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-Francis Bacon
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:30pm · 1. A Christian is one that believes things his reason cannot comprehend... 2. He believes three to be one, and one to be three; a Father not to be elder than his Son; a Sonto be equal with his Father; and one preceding from both to be equal with both; he believing three persons in one nature, and two natures in one person. 3. He believes a virgin to be a mother of a son, and that very son of hers to be her Maker. He believes Him to have been shut up in a narrow room whom heaven and earth could not contain. He believes Him to have been born in time who was and is from everlasting. He believes Him to have been a weak child, carried in arms, who is the Almighty; and Him once to have died who only hath life and immortality in himself. -Francis Bacon
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:31pm · (WORKS, vol vii, p.410) Lord Francis Bacon, the seventeenth century philosopher and Chancellor of England who wrote these words, was obviously a believer in the Trinity.
The essay quoted consists of thirty-four such “Christian Paradoxes” which illustrate his belief that: “The more absurd and incredible any divine mystery is, the greater honor we do to God in believing it....” (as quoted by James Yates, A VINDICATION OF UNITARIANISM, Wells & Lilly, 1816, p. 278). The Trinity has always been a mystery. In fact, it is usually described as a divine mystery. When I was young I asked several good Christians to explain the Trinity to me. I was told that the Trinity must be accepted on faith because we cannot always understand the ways of God. Such an answer requires the acceptance that blind faith is a virtue. The concept of Trinity is that “the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God” (as stated in one of the critical statements of the doctrine, the Athanasian Creed). These three are all thought of as uncreated, eternal and omnipotent. You can see why a confused student is told...
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:33pm · All this seems to have been confusing for early Christians too. Before the controversy over the Trinity came to a head in the Councils of Nicene during the fourth century, there were many different understandings of the nature of Christ, and an even wider range of understandings about the Holy Spirit. There were those who believed that Jesus was just a mortal man who had a very special relationship with God. Then there were those who agreed with Theodotus of Byzantium that Jesus was born a mere man and attained the ability to work miracles at the time of his baptism. Some of Theodotus’ students later believed that Jesus became God after his resurrection. And then there were those known as Monarchians who believed that God and Jesus were one and the same from the beginning of time. Many of those same views are still held today by various groups of Christians
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE What do we know about the early belief in the Trinity? Clearly the strong Jewish tradition among the first Christians slowed the initial development of the doctrine. This is especially true since Jesus never preached it. The only place in the gospels that even hints at the doctrine of the Trinity are the last verses of Matthew:
Jesus came forward and addressed them in these words: “Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name ‘of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’” [Matthew 28:18-19]
August 18, 2015 at 2:37pm · ‘Almighty’ means by definition that He has all power. There is nothing and no one else with any real power. All power stems from God, and it is not shared by anyone. No one else can ever fit that word! There is only One who is Almighty: I am God, there is no other; I am God, there is none like me. [Isaiah 46:9]
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:38pm · The recognition of the Trinity as an innovation started very early in Christian history. Back in the seventh century, the Eastern theologian John of Damascus, in defending his icons, stated that icons were as unscriptural as the Trinity: “You will not find in scripture the Trinity or the homoousion [of the same essence as God] or the two natures of Christ either.” Yet, having acknowledged that icons, the Trinity and the incarnation are innovations, John of Damascus continued to defend them because they were “venerable traditions delivered to us by the fathers.” (See THE MYTH OF GOD INCARNATE, p. 133.) Share
Over the next half-century, Athanasius defended and refined the Nicene formula. By the end of the fifth century, the doctrine of the Trinity had taken essentially the form it has today. The Nicene Creed was originally written in Greek. Its principal liturgical use is in the Eucharist in the West and in both Baptism and the Eucharist in the East. The following text has the additions used only by the Western Church in brackets: I believe in one God the Father Almighty; maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds [God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance [essence] with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:39pm · The trinitarian doctrine developed gradually over several centuries, through numerous controversies. There were many influences in its formulation and development: the Apostles Creed (around A. D. 160), the Arian controversy (about A. D. 318 to 380), the Nicene Council (A. D. 325), the Council of Constantinople (A. D. 381), the Council of Chalcedon (A. D. 451), and the Athanasian Creed (about A. D. 460) are the major ones. The Council of Nicaea in 325 initiated the Trinity formula in its statement that the Son is “of the same essence [homoousios] as the Father,” even though it said very little about the Holy Spirit
Johnnie Ellington II August 18, 2015 at 2:19pm · The Alexandrians pray to Jesus, whereas in Edessa all prayers are addressed solely to God the Father.... Both are shocked at the practices and beliefs of the others. Given this great diversity among early Christians, at what point did the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity actually develop? And what were the factors contributing to the spread and eventual formalization of this doctrine?
ABRAHAM: FIRST (and last) RECIPIENT OF SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.
The prophets and messengers prior to Abraham were not given any religious practices. The human society was so primitive, only BELIEF IN GOD ALONE was all that is required for salvation. See for example Sura 71, entitled "Noah." Thus, RELIGIOUS PRACTICES appear in Quran ONLY after Abraham; never before him
ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN ISLAM (SALAT ZAKAT FASTING HAJJ) CAME TO US THROUGH ABRAHAM
In 2:128 we see Abraham and Ismail implore God to teach them "THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF ISLAM." "As Abraham raised the foundations of Kaaba, together with Ismail, they prayed, 'Our Lord, accept this work from us; you are the hearer, the omniscient. Our Lord, & make us Muslims to you; and from our descendants let there be a nation of Muslims to you; AND TEACH US HOW TO PRACTICE OUR RELIGIOUS DUTIES, and redeem us; you are the redeemer, the merciful.'" (2:127-128)
YOU SHALL KEEP THE OBSERVANCE OF SALAT"
This commandment was issued during the first few weeks of Quranic revelation. DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE THAT GOD WOULD ISSUE A COMMANDMENT TO OBSERVE SOMETHING NOT ALREADY KNOWN ??? "...and keep the observance of Salat and Zakat, and lend to God a loan of righteousness. Whatever you advance for your souls, you will find at God better and multiplied manyfold. And seek God's forgiveness; God is forgiving, merciful." (73:20) The word "Salat" is very specific and means only one thing, i.e., the observance of specific practices involving bowing and prostration. This is true throughout Quran, throughout the ages, and in relation to any prophet, messenger, etc.
TODAY'S IDOLATERS vs QURAISH'S IDOLATERS
Millions of "Muslims" today practice a form of idolatry that is similar to the idolatry of preMuhammad Quraish. Millions of "Muslims" in Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, and may other countries go to the Mosque to pray. Their Salat prayers are definitely to God. After finishing their Salat, they visit the tomb of the saint and ask for health, wealth, and/or children. The idol worshipers of Quraish observed the five Salat prayers exactly as we do today, but they also visited their idols Allat, Al'Uzzah, Manat, etc., to ask for health, wealth, and/or children. Thus, the flagrant idolatry practiced by millions of Muslims today is exactly identical to the idolatry of Quraish before and during the time of Muhammad; only the idols are different. Except for the Jewish and Christian minorities, the Arabian society prior to the mission of Muhammad followed the religion of Abraham. They practiced all the religious duties of Islam. Their Salat prayers were identical t...
SACRED MONTHS OBSERVED BEFORE MUHAMMAD
The four sacred months in Islam were observed before the time of Muhammad. This further proves that all religious practices of Islam were neither initiated, nor taught by the Prophet Muhammad; his sole mission was to deliver Quran. "The count of months according to God is twelve, as shown in God's scriptures, since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Four of them are sacred. This is the right religion; therefore, do not wrong your souls during the four months. But you may fight the idolators, if they attack you therein, and know that God is with the righteous. The practice of alternating the sacred months is a pagan practice. Thus, they changed the sacred months, making them violable one year and sacred the next year, as if to maintain the count instituted by God......" (9:36-37)
MUHAMMAD WAS A FOLLOWER OF ABRAHAM
"Then we inspired you (O Muhammad) to follow the religion of Abraham, monotheism; never was he an idol-worshiper." (16:123) Logically, if Muhammad was a follower of Abraham, and we are followers of Muhammad, then we are followers of Abraham. What did we learn from Abraham??? The Quran teaches that we learned all the religious practices of Islam from Abraham. This includes Salat, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj. Therefore, ISLAM IS BASED ON TWO THINGS: (1) QURAN: THROUGH MUHAMMAD (2) RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: VIA ABRAHAM SALAT PRACTICED BY MUHAMMAD'S OPPONENTS The whole Arabian society before and during the time of Muhammad followed the religion of Abraham. Thus, Abu Lahab, Abu Jahl, and the idolato rs of Quraish used to observe the FIVE DAILY SALAT PRAYERS exactly as we do today, with the single exception of substituting the Quranic Faatihha for the Ibrahimy Faatihha. "God was not to punish them while you (Muhammad) were still among them. God was not to punish th...
ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF ABRAHAM
While Muhammad's mission, sole mission, was delivering Quran, ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES CAME THROUGH ABRAHAM. "They said, 'Be you Jews or Christians in order to be guided.' Say, 'We follow the religion of Abraham, monotheism; he never was an idol-worshiper.' " (2:135) "Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was a monotheist; a Muslim; he never was an idol-worshiper. The people most worthy of following Abraham are those who followed him, and this prophet (Muhammad), and those who believed. God is the Lord of the believers." (3:67-68)
ABRAHAM: THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM
Abraham was the first recipient of the concept of ISLAM, and the first user of the word "MUSLIM" (see 2:131). "You shall strive in the cause of God as you should. He has blessed you, and imposed no hardship in your religion; the RELIGION OF YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM. Abraham is the one who named you 'Muslims' in the beginning. Thus, the messenger serves as witness among you, just as you serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Salat prayers, give the Zakat charity, and hold fast to God; He is your Lord; the best Lord, and the best supporter." (22:78) Thus, if Abraham is the founder of Islam, did he contribute anything to our Islamic life? The answer is: "YES; he contributed THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES (Salat, Zakat, Fasting, & Hajj)."
THEIR FAVORITE QUESTION
"If Quran is complete and fully detailed (as God says), where can we find the details of Salat prayers?" This famous question reveals their total ignorance of Quran and a subconscious effort to prove that God is wrong in His repeated assertions that Quran is "complete" and "fully detailed." For the Quran teaches in no uncertain terms that Abraham is the founder of Islam as it is practiced today. As such, what did Abraham contribute to our daily life as Muslims? The Quran teaches that ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN ISLAM (Salat, Zakat, Fasting & Hajj) CAME TO US FROM ABRAHAM, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION. Thus, Islam in its final form, as is practiced today, is based on two things: (1) QURAN: contributed through Muhammad, and (2) RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: through Abraham. ALL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN ISLAM EXISTED BEFORE MUHAMMAD. Muhammad's SOLE FUNCTION was to deliver Quran (see Pages 30-33).
QURAN: DO THEY HAVE A "BOOK" WHERE THEY FIND ANYTHING THEY WISH ?
When you confront the followers of Hadith & Sunna with the Hadith shown on the previous page, they admit the existence of such Hadith. They explain their failure to follow their own teachings by the fact that there exist equally "authentic" Hadiths where the Prophet ordered the writing of his Hadiths!! The Quran describes such people as "criminals," and asks: "Do they have a 'Book' where they can find anything they wish???" "Shall we treat the Muslims like the criminals? What is wrong with your judgment? DO YOU HAVE A BOOK WHERE YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING YOU WISH?" Both Hadith and Sunna fit this Quranic description; as a "Book where you can find anything you wish." The conjectural and contradictory nature of Hadith and Sunna are unanimously recognized.
INCREDIBLE FACT: THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN TEACHINGS
According to the most "authoritative" sources of Hadith, the Prophet never changed his mind about writing from him ONLY QURAN: Zayd Ibn Thabit (the Prophet's closest revelation writer) visited the Khalifa Mu'aawiya (more than 30 years after the Prophet's death), and told him a story about the Prophet. Mu'aawiya liked the story and ordered someone to write it down. But Zayd said, "The messenger of God ordered us never to write anything of his Hadith." (reported by Ibn Hanbal) THEY DISOBEY THEIR OWN FABRICATED IDOL !!
THE FOLLOWERS OF HADITH & SUNNA DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN TEACHINGS
The most authoritative books of Hadith, namely, Muslim & Ibn Hanbal, report that the Prophet ordered that no one shall take anything from him EXCEPT QURAN. Shown below is the Arabic text of this Hadith: "Abi Saeed Al-Khudry - may God be pleased with him - reported that the messenger of God - may God exalt him & grant him peace - had said, 'Do not write anything from me EXCEPT QURAN. Anyone who wrote anything other than Quran shall erase it.'" !!! Thus, according to their own teachings, THEY DISOBEY THE PROPHET
MUHAMMAD DOES NOT EXPLAIN, INTERPRET, OR ANTICIPATE QURAN; JUST DELIVER & FOLLOW.
Hadith & Sunna advocates claim that Hadith & Sunna are needed to explain Quran. However, Quran teaches that God is the teacher of Quran; that God will put Quran into the hearts of believers regardless of their mother tongue; and that Muhammad will not explain Quran. Documents are shown below: God is the teacher of Quran (55:1-2) "Whether it came down in nonArabic or Arabic, say, 'For those who believe, it is a guidance and healing. As for the disbelievers, they will be deaf and blind to it.'" (41:44) "Do not move your tongue (O Muhammad) in anticipation of Quran. It is we who put it together as a Quran. Once we recite it, you shall follow it. Then, it is we who explain it." (75:16-19)
SOLE FUNCTION OF THE PROPHET: DELIVER QURAN
Repeatedly, the Quran employs "the double negative" to emphasize that Muhammad had NO function EXCEPT delivering Quran: "You have NO duty EXCEPT delivering (Quran)" (42:48) "Your ONLY duty is delivering (Quran), while we will call them to account." (13:40) "The messenger has NO function EXCEPT delivering (Quran) and God knows whatever you declare, as well as whatever you conceal. Say, 'The good and the bad are not the same, despite the abundance of the bad.' Therefore, you shall observe God, O you who possess intelligence, that you may succeed." (5:99-100) Unfortunately, those who refuse to believe that Quran is the ONLY SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE are much more abundant than those who believe. (see also 16:35, 82; 24:54; 29:18; 36:17; & 64:12)
FUNCTION OF EVERY MESSENGER YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP EXCEPT GOD Neither Jesus, nor Muhammad, want to be idolized. Their sole function was to preach the worship of GOD ALONE.
"Every messenger we sent before you was instructed to preach that there is no god except Me; you shall worship Me alone. Then they said, 'God most gracious has begotten a son.' Glory be to Him; all the messengers are no more than honored servants. They do not speak on their own; they simply follow His commands. He knows their past and their future, and they possess no power to intercede except on behalf of those already approved by God. The messengers themselves are worried about their own fate. And, if any of them claims to be a god beside God, we will punish him in hell; we thus punish the wicked." (21:25-29)