Introduction: The following are important basic information that can help you to discuss issues about Islam,

Christianity and the problems associated with western life style. The information is from different reliable sources and ought to be used in the context of your discussions with your fellow friends and associates.

Christianity:
Very few Christians know the history of their religion and how it evolved into its current state. The following pieces of information are to quickly help you learn about the history of Christianity so that you can tell them about it. Topic: The Holy Spirit Summary: Read about the establishment of the doctrine of Trinity in 381 A.C(that God is three in one and one in three: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). It is important that you draw the attention to the historical background of the creed and that it was not recognized at the time of Jesus (peace be upon him). (Read more about this topic in Encyclopedia Britannica or Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia under the heading the Holy spirit) Topic Trinity: The Christian God. Summary: Read about how the son ship of Jesus was decided in the Nicene Creed in 325 A.D. (for more information read: The NY Times best seller book by Karen Armstrong, The History of God ) Topic: St Paul, the pilot of Christianity as we know it today. Summary: Few Christians know that Paul never saw Jesus during his life time. Paul converted to Christianity 3 years after the departure of Jesus. Yet, at least one third of the Bible (King James Version) has been written by this man. Read about the following issues that show that Paul should not have been accepted as a true disciple of Jesus: - He was very much disliked by the disciples of Jesus especially Peter and James who lived with Jesus peace be upon him. -Peter the main disciple of Jesus wrote of Paul as his enemy who has convinced some of the Gentiles (non Jews) to reject the Law (of Moses peace be upon him) and to embrace foolish teaching. -Paul calls himself a steward of the Mysteries God. -Paul taught that people should leave behind believing in the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment and other important teaching of Jesus himself. (for more information : Read The Jesus Mysteries by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy, 1999.)

Topic: The Lost Gospel Summary: Read about a new more authentic Bible that recently have been collected from old and newly discovered original sayings of Jesus (peace be upon him). This new bible is called the Q Bible. It has no trace of the divinity of Christ (Jesus) or Trinity. (For more information: The Lost Gospel The book of Q by Burton Mack, 1993).

The Oneness of God:

Many Famous Christians have rejected the concept of Trinity and the son-ship of Jesus (peace be upon him). You may need to draw the attention of your friend to this fact by indicating to them how the following great scientists have rejected Trinity and emphasized the Oneness of God. 1- Warren Weaver: As part of the religion of Christian Scientist that appeared in the USA, this famous scientist rejected the dogma of trinity and divinity of Christ. (For more information: Religions of America. Edited by Leo Rosten, 1975 p305) 2- Isaac Newton: the father of modern physics (For more information: Whos Who in Christianity by Lavinia Sherbok, 1999) 3- Tolostoy, Leo: He rejected Trinity and the divinity of Christ. He was excommunicated from the Russian Church for his views. (For more information: Whos Who in Christianity by Lavinia Sherbok, 1999) 4-Pascal, the famous mathematician pointed out that how much was to be gained and how little to be lost in putting ones trust in the Al-Mighty. This great mathematician is among the Christians that have rejected Trinity and the Divinity of Christ (For more information: Whos Who in Christianity by Lavinia Sherbok, 1999).

How the rules of Islam improve the society: Use statistics to support the rules brought by the Quran:
Modern Statistics about the sources of social problems provides a new way to present Islam. You can now support the position of Islam regarding drinking alcohol, drug use and sexual conduct using statistics about how dangerous the current life style of the west. Topic: To what extent is mixing the two sexes a safe idea? The problem of Teen-agers pregnancy: Read about the problem of teen pregnancy and that more than 40 % of US teen-ager girls get pregnant at least once before they reach the age of twenty (1996 statistics). (For more information: Investor Business Daily August 29, 1996) Topic: The problem of the dating game.

New reports suggest that one in five of adolescent girls in America become the victim of physical violence in a dating relationship. (For more information: NY Times August 1, 2001). Topic: The impact of drug use on society Learn more about the problem of drug use. Statistics shows that about 60 % of violent offenders in USA state prisons say they or their victims were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their offense. (For more information: Investor Business Daily September 3, 1996) Topic: Drinking and driving: On average more than 30% of car accidents in Britain involve a drunken driver. (For more information: What Does Islam Say? by Ibrahim Hewitt. 1998

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

Topic: The Bible preview of Mohammed. The Bible in its most accepted version (the King James Version) clearly tells us that we should expect to receive someone after the departure of Jesus (peace be upon him). Read about the signs that Jesus gave to us to identify the new comer from the Bible itself. How about when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself but whatever that He will hear that shall He speak..( John 16). Topic: The Old Testament predicting the coming of the Quran. Read about the amazing discovery that leads Bible readers to the Quran! A Bible scholar spoke about a verse in Isaiah 29:12 (King James Version) that corresponds directly to the first five verses of the Quran . And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned Isaiah 29:12 Read in the name thy Lord who created, Created Man from a clot, Read, and thy Lord is the Most Generous, He who taught by the Pen, Taught man that which he knew not. Quran 19:1-5

Helpful Videos that you may use to present faith in the One God and the religion of Islam in general:

Cosmic Voyage: Summary: This video will help you to present the idea of faith in God as a fact of modern science. It is a cosmic zoom based on the powers of ten, extending from the surface of the Earth to the largest observable structure of the universe, and then back down into the sub-nuclear realm. A presentation of The Motorola Foundation, Smithsonian Institute and National Air and Space Museum. Islam an Empire of Faith (produced by PBS): Summary: This video maybe used to help you present the history of Islam to your friends. It explains how the emergence of Islam and its ideals influenced the development in Europe, in terms of both the moral values of society and the scientific approach to natural phenomena. A presentation of The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) . Muhammad: Legacy of A Prophet: The life story of the man who lives in the hearts and minds of Muslims Pathways to Islam: An account of how three young American students discovered the beauty of Islam.