عُدتُ الى المنبر هذه المرة لأبشر بالمسيحية +++

As I am away from my base, I am unable to put my hands on an Arabic Keyboard. So, please accept this reply in English.

Brother Ernst,

From my education, profession & experience (I am a planning advisor to an oil company), I learnt a few things that may come handy in the process of replying to you:

1. Not to undermine the abilities of my opponent, because that will not help my argument with others who could be able.

2. Not to try to outsmart others depending on rhetoric only, without solid facts on the ground,

3. Never patronize and always assume that what is available to me in the form of data, information or tactics is also available to others.

4. To remember what was said and what was recorded.

I listen to your message carefully, and despite your ‘a-bit-overboard’ analogy of the student who does not study, I can calmly understand your point and try to reply:

On whether I read the Bible, I can tell you this:

Old Testament: I read several parts of the Old Testament and, due to some disagreement in my mind, I stopped…., least I commit something that may not please Allah.

I wandered, while reading the Old Testament, whether to believe in the incest of Lot, or the deceptive attitudes of Isaac and his son Jacob, or the sacredness of Sampson of Delilah, etc... I stopped reading because I have a comparative account in our Holy Quran, where Lot, Isaac and Jacob are highly revered prophets of Allah. No comment on Sampson.

New Testament: I read the whole of the New Testament and I noticed it is composed of:
~ 30% the 4 Gospels (3 similar & John a bit different)
~ 20% Acts of the Apostles (Leading and predominant, is St. Peter)
~ 50% Messages & correspondence (including the Book of revelations)
I was confused as to where is the “Ingeel”, and whether the whole package is on.

At the time (1985), I resorted to some Christian collogues, who were invariably admitting that they do not know much about Christianity….. One Coptic collogue volunteered to get me answers from his priests. However, when he used to bring theses answers back, he never seemed to me to be convinced himself, let alone that he thought of convincing me.

I do agree with you that we may be going in circles, because I never meant to convert to Christianity and you never meant to convert to Islam. I do not mind reading your tidings and good news, as nothing I find contradictory with my Islam, as I told you before.

But when you emit subtle messages such as: that “Muslims” have no idea about the goodness of Christianity so that they may compare it with “whatever” of Islam, or messages about the exclusive violence of Islam, as if there is nothing called “Crusades” , etc.., then you really push many to stand up to what you are writing.

No one can ignore the warm welcome you received and definitely you deserved, when you opened this post. And no one can but respect your objective to preach Christianity, and no one can but admire your politeness and patience….. But could you make that go without provocation to your addressees, please????.

I hope you are convinced that I am a bit better than the negligent student of your analogy.

I close this message by asking you whole heartedly to read the Bible (not the Quran) deep enough to enable you to convince any one, e.g. that the blood of animal offerings in the Old Testament has been settled by the blood of Jesus Christ, according to your answer.

Allah Bless Us All.