n e w c h u r c h l i f e : m ay / j u n e 2 0 1 6
Islam and Swedenborg
To The Editors:
This is in response to Benjamin Pendleton’s article in the January-February
2016 New Church Life, “Islam, Swedenborg and the Heavenly Doctrines,”
which was in response to my article, “Swedenborg and Islam” in the JanuaryFebruary 2012 issue, which he misquotes three times.
At the end of his article Mr. Pendleton seems to imply that all statements
in the Writings from the natural world are necessarily true: spirits from the
moon, references to the Quran. He asks if I believe that dead Christianity, faith
alone or atheism are adequate responses to militant Islam. That’s irrelevant and
certainly not true. In his defense of Swedenborg’s treatment of Islam he seems
also to be defending the indefensible – Islam.
He says, “the Heavenly Doctrines’ statements on Islam . . . presumably
were given in part so that we could have some way of responding to the
challenge Islam presents. What is lacking are any ideas/solutions for dealing
with the situation.” I doubt if the Writings anticipated the future challenge of
Islam, and what is “lacking,” of course, is true of my article as well as specifics
in the Writings.
Mr. Pendleton says I said, “several . . . statements in the Writings on
Islam are ‘simply not true.’” Not so. I said this with respect to one statement:
“(Swedenborg says) from the Quran Muslims acknowledge Jesus as the ‘Son of
God.’ This is simply not true.”
He uses more than a page discussing this, including a quote that supports
my statement: “The Christians say, The Messiah is the Son of God. . . . The
curse of Allah be upon them.” (9:30)
He concludes: “The Heavenly Doctrines are correct: the Quran does
acknowledge that Jesus was the Messiah and that He was conceived of Jehovah
the Father.” But the Quran still does not mention the “Son of God.” When Son
is mentioned it’s always, “Son of Mary.” Indeed, 19:35 says: “It befitteth not (the
majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son.” And 6:100: “How
should He have a son when He has no consort?” The Quran does, however,
accept the virgin birth, although under different circumstances.
As for “conceived of Jehovah the Father,” nowhere does the Quran use any
of these words in this connection. The Quran says: “Allah createth what He
will.” (3:47) “He created him of dust.” (3:59) “We sent unto (Mary) Our spirit
[who said] that I may bestow on thee a faultless son.” (9:17-21) “We breathed
into her (something) of Our spirit.” (21:19 and 66:12, and a few more such).
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