In mainstream Sunni theology, Jesus (ʿĪsā) was neither killed nor crucified but was raised alive to God, where he continues to live in a state unique among all prophets. Sunnis generally hold that God made someone else resemble Jesus externally, and that this substitute was crucified in his place. They derive this "substitution theory" from … Continue reading Jesus’ Body Was Crucified & There is no Second Coming
Most Christians Do Not Understand the Trinity
Ask the average Christian about the Trinity, and many will respond with confidence: "There is one true God in three persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit." The statement rolls easily off the tongue for most devotees, and surveys show that a strong majority would affirm it if asked directly. But … Continue reading Most Christians Do Not Understand the Trinity
The First Crusade: Holy War or Holy Hypocrisy?
The First Crusade (1096–1099) is often remembered in church history as a sacred mission to liberate Jerusalem from Muslim control, clothed in the language of holy war and divine justice. Pope Urban II’s fiery words at Clermont promised forgiveness of sins and eternal reward for those who “took the cross,” while Byzantine Emperor Alexios I … Continue reading The First Crusade: Holy War or Holy Hypocrisy?
The Hawk & The Dove (Quran & Gospel)
The opening verse of Sura 53, "The Stars" (Al-Najm) states: [53:1] As the stars fell away. وَٱلنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ 1wal-najmiوَٱلنَّجْمِBy the star2idhāإِذَاwhen3hawāهَوَىٰit fell down / fell away Dr. Rashad Khalifa provides the following footnote for this verse: *53:1-18 Muhammad was summoned to the highest universe to receive this Quran into his heart. The stars fell away … Continue reading The Hawk & The Dove (Quran & Gospel)
Possible Origins of the word Ḥawāriyūn (Disciples)
The Quran refers to the disciples of Jesus with the term ḥawāriyūn (ٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَ), which appears five times across four verses: 3:52:12l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples5:111:4l-ḥawāriyīnaٱلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَthe disciples5:112:3l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples,61:14:12lil'ḥawāriyyīnaلِلْحَوَارِيِّـۧنَto the disciples,61:14:18l-ḥawāriyūnaٱلْحَوَارِيُّونَthe disciples, The term is derived from the root "ḥ-w-r" ( ح و ر ), and one of the meanings of this root is to wash or, more specifically, whiten … Continue reading Possible Origins of the word Ḥawāriyūn (Disciples)
How John Rewrote Thomas to Silence a Rival Gospel
In 1945, a remarkable discovery was made near the Egyptian village of Nag Hammadi. Hidden in a sealed jar for over a thousand years, a collection of Coptic manuscripts was unearthed, among them a text that came to be known as the Gospel of Thomas. The text is attributed to the apostle Thomas, also called … Continue reading How John Rewrote Thomas to Silence a Rival Gospel
Apostolic Succession Debunked
One of the most distinctive claims of the Catholic Church is the doctrine of apostolic succession. According to this teaching, the authority that Christ gave to his apostles did not die with them but was passed on to their chosen successors. Through the laying on of hands, this authority is believed to have continued in … Continue reading Apostolic Succession Debunked
Hypocrisy of Peter & Paul
One of the sharpest controversies in the early church, according to the Christian canon, revolved around the question of Jewish law: Should Gentile believers be required to follow the Torah, particularly the command of circumcision, in order to be part of God’s covenant people? The apostles in Jerusalem, led by James, Peter, and John, were … Continue reading Hypocrisy of Peter & Paul
Muhammad Mythicism
The notion that Prophet Muhammad never existed — sometimes called Muhammad mythicism — is a fringe idea that has gained attention in certain circles, not because it is supported by credible historians, but because it has been aggressively promoted by Christian polemicists like Jay Smith and Robert Spencer. These are not scholars searching for truth, … Continue reading Muhammad Mythicism
How Did Paul Come to Dominate Christianity?
Few figures in history have shaped Christianity more than Paul. Yet his dominance was not inevitable. In the earliest decades after Jesus, Paul was only one voice among many—sometimes controversial, sometimes ignored, and often overshadowed by the Jerusalem leaders like Peter and James. So how did Paul come to stand at the center of Christianity, … Continue reading How Did Paul Come to Dominate Christianity?
Quran Talk Blog 