The document discusses several key beliefs in Islam: - Humans were created by Allah from blood and clay and given free will to obey God - The purpose of life is to obey Allah so as to gain entrance to paradise after judgment - Muslims believe there will be a day of judgment where one will be sent to either paradise or hell based on their deeds - Islam considers itself the true religion and invites people of all faiths to convert, though there is "no compulsion in religion"

1. Islam: Six Articles of Faith
• Muslim Beliefs about Human Nature
– According to the Qur'an, Allah "created man from a
clot of blood" at the same time he created
the jinn from fire. Humans are the greatest of all
creatures, created with free will for the purpose of
obeying and serving God.
• Muslim Beliefs about Life and Salvation
– The object of life is to live in a way that is pleasing to
Allah so that one may gain Paradise. It is believed that
at puberty, an account of each person's deeds is
opened, and this will be used at the Day of Judgment
to determine his eternal fate.

2. Islam: Six Articles of Faith
• Beliefs about the Afterlife
– There will be a day of judgment and humanity will be
divided between the eternal destinations of Paradise
and Hell.
• Views of Other Religions
– The Qur'an is clear that there must be "no compulsion
in religion" (2:256). Yet Islam is not indifferent to
conversion either - Muslims consider their religion to
the be the one true religion, and invite people of all
races, nationalities and religions to be part of it.

3. Christianity
• Regarding Jesus Christ,
the tenants of
Christianity are not
based blind faith -- as
some people have
claimed. In fact,
Christianity depends
very much on the
testimony of
eyewitnesses.

5. The Bible is true historically

6. There is better historical evidence
for the existence of Jesus than for
just about any ancient historical
figure
• Josephus 93-94 A.D.
• Cornelius Tacitus 112 A.D
• Mara bar Sarapion 73 AD

7. Josephus 93-94 A.D.
• "At this time there was a wise man who was called
Jesus. And his conduct was good, and [he] was
known to be virtuous. And many people from among
the Jews and other nations became his disciples.
Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And
those who had become his disciples did not abandon
his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared
to them three days after his crucifixion and that he
was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah
concerning whom the prophets have recounted
wonders." Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII.iii.3

8. Cornelius Tacitus 112 A.D
• "Christus, the founder of the name, was put
to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of
Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the
pernicious superstition, repressed for a time
broke out again, not only through Judea,
where the mischief originated, but through
the city of Rome also." Annals, XV.44

9. Mara bar Sarapion 73 AD
• Mara wrote a letter to his son (also called
Sarapion) which may contain an early non-
Christian reference to the crucifixion of Jesus.
• The letter refers to the unjust treatment of
"three wise men": the murder of Socrates, the
burning of Pythagoras, and the execution of
"the wise king" of the Jews.

10. Other sources
• Pliny the Younger (c. 61 - c. 112)
• Lucian of Samosata (Born 115 AD)
• Julius Africanus c 221
• Celsus late second century
• Dead Sea scrolls first century or older

11. Skeptical Eyewitness
• Thomas, doubted. He said, "Except I shall see
in His hands the print of the nails, and thrust
my hand into His side, I will not believe." Later,
when Jesus appeared and told him examine
His wounds to see that He really rose from the
dead, Thomas said, "My Lord and my God."
(John 20:24-28)