With Friends during Ramadan.

I have been intrigued to read of late, the conflict of ideologies that can be seen in articles published at Magic City by Aboo Mohammad and Michael Devolin. I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to throw my own spanner in the works. My intention of course is not to denigrate Islam, Judaism or Christianity, but merely to perhaps provide a somewhat different perspective.

The Christmas Issue.

I read Mr. Devolin's recent article in response to one written last year by Aboo Mohammad entitled: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, and I was intrigued. Having recently written an article about Primary Text Reading, I decided to check out Mr. Mohammad's article for myself to see exactly what it said. I note that toward the end of the article he stated:

• This article was not written to Mock Christianity, but to point out how much Paganism has infiltrated into Christianity.
• Also It is to inform those who associate Christianity with the rituals of paganism, and often confuse them to be one of the same.

A 15 year old who wants to become a Buddhist Monk

I did not bother to check out all the assertions that he made, for I found it sufficient to having been already aware that some of the specific points were correct, and that generally, the article paints a reasonably accurate picture.

One cannot help but be aware that it is not only the Christian religion that has adopted much from paganism, but secular society as well, including names of months and days of the week.

While perhaps Mr. Mohammad did have a hidden agenda, one that perhaps says: Islam is more pure than Christianity, that does not change the truth that he presented. Unfortunately today, too many of us prefer our agendas to simple straighforward 'truth'. Needless to say, whatever the ancient rituals were behind the christianization of pagan rituals, today they are not pagan rituals.

Friends in Wuhan, now back in Xin Jiang.

Despite the possibility of his hidden agenda, my feeling is that Mr. Mohammad's article served a valid purpose. I did not feel that he was attacking Christianity, but I am not so sure of Mr. Devolin's purpose. Maybe it is just me, but I felt that he had an overt agenda relating to his dislike of Islam.

At any rate, it is a free country, and we still have the right to express our opinions. Neither a presentation containing 'some' facts, nor one containing big words, should ever sway us to swallow 'hook line and sinker' everything that a speaker says, and in the process, to abandon our own traditions.

On Ramadan

Aboo Mohammad in writing about Ramadan wrote:

• So as we see, some of the attributes of GOD and if he did not have these attributes he would not be a GOD in any way, shape or form. He does not give birth and is the ever living. Never dies and died. The question to be asked also was that if man was GOD then did Jesus create the same roman soldiers that allegedly nailed him to the cross, so rather than be all powerful, almighty the one who defeated him shared those powers.

My kids waiting to leave for my Daughter's wedding.

This statement is written from a Muslim perspective, a perspective that does not understand or accept the Christian theological explanation, and it seems that Mr. Devolin equally rejects the Muslim perspective.

Mr. Devolin in refering to particular sources quotes that  "the major teachings of Islam were deliberately borrowed from Judaism by Mohammed". He goes on to say that in former times, before Islam, "Allah was the name of a pagan deity" and concludes that Allah is not the name of the G-D of the Jew nor of the Christian. Allah is, exclusively, the name of the god of the Muslim, regardless Aboo Mohammed's many impostures to the contrary.

Friends from Israel (Kosher Meal in China)

Now when it comes to ideological perspectives, it is only natural to seek to justify your own with 'proofs', and additionally to find weakness and fault in the opposing ideology.

When it comes to finding fault with Islam based upon such statements as "Allah was the name of a pagan deity", Mr. Devolin should have realised that the same accusation can be made about the Jewish names of God.

Moreover, Charles Marston (1935, pp.203-205) in his researches into a 15th Century Mosaic Exodus under the 18th Egyptian Dynasty, observed that Hatshepsut (Moses adopted Mother) was the patroness of the monotheistic, Midianite, Semitic, temple at Serabit.

He pointed out that the whole form and regulation of worship instituted by Moses follows almost identically to that at Serebit. [Marston. C. 1935 The Bible is true: The lessons of the 1925-34 excavations in Bible lands summarized and explained. Australia. Angus and Robertson.]

Tibetan Buddhist Shrine in Chengdu Sichuan Province

Family Wedding in Barasoain Church Malalos Philippines

It was Marston's assertion that given that many of the laws and regulations of Mosaic Judaism follow closely those of the Serebit Cult, that Serebit was the source of Mosaic Judaism.

What is interesting about the Serebit cult, is that these Semitic people were not only monotheistic, but worshiped a female goddess, not a Male Form.  (Is God Male or Female?)

Furthermore, when one examines the style and form of the original Mosaic Temple and service, it clearly reflects Egyptian religious styles and practices of the day. While this should not be of any concern to religious folk, unfortunately it interfers with certain concepts about God.

Given that Magic City Morning Star News is read by many evangelicals, I am sure that there will be many who will undoubtedly be just as unimpressed with this 'apparent' slur on Judaism as would Mr. Devolin.

But as I see it, that is the problem with all three religions. That there has always existed within them, a fundamentalist doctrine which says:

• I am right and everyone else is wrong.
• Mine is the only true religion and Path to God
• If you don't accept my theology you are damned
• God only Blesses us because we possess the real truth.

There is a difference between those who hold to fundamental theology, and those who are fundamentalists.

Now which one is the Palestinian Muslim?

Fundamentalism as a social manifestation, is in the end a power trip, which seeks to dominate all others, and by force (or arms or argument) bring the ignorant and unenlightened to their knees to pay homage to fundamentalist ideology (theology).

Mr. Devolin states quite plainly that he rejects Islam outright. That is his right and privilege.  We all have that right, even as we all have the right to explain our faith (religious, political and social) to those who are interested to listen.

But if Mr. Devolin finds Mr. Mohammad's statements objectionable because of historical situations, then how should we judge both Christianity and Judaism?

Read the Old testament and see the violence and destruction. Read history and see the violence and destruction wrought by Christianity. For the fundamentalist, all such violence is justified because 'it is the will of my deity'.

Xin Jiang Muslims selling Cakes in Hong Hu City Hubei Province

It is said that at the time of Jesus, only 10% of the world's population believed in the God of Abraham. Today, even if only nominally, more than 50% of the world believes in the God of Abraham. Each of the 3 great religions believes that 'they only' will be saved. And within each there are divisions which equally believe that only their 'brand of that religion', will be saved; the rest being deceived by the devil.

Taoist Monk in Chengdu Sichuan Province

I often wonder why the God of Abraham did not set up a formalised religion in Abraham's day. Perhaps the answer can be found in the Pauline writings which state that God approves of those who live by faith (as opposed to those who live by theology).

Perhaps God knew that without some formal structure to reinforce moral values, people would run amok.

As Christians of course know, salvation only comes through Jesus, but if that is the case, then why did the Jewish Jesus change the 'God instituted' religion? Well actually he never did.

But he did oppose 'salvation by theology', and taught salvation through faith. Unfortunately today, many Christians seem to think that they 'own' Jesus by right of theology. (My Jesus - My Bible - My God.)

The book of Romans says that the effect of Jesus death and resurrection was super abundantly more effective than the result of Adam's sin. I find that a strange statement, for how can it be that everyone (without choice) was effected by Adam's sin but so few profit by Jesus work?

Traditional Chinese Ancestor Hommage at Spring Festival Time

A Bangladeshi Muslim in Wuhan.

Mr. Devolin states that he rejects Islam outright. Well guess what? So do I! But then again, I also reject Judaism and Christianity.

Does this mean I reject the God of Abraham? No it does not! Does it mean that I reject Jesus? No I do not! If the Book of Romans is correct, and if Jesus' own words are to be trusted (if you don't believe in me then believe in the works that I do and in him who sent me), it does not matter if I believe (correctly) in him or not.

From my studies of various theologies, I have come to believe that if Jesus is who the book of Romans says he is, then God will do one of two things.

He will either accept all the dearly departed, (including Hitler) in order to show in the coming ages his profound love and grace toward us, or he will destroy (as in cease to exist) all but a chosen few.

Those few will be selected by virtue of their true faith in God and personal living standard in accordance with the character of God.

Someone's Chinese Idol.

This does not mean that I believe all religions are equal, but it does mean that I see all religions as a response to the culture of the day in which they were created.

The purpose of the Jewish religion (which came first) is to provide a social and national framework within which people were to share a common belief and worship.

All the prophets of the old testament preached against the form of religion, when that form is followed for the purpose of private or public self righteousness.

The prophet Micah said it well when he said: Tell me Oh Man what is good, and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.

Jesus of course said it better when he said: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love your neighbour as yourself. Of course, Jesus stole those lines from ancient Judaic writings.

Tibetan Women in Chengdu Sichuan

I once asked an evangelical Doctor of Theology, if Christian salvation was not ultimately a salvation by theology. He replied that having the right theology will not save you, but having the wrong one might send you to hell.

Catholic Priests in PuQi (Chibi City) Hubei Province

As I see it, very few theologies indicate that I personally am going to heaven. Fortunately I prefer the warmer climates.

I am a strange person I suppose, because I am happy to worship with all those who believe in the God of Abraham, even if our theologies are not the same. And living as I have in Australia and as I do in China, in a multi-cultural environment, I believe everyone has the right to worship and follow the rules of their religion, provided that those rules and behaviours do not conflict with the social norms.

For instance: No drinking beer in Saudi Arabia! No preaching Christianity in China! Western women must wear the Hijab in Mosques and Islamic countries! Men and women should be separated in Orthodox Islamic and Jewish religious services! and Righteous Men who wear dresses for a living shouldn't be running around condemning transvestites!

I don't believe in the liberal theological blessing : May your God go with you and bless you! So I shall conclude by saying:  May the God of Abraham go with you and bless you!

R.P.BenDedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

Photographic Stories from China can be found at:  http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=128

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS

A cold hearted goddess is this one.

Catholic Priest at Chibi Village at Christmas.

Shaolin Monks in Hong Hu Hubei Province

Roman Catholic Ordinations in China

Photos courtesy of Father Joseph in Chibi City (PuQi)

R.P.BenDedek (pseudonym) is the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran (www.kingscalendar.com) and is a contributing columnist at Magic City Morning Star News.

From Brisbane in Australia, BenDedek comes from a Multi-Faith and Multi-Ethnic family (including Muslims), and is currently teaching Conversational Business English in Wuhan China.

"The King's Calendar" is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls.