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Religious, Philosophy and trends:

Christianity: III
Christianity: Historical Perspective
This little means a proper historical approach to the subject matter is essential
since a central understanding of Christian Faith is really to understand by the entire
mankind and their world as a Drama of Redemption. That is to say the History of
Salvation means, running from creation to a final kingdom of God and finding its centre
in Jesus Christ.

Jesus the Christ:

Jesus of Nazareth was a Galilean Gew, and was the founder of Christianity,
and the son of Mary who was married with Joseph, a carpenter. The miraculous and
divine conception of Jesus in the words of Mary was truly procreative power of the
mystery of God for the birth of Jesus under this divine act of God.

After thirty years of hidden, humble life in Nazareth Jesus started his public life
of preacher, proclaiming the kingdom of God by words and deeds and miracles. He
called disciples to follow him and chose a group of twelve (later called Apostles) divine
act of God. That he the creator can do anything, he wishes to do. This is the central
Mystery of the Christian Faith that Jesus has only one father in Heaven and so is a true
God, while having one mother on earth and so is a true God, while having one mother
on earth and so is true woman.

After about thirty years of a very humble existence in life at Nazareth Jesus
started his public life of preaching proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God by
words and deeds and miracles. He called his Disciples to follow him and chose a core
group of twelve ‘Apostle ‘The beginning of the church. His life and teachings of his
concept of God aroused antagonism of some Jewish leader and teachers. After about
three years of public Apostolic life in Jerusalem, where he conducted a new covenant
with God in the context of his ‘Last Supper’, a meal which effectively symbolized the
self-sacrificing service of others to which Jesus Christ and his followers are called; he
was betrayed, arrested, condemned, and executed on a cross and buried. However,
three days after his crucifixion he appeared gloriously alive to a number of individuals
and groups. Therefore his disciples were in a condition of experience. They became to
recognize and proclaimed Jesus as the Christ (a word derived from the Greek
translation of the Hebrew term ‘Messiah ‘, which means (‘The Anointed one ‘ ) or the
Lord and savior, seated of the right hand of the father.

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Before Jesus Christ:

For the Christians, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the
primary object of Christian Faiths. It is also the staring point for the understanding the
past history of the mankind and communication of hiss will.

Creation has already revealed God in his wisdom and sovereign power and
allows the people to contemplate the creator by analogy, with the beauty of his
creatures. In fact, God reveals his plan which traces the way of salvation for the
mankind from sin.

In the history of Israel ( the Hebrew or Jewish ) nation, descended from

Jacob, who in fact, received the new home of ‘Israel’ means God’s rule, which means
‘God’s rules that god Yahweh reveals himself every where in a quite specific fashion.
His acts reveal who is he? He is the compassionate God and the Mighty God, who
saves. So the types and pledge of every deliverence brought about by god in favour of
the people is the ‘Exodus’. It’s a Latin word means ‘a way out’. Which designate
primarily the departure of the Hebrew designates from Egypt and the long journey forty
years which led them across the desert into the Promised Land. So, the ‘delivered’
people entered into ‘covenant’ with ‘Yahweh’ this shows that Yahweh decides with
sovereign liberty to grant his allegiance to the chosen people and he dictates his own
condition or commandments. Therefore, the OLD TESTAMENT is the part of the Bible
written at the time of this old covenant. This is written under a special influence or
‘inspiration’ of God’ the Old Testament is a collection of 46 sacred books written down
over a period of 900 years (of course before Christ –B.C.) explaining many languages
and cultures in many literary forms.

Therefore, it is said that in his ‘Incarnation’ Jesus Christ was made the climax
of the divine. Self-revelation being at the same time the ‘Revealer’ and the ‘Message’
(i.e. the content of revelation).

After Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ-dead, risen and exalted at the right hand of the Father
completed his work of salvation by sending his sprit, ‘THE HOLY SPIRIT’. So, now the
principal agent in the history of universal salvation is the ‘HOLY SPIRIT’. And the
community founded by Jesus Christ the CHURCH. There is again another part of the
Bible, The New Testament: written in the First Century A.D. Under the special
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is a collection of 27 sacred Books (the four gospels, Acts
of Apostles, 21 Apostolic Letters and the Book of Revelation.)

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The church ‘Mission’ is basically to continue the revelatory, loving, liberating,

and life-giving, saving mission of Jesus. All time disciples of Jesus are empowered with
the power of the Holy Spirit, and all baptized are born of the spirit who remained with
them. Thus,’ Jesus is the source, and the spirit is the ‘farce’ of church’s mission in the
world.

The Church is the people of God:

The church is a growing community involved in history and affected by

weakness of its members which always stands in need of the mercy of God. Then, the
church is the people of God of the new covenant established by the ‘HOLY SPIRIT’ as
the Body of Christ. Hence the church is thus a ‘Hierarchical Society’ or ‘Fellowship’ but
the social structure of the church is only the sign and means of the action of Jesus
Christ in spirit. Worship is the adoration of God which could be expressed in it in praise,
thanks giving, self-offering, penitence and petitions.

Common Life:

The principal Christian feast is the weekly Sunday, when the church regularly
assembles for its Eucharist, other special forms of Liturgy, 9 it’s the formal public
worship of Christian Assemblies, performed by the mystical Body of Jesus Christ. )
called the ‘Sacraments’- are designed for special occasions: Like, Baptism,
Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Penance, Sickness.

As for the moral life, Jesus Christ is the unique law of the Christian: It is
through him, through obedience to his Gospel (good news), and any man can attains
God in faith and can, therefore, attains the salvation through Jesus Christ. There are
two basic ‘Commandments’ by Jesus that is ‘To Love god and to love one another.’ So
the love of God seems to be inseparable from the love of neighbor. The important point
is that ‘the presence of ‘Holy spirit’ in the life of the Christian which helps to give charity,
justice and peace.

ISLAM:

ISLAM IN BENGAL

Like any other religion of the world Islam has certain basic principles and
fundamental features to follow. According to some scholars like Ismail Ragi-al-Faruqi
started that “Islam is the youngest religion of the world.” This is a wrong interpretation of
Islam, for it is not a new religion. It is, according to its believers, the universal religion
coming down of human consciousness. In the Quran, it is categorically started, “the
religion before God is Islam. “ (Innandian Indallahil Islam, Q. 3:19). It means, Islam is

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the oldest religions, namely Judaism and Christianity, and generally to all monotheistic
religions of the world. Muslims with their firm faith (Iman) are bound to confirm by
saying, “I believe in God and in his Angels, in his sacred books and in his messengers,
in the day of Judgment, and in the apportionment of good and evil from him in the day of
resurrection.” Viz, “(un umto billahi wamalai-katihi wa kutubihi, wa rusulihi, wal yawmil
akheri wal qadre khairihi, wal surrihi minallahi tala wal bathi badal mawha.)” We have
noticed western scholars often use the word “Muhammadism “instead of Islam.
Muhammadism seems to curry implication of the workshop misted of Islam. They the
implication of the worship of Muhammad, as Christian, and Christianity signifies the
worship of the Christ. The facts are that many religions of the world have been named
after the names of the founder’s name. For example, Christianity takes its appellation
from the name of Jesus Christ. Buddhism from its founder Gautama Buddha and
Judaism from the name of the tribe Judah, But this is not so with Islam, the word Islam
does not convey any such relations, for according to its believers, it does not belong to
any particular person, people or country. Muslims do not submit to Muhammad but only
to God.

Muhammad the prophet of Islam:-

The Prophet Muhammad was born in Makkah on April 22, 371 Hijri and died
on June 8, 632 Hijri. His life story is important to Muslims for his example to be
considered a key that opens the door of divine presence. His very childhood set the
example of sublime and rigorous personality that was to emerge. He who soft spoken
and gentle disposition, rare quality was tolerance, forbearance, truthfulness were in his
personality. In fact, a unique and unimpeachable trustworthiness won him the title of Al-
Amin, a relentless custodians and unfailing trustees. At the age of 25 he married
khadijah a wealthy widow of Makkah. This marriage gave his economic liberty and
sufficient leisure to pursue his own inclinations, instead of socializing and making well-
known in higher and wealthy circles. He would frequently go to a lonely mountain cave
known as cave HIRA for meditation. According to Muslim belief when Muhammad was
forty years old, one night during the month of Ramadan while he was in the cave of Hira
an angel in human form Gabriel came to him and commanded him “to read them in the
name of the Lord who created .” Three times Muhammad avoided saying any thing,
because he was illiterate and unlettered, and three times the angel Gabriel commanded
him. Eventually at the third time he was able to recite the first words. It was the
beginning of the “revelation”. Hence the twenty seventh of Ramadan is called “Lailatul
Qdr.” the night of power and excellence. The revelation continued for 23 years. The
collection of those revelations is known as the “Quran”. From the third year of the date
of revelation Prophet Muhammad was asked to preach the new Faith among the
people. At the very outset the people of Makkah paid no need to the preaching, rather

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they jeered at him, threw stones at him etc., etc., But the prophet Muhammad faced the
bitterest hostility from the Quraish, the tribe into which he was born, had to flee to
Medina and fought several war with non-Muslims on religions and political issues.
Finally he conquered Mekkah and that led to the mass conversion of the Arabs to
Islam. The main achievement and objective of his preaching’s as follows: (i) He
preached the religion of equality and fraternity. (2) He united the warring tribes of Arabia
into a mighty nation, (3) He laid the foundation of a new civilization later on known as
Islamic civilization, and (4) He removed social inequality, raised the status of women,
and improved the condition of the slaves, abolished the drunkenness, debauchery,
gambling and blood funds. The Quran has produced marvelous effects on the minds of
the people throughout the world and the upliftment of many nations. The Quran brings
before the minds of the readers the goodness, power, and knowledge of the Divine
Being God. In fact, the main purpose of the Quran is the emancipation of heart of man
and to enable him to grow, morally and spiritually to the highest stature of which he is
capable.

There are four groups of people in terms of belief: Kafir or disbeliever,

Munafeq and Mumin.

(1) Kafir: The disbeliever is called Kafir and the greatest sin in Islam is Kufr or
disbelief.

(2) Munafiq: The hypocrite is called Munafiq. He is a pretender and liar. He pretends
to be a believer, but he is not.

(3) Mumin: Completely opposite of the unbeliever or Kufr is the believer or Mumin. A
Mumin is a Muslim who sincerely believes in one God. The distinction between a
Muslim and Mumin is quite clear. All Muslims are Muslims but all Muslims may not be
mumin in the strict sense of the term.

Five pillars of Islam:

The aim of religion is to transform the lower nature of a human being into the
higher to guide and help man in bringing such transformation with the view in achieving
this end Islam has enjoined certain beliefs and practices which are known as the Five
Pillars of Islam. According to the Islamic faith, these are the fundamental tents, and the
most important of all the thoughts and deeds that lead man to all round perfection.
These Pillars are Kalima (witness), Salat (Prayer), Siam (fasting) Zakat (Aims), and
Hazz (Pilgrimage to Mekkah). It is highly believed that these pillars are likely to generate
in man a high degree of self-discipline and a lofty sense of social, national and spiritual
valnes. Avery brief outline of these pillars are given below:-

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1) Kalima: Kalima is the belief in the unity of Allah and the prophet hood of
Muhammad. It is the first and the most fundamental article in Islam. In fact, belief in
Islam begin with the formula, “There is no lord but God, and Muhammad is his
messanger. “ (La illaha illallah rasulallah.) This belief in the unity of God relates
seriously at the very root of polytheism of pre-Islamic Arabia. Kalima or belief is the
unity of God is the fundamental basis of Islamic faith and the other four fillars are the
practical guides that would enable men to attain his objective. The significance and
the importance of Kalima is that “the only object of worship is none but God, and
there is no lord but god.” (La illaha illalah.)

2) Salat or Namaz: Prayer is the second pillar of Islamic faith. It is the most important
duty of a Muslim after he has brought faith God and in Prophet Muhammad. Islamic
prayer is understood in its proper sense; it is a communion with God and man. That
means “it is an interaction between Divinities within Divinity overhead”. Therefore,
salat/namaaz is the most special act of Divine worship which a Muslim is called upon
to perform five times a day. Islam does not recognize priesthood; rather its main
purpose of prayer is to know God to establish direct communication with him, and to
seek Divine Blessings. Thus, a prayer is not simply a mechanical movement of the
limbs, rather a conscious psychological effort to know one’s self and to hold direct
communion with god.

3) Siam/ Fasting: Siam or fasting every year throughout the whole month of Ramadan
from sunrise to sunset is the third pillar of Islam. According to Islamic views and
beliefs, the nature of man is composed of two parts: Angelic and Devilish. So it is the
duty of every human being to burn or kill the evil instinct within him and to bring them
under his control of higher reason. That is why Islam wants the animal instinct within
a man has to be brought under control of higher virtues and sustained and
conscious efforts. Fasting / Siam are understood in that sense of values.

In fact, it must be emphasized that according to Quran, the purpose of

fasting is the attainment of Taqwa or control of the mind to make the fast a spiritual
discipline. The meaning of the fast is its moral and Spiritual value. The prophet of
Islam categorically stated, “Whenever does not give up lying and acting falsely, God
does not stand in need of his giving up food and drink. A person undergoes not only
a physical discipline by curbing his desires, the craving for food or drink, but he is
actually undergoes a direct moral discipline. So it could be said, it is not only training
on the physical side, which develops moral values. This also gives a direct training
towards spiritual side as well.

4) Zakat / Almsgiving: One of the fundamental tenets of Islam, Zakat is one of the
most important places after Kalima and Namaaz. Zakat means a Muslim who is in
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possession of a certain amount of wealth or more is required to spend one fortieth of

it at the end of every twelve months on the poor, the needy and the way farer. In
fact, the object of prayer and fasting is meant to regulate the conduct of the
individual as a member of the society or community. In other words, Islam wants to
reduce the differences between man and man who will induce any Muslim is to work
for offering equal opportunities of life to all.

Zakat means growth and increase as well as parity. Therefore, Zakat or

Charity towards mankind in its widest sense is laid down as the second pillar on
which the structure of Islam stands. Hence, the five basic principles of Islam out of
which, there are three theoretical important points. (i) Belief in God (ii) Belief in the
Divine Revelations and (iii) Belief in Hereafter. The practical essentials are therefore
prayer and Zakat. Prayer is the means of restoration of the Divine in man, and Zakat
tends to acts of benevolence and doing well to humanity in general.

5) Hajj or the pilgrimage to Mekkah: The very last commitment towards God or Allah
is Hajj. It means a journey towards God. But this is highly obligatory for every
Muslims who are well off financially and this financial solvency help to visit Makkah
at least once in life times. Mekkah is intimately associated with the life and struggle
of Prophet Muhammad, and also its antiquity goes back to Prophet Ibrahim who built
the first mosque there. But one of the main purposes of Hajj is to discipline the
devotees to make them shun the materialistic comforts of life and to devote
themselves to devotion of God. It must be remembered that there are both Theistic
and atheistic religions in Bangladesh. Of the theistic religions some are
Monotheistic. But Islam is strictly a monotheistic religion. Islam is most conscious
and emphatic about its monotheistic character, that “there is no Lord but God”.
Finally- in summing up let us review its basic features:

1) As a monotheistic religion Islam believes in only one God, called Allah which
means the only being to be worshipped.

2) Islam believes that God has sent messengers for all nations throughout the ages.
Of them twenty five nations have been mentioned. Muslims must believe in all
these Prophets, otherwise he or she will ceases to be a Muslim.

3) Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad is the last of the prophets of God. No
other prophets will come after him.

4) Islam accepts the sacredness and the authority of the revealed scriptures of God
such as Torah of the Jews and the Gospel of Jesus.

5) Islam believes in the existence of Angels and spirits.

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6) It believes in a life after death and the resurrection of the dead on the Day of
Judgment when God will reward and punish people on the basis of their virtues
and vices respectively.

7) Islam considers heaven and hell to be the permanent abodes of the righteous
and the evil people, after the Day of Judgment.

8) Islam is totally opposed to polytheism and ritualism, idolatry and Priesthood.

9) It teaches an ethics of perfect purity, service to humanity and world Brotherhood.

Continuation on Islam:

Muslim Philosophy: Its nature and Origin:

During Prophet Muhammad’s time Muslim never thought of having their

independent thinking whenever there was any crisis in the society or in their community.
They were always guided by the Prophet Muhammad. But after the death of Prophet,
there started the controversy on different opinions regarding the meaning and
interpretations of many views on various verses of the Quran and the Traditions
(Hadith) of the Prophet. So there arose the different theological sects e.g. The
Qaderiyas, the Jahariyas, The Mutazilas and the Ashariyas etc. It is seen that every
sect had its own philosophical arguments in support of their own views. But these
differences did not touch “the truth and their basic foundation of the Quran and its
elucidation in the Hadith”.

Some scholars, however, prefer to designate this subject as (i) Muslim

Philosophy (ii) Islamic Philosophy which means in a wider sense, that the Muslim
Philosophy is the Strict Philosophy of the Quran and Hadith. It also includes the different
schools of thought in Islam which crops up from time to time. Whereas, ‘Islamic
Philosophy’ means in a much concise sense, that it comprises on the Philosophical
ideas of which are strictly used according to Quran and Hadith in the explicit meanings.

It is not possible to explain too much in detail in matter. It will be just suffice to
know the importance enough of its context. The Quran attaches great importance to the
study of ‘Hikmat’ or ‘rationalism’. The prophet also said that, “The ink of the scholar is
more holy than the blood of the martyr”. Hadith also said that and emphasizes that “He
who leaves his name in search of knowledge, walk in the path of Allah”. But” the Quran
emphasizes special importance on the study of nature, the creation of heaven and
earth” etc. It tries to “awaken in men the capacity for reflective thinking”.

It must be pointed out “Muslim thought under went various stages of

development and so the Muslims produced a unique contribution in the history of
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Philosophy”. “They assimilated the Greek ideas of Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus in the
light of the divine knowledge of the Quran. The blending indeed is such that Muslim
philosophy developed on its own course and tract independently of those whom it
imitated”.

Ibn Taimya: (1263-1328) A Muslim theologian and Jurist, was born in Harran near
modern ORFA, Turkey on January 1263. He accepted no authority other than God, the
Quran and Hadith. He fought against innovation, Saint Worship, Sufi practices and
theology, rows and pilgrimage to Shrines. His principles and his puritanical thoughts
greatly influenced the revivalist Wahhabi movement in central Arabia in the 18th century.

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