Prophet Muhammad vs Jesus Christ

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Several high profile celebrities follow Scientology. On that basis, it must be right.

So we want to talk authenticity?

In Mark 12, Jesus speaks of the Torah (or the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of the Bible) as the book of Moses, the commonly accepted belief at the time (and for centuries afterwards).

Scholars now believe those books were compiled together from several sources. For example, there are two creation stories, side by side.

The first, Gen 1-Gen 2:4 has an order, with man being created last (after creatures etc). Written by an author who used the word Elohim for God, it's believed to have been written to show God's orderliness (I'm keeping it simple for brevity here). The writer also uses references to the old Ptolemaic system, where the planets and stars are fixed in a firmament above the unmoving earth.

The second creation story is from Gen 2:4 on into the fall story. It starts with man being created first (before creatures etc), and is a more anthropomorphic view, with relationships being an important part of the narrative. This author uses Yahweh for God. There are other parts where these two authors appear together, such as in the story of Noah's ark.

It's important to note, they are not thrown together to contradict each other. In tribal days (the roots of these stories), spiritual truths trumped historical accuracy. Mythos was performance in which these stories were passed down around the fire at night to keep the demons away (brevity again).

These days, the theories about the authorship have caused many arguments, about who and how many, but the core of it is still agreed upon, that the books are a compilation from several authors, several sources.

I learned about this while studying theology as an 18 year old. At the time, understanding the (asserted) intention behind the authorship and behind the compilation, I had no problem with it and it didn't add any doubt in my faith. It made sense and in some regards strengthened the logic of it.

But over the decades since, this knowledge has become a wedge against other issues. For example, why would Jesus refer to the Torah as Moses' work? He seemed well used to arguing with the priests in the synagog. He wouldn't just go along with what they believed for the sake of it.

I had this passage pointed out to me by a pentecostal pastor. He used it in support of Moses authorship, when all it did for me was add to my skepticism regarding Jesus. Curiously, it's generally reported that only fundamentalist Jews and fundamentalist Christians support Moses authorship.

My favourite Bible is the original Jerusalem Bible (as use in Catholic theology), owing to its use of original wording, such as using Elohim and Yahweh where they are used, instead of simplifying them to "God" like other Bibles do.

The four documents are just a theory, and they have not been proven to exist.

Of course not! Since you are clearly not trying to mock Christians I wouldn't dream of mocking Noodle Monsterians.

I'm just trying to get the details right as I'm thinking of converting.

Don't take my word for it. Just look at the two creation stories. Write down the order of events. It's right there in Genesis 1 and 2.

The four documents are just a theory, and they have not been proven to exist.

You're missing the crucial point, Nerdy. Those that have clout and influence create their own "truth" by the simple expedient of finding some ambitious bod, willing to exchange integrity for thirty pieces of publicity, whom they then dub an "expert", and hey presto!! ! a new "truth" is born!

You might be interested to fossick around in here to find some articles of your interest:

http://www.trueorigin.org/camplist.php

I choose to follow both of them because they are both Prophets sent by the same God with the same message to worship God alone and not associate partners with Him. But Jews and Christians went astray and left prayers and changed their religion to man made religions.

Prophet Muhammad said: "Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one."

I choose to follow both of them because they are both Prophets sent by the same God with the same message to worship God alone and not associate partners with Him. But Jews and Christians went astray and left prayers and changed their religion to man made religions.

Prophet Muhammad said: "Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one."

It's gone well past JEDP theory. But yes, as you say, it's a theory. And it's a theory the scholars all agree with from Jewish to Catholic to protestant to secular (except fundamentalist).

Don't take my word for it. Just look at the two creation stories. Write down the order of events. It's right there in Genesis 1 and 2.

This Patriarchy has used the same book to support slavery, the oppression of women, and conquest by genocide for centuries. These also happen to be the same principles that America was founded upon.

If you want to cite books of legends as "proof" of your beliefs, then why not cite the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Puranas, Manusmṛti, and Agamas?

Likely because, like many others, you believe only what you want to believe, and only because you were told to believe it.