Christian Theologians: 'Episcopal Muslim' Faith is Illogical, Contradictory
News of an Episcopal priest claiming to be simultaneously a Christian and a Muslim has Christian theologians shaking their head in dismay at the irreconcilable contradiction.
While some call the statement heresy and others illogical, the theologians agreed that the Christian belief in the divine being and savior Jesus Christ is incompatible with Islamic teaching of Jesus as a prophet.
Christianity's foundation is built on the understanding of Jesus Christ as the son of God who is fully human and yet fully divine, explained the Rev. Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and one of America's pre-eminent Evangelical leaders. The Christian faith also points to Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection as the only way for mankind's salvation.
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Islam, on the other hand, "explicitly denies" that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that He died on the cross and resurrected from the dead, acknowledging only Jesus as a great prophet, His virgin birth, and His future role in judgment
"These are merely the most obvious foundational contradictions between Christianity and Islam," Mohler wrote on his blog. "Furthermore, these most obvious contradictions are affirmed by all major Christian denominations and both historic branches of Islam."
The Rev. Ann Holmes Redding recently made headlines for claiming to be both a Christian and Muslim. She was formerly the director of faith formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle and has been a priest for more than 20 years. However, for the last 15 months she has also been a Muslim, according to The Seattle Times.
Dr. Emir Caner, dean of The College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, described Redding's faith conviction as "an extraordinary illustration of what has become Postmodern Christianity in America."
Postmodernists are characterized for criticizing the conventional and embracing contradictions.
"It is a logical impossibility for someone to be both a Muslim and Christian since they stand in direct opposition to each other on such crucial theological issues as the cross, resurrection, and salvation," Caner, a former devout Muslim, said to The Christian Post.
Meanwhile, Chuck Colson, founder of the Christian ministry Prison Fellowship, commented that "there's so much wrong here that I scarcely know where to begin," in response to Redding's dual faith.
Colson pointed out that religion is not only about "feelings," but being Christian is about believing in undeniable truths such as original sin, the Trinity and the divinity of Christ.
"Redding is simply an extreme example in the Episcopal Church," concluded Colson in a commentary on Tuesday. "But sadly she represents the widespread, politically correct belief that all religions lead to the same place – a message which is not only dead wrong as a matter of logic, but one which denies Christ.
"In short, it is the ultimate heresy."
