Christianity: A Journey from Facts to Fiction

Christianity

A Journey from Facts to Fiction

MIRZA TAHIR AHMAD

Khalifatul Masih IV

The Fourth Successor of the Promised Messiah

Christianity—A Journey from Facts to Fiction

by Mirza Tahir Ahmad

First published in U.K. 1994

Second edition 1996

Third edition 1997

Present fourth edition 2006

© Islam International Publications Ltd.

All Rights Reserved.

Published in the United Kingdom by:

Islam International Publications Ltd. Islamabad

Sheephatch Lane

Tilford, Surrey GUIO 2AQ

Printed in the United Kingdom by:

The Bath Press

Lower Bristol Road, Bath

Cover design by Salman Sajid

eBook layout by Masood Nasir

ISBN: 1 85372 883 7 (Hbk)

Smashwords Edition

About the Author

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(rh) (1928–2003), a man of God, Voice articulate of the age, a great orator, a deeply learned scholar of phenomenal intelligence, a prolific and versatile writer, a keen student of comparative religions was loved and devoutly followed by his more than 10 million Ahmadi Muslim followers all over the world as their Imam, the spiritual head, being the fourth successor of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the Promised Messiah and Mahdi(as)), to which august office he was elected as Khalifatul Masih in 1982.

After the promulgation of general Zia ul Haq anti-Ahmadiyya Ordinance of 26th April 1984 he had to leave his beloved country, Pakistan, and migrated to England from where he launched Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International (MTA) which would (and still does) telecast its programmes 24 hours a day to the four corners of the world.

Besides being a religious leader, he was a homeopathic physician of world fame, a highly gifted poet and a sportsman.

He had his schooling in Qadian, India, and later joined the Govt. College, Lahore, Pakistan, and after graduating from Jami‘ah Ahmadiyya, Rabwah, Pakistan with distinction, he obtained his honours degree in Arabic from the Punjab University, Lahore. From 1955 to 1957 he studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

He had a divinely inspired and very deep knowledge of the Holy Quran which he translated into Urdu. He also partially revised and added explanatory notes to the English translation of the Holy Quran by Hazrat Maulawi Sher ‘Ali(ra). 'Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth' is his magnum opus.

Though he had no formal education in philosophy and science, he had a philosophical bent of mind and tackled most difficult and abstruse theological-philosophical questions with great acumen and ease and his intellectual approach was always rational and scientific. For a layman he had an amazingly in-depth knowledge of science, especially life sciences which attracted him most. He also had deep knowledge of human psychology. His was an analytical mind of high intelligence—an intellect scintillating with brilliance, capable of solving knottiest problems with ease, leaving his listeners and readers spellbound.

Foreword to the Present Edition

Christianity—A Journey from Facts to Fiction, by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, (1928–2003), Khalifatul Masih IV, was first published in U.K. in 1994 by Islam International Publication Ltd., and it is being reissued now.

The book is a critique of the fundamental tenets of Christianity, or to put it in modern philosophical terminology—used here loosely—it is a deconstruction of the myth of Christianity. The critique or the deconstruction is based on forceful, flawless and impeccable logical arguments to dismantle the myth so that its entire fabric is unravelled just in about two hundred pages. At the very outset the author, in his foreword, says: ‘I have chosen to address the question solely from a logical point of view. I believe that this is the only platform, common to all, which can be used for a fruitful constructive dialogue. Otherwise any discussion on the basis of what the individual scriptures present, along with their various interpretations, would lead to a tangle of controversy from which it would be difficult to wriggle out.’ When the author uses scriptural, scientific and historical evidence in the context of his discourse, he uses it only to develop his logical arguments which are his mainstay. Logic being his forte, no unprejudiced reader, Christian or non-Christian, would find himself able to defy his logic.

However, when the author explodes the myth of ‘Christianity’, he—God forbid—does not mean to be disrespectful to Jesus Christ(as), or refute Christianity understood as the true teachings and examples of Jesus Christ(as). He says: ‘I must emphasize, however, that I do not mean to be disrespectful, in any way, to the Christians or to the person of Jesus Christ(as). As a Muslim, it is a fundamental article of my faith to believe in the truth of Jesus Christ(as) and to accept him as a special and honoured Messenger(as) of God, holding a unique position among the Prophets of Israel…. My purpose is not to drive a wedge between Christians and Christ(as). On the contrary, I wish to help Christians to come closer to the reality of Jesus Christ(as) and away from the myth created around him’

The Christian myth, according to the author, has led to the moral decadence of Christians and has helped promoting Western Imperialism. It has also been a hindrance in the progress of knowledge, especially scientific knowledge which was made possible only when the myth was renounced, with the unfortunate consequence of turning most Christian scholars, scientists and other intellectuals to atheism—in fact, it (the myth) turned Europe into a breeding ground of atheism.

Putting aside the myth and turning to facts, we find that Jesus Christ(as) was a man, and no more than a man, and a great Prophet of God. ‘His real greatness lies in the fact that he transcended and conquered the forces of darkness that had conspired to vanquish him despite being a human being and no more than a human being. That victory of Jesus(as) is something to be shared with pride by the children of Adam(as). He taught humanity by his example of perseverance in the face of extreme suffering and pain. Not to surrender but to remain steadfast in the teeth of extreme trial was the noblest achievement of Jesus(as). It was his life of suffering and pain [not his fictional death on the cross to suffer for three days and nights in Hell] that redeemed humanity.’ He did not voluntarily accept death: he conquered death.

I believe that this book needs to be read from cover to cover. The main theme of the book—the critique of Christian doctrines like the Godhead of Christ(as) his ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Ascension’ etc—is covered in the first six chapters. The seventh chapter traces the history of the evolution of Christianity. The last chapter—Christianity Today—is important in its own right and must not be skipped over. Its two main themes are: (1) the relationship of Christianity and the West and (2) prophecy about the second coming of Christ(as) which was fulfilled with the advent of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). Analyzing the relationship of Christianity to the West, the author makes a very important observation and says: ‘From the above it should be evident that the Christianity we are talking about is very distant from the Christianity of Jesus Christ(as). To conceive of Western culture as Christianity is a manifest error. To attribute the current form of Christianity, in its various spheres, to Christ(as) is indeed an insult to him. There are exceptions of course to every rule… [Thus] there is a small number of individual islands of hope and life in the Christian world where Christian sincerity, love and sacrifice are genuinely practiced. There are the islands of hope around which rage oceans of immorality that are slowly and gradually corroding and finally claiming more edges of these islands. Had the Christian world not been bejewelled with such shining examples of Christianity practiced in the spirit of Jesus Christ(as), however a few and far between, a total darkness would envelop the Western horizon. Without Christianity there is no light in Western civilization, but, alas, that light is also fast fading.

It is essential for the Christian world to return to the reality of Christ(as) and to cure themselves of their split identity and inherent hypocricy¹.’

Summing up the theme of the Coming of the first Messiah—Jesus Christ(as)—and his second Coming in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as). The author says: ‘Here is the case of Messiah who was a fact of history and not the product of fiction, and here again is the case of Messiah whose re-advent was as realistic as was his first appearance as a commissioned Divine leader. It is entirely upto the people of this age to choose to live continuously in a world of legends and fancies… or to accept the hard realities of this life.’

As Muslims we believe in, deeply love and have the greatest regard for this Noble Prophet(as) of Allah Jesus Christ(as). And as Ahmadi Muslims we believe in his second coming which was fulfilled in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. And we invite the whole world to Jesus Christ(as), the Prophet of Allah. We invite the entire world to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa), the last and the greatest Prophet(as) of Allah, about whose advent Jesus Christ(as), like other Prophets(as), prophesied. And we invite the whole world to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi who was the true servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa), who was raised by Allah in the likeness of Jesus Christ(as) and who was sent by Allah to complete the mission of the Holy Prophet(sa)—the revival of Islam and its final victory over all other faiths and creeds.

May Allah guide and bless all.

Mirza Anas Ahmad

M.A. M. Litt. (OXON)

Wakilul Isha’at,

Rabwah

Pakistan

¹ Italics are mine.

Publisher's Note

We are pleased to publish the fourth edition of Christianity—a Journey from Facts to Fiction, by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(rh), which was first published in 1994.

Please note that all the Biblical references except one on page, are taken from the New Oxford Annotated Bible, with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Versions, New York, Oxford University Press, 1973.

The name of Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of Islam, has been followed by the symbol (sa), which is an abbreviation for the salutation Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The names of other Prophets(as) and messengers are followed by the symbol (as), an abbreviation for ‘Alaihissalam/‘Alaihimussalam (on whom be peace). The actual salutations have not generally been set out in full, but they should nevertheless, be understood as being repeated in full in each case. The symbol (ra) is used with the name of the Companions of the Holy Prophet(sa) and those of the Promised Messiah(as). It stands for Radi Allahu ‘anhu/‘anha/‘anhum (May Allah be pleased with him/with her/with them). (rh) stands for Rahimahullahu Ta‘ala (may Allah’s blessing be on him). (at) stands for Ayyadahullahu Ta‘ala (May Allah, the Almighty help him).

In transliterating Arabic words we have followed the system adopted by the Royal Asiatic Society.

We have not transliterated Arabic words which have become part of English language, e.g., Islam, Mahdi, Quran¹, Hijra, Ramadan, Hadith, ulama, umma, sunna, kafir etc.

The Publishers

¹ Concise Oxford Dictionary records Quran in three forms—Quran, Qur’an and Koran. [Publisher]

Introduction

The person of Christ(as) is vitally important to the contemporary world. His importance does not remain confined to the Christian world alone but also extends to other major religions such as Judaism and Islam in particular. If these powerful religions were to unite in one common understanding about the nature of the person of Christ(as), his first and also his promised second advent, then such an understanding would lead to the resolution of many problems confronting mankind today. Unfortunately, even the very basic facts about the life of Jesus(as), his purpose, ideology and person are completely misunderstood. In their perception of these aspects, these religions are so strongly at odds with each other that a bitter rivalry among them becomes inevitable.

When we look at the facts of Crucifixion and consider what happened and why it happened, as well as at Redemption and its related philosophy, we find conflicting answers from various early sources. I have chosen to address this question solely from a logical point of view. I believe that this is the only platform, common to all, which can be used for a fruitful constructive dialogue. Otherwise, any discussion on the basis of what the individual scriptures present, along with their various interpretations, would lead to a tangle of controversy from which it would be difficult to wriggle out.

Two thousand years have already come to pass, yet based on the scriptures alone, no solution which would be equally acceptable to all has so far been reached. The crux of the problem is that the very reliability of certain scriptural claims is further compounded by their various divergent explanations. Also, immense complications arise out of the gradual growth of conflicting understandings revolving around the historical person of Christ(as). The vision of a historic perspective generally tends to be fogged and obscured. By any standards, the passage of two millennia is no ordinary obstacle in perceiving events as distant as that of the time of Jesus(as). Human logic and reason, further aided by the dawn of scientific knowledge, have neither creed, nor colour nor religion. They are common to all peoples and religions alike. Logic and logic alone can provide us with a basis for consensus.

I will attempt to examine the problem from different vantage points. First, let me begin with Christianity and view it as the Christians see it and then critically analyse it under the magnifying glass of reason. I must emphasize, however, that I do not mean to be disrespectful, in any way, to the Christians or to the person of Jesus Christ(as). As a Muslim, it is a fundamental article of my faith to believe in the truth of Jesus Christ(as), and to accept him as a special and honoured messenger of God, holding a unique position among the prophets of Israel. But where truth demands, in all fairness to logic, common sense and human understanding, one cannot abstain from revising one’s views on Christianity. My purpose is not to drive a wedge between Christians and Christ(as). On the contrary, I wish to help Christians come closer to the reality of Jesus Christ(as) and move away from the myth created around him.

Time can distort reality into myths and legends. The influence of such legends only serves to distance man from the realities of life. As a result, faith becomes imaginary and unreal. Whereas true faith has its roots in the verities and facts of history, it is very real and potent enough to bring about significant changes in human society.

In the endeavour to understand the true faith and teachings of Jesus(as), it is essential to sift out the fact from the fiction and truth from myth. The search for truth is the ultimate purpose of this exercise. I hope that you will bear with me and understand that I mean no offence to anyone’s beliefs or sentiments.

A critical approach is essential