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Arab Culture/Muhammad and Jesus

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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 7/9/2010


Question
My reading indicates that Muslims regard Jesus as an important figure or great prophet.  Did Mohammad believe that Jesus was the Christ?  Do many Muslims believe that Jesus is the Christ?

Answer
Greetings Don, and thanks for your question.  Yes, Muslims regard Jesus as an important figure or great prophet, but they do not regard Jesus as the Christ or as having been a deity.  They do not believe in the crucifixion/resurrection or of Jesus being the 'Son of God;' there is some theological debate on the topic of virgin birth.  This is actually quite similar to Jewish teachings about Jesus as well.  However, some Muslims do celebrate or observe Christmas on the calendar as the birth of this important prophet.  

There are a number of good books out there describing similarities and differences, and while this isn't a paid advertisement for Amazon, I'm including this link to give you an idea.  I particularly like the first 2-3 titles on the list and have referred to them before.  Hope this helps!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dus-stripbooks-tree&fie...

peace,

Le Anne

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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