Expert: J.M.J. West - 11/12/2008

Question
ive been studying the Koran and i see huge similarities between them, the gospel is even in the Koran. the only exception is that "their" Jesus was abducted before death on the cross and Allah sent another man in Jesus's image to take the punishment which seems a little odd to me because where would the substitute come from? heaven? i think not... anyway i just wanted to know if Allah and our God are basically the same God. at any rate it's an interesting read. But i remember that in the NT it says that if any other gospel is preached by an apostle or even an ((angel)) that he be accursed. what does he mean by accursed? And if Mohammed be "accursed" then do you believe it was not Gabriel that delivered him those messages but in fact it was Satan acting as the angel of light to throw people off the path through salvation in Christ? thanks a bunch

Answer
Connor,

Thanks again for your questions.  

YOU WROTE:
"ive been studying the Koran and i see huge similarities between them, the gospel is even in the Koran. the only exception is that "their" Jesus was abducted before death on the cross and Allah sent another man in Jesus's image to take the punishment which seems a little odd to me because where would the substitute come from? heaven? i think not... anyway i just wanted to know if Allah and our God are basically the same God. at any rate it's an interesting read."

It's interesting to note that Islam, when it first arose, wasn't considered "another" religion, but rather an aberrant sect of Christianity.  Some even thought the Koran was a Christian text that had simply been altered.  The notion that Jesus didn't actually die on the cross has roots in 1st century gnostic heresy, and so many thought this was just that same (or a similar take on that) classic heresy.  

As it is, there is much which can be lauded in the faith practiced by Muslims, and the Catholic church has no problem saying that they are in fact worshiping the one true God, and even "the God of Abraham", but that they do not properly understand who he is or what he has done in the world.  "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day" (CCC 841).

(more here: http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0207bt.asp).

As it is, Catholicism has no problem admitting that other faiths have shades of the truth, and some more than others.  The grand "hierarchy of the truth" would look something like this:

FULLNESS OF THE TRUTH: Catholicism
Slightly less: Orthodox Christianity
Slightly less that that: Protestantism
Slightly less that that: Aberrant Christan Sects (eg. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses)
Slightly less that that: Jews, who seek to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Slightly less that that: Muslims, who seek to worship the God of Abraham (via Ishmael).
Slightly less that that: Other Monotheists
Slightly less that that: Polytheists et al. (eg. Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, etc)
Slightly less that that: Atheists and Agnostics.

And even the last category has some hope.  C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity the following which sums up well the idea of their share in the truth:
- - - - -
He works on us in all sorts of  ways: not only
through what we think our "religious life." He works through Nature, through
our  own bodies, through books, sometimes through experiences which seem (at
the time) anti-Christian. When a young man who has been going to church in a
routine way honestly realises that he does not  believe in  Christianity and
stops going-provided he does it for honesty's sake and not just to annoy his
parents-the spirit of Christ is probably nearer to him then than it ever was
before.
- - - - -

YOU WROTE:
"But i remember that in the NT it says that if any other gospel is preached by an apostle or even an ((angel)) that he be accursed. what does he mean by accursed?"

The quote is: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.   As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9)

It seems to be the case that false claimants to the gospel were always a planned (or at least expected) contingency, and so people claiming angels giving messages which don't square with that entrusted to the apostles ought to send up a red flag.  This is the case with Islam (and also Mormonism).

YOU WROTE:
"And if Mohammed be "accursed" then do you believe it was not Gabriel that delivered him those messages but in fact it was Satan acting as the angel of light to throw people off the path through salvation in Christ? thanks a bunch"

I do not believe it to be the self-same Gabriel who announced to Mary that she would conceive a child born of the Most High God.  Who - or rather What - else it might have been I don't know for certain.  Your theory certainly holds some water.

I hope that helps.  

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West