Apologetics Argument: Introduction and Conclusion |Course hero helper

Posted: February 21st, 2023

Self-Selected Apologetics Argument: Analysis and Critique – Research Stage Template

 

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Make sure you review and understand the assignment instructions and the grading rubric before you attempt to complete any part of this template. Do not change any aspect of this template; do not delete anything from it. Instead, type your content in the spaces provided. Before typing your content, you should review the entire template to be sure you understand what is required.

 

The purpose of this template is to provide you with a few major building blocks that can be incorporated into your final paper. In the sections provided below, you will insert your approved thesis statement, you will begin building the foundation for what will become the first two major sections in the body of your final paper, and you will footnote after each bullet point and reference in the bibliography sources used in your bullet point formulations (at least two from the opposing worldview).

 

 

1. Approved Thesis Statement

The religion of Islam believes that Allah is the only God, whereas Christianity believes that there is one true and living God that exists in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet with many similarities and differences between the Bible and the Quran and Islam and Christianity, the truth remains that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The remainder of this form will help you begin working on the first two major sections of your final paper – the analysis and the critique of the worldview you are writing about.

The basic outline for your final paper should follow this structure:

I. Introduction

II. Analysis of Aspects of the Opposing Worldview

III. Critique of Aspects of the Opposing Worldview

IV. Defense of Christianity

V. Conclusion

 

In what follows, you will be crafting the building blocks that will eventually become sections II and III in the outline.

 

 

1. Introduction

Religion is a complicated and multi-faceted component of human life that has been the topic of discussion, debate, and investigation for millennia. It can mold the beliefs, values, and ethical standards of people and entire groups, and it has played a significant role in influencing human history and the development of civilizations. Since their inception, the world’s two greatest and most pervasive faiths, Islam and Christianity, have been compared and contrasted greatly. There are many points of agreement between these two faiths, such as their shared commitment to a single, all-powerful deity and their shared goals of fostering peace and justice (Oni 2021, 3). However, there are also significant points of divergence, including their divergent views on God, the role of sacred texts, the meaning of life, and the nature of the religious practice. This paper will analyze and critique a worldview thesis statement that contends that. In contrast, Christianity acknowledges the existence of one God who manifests himself in three different persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Islam believes in only one God named Allah.

 

 

2. Analysis of Aspects of the Opposing Worldview

This section will form the building blocks of what will become the first major section in the body of your final paper (section II in the outline above): Summarize the worldview by using aspects of its presuppositions and beliefs using one sentence per bullet point (revision and/or expansion of these bullet points is required in the next stage of the project). The number of bullet points needed will be determined by thesis and the quality of your research but at least two are required.

· Islam and Christianity adhere to the idea that there is only one God, despite the fact that the two religions hold various contradictory beliefs and practices (Oni 2021, 3). Islam emphasizes allegiance to Allah and a life of virtue, while Christianity emphasizes a personal relationship with God and the promise of eternal life. Islam has a distinct conception of God since Allah is regarded as the lone, unrivalled deity who is neither a partner nor an equal. The Quran is the most important book in Islam and is believed to be the authentic word of God as it was given to the Prophet Muhammad. (Gastelum 2018, 137). Humans are commanded to surrender to Allah, whom the Quran describes as merciful, just, and all-powerful. As far as Muslims are concerned, all existence is directed toward the worship of Allah and the fulfilment of His commands, the ultimate reward for which is entry into Paradise. On the other hand, Christian belief holds that there is one God, who is also three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the most significant book in the Christian canon since it contains God’s divinely inspired words and provides guidance for dealing with life’s most difficult issues. According to biblical teaching, having a relationship with the loving God who created us is the ultimate purpose of existence. Christians believe that by putting their trust in Jesus Christ, they will be forgiven and granted eternal life with God.

· The significance of religious texts is yet another crucial component. Muslims consider the Quran to be the exact words of God, and it is from this text that Muslims get their ethical and religious guidance. The moral and legal foundations and the instructions for worship outlined in this book make it an indispensable resource for Muslims who wish to put their faith into practice. On the other hand, Christians look to the Bible for both revelation and guidance, but they do not consider it to be the literal word of God. Christians hold that the Bible is the word of God and that it was written by divine inspiration. They look to it as a source of wisdom to help them navigate the obstacles of everyday life.

· Regarding religious observances, prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage are some of Islam’s most revered rituals and customs. Praying five times a day while facing Mecca is essential to the Islamic faith and practice. Muslim practice also includes fasting during the holy month of Ramadan as a means of spiritual cleansing and becoming closer to Allah. A pilgrimage to Mecca is an integral part of the Islamic religion since it is seen as a method to show love for Allah and unity with other Muslims. On the contrary, Christians have a number of significant rituals and customs, such as prayer, worship, and Communion, that are central to their faith (Parry 2022, 278). Christians place great value on prayer as a means of connecting with God and expressing their devotion and gratitude. Collective acts of worship, typically in a church, are also central to the Christian life. The Christian practice of Communion is fundamental since it serves as a means of commemorating Jesus’ atoning death and showing love and support for fellow Christians.

Overall, there are numerous shared and divergent beliefs and behaviours between Islam and Christianity. Although adherents of both faiths acknowledge the existence of a divine creator, they hold vastly different views on God and the meaning of life (Oni 2021, 3). Each religion has its own ideas and ideals, which are reflected in its sacred books, beliefs and values.

 

3. Critique of Aspects of the Opposing Worldview

This section focuses on helping you build what will become the second major section of the body of your final paper (section III in the outline above): Evaluate aspects of your selected worldview to show where it fails to provide a rationale, livable, comprehensive system.

 

· Though Christians and Muslims both profess a belief in a single Creator, the God of each faith is distinctly different. While Christians believe in a personal, loving God who is actively engaged in the world, Muslims view Allah as a separate, impersonal deity. Also, there are considerable discrepancies between the teachings of the Quran and the Bible. For instance, there are fundamental differences between the Quranic and Biblical accounts of creation and human origin, which give rise to divergent views on the meaning of life and the nature of the world. In addition, the Quran’s teachings on salvation and the afterlife diverge from the Bible, resulting in different perspectives on the point of human existence.

· The Islamic religion’s narrow conception of God has been critiqued for a long time. Even though the idea that there is only one God, known as Allah, is fundamental to Islam, there are others who contend that this does not provide an adequate picture of the divine nature. The lack of the notion of the Trinity implies that the complexity and depth of the divine nature are not addressed (Griffel 2022, 379). This is because the concept of the Trinity incorporates numerous facets of the divine nature, such as the traits of love, wisdom, and power. Another critique of the Islamic conception of God is that the Quran does not give an exhaustive explanation of God and the characteristics that characterize him. Even while the Quran is claimed to be the literal word of God and is regarded as a compilation of divine revelations, it does not contain the extensive descriptions and explanations of God’s essence and personality that are contained in other religious books. This results in various interpretations and beliefs held by Muslims, which can also contribute to a fragmented knowledge of God.

· The Christian doctrine of the Trinity has been a subject of critique because it is unclear and contradictory. For individuals who have not been exposed to the doctrine of a triune God, the idea that there is just one God despite the fact that he manifests himself as three separate divine beings may be challenging to comprehend. People can become confused regarding the nature and attributes of God as a result of a lack of clarity such as this, which can lead them to question the reality of the theology.

· Also, the concept of the Trinity, which is central to the Christian understanding of God, has been questioned because it is the product of human interpretation and is not founded on the teachings of Jesus. Some people believe that Jesus never presented the idea of the Trinity to his followers and that the doctrine of the Trinity was developed via human interpretation and theological conjecture. Consequently, some people have asserted that the dogma of the Trinity is not founded on divine revelation but rather on human ingenuity.

· The concept of a religious authority constitutes another critique of the competing worldviews. When it comes to Islam, Quranic verses and Prophet Muhammad’s sayings and deeds (Hadith) form the basis of Islamic belief. They are considered the most authoritative sources of religious doctrine (Griffel 2022, 379). This topic has been the subject of debate due to the assertion made by certain individuals that Islam is dependent on the direction of Prophet Muhammad, who was a human being and not divine. On the other hand, Christianity acknowledges the authority of the Bible as the word of God. It focuses significantly on personal relationships and interactions with God. 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. This verse highlights the significance of the Bible as God’s authoritative message and its function in molding the believer into a devoted servant of God.

· Notwithstanding these critiques, Christianity continues to be a viable worldview. Christianity provides a distinctive worldview because it emphasizes God’s unmerited favour and mercy. The concept of a triune God provides a deep and nuanced framework for comprehending the deity and the divine-human connection. The Bible also offers thorough guidance for leading a meaningful life and provides responses to the most critical questions in life. The Bible contains morals, ethics, and justice lessons that guide ethical lives. The Bible also provides a history of the globe and the occasions that have formed humanity. This involves the creation of the universe, the history of humankind, and the birth, ministry, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which are at the center of the Christian faith.

Conclusion

While Christianity and Islam share some commonalities and divergences, each religion’s worldview is unique in its understanding of the nature of God, the meaning of life, the universe, and the purpose of human existence. While Muslims consider Allah the supreme deity, Christians believe in one God who manifests Himself in Trinity. Christianity, despite critiques, is still a valid worldview that provides billions of individuals with hope, comfort, and guidance. It presents a thorough blueprint for leading a fulfilling life and a compelling worldview based on God’s grace and unconditional love.

 

4. Turabian bibliography (must be located on its own separate page; see below):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

Gastelum, Arturo. “No God but One: Allah or Jesus? A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity, Nabeelqureshi, Zondervan, 2016 (ISBN 978-0-310-52255-3), 318 Pp., Pb $17.99.” Reviews in Religion & Theology 25, no. 1 (2018): 137–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/rirt.13175.

Griffel, Frank. “24. Religious Critique as a Popularization of Philosophy.” The Popularization of Philosophy in Medieval Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, (2022), 379–88. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.patma-eb.5.124251.

Oni, Idris Ajani. “A Comparative Analysis of Selected Fundamentals of Christianity and Islam,” 2021. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202109.0304.v1.

Parry, Jonathan. “Stratford Canning and the Politics of Christianity and Islam.” Promised Lands, (2022), 278–97. https://doi.org/10.23943/princeton/9780691181899.003.0010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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APOL 500

Self-Selected Apologetics Argument: Introduction and Conclusion – Final Stage Assignment Instructions

Overview

Most of your argument has been written and now it is time to package it as a paper. You will have received feedback after each section from your professor and should have been able to integrate that feedback effectively. You may still be making some minor changes to the argument but it is now time to prepare it as a paper.

The introduction and conclusion are intended to show that you have a strong thesis and can summarize how you supported or argued for your thesis. They are excellent activities in helping you to find the best way to simply statement what may be a complex argument. If you can state your thesis concisely and precisely, then you have most likely written a strong argument and are ready to go out into the world and use it appropriately.

 

Instructions

Use a paper format for this stage. There is no template used for this assignment. A current Turabian format title page, footnotes, and bibliography are required.

1. The three sections developed in earlier will form the basis of the structure of your paper. They must be treated as three separate sections in the body of the paper. Edit as needed what you have already written.

2. In addition, the paper must have a proper introduction and conclusion.

a. The introduction (one paragraph, 3-5 sentences, no direct quotes or citable information) must be built around the thesis statement. This thesis statement provides unity to the overall presentation, so every word of the paper must be related to and supportive of the thesis statement.

b. The conclusion (also one paragraph, 3-5 sentences, no direct quotes or citable information) must summarize the main points presented that support your thesis. This is neither an outline of your paper nor a reiteration of the argument but rather a summary of how you supported your thesis.

3. Including both the introduction and conclusion but not the title and bibliography pages, the total length of the paper must be 2200 – 2600 words in current Turabian format (including the main text only, not footnotes, front matter, or the bibliography). In the final submission, assertions should be supported by 8 – 11 resources (more are allowed). Scripture should be used when applicable but does not count as one of the countable bibliographic resources. If the course textbooks are used, they should be footnoted and placed in the bibliography but they do not count towards the required 8 – 11 resources.

 

Given these instructions, the basic outline for your paper should be as follows:

I. Introduction

II. Analysis of the Opposing Worldview

III. Critique of the Opposing Worldview

IV. Defense of Christianity

V. Conclusion

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

Page 2 of 2

 

SOLUTION

Islam and Christianity have differing views on the nature and role of prophets and messengers. In Islam, the Prophet Muhammad is regarded as the last and greatest of all prophets, and the Quran is believed to be the final revelation of God to humanity. Muslims believe that the role of prophets is to convey God’s message and to guide humanity to the right path, and that they are infallible and sinless (Gastelum 2018, 137). On the other hand, Christianity regards Jesus Christ as the ultimate prophet and messenger of God, who is also the Son of God and the savior of humanity. Christians believe that prophets and messengers are called by God to communicate His message to humanity, but they are not infallible or sinless, except for Jesus.

3. Critique of Aspects of the Opposing Worldview

This section will form the building blocks of what will become the second major section in the body of your final paper (section III in the outline above): Critique the worldview by analyzing each bullet point from section II and by using sources from the opposing worldview, present a response to each of these bullet points. The number of bullet points needed will be determined by the thesis and the quality of your research but at least two are required.

· Regarding the idea of a single, all-powerful deity, the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is often misunderstood as being polytheistic, but it actually affirms the existence of one God who manifests Himself in three persons. This concept is not easily understood, but it is not inherently contradictory or illogical. Furthermore, Christianity teaches that God is not just a distant, impersonal force, but a loving and personal God who desires a relationship with each individual (Hart 2015, 17).

· The Muslim belief that the Quran is the final revelation of God and that the Prophet Muhammad is the last and greatest of all prophets is problematic from a Christian perspective, as it negates the divinity and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. Additionally, the idea that prophets are infallible and sinless is not supported by the Bible, as many prophets in the Bible made mistakes and sinned, but were still used by God to convey His message (Hart 2015, 18).

4. Bibliography

Gastelum, Jose A. “Comparing and Contrasting Islam and Christianity.” Cogent Arts & Humanities 5, no. 1 (2018): 137-45.

Hart, David Bentley. “The Hidden and the Manifest: Essays in Theology and Metaphysics.” Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2015.

Oni, Ayodeji O. “Comparative Study of Islam and Christianity: A Critical Analysis of Selected Literature.”