Overrated Synod. Before All Else in the Church There Is a Crisis of Faith

This is what African cardinal Robert Sarah maintains in his book "God or Nothing" and in the discussion that has followed. An exclusive preview of his remarks in the next issue of "L'Homme Nouveau"

ROME, November 19, 2015 - In the four jam-packed pages of the dossier that the French Catholic magazine "L'Homme Nouveau" is about to publish in its next issue, the word "synod" does not occur even once. Much less does one find cited there the "Relatio finalis" that the synod fathers have delivered to the pope.

And yet the topics addressed in the dossier include the most controversial ones from the two-part synod on the family, from homosexuality to communion for the divorced and remarried.

And above all, the author of the dossier was a leader of the highest caliber at the synod. He is Cardinal Robert Sarah, age 70, Guinean, appointed by Pope Francis one year ago as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and therefore with competence and authority concerning precisely the three sacraments at the center of the synod discussions: Matrimony, the Eucharist, and Penance.

Cardinal Sarah has become known all over the world for the extraordinary interest raised in recent years by his book entitled "God or Nothing."

A book that right from the title puts at the top of list of vital questions facing Catholicism the crisis of faith that it is going through.

Readers of Sarah's book have sent him many comments, favorable and unfavorable. And in the dossier that is about to come out in "L'Homme Nouveau," the cardinal responds to a good number of the objections he has received.

But it is precisely what these objections reveal that has convinced Cardinal Sarah even more that the serious....

1. DOCTRINE, LETâ€™S VOTE ON IT BY MAJORITY

A few thoughts:

1) My starting position: About as many RC are going to heaven as protestants. (not very many)

2) Whether RC or P, the, people don’t know what their doctrine is. RC will argue their authority and lineage but DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS. P will do the same.

So what is this doctrine that is spoken of? Do we believe what we say we believe?

Basic Christian Doctrine

1.There is only one God—Isaiah 43:10, 44:6, 8, John 17:3, 1 Cor. 8:5-6, Gal. 4:8-9
2.God is a Trinity—2 Cor. 13:14, 1 Pet. 1:2
3.There are no Gods before or after God—Isaiah 43:10
4.God knows all things—1 John 3:20
5.God is all-powerful—Psalm 115:3
6.God is everywhere—Jer. 23:23, 24
7.God is sovereign—Zech. 9:14, 1 Tim. 6:15-16
8.God is spirit—John 4:24
9.God created all that exists—Gen. 1:1, Isaiah 44:24
10.Spirit does not have a body of flesh and bones—Luke 24:39
11.God has always been God—Psalm 90:2
12.Jesus is God—John 1:1, 14, 10:30-33, 20:28, Col. 2:9, Phil. 2:5-8, Heb. 1:8
13.Jesus became a man—Phil. 2:5-8
14.Jesus has two natures: divine and human—Col. 2:9, 1 Tim. 2:5
15.Jesus was sinless—1 Pet. 2:22
16.Jesus is the only way to God the Father—John 14:6, Matt. 11:27, Luke 10:22
17.The Holy Spirit is God—Acts 5:3-4
18.The Holy Spirit is not a force. He is alive—Acts 13:2
19.The Bible is inspired by God—2 Tim. 3:16
20.All people have sinned—Rom. 3:23, 5:12
21.Man did not evolve. He was created—Gen. 1:26
22.Adam and Eve were real people—Gen. 3:20, 5:1, 1 Tim. 2:13
23.Death entered the world because of Adam’s sin—Rom. 5:12-15
24.Sin separates us from God—Isaiah 59:2
25.Jesus died for all our sins—1 John 2:2, 2 Cor. 5:14, 1 Pet. 2:24
26.Jesus’ sacrifice was a substitution for us—1 Pet. 2:24
27.Jesus rose from the dead in His physical body—John 2:19-21
28.Those who reject Jesus will go to Hell—Rev. 20:11-15
29.Hell is a place of fiery punishment—Matt. 25:41, Rev. 19:20
30.Hell is eternal—Matt. 25:46
31.The unsaved go to Hell forever—Rev. 21:8
32.Salvation is a free gift of God—Rom. 4:5, 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9
33.The Bible is the Word of God—2 Tim. 3:16
34.Jesus will return visibly to earth—Acts 1:11
35.Christians will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns—1 Thess. 4:14-17
36.There will be a rapture (being caught up into the clouds with Jesus)—1 Thess. 4:14-17
37.There will be a final judgment—2 Pet. 3:7
38.The damned will be thrown into a lake of fire—Rev. 20:15
39.Satan will be cast into the lake of fire—Rev. 20:10
40.There will be a new heavens and a new earth—2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1

There is a lot of freedom in Christ but there is also a lot of correction to get back to the basics. Revelation 2&3 tells the churches to go back to their first love, the basics. Now what is that? I REPEAT, WHAT IS THAT?

Notice the source of the doctrine. Start reading folks.

For further thinking. What are the doctrines of Islam?

https://carm.org/doctrines-of-islam
muslim man and quran

by Matt Slick

Note: All references are to the Quran (Koran) where applicable.

God
1.There is only one God (5:73, 112:1-4).
2.God is called Allah by Muslims (5:73).
3.Allah sees all things (40:20) and is present everywhere (2:115, 7:7).
4.Allah is the sole creator and sustainer of the universe (3:191).
5.Allah is not a Trinity but is one (5:73).
6.Allah is all-knowing (2:268, 10:61) and all-powerful (6:61-62).
7.Allah created the heaven and earth (2:29, 6:1, 73, 25:61-62, 36:81, 46:33).

Salvation and Judgment
1.Allah will judge all people on the day of judgment (3:30, 35:33-37, 99:6-8).
2.If your good deeds exceed your bad deeds and you believe in Allah and sincerely repent of sins, you may go to heaven (3:135, 7:8-9, 21:47, 49:14, 66:8-9).
3.There is an eternal hell for those who are not Muslims, not practicing Islam and not of the true faith (3:77).
4.Hell is a place of unlimited capacity (50:30), eternal torment (2:39, 14:17, 25:65, 39:26), fire (9:63, 11:16, 25:11-12, 104:6-7), with boiling water (38:55-58, 55:43-44), where skin is burned and renewed (4:56), for unbelievers (3:13, 19:49) and Jinn (11:119), with faces covered with fire (14:49-50).
5.There is a tree in hell, named Tree of Zaqqum, from which bad fruit is given and the damned are forced to eat (37:62-67, 44:43-48, 56:52-55).
6.Heaven (Paradise), a Garden (79:41) of bliss and fruit (69:21-24), has rivers (3:198), with maidens pure and holy (4:57), and carpets and cushions (88:8-16).
7.There will be a physical resurrection of all people (19:93-95) on the day of judgment (3:77, 15:25, 16:38, 42:29).
8.Judgment is based on a person’s sincere repentance (66:8-9) and righteous deeds (5:9, 24:26, 45:21-22, 64:7).

Other
1.There is an afterlife (2:154, 75:12).
2.There are such things as angels, created by Allah, that are created from light. Angels are obedient slaves incapable of refusing to do AllahÃ¯’s will. The angel Gabriel brought the revelation of the Koran to Muhammad (2:97).
3.The Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel (2:97, 16:102).
1.There is no actual verse where the Holy Spirit is said to be Gabriel or is identified as Gabriel. These verses show that both the Holy Spirit and Gabriel brought down the revelation.

4.Jinn are unseen beings created (51:56) from fire (15:27, 55:15) but are not angels. They have communities. There are good and bad Jinn.
5.The Devil, called Iblis (2:34), is a bad Jinn.
6.Jesus was a great prophet but not the son of God (9:30), is not divine (5:17, 75), and was not crucified (4:157).
7.Muhammad is Allah’s greatest and last prophet, and his message supercedes all other past prophets including Jesus.
8.The Quran is Allah’s word. He literally spoke it to Gabriel who gave it to Muhammad.
9.There are other holy writings, but they are superceded by the Koran.1.The other works are
1.Torah - the First Five books of Moses
2.Injeel - the message that Jesus gave, written down, but no longer exists. The writings have been altered by scholars. Whatever agrees with the Qura is true.
3.Zaboor - the Psalms1

10.Pre-ordainment (Qadar) is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
11.Fasting is to be observed during the month of Ramadan (2:185).
12.Drinking alcohol is forbidden (2:219, 4:43, 5:93-94, 16:67).
13.Gambling is forbidden (2:219, 5:90-94).
14.Man is made from the dust of the earth (23:12).
15.There is no last-minute repentance (4:18).

Since the topic is doctrine, another view:

ISLAMIC DOCTRINE

http://www.ezsoftech.com/Akram/islamicdoctrine.asp

Because of man’s afflictions and troubles, he is in constant search for a solution. The materialistic theories do not ease his pains and suffering. These theories have failed because they have deviated from God’s path of truth and enlightenment.

God has created man and made him the successor of the land. He made man the master of nature. He bestowed on man many blessings, including knowledge to understand how to behave and deal with his existence.

QuranHe has established truth for man’s ease to achieve happiness in this life and the Hereafter. God has sent prophets and messengers as a mercy for man. All prophets and messengers such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be with them all, followed each other in succession in order to guide us to the right path.

One of the hopeful signs of today is the return of most people to the worship of God and His religion. Millions of truth seekers are familiarizing themselves with Islam and its principles.

The Definition of Islam: The Arabic meaning of “Islam” is submission, yielding and obedience. This religion of Islam was revealed by Prophet Muhammad who was the last prophet to be sent by God and therefore his mission was to guide all of mankind for all time since no prophet shall follow him.

A Muslim is one who bears witness to one God and the prophethood of Muhammad. Faith holds a higher position than submission (Islam). Faith is belief and action. A faithful Muslim’s belief is rooted in a deep conviction and certitude toward his Creator in obeying and worship and sets the course of his life, behavior and thought based on Islam.

Concepts concerning the creation of the universe, belief in God, belief that the universe will end, belief in the prophets, belief in the messengers, belief in the Hereafter, and belief in the angels, are some of what is called divine doctrine. Islamic doctrine is built on basic pillars. The main pillars are:
â€¢Belief in the Oneness of God;
â€¢Belief in prophethood;
â€¢Belief in the Hereafter.

BELIEF IN THE ONENESS OF GOD (ALLAH):
The belief in Allah as the Creator of the universe is the base of Islam and the criterion of thought, education, behavior and action of a Muslim. Belief in Allah, in Islam is based on logical evidence. Islam disapproves of imitation.

Islamic doctrine is rooted in the pure belief in the Oneness of Allah and that there is no one but Allah, no one like Him, or opposite Him, or equal to Him. Allah is the Absolute, Independent and Self-Sufficient. He is above human qualities like dependence and need.

Sound intellect and scientific reason verify these facts. Logic accepts that the cause is different from the effect.

Allah, alone has divine attributes. He is absoluteness, knowledge, power, will, wisdom, and independence. He is without fault and no one is like Him in His attributes. Allah is above any fault the polytheists attribute to Him. The belief in the Oneness of Allah cannot be comprehended except after stating the attributes, which are His. They are the “attributes of perfection”, like power, knowledge, will, eternal being, wisdom, creator, etc. Believing in His Oneness also entails denying whatever attributes are not His such as imperfection, need for time and space, evil, incarnation, movement, physical being, etc. These are the “negative attributes”. Belief in Allah’s Oneness is also belief in His actions. He can do whatever He wills and no one can repeal Allah’s will, or do what He does.

True belief in the Oneness of Allah is incomplete without worshipping Him faithfully. He is the Creator and the Owner of His creatures. He grants them His grace. He is worthy of being worshipped.

Worship is the gratitude shown to the source of grace and blessing and acknowledgement of His favors and obedience to His orders. Obeying Allah propels man to break the shackles of servitude to any party except Allah. The feeling of freedom and dignity intensifies in man. The soul of man yearns for a god with such attributes and seeks to attain perfection. A Muslim knows with certainty that Allah owns the glorious attributes. he is the Just, Merciful, Wise, Oft-Returning to Mercy, Kind, Generous, Benefactor, Acknowledger of thanks, Protector, Truthful, etc. Man works to reflect these attributes on his life. Islamic rites of worship have educational and reformatory effects on the life of the individual and the group.

DIVINE JUSTICE:
Another attribute of Allah is justice. He does not do injustice to anyone, nor does He deny anything beneficial to mankind. He does not resort to injustice because He does not need to, nor is He unaware of it. He created everything on the basis of justice and right. He does not order injustice, nor does He approve of it. He does not coerce man to do something then punish him for it, nor does He order man to do something beyond his ability. He does not leave people without reward or punishment. He sent the prophets and revealed religion to save people and guide them to the right path so that we would know how to obey and worship Him.

Allah’s justice is manifested in everything. For example:
â€¢Creation: He does not do injustice to anyone in respect to His creation. He creates everything in justice and right. We can see this in the creation of the human body. He creates man in a way that he can live on earth, grants him hearing, sight, emotions, mentality, and the ability to move.
â€¢Destiny: Allah causes death, provision, events that befall man and everything else on the basis of justice. Man is compensated for the pains he suffers in this life, as willed by Him, by granting him more grace than the pains he sustained.
â€¢Obligations and Laws: Divine obligations and laws are distinguished by being just. Allah does not impose any duty on His servants above their abilities. So, all the obligations are within man’s capability. The prominent manifestations of divine justice are the call to social equality, administration of justice between people, and fighting oppressors, for injustice is forbidden.
â€¢ Freedom of Choice: Allah grants man the ability to choose. Man can choose freely for himself. He can do good by helping the poor, respecting parents, offering prayers, and discharging justice. He can also do evil like murder, alcohol and drug use, stealing, backbiting and slander, etc. Allah never forces anyone to do anything. If He did, man would not deserve rewards or punishment in proportion to his good and evil deeds.
â€¢Punishment and Reward in the Hereafter: The good and upright ones receive Allah’s grace. The evil doers are punished according to their bad deeds. If this were not so, than the doer of good and the evil doer would be equal. This is injustice and Allah is incapable of injustice.
â€¢Everyone is responsible for his own deeds: Allah never punishes anyone for something someone else has done, except when he is the one who incites to evil. In this case he is an accomplice in the evil deed.

BELIEF IN PROPHETHOOD:
The prophets and the revelations they brought call for reform and cultural values. It is the second pillar of Islamic doctrine.

Man and ReligionThe prophets are human beings ordained by Allah to carry the divine message and reform mankind because of their psychological and intellectual perfection and their righteous behavior. All the prophets called man to worship Allah. They all called to good and the best of morals. They all challenged injustice, corruption, and the tyrants. They all brought the good news of Allah’s rewards and forewarned of His punishment. They all told of the Hereafter. Therefore, they all preached the same message and should all be honored and obeyed.

Islamic doctrine leans on the belief of the prophethood of Muhammad supported by the miracles. One of these miracles is the everlasting and unchangeable Qur’an, which cannot be challenged nor changed. The belief that Muhammad is the last of Allah’s messengers and prophets means that all previous messages are abolished and Islam is the final perfected form of worship and religion.

The Islamic message, being complete and perfect, is able to solve all the problems of mankind.

BELIEF IN THE HEREAFTER:
The belief in the Hereafter and life after death is the third pillar of Islamic doctrine. The life of this world is only a stage in man’s journey. The deeds of this life are not disconnected from their fruits in the Hereafter. Islamic doctrine, relating to the Hereafter, is composed of the following principles:

â€¢Man is flesh and soul. Death is the separation of the soul from the flesh. The body is only a container for the soul.
â€¢The materialistic world is edging towards complete destruction. No one and no thing will survive except Allah.
â€¢Allah will raise the dead from their graves as He created them in the first place.
â€¢An individual’s deeds, the good, the bad, and the ugly, are recorded and nothing will be forgotten. Actions will be reckoned with justly and precisely. Both the doers of good and evil will be rewarded or punished accordingly. There is paradise and hell. There is an eternal life after death, while this material life is only a temporary stage.

Muslims believe that: 1) Death is a process in which the spirit leaves the body. It remains eternally in another world. 2) After death, human beings pass through a middle stage called the “world of isthmus” (purgatory), before the Day of Resurrection.

On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will make the spirits return to their bodies. Every one will see that every deed he performed in his life is recorded.

In summary Islamic doctrine is the belief in Allah, His books, His apostles, His angels, the Day of Resurrection and Judgement, and submission to Allah’s will.

Courtesy: Al-Balagh Foundation

You made me think this morning. Do muslims really believe what they say they believe? (same for Christians))

How is justice defined in Christianity?

How is it defined in Islam? I get the feeling justice is a moving target.

DIVINE JUSTICE:
Another attribute of Allah is justice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_in_the_Quran

Justice[edit]

Originally the Concept of Justice within the Qurâ€™an was a broad term that applied to the individual. Over time, Islamic thinkers thought to unify political, legal and social justice which made Justice a major interpretive theme within the Qur’an. Justice can be seen as the exercise of reason and free will or the practice of judgment and responsibility. The practices and exercises were guided by two Islamic words: Huquq (rights) or obligations one owes and Hsan (generosity beyond obligation). These words created a guideline for Muslims to abide by.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_in_the_Quran

Justice regarding non-Muslims[edit]

In practice, Islamic law offers differing interpretations of Qurâ€™anic justice, but this is done largely by ensuring there is a separation between legal and divine justice.[13] This essentially means the notion of justice regarding non-Muslims is one of how non-Muslims will be punished or rewarded in the afterlife. In common Muslim understanding, it is certain that disbelievers, including atheists and polytheists, will go to jahannam.[14][15][16] This is seen as just, as Allah does not accept polytheism or anyone to be associated with Him.[17] However, there are disagreements regarding how justice will work for the People of the Book as they also follow strict monotheism but do not regard Muhammad as a prophet.

It has been proposed by some scholars that Christians, Jews and other monotheistic religions will be allowed to enter jannah.[18] They consider this as justice as it draws upon one of the main pillars of Islam, namely that everyone is judged by their intentions and their deeds. These scholars have made use of varying verses in the Qurâ€™an to support their point. These verses appear to state that as long as there is a belief in God, the Day of Judgment and that they remain righteous, justice shall be done and these people shall find their reward in jannah.[19][20] As a further basis for their arguments, other verses are drawn upon, such as â€˜let there be no compulsion in religionâ€™.[21] Another Qurâ€™anic interpretation that supports this claim is seen when GlassÃ© argues that â€œin theory, Islam accepts Christianity as a divinely revealed religionâ€.[22] This is based on verses in the Qurâ€™an which state that the Believers are not solely Muslims, and that these people will be justly rewarded for their prayers and way of life with a place in jannah.[23]

Alternatively, the Qurâ€™an also offers many verses which seem to demonstrate that the only form of justice for all non-Muslims is one where they are all condemned to jahannam due to their failure to follow Muhammad as a prophet of God.[24] However, this interpretation is partially based on verses of the Qurâ€™an which state that Islam is the one true religion. Other scholars and Qurâ€™anic translations have taken Islam in its literal meaning: submission to God. This would be in conjunction with other interpretations of aforementioned Qurâ€™anic verses that promulgate the view that divine justice regarding non-Muslims is based on their deeds and intentions if they still practice monotheism. Conversely, the Qurâ€™an also contains verses in which it is stated that People of the Book are unworthy of Allahâ€™s mercy and they shall be justly condemned to hell. This is seen when the Qurâ€™an states â€œthose who conceal Godâ€™s revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit - they swallow into themselves naught but Fireâ€.[25] Christians and Jews are seen as having changed the Message that was originally sent to them by Muhammad,[26] which some commentators have interpreted as hypocrisy and linking hands with polytheists and atheists.[27] However, in the same verse, the Qurâ€™an also proposes to â€œforgive them, and overlook their misdeeds: for God loveth those who are kind.â€[28]

Reconciliation of double message[edit]

The Qurâ€™an contains a double message with regard to justice for non-Muslims; it appears to both proclaim that the divine justice in the afterlife for People of the Book will be their place in jannah (presuming they have lived righteously), whilst simultaneously stating that these very people deserve a place in jahannam for their beliefs, no matter how righteous they may liveThe Qurâ€™an also contains verses that command Muslims to fight against non-Muslims,[29][30][31] whilst concurrently declaring that people who practice monotheism and live righteously will have nothing to fear in the afterlife as divine justice shall reward them with a place in jannah.

There have been attempts to reconcile this by some commentators, who have explained that these contrasts are due to chronology and that verses which were later revealed to Muhammad supersede earlier verses.[32] Alternatively, it is suggested that in Allahâ€™s infinite justice[33] and mercy,[34][35] He will judge justly according to each individualâ€™s intentions and deeds. This line of reasoning follows the idea that we are incapable of fathoming what this decision will be as we are imperfect as humans and cannot attain Allahâ€™s perfection.

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