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Monday 21 December 2009

A Happy Christmas to the People of Darnall!

In the Gospels Jesus asks his followers, 'Who do people say that I am?' Various answers are given but Jesus isn't satisfied until Peter tells him, 'You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.' Christians still stand by that answer, but for Muslims only the first part of Peter's reply is true.

The Muslim understanding of Jesus is simple. He was a man, born of a virgin, (the account in the Qur'an's third chapter is very similar to the account in some of the Christian Gospels). He was given prophethood by God from birth and performed miracles during his life by God's leave. Muslims do not believe that Jesus died on the cross; in fact the majority orthodox belief is that he did not die at all and will one day return. But Christians might ask, 'How is it possible to accept the virgin birth of Jesus and yet deny that he is part of what it means to be God?'

Despite these differences of opinion about Jesus, perhaps the fact that he is so important in both faiths can make him a bridge between the two at Christmas. To find out more about this debate, visit the Christian Muslim Forum website at www.ChristianMuslimForum.org.

Happy Christmas!

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