Event at Islamic Center of Southern California December 22 "Jesus: Son of Mary"

An event is scheduled December 22, at the Islamic Center of Southern California  (Los Angeles). It appears that the theme of the event will be to make the case that Jesus was the Son of Mary-not the Son of God as Christians believe. (Muslims believe that Jesus was a Prophet only-not the Son of God, and that He was followed by Mohammed-the final Prophet.) 

From: ICSC Sunday Program [mailto:icsc@islamctr.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of ICSC Sunday Program
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 12:58 PM
To: (name deleted)
Subject: The Most Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT) 4 and The Messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, December 22nd

Sunday Program, December 22nd, 2013 Dear Community Members and Friends, The story of Jesus Christ in the Quran has a lot of similarities and some fundamental differences with the Bible's narrative. Join us for a comparative examination of the birth of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and the last part of "The Most Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT)".    Tafseer al-Quran "The Most Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT) 4" Asim Buyuksoy 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM   Allah - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names. (Quran 20:8)   Followed by "The Messiah, Jesus Son of Mary" Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Baset 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM يا أَهْلَالْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّـهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ  إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّـهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ   O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He conveyed unto Mary and a spirit from Him... (Quran 4:171) Free babysitting will be available  Hope to see you there insha'Allah The Sunday Program Committee

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Here is the response by the person who received the invitation. I am deleting the person's name by request

"Dear Dr. Abdel-Baset, 
 
I have been invited to your December 22 lecture, "The Messiah, Jesus Son of 
Mary," but I must decline.  Jesus is referred to as the "Son of Mary" only one 
time in the Bible -- in Mark 6 2 -- when the residents of Nazareth rejected 
Jesus.  The passage goes on to say that Jesus was greatly  surprised that those 
people had no faith.  By contrast, the Bible refers to Jesus as "the Son of God" 
over 41 times.  That assertion should be in the title of your lecture because it 
more accurately represents how Jesus was identified by his biographers.  The 
fact that the Quran refers to Jesus as "the son of Marium (Mary)" 22 times shows 
the same disrespect for Jesus that was shown by the people of Nazareth.  No 
knowledgeable Christian would attend lecture bent on defaming Jesus.  Shame on 
you!"

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Fousesquawk comment:

As to the point of disagreement about Jesus between Muslims and Christians, I am perfectly 

willing to co-exist with Muslims in spite of that disagreement. Jews also disagree that Jesus was 

the Son of God. Buddhists do not believe in a monotheistic God in the first place. I can live with

that and live with them despite the disagreements.

At the same time, I find it somewhat offensive, if not provocative, that a mosque would hold such an event 

stressing that theme during the Christmas season. To many Christians, it is considered insulting to refer to 

Jesus as "The Son of Mary". 

To be fair, however, the event has not yet occurred and the presentations not yet given, so it may be that 

different interpretations might be presented merely as a point of discussion. I am hoping that Mr Baset will 

not attempt to argue that Christianity is a false religion because we believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

But we shall have to wait and see. If anyone happens to attend this event, please send us a report.