“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
Life! It all depends on how one views it. Some view the glass half empty while others view it as half full. Such is the tale of one Paul of Tarsus whose so-called writings have affected much of this world, historical-wise. From the nominal so-called believers to the real serious ones, Paul became the whipping boy by which many make their feelings known, especially in dealing with Comparative Religion. But as in many things in life, things are not always as simple as they may appear to be.
Paul being from the Tribe of Benjamin has been labeled and fairly so, as a wolf amongst the flock. The flock was taken as good worshipers but that, when taken under deep thought, may not be completely accurate. What does appear to be correct is that the flock contains the good, the bad and the downright evil! Let’s take the real story of the wolf instead of the false one for a change and see what really happens in Rooting Out the contenders from the pretenders.
For example, from the standpoint of correctness, the wolf performs a critical role in the realm of nature. He and his colleagues (the pack) come across sheep/animals in the wild and must decide upon which sheep to cull and how to separate the good from the weak. This yields a better chance of success as well as energy saved on the wolves’ part.
This separation tends to sharpen the genetic makeup of the sheep as either the old or the weak ones fall prey. Hence, the flock becomes stronger as the diseased and weaker ones get eventually culled out.
As to the religious viewpoint, Paul would be the basis for using him as a wedge to act as both collector and separator. This is just one example of how souls can be put in groups to the varying degrees of their true, natural commitment towards the reality of the ONE GOD and HIS SYSTEM.
HIS {GOD’s} winnowing fan {Plan} is in HIS hand {for HE IS IN TOTAL CONTROL}, and HE will thoroughly clean out HIS threshing floor {Life’s stage on Earth}, and gather the wheat {the saved souls} into HIS barn {Paradise}; but the chaff {the unbelievers} HE will burn with unquenchable fire {in the fires of Hell}.” Luke (3:17)
In Islam, a similar thing took place concerning Ali the cousin of the Prophet (pbh). That situation has caused a lot of problems in Islam as does the Pauline question causing a lot of problems for Christians as well as others but an understanding of a certain hadith tends to clear up the situation when one dwells on it:
Ibn Hanbal is reported to have said: ‘Abdullah bin Ahmad has related to us from Abu al-Harth Surayj bin Yunus from Abu Hafs Abbar from Hakam bin ‘Abd al-Malik from Harth bin Hasirah from Abi Sadiq from Rabi‘ah bin Najidh from (Imam) ‘Ali, who narrates:
The Messenger of ALLAH (pbh) told me {Ali}: “(You are like Jesus. The Jews hated him so much that they slandered his mother, and the Christians because of their extreme devotion to him placed him in a position which was not his.”
Then ‘Ali said:
“(Two persons or groups are doomed concerning me; the devoted extremist exalting me to what I am not, and the spiteful hater bearing malice towards me and slandering me).” The annotator of the Musnad considers the isnad of this hadith as hasan (fair).
In general speech we have this from the Christian Book, according to Paul or one of Paul’s supporters:
AND FOR THIS CAUSE {contempt for GOD’s TRUTH and refusal to follow HIS WILL/PLAN/PURPOSE}* GOD shall send {upon} them STRONG DELUSION that they should believe {in} a lie {focus not on doing what is right – the real food for the soul}:
That they all might be damned who didn’t believe the truth but had pleasure in {took their comfort in doing other than the truthful WAY} unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians (2: 10-12)
{*Of course people have a choice but that choice can lead them further on the pathway of darkness or awaken them to the pathway of life.}
That in turn equals a PERFECT and JUST SYSTEM of judgments within judgments (giving man ample opportunities to awaken to the CALL before the Final Judgment. This idea, in turn, allows man to cope with the idea that the ONE GOD is ALL KNOWING; HE is the DETERMINER and that HIS CONTROL over events has been PLANNED and is PERFCT and develops the PROCESS in the WAY HE alone set forth for HIS MERCY does indeed outweigh HIS WRATH.
Is then one who walks headlong, with his face groveling, better guided, or one who walks on a Straight Way? Quran (67:22)
So, in Paul’s case, he acts as a lightning rod that will set off while at the same time set things up for the stage of life and its comings and goings at least on the religious field.
No just estimate have they made of ALLAH: for ALLAH is HE WHO is Strong and able to carry out HIS WILL. Quran (22:74)
For example, take a look at Moses (pbh) and the Children of Israel when they were cornered and about to be slaughtered by the Egyptian army. Nothing natural or normal would have saved that group from being obliterated.
However, the timely intervention of a miracle at the Perfect Moment was to occur so that the story of truth and forbearance would continue even down to the last calculated eye-wink. So, the future good and the future evil Children of Israel were saved so that history as we know it today would be allowed to take place.
Therefore, the thankless Children of Israel together with the faithful Children of Israel were saved allowing history as we know it today to continue on towards its purposeful existence. And existence has a purpose in developing ways and means by which we are judged: Faithful or Faithless.
After all, ALLAH is not taken by surprise and HIS PLAN is MIGHTY which cannot be destroyed or altered. ALLAH doesn’t make mistakes; people do!
So the wolf, when we look more closely at the truth, does have a meaningful existence and does play a type of ‘sorting out’ part. This sorting out is useful in many ways of which one is to delineate and refine the surviving flock as to keeping it refreshed, knowledgeable and aware.
This in turn sets up a driving force needed to cultivate those traits for a more productive existence and in the case of the human being, the development of the human mind, body and soul in accordance with a more purposeful and true worship of ALLAH.
Abdullah b. Amr b. al-‘As reported that he heard ALLAH’s Messenger (pbh) as saying:
Verily the hearts of the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate LORD as one heart. HE turns that to any direction HE likes. Then ALLAH’s Messenger (pbh) said: “O ALLAH, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to YOUR obedience.” (Muslim)
Hence, the coming of the conclusion of this AGE; the great battle for the soul or the contest between good and evil; and the eventual destruction of that evil (for a time).
And there is None of the People of the Book but must believe in him {Jesus} before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them {those who denied and refused to follow the truth} Quran (4:159).
And this is followed in kind by the closing up of the worthy ones (saved as if from the Titanic) while the final dregs of humanity are let loose and the Earth finally becomes flattened out so as the Conclusion or FINAL JUDGEMENT can be set in order on the blowing of the HORN and then (after a fashion) total joy for some and total despair for others.
A long time ago it was on the menu; they made their choice and will have paid their price.
Explain how the Quran (the greatest miracle on the face of the Earth) opens up the true facts of the Christian belief system of trinity.
In simple terms without adding prejudicial viewpoints but depending upon the succinctness and dynamics of the Quran itself together with true historical hindsight and appreciating the value of the synopsis way the Christian book is put together which touches on only ‘brief moments’ in time, the true understanding of the real trinity can be understood Islamically.
Islamically, the notion of do as much as you can for your soul without trying to destroy your body or mind rules the day. Prophet Muhammad (pbh) was quite specific about these things when he discussed deeds most loved by ALLAH as well as living the life as to fasting, marital relations, etc. It is true one can challenge one’s self but do so wisely without becoming fanatical.
So, the historical truths about the so-called trinity will be found in the following quotes which we can build upon using what is already known in the sacred books plus the logic of the human being in both scandalous ways and honest ways. Or the following can be ignored as people can live their lives while wearing the proverbial ‘rose-colored glasses’.
The Religion {that is straight} before ALLAH is Islam (submission to HIS WILL): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom EXCEPT through envy of each other, AFTERknowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of ALLAH, ALLAH is swift in calling to account. Quran (3:19)
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said; “Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their {excessive} questions and their difference over their prophets {and their teachings}. So if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can {without going overboard}. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Once the lid was taken off the bedrock of Jesus’ teachings and the somewhat liberality granted to those followers; the deformation of ‘Christian truths’ could open up like a floodgate whereby falsehoods could creep in and unscrupulous individuals could sell themselves to Satan for a miserable gain.
The destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AC was a future death Nell to Jesus’ pure teachings. These swine have always hung around historically, waiting, just waiting for their true ‘father’ Satan to score points to boost their faulty egos.
There were honest followers of Jesus (pbh) out and about after 70 AC but try this example on for size:
Take a barrel of 100 kg. of apples and stick in only one corrupted, rotted apple. Seal the barrel and come back in month or two. Now you will find the whole barrel corrupted!
While real followers of Jesus (pbh) remained, the spread of anti-truths or anti-christs was taking hold slowly but surely after the destruction of the Temple. And the pagans of the day were not going to mind a religious philosophy that was not totally alien to their beliefs.
We have notions buried in the modern Christian Testament showing, without providing too much fat for the idea, for these things. We also have history and the science of Psychology providing good insights and examples concerning how reality can get stretched. Think of one wild example of some people wearing aluminum hats at night to protect them from aliens from outer space.
So, is the trinity real or just a figment of man’s imagination? This question can be handled in several ways. One way, found in the Quran (3:19), and hadith material which is to go beyond just ‘sermon-type’ preaching and enter into the dangerous zone of the metaphysics which, if not held in check, becomes extremely dangerous and easily manipulated by frauds and other bunko-type artists. Future/Fortune telling, tealeaf readers, throwing down chicken bones, palm readers and snake-oil salesman have always preyed on the weak of spirit, mind and body.
Jesus (pbh) was not a man of scanty words and in his teaching the Disciples, the true ropes of real faith, he had to give them examples for any queries that they may have had. A possible example of Jesus’ possible discussion of why there must be a coordinated effort to align one’s soul with the ONE GOD in relationship to HIS creations follows but with an Islamic understanding.
Of course, Jesus (pbh) was not a man of only a few words but his station was NOT as a prophet to the world but as to the reformed Jewish section and therefore, John (16:12) describes his limited mission which is important to note here and then in his own words, who to turn to for proper guidance (the Prophet (pbh) to the Gentiles).
Also, 1John (2:18) together with 1Corinthians (3:2) and Hebrews (5:11-14) explain the ditch of historical problems encountered by a ‘church’ simply plagued by unscrupulous individuals when the Temple or heart of the religion is laid waste.
Furthermore, we are given, in the words of Jesus (pbh) that he is imparting special knowledge to his Disciples from Mark (4:34)
But without a parable he did not speak to them {the crowd}. And when they were alone, he explained all things to his disciples {giving them time to digest his speech}. Mark (4:34) with the additional warning to keep this knowledge from the corruption of the common rabble – “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces {Rend the profane into garbage which was done by the unethical rabble or the growth of the Anti-christ factions discussed by 1John (2:18)}.” Matthew (7:6)
One of GOD’s HOLY NAMES is AL-Witr which can be stated as GOD’s love for a harmonious establishment of Singularity beginning with HIM and ending with HIM. In this understanding all things have a purpose and all things are interrelated.
For the human being this oneness is the sum of its parts joining together in a perfect worship of the CREATOR LORD.
As we are physically part of this universe; physically a part of this solar system; feeling calm when aligned with the CREATIVE PURPOSE we can touch upon this system (for us) in a simplified version:
We are developed on this planet which is 3rd from the sun while being in a learning mode (3rddimension) by which we lay down our records: for salvation or damnation. And human beings are a composite of the 3 steps for progress working hand in hand. The 3 parts to the human experience on this planet is the mind, body and soul-complex which, in order for the soul to be in Paradise must undergo the learning experiences given to it by ALLAH.
While on Earth, one takes the characteristic of this place and even in religion one can see the Disciples, the Presbyters and the Initiates (opening verses of the Gospel of Luke) along with the Sahabah, the Tābi’ūn and the Tabaha wa Tābi’ūn. But carrying anything too far will cause trouble. For example, salt is a necessary mineral for the body but carrying it to excess will cause damage and health issues.
So, this trinity-complex, which is taught in some form or fashion by all true religions or making oneself one with ALLAH in intent, purpose and practice, is the real trinity of making things harmonized. Not many people have done it and no one has done it without ALLAH’s HELP. In Islam there are Sunnan practices that cleans the body (a proper way of eating, cleaning, etc.) and practices that can harmonize the mind having an effect on the soul.
To make this more understandable one needs to think of the parent-child relationship. Two separate souls but the parent has a duty to keep the child from starving to death, especially in the first couple of months.
As with all religious teachings, unscrupulous people are like vultures and willingly prey on those weak of mind while they collect the god of money for their own private use.
Sound familiar? Research, into these charismatic preachers who have built or try to build their megachurches, will reveal their narcissistic ways and the cults they inspire. As is reported in all Holy Scripture, this is the case of the blind leading the blind or people’s willingness to take advantage of other peoples’ weakness.
And So It Goes
