Comparative Religions 301
CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

The Koranic statement that 'Allah has no son' constitutes one of the essential differences between Islam and Christianity. Is our worship of God any different if one believes in the divine Son or not? Is the doctrine of the Trinity an outworn and unnecessary belief?

These lecture/guides deal with the straightforward monotheism of Islam and examine these very legitimate questions. Rudolf Frieling first discusses the roots of the divergence of the two spiritual streams carried by Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac. There follows an account of Muhammad's establishment of Islam with the Koran as its fundamental revelation. Frieling's clarification of what is meant by 'the Son' forms the heart of these lectures. His thesis is that the divine Son has an essential role not only in humankind's relationship with God, but also in our entire evolution on earth. He argues that the unfulfilled needs of a religion that overlooked 'the Son' were no small factor in the emergence of the Shiah branches of Islam. There perhaps, he feels, can be detected the unconscious but inevitable seeking for Christ who is eternally present for recognition by all men.

Perhaps, considering modern events in the Mideast, these lectures are more important than ever to assimilate and appreciate.

For each course an experienced mentor is provided through email. Following each lecture/guide are questions for you to begin a discourse with your mentor.