. |
| 2012.07.07 | India | Pampore | 1 | 1 | Islamic militants gun down a local security officer. |
| 2012.07.07 | Nigeria | Kushen | 80 | 300 | Muslim terrorists attack twleve Christian villages and massacre eighty innocents, including fifty taking refuge in a church. |
| 2012.07.07 | Somalia | Shabelle | 4 | 3 | al-Shabaab militants open fire on a passenger bus, killing at least four. |
| 2012.07.07 | Pakistan | Tiyarza | 4 | 3 | Four local police officers are blown to bits by Islamic militia. |
| 2012.07.07 | Thailand | Narathiwat | 1 | 3 | Muslim ‘separatists’ set off a bomb that kills a local soldier and leaves three others badly wounded. |
| 2012.07.07 | Afghanistan | Farah | 1 | 26 | A Taliban rocket attack on a residence leaves one dead. |
| 2012.07.07 | Pakistan | Peshawar | 1 | 3 | A policeman bleeds to death from shrapnel injuries following a Religion of Peace bombing. |
| 2012.07.07 | Pakistan | Buggan | 1 | 0 | Sunni hardliners assassinate a pro-government tribal leader. |
| 2012.07.07 | Pakistan | Sharifabad | 1 | 0 | A 55-year-odl Shiite is brought down by Sunni snipers. |
| 2012.07.07 | Kosovo | Pristina | 2 | 0 | A middle-aged Christian couple is found shot to death in their home in what is presumed to be a targeted attack by members of the Muslim majority. |
| 2012.07.07 | Iraq | Ramadi | 10 | 38 | A suicide bomber detonates in the house of a family member, killing ten relatives, most of whom were women. |
| 2012.07.06 | Pakistan | Sariab | 1 | 0 | A religious scholar is assassinated by devout rivals. |
| 2012.07.06 | Egypt | Giza | 0 | 4 | Fundamentalists enter a pool hall and shoot four people after telling them to stop playing and start praying. |
| 2012.07.06 | Iraq | Hit | 3 | 6 | Terrorists kill three policemen outside a mosque. |
| 2012.07.06 | Iraq | Anbar | 5 | 9 | An entire family of four, including two children, bleed to death following a suicide attack on their home. |
| 2012.07.05 | Iraq | Mosul | 5 | 20 | A Shahid suicide bomber detonates inside a barber shop, sending at least five others to Allah. |
| 2012.07.05 | Iraq | Baqubah | 1 | 2 | An al-Qaeda bomb leaves one person dead. |
| 2012.07.05 | Nigeria | Maiduguri | 2 | 0 | Sharia advocates slit the throats of two people. |
| 2012.07.04 | Kenya | Mandera | 1 | 0 | Somali militants shoot a 16-year-old girl several times in the chest. |
| 2012.07.04 | Afghanistan | Marjeh | 1 | 3 | A woman is taken out by a Taliban roadside bomb. |
| 2012.07.04 | Pakistan | Bahawalpur | 1 | 0 | A mentally-ill man is tortured, doused with petrol and burned alive by a mob angered over reports that he burned a Quran. |
| 2012.07.04 | Afghanistan | Ghazni | 3 | 0 | An honor killer beheads his ex-wife and two children. |
| 2012.07.04 | Iraq | Zubaidiyah | 8 | 37 | One child and two women are among eight dead when Sunnis detonate a bomb at a Shiite market. |
| 2012.07.04 | Pakistan | Kuchlak | 3 | 0 | Lashkar-e-Jhangvi gunmen murder three Religion of Peace rivals. |
| 2012.07.04 | Iraq | Baghdad | 3 | 0 | Terrorists assassinate three people in separate attacks. |
| 2012.07.04 | Iraq | Mosul | 3 | 1 | A woman is among three Iraqis taken down by Mujahideen bombers. |
| 2012.07.04 | Nigeria | Borno | 2 | 0 | Two employees at a housing complex are chased down and murdered by Boko Haram radicals. |
| 2012.07.04 | Pakistan | Pasrur | 2 | 3 | A pregnant woman and her baby are shot to death by Wahhabis because they were Shia. |
| 2012.07.04 | Pakistan | Jamrud | 1 | 0 | A young women’s rights activist is gunned down in a targeted attack. |
| 2012.07.03 | India | Pulwama | 2 | 0 | Muslim terrorists shoot an off-duty policeman and a traffic cop to death at close range. |
| 2012.07.03 | Pakistan | Bara Kamangra | 1 | 4 | Islamic militants kill one person with a remote-controlled bomb. |
| 2012.07.03 | Thailand | Yala | 1 | 0 | A 49-year-old Buddhist is dismantled by Muslim bombers while on his way home. |
| 2012.07.03 | Iraq | Karbalah | 8 | 54 | Eight Shiite worshippers are sent straight to Allah by Sunni bombers at a vegetable market. |
| 2012.07.03 | Iraq | Diwaniya | 40 | 75 | Sunnis set off a powerful bomb near a Shiite mosque, taking down at least forty Religion of Peace rivals. |
| 2012.07.03 | Iraq | Taji | 3 | 15 | Muslim bombers kill three Iraqis. |
| 2012.07.02 | Afghanistan | Kandahar | 7 | 23 | A Shahid suicide bomber detonates near the entrance of a university, killing seven students and staff. |
| 2012.07.02 | Pakistan | Lalu Ali | 2 | 0 | Sipah-e-Sahaba cadres capture and behead two brothers for being Shia. |
| 2012.07.02 | Egypt | Suez | 1 | 0 | A 20-year-old engineering student is stabbed to death by religious police for walking with his girlfriend. |
| 2012.07.02 | Yemen | Sanaa | 1 | 0 | A Yemeni is killed by a suspected al-Qaeda car bomb. |
| 2012.07.02 | Iraq | Baghdad | 1 | 8 | Jihadi bombers take out a traffic cop. |
| 2012.07.01 | Iraq | Beaver Ridge Canaan | 3 | 4 | Terrorists kill three people including a judge. |
| 2012.07.01 | Afghanistan | Ghazni | 5 | 11 | Five women and children are ripped apart when the Taliban bomb their bus. |
| 2012.07.01 | Dagestan | Khasavyurt | 1 | 0 | An off-duty cop is gunned down in a Muslim drive-by. |
| 2012.07.01 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 0 | 1 | A man is beaten and ‘severely tortured’ by a mob for ‘defaming’ prophet Muhammad with remarks. |
| 2012.07.01 | Kenya | Garissa | 18 | 66 | Muslims throw grenades into two churches and then shoot fleeing Christians. Some eighteen die in the massacre, including three children.. |
| 2012.07.01 | Nigeria | Maiduguri | 9 | 0 | Nine Christian construction workers have their throats cut by Islamists in a ‘gruesome’ killing. |
| 2012.07.01 | Afghanistan | Helmand | 3 | 0 | A Taliban disguised in police uniform murders three British soldiers. |
| 2012.06.30 | Thailand | Yala | 1 | 0 | A 60-year-old man is murdered in front of his home by suspected Muslim ‘separatists’. |
| 2012.06.30 | Iraq | Mosul | 4 | 5 | Four Iraqis are sent to Allah by Mujahideen bombers. |
| 2012.06.30 | Yemen | Zinjibar | 8 | 0 | al-Qaeda landmines take down eight more civilians. |
| 2012.06.30 | Iraq | Baaj | 2 | 0 | Terrorists gun down two civilians. |
| 2012.06.30 | Iraq | Samarra | 7 | 3 | A Shahid suicide bomber take down seven Iraqis. |
| 2012.06.30 | Afghanistan | Paktia | 2 | 0 | A Taliban bomb kills two people outside a bank. |
| 2012.06.30 | Iraq | Abu Ghraib | 1 | 2 | A woman and child are among the casualties of a terrorist bomb attack on their home. |
| 2012.06.30 | Afghanistan | Qimchok | 1 | 0 | Fundamentalists pump five rounds into an accused adulteress’s chest before a crowd cheering ‘long live Islam.’ |
| 2012.06.29 | Kenya | Dabaab | 1 | 4 | Islamists shoot a driver and kidnap four humanitarian workers. |
| 2012.06.29 | Iraq | Baqubah | 4 | 4 | Four Iraqis are shot to death at a checkpoint by al-Qaeda. |
| 2012.06.29 | Iraq | Balad | 7 | 50 | Jihadis take down seven patrons with two market bombs. |
| 2012.06.29 | Afghanistan | Kamdesh | 10 | 16 | Four women are among ten innocents slain by a Shahid suicide attack. |
| 2012.06.29 | Algeria | Ouargla | 1 | 3 | A suicide car bomber manages to take out one other person. |
| 2012.06.29 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | Sipah-e-Sahaba shoot a young Shia man to death at a bus stop. |
| 2012.06.29 | Egypt | El Sharqiya | 2 | 0 | Two Christians are reported murdered by Muslim Brotherhood activists. |
| 2012.06.29 | Thailand | Pattani | 2 | 0 | Two village guards are machine-gunned by Muslim terrorists. |
| 2012.06.28 | Mali | Gao | 17 | 41 | The Movement for Oneness and Jihad assaults a small town, killing at least seventeen defenders. |
| 2012.06.28 | Iraq | Taji | 4 | 20 | Twin sectarian car-bombings leave four Iraqis dead. |
| 2012.06.28 | Pakistan | Quetta | 18 | 30 | A Fedayeen attack on a bus carrying Shia pilgrims leaves at least eighteen dead. |
| 2012.06.28 | Iraq | Baghdad | 8 | 30 | Islamic bombers successfully kill eight patrons at a marketplace. |
| 2012.06.28 | Iraq | Fallujah | 2 | 4 | A Holy Warrior sends to security guards to Allah. |
| 2012.06.28 | Pakistan | Bara | 8 | 3 | Taliban militants murder eight local soldiers with a remote-controlled bomb. |
| 2012.06.28 | Iraq | Samarrah | 2 | 0 | Two Iraqis are gunned down at close range by al-Qaeda. |
| 2012.06.28 | Pakistan | Ziauddin | 2 | 0 | Islamists dismember two guards and blow up a primary school. |
| 2012.06.28 | Somalia | Baidoa | 3 | 3 | At least three people are killed during an al-Shabaab ambush. |
| 2012.06.28 | Nigeria | Gulak | 5 | 3 | Five policemen are ambushed and killed by Boko Haram. |
| 2012.06.28 | Dagestan | Karamakhi | 2 | 0 | Islamists shoot an anti-extremist imam and one other to death in his mosque. |
| 2012.06.28 | Syria | Homs | 6 | 0 | A university professor is shot to death in her home along with five family members, including three children. |
| 2012.06.28 | Iraq | Baqubah | 6 | 51 | Sectarian Jihadis set off a bomb near shops and cafes frequented by Shiites. At least six are killed. |
| 2012.06.27 | Pakistan | Quetta | 8 | 35 | At least eight are killed when Muslim terrorists bomb a commuter train. |
| 2012.06.27 | Iraq | al-Wahda | 3 | 0 | Two children are among three people slain when terrorists bomb a house through the air conditioning system. |
| 2012.06.27 | Pakistan | Dera Ismail Khan | 1 | 0 | A woman is murdered by her family for marrying by choice. |
| 2012.06.27 | Afghanistan | Musa Qala | 4 | 0 | Four policemen investigating an earlier bombing are sent to Allah by Taliban bombers. |
| 2012.06.27 | Syria | Damascus | 7 | 11 | Seven employees at a television station are butchered by Sunni terrorists. |
| 2012.06.27 | Iraq | Madain | 8 | 10 | A vicious double bomb attack kills eight Iraqis. |
| 2012.06.27 | Iraq | Baghdad | 3 | 2 | ‘Insurgents’ blow up a family home, killing three women. |
| 2012.06.27 | Pakistan | Bazidkhel | 4 | 0 | Four people are kidnapped and brutally executed by Islamic militants. |
| 2012.06.27 | Yemen | Jaar | 39 | 24 | An additional thirty-nine people are reported dead from al-Qaeda landmines. |
| 2012.06.27 | Afghanistan | Ghoryan | 6 | 2 | Six Afghan police are killed in an ambush and roadside bombing. |
| 2012.06.26 | Thailand | Yala | 1 | 14 | A separate shooting and bombing by militant Muslims leaves one dead and fourteen injured. |
| 2012.06.26 | Nigeria | Kano | 1 | 0 | Islamic extremists shoot a prison guard to death. |
| 2012.06.26 | Dagestan | Makhachkala | 1 | 0 | A Islamist drive-by leaves one cop dead. |
| 2012.06.26 | Iraq | Ramadi | 1 | 1 | Terrorists kill a doctor and seriously injure his daughter. |
| 2012.06.25 | Iraq | Baqubah | 2 | 3 | Two people lose their lives to a terrorist bomb. |
| 2012.06.25 | Thailand | Pattani | 3 | 0 | A 17-year-old is among three innocent victims pulled out of a car and machine-gunned in cold blood by Islamic ‘separatists’. |
| 2012.06.25 | Dagestan | Shauri | 1 | 0 | A local cop is shot in the head by Muslim ‘separatists’. |
| 2012.06.25 | Iraq | Hillah | 9 | 32 | ‘Insurgents’ set off a bomb near a soccer field, killing nine young Shiites.. |
| 2012.06.25 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | Sipah-Sahaba snipers pick off a Shiite with a shot to the head. |
| 2012.06.24 | Kenya | Mombasa | 3 | 3 | At least one person is killed when religious extremists throw a hand-grenade into a bar showing a soccer game. |
| 2012.06.24 | Pakistan | Lahore | 1 | 0 | A 40-year-old Shiite is murdered by members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. |
| 2012.06.24 | Pakistan | Shareefabad | 1 | 0 | Sipah-e-Sahab cadres shoot a 46-year-old Shiite to death. |
| 2012.06.24 | Egypt | Alexandria | 1 | 0 | A pregnant woman is beaten to death by her husband for not voting Muslim Brotherhood. |
| 2012.06.24 | Pakistan | Upper Dir | 13 | 5 | Muslim hardliners murder six border guards. Seven others are captured and beheaded. |
| 2012.06.24 | Pakistan | Quetta | 4 | 0 | Islamists are suspected of shooting four local police officers in a drive-by attack. |
| 2012.06.24 | Nigeria | Bauchi | 0 | 9 | A 3-month-old baby is among the casualties of a Boko Haram blast at a beer garden. |
| 2012.06.24 | Pakistan | Karachi | 2 | 0 | Two sisters are poisoned by their brothers on suspicion of sexual activity. |
| 2012.06.24 | Afghanistan | Jalalabad | 2 | 2 | Fundamentalists bomb a market selling music, killing two participants. |
| 2012.06.23 | Yemen | Zinjibar | 35 | 12 | Thirty-five people are killed in a series of al-Qaeda landmine blasts. |
| 2012.06.23 | Thailand | Yala | 1 | 0 | A 42-year-old is shot off of his motorcycle by Jihadi gunmen. |
| 2012.06.23 | Pakistan | Quetta | 8 | 1 | Islamic militants are suspected in the target killing of eight men at a laundry mat. |
| 2012.06.22 | Iraq | Baghdad | 14 | 106 | ‘Insurgents’ set off a nail bomb at a crowded market, killing at least a dozen innocents and leaving over a hundred more injured. |
| 2012.06.22 | Iraq | Baghdad | 3 | 0 | Three young police officers are machine-gunned at point-blank range by Islamic terrorists. |
| 2012.06.22 | Pakistan | Liaqatabad | 1 | 0 | A Shiite walking near a market is exterminated by Sunni gunmen. |
| 2012.06.22 | Pakistan | Karachi | 2 | 0 | Two seminary teachers are assassinated by Religion of Peace rivals. |
| 2012.06.22 | Pakistan | Laddah | 7 | 0 | Fundamentalists capture and behead seven local soldiers. |
| 2012.06.22 | Afghanistan | Noghi | 2 | 0 | A father and son are kidnapped by Taliban in uniforms and executed in captivity. |
| 2012.06.22 | Pakistan | Khra Shah | 2 | 2 | Terrorists kill two people with a landmine |
| 2012.06.22 | France | Rennes | 1 | 0 | A 16-year-old is violently killed by a Muslim classmate in what is regarded as a ‘racist’ attack. Other Muslims have shown solidarity with the killer. |
| 2012.06.22 | Iraq | Samarrah | 1 | 10 | A Sunni suicide bomber takes out a Shiite pilgrim. |
| 2012.06.21 | Syria | Damascus | 1 | 1 | A Shiite cleric is gunned down by sectarian rivals. |
| 2012.06.21 | Pakistan | Quetta | 2 | 17 | Religion of Peace rivals bomb a mosque, killing two worshippers. |
| 2012.06.21 | Pakistan | Pakhtunkhwa | 3 | 21 | Two very young children are among the dead when Islamists bomb a Sufi shrine. |
| 2012.06.21 | Afghanistan | Qargha Lake | 20 | 50 | At least twenty people are massacred by fundamentalists at a hotel serving alcohol. |
| 2012.06.21 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | A spiritualist is shot to death in a suspected targeted attack over his faith. |
| 2012.06.20 | Iraq | Kirkuk | 3 | 9 | A powerful ‘insurgent’ bomb leaves at least three Iraqis dead. |
| 2012.06.20 | Pakistan | Karachi | 1 | 0 | A Shiite prayer leader is shot to death by Sunni rivals. |
| 2012.06.20 | Afghanistan | Logar | 8 | 4 | Four children and two women are among eight innocents torn apart by a Religion of Peace bomb. |
| 2012.06.20 | Afghanistan | Khost | 21 | 32 | Mostly civilians are victimized by a Fedayeen suicide blast that leaves at least twenty-one dead. |
The Domain for Truth 