Mohammad: prophet or ordinary man

Christianity does not recognize Mohammad as a prophet, however, I believe he was spoken to by the angel Gabriel to teach the arabs about god. He had lived in a polytheistic community so the likelyhood of him imagining this stuff up himself is very unlikely, especially when Gabriel is a figure also found in the bible. So assuming he was divinely inspired, does this make him a prophet? What do you think the criteria are for being a prophet? Does anyoen know the official christian stance on this issue?

I've stated that the Mormons believe he was inspired by God. Given this he could be considered a prophet in the sense that he gained divine guidance for the betterment of his people. Was everything he stated from God? Not necessarily. Prophets are people that from time to time converse with, or are given information from, God or one of his messengers not of this world. Given this, prophets are people that receive a more direct line of communication from deity than most people are capable of.

He was also not isolated from the Jewish or Christian religions.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
He was also not isolated from the Jewish or Christian religions.

However, he was the onyl one in his group or settlement to have had this vision and no oen else in that group had any influence from judaism oir christianity. He was as well as his group isolated and if judaism and christianity had come, they would have spread there beliefs among that group, and he preached things that greatly differ teachings of christianity and judaism.

Originally posted by gordomuchacho
However, he was the onyl one in his group or settlement to have had this vision and no oen else in that group had any influence from judaism oir christianity. He was as well as his group isolated and if judaism and christianity had come, they would have spread there beliefs among that group, and he preached things that greatly differ teachings of christianity and judaism.

I saw a documentary about him (although I didn't watch all of the show) and that show gave me the impression that there was a lot of trade with the west. And along with goods came ideas.

Originally posted by gordomuchacho
Christianity does not recognize Mohammad as a prophet, however, I believe he was spoken to by the angel Gabriel to teach the arabs about god. He had lived in a polytheistic community so the likelyhood of him imagining this stuff up himself is very unlikely, especially when Gabriel is a figure also found in the bible. So assuming he was divinely inspired, does this make him a prophet? What do you think the criteria are for being a prophet? Does anyoen know the official christian stance on this issue?

A few small issues:

1. Its not difficult to jump from polytheism to thesim.
2. Muhammad was not sent to teach arabs. He has had global influence...and a very dtrong one at that.

Assuming all this religious stuff is true, which imo its not...since Muhammad was spoken to by Gabriel is would be a prophet...just like Jesus is a prophet in Islam.

Muhammad is special becuse he was the "final prophet" and was given the Qu'ran by God.

Mainstream Chirstianity does not accept Muhammad as a prophet. Likely do to a combination of:
1. They alread had a messiah...they didnt need ant more prophets.
2. They alread had a holy book...they didn't need another.
3. Christianity was already indoctrinated and was not open to any further modifications from outside itself.
4. Muhammad was the cornerstone of a competing religion..why incorporate what was probably percieved as "blasphemy"
5. Im sure racism also played a role.

Nope, Ordinary man, as was Jesus and any other so-called prophet.

well, like nearly all religious prophets, probably just an ordinary guy with epilepsy

Originally posted by Alliance

Mainstream Chirstianity does not accept Muhammad as a prophet. Likely do to a combination of:
1. They alread had a messiah...they didnt need ant more prophets.
2. They alread had a holy book...they didn't need another.
3. Christianity was already indoctrinated and was not open to any further modifications from outside itself.
4. Muhammad was the cornerstone of a competing religion..why incorporate what was probably percieved as "blasphemy"
5. Im sure racism also played a role.

ANyone can be a prophet who spread the god's word. Islam and CHristianity along with Judaism spring from Abrahamaic faith.

Originally posted by Alliance
A few small issues:

Muhammad is special becuse he was the "final prophet" and was given the Qu'ran by God.

God did no such thing. God did NOT give Muhammad the Qu'ran, this is false information. Moreover, God (YHWH) and Allah are NOT the same and they are NOT different terms of referring to the same God.

Yo Ignoramus Maximus, shut up. If u cant add to the discussion then dont speak. And saying that everything that everyone says( which is not what you were brainwashed to think) is wrong IS NOT adding to the discussion. GO do that in OTF or something.

I think that Muhammed may have been a prophet of god. If not, then he was an ordinary man with extraordinary thinking and ideas.

From a religious point of view, he may have been a prophet, well at least from the hindu stand point. Cause the two most recent incarnations of god was Buddha and Jesus. To me they all play the same role, they tried to get people to follow a path to better living, to be at peace with everything, to embrace diversity.......... something that people still have a problem doing and may always do, unfortunately.

Originally posted by Alliance
1. They alread had a messiah...they didnt need ant more prophets.

I thought that I'd point out the fallacy of this for Christians that claim this is true.

1. What happened to Paul as impetus for his conversion? Acts 9 describes Paul having Christ speak to him. God speaking to a specific man is something that defines a prophet.

2. Revelations. Um, prophecy?

3. Peter. Acts 10 describes Peter speaking with an angel. Another act that would define him as a prophet.

Many Christians will wave aside these as just a part of being an apostle. But Paul was not an apostle, he was a unbeliever attacking Christianity at the time of this occurrence. Thus prophets are shown to exist following Christ.

Originally posted by Nellinator
However, it important to note that the Arabs are the descendants of Ishmael not Isaac. The Hebrews (Jews) are descended from Isaac. The belief of the Jews is that they God's chosen people. The Messiah must be a Jew and the descendants of Ishmael are never to have authority over the Jews.

I dont know if you can prove who descended from who. YOu cant have that sourt of change in a 6,000 year history. And the Bible never says who the chinese and native americans descended from. Do they just nto exist? (please dont say Adam and Eve, i'm looking for sepecifics)

Muhammad is not the messiah if I am correct? He is simply the final and greatest prophet. (is that also the messiah???)

But Muhammad was a military man. That makes him 😎

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
God did no such thing. God did NOT give Muhammad the Qu'ran, this is false information. Moreover, God (YHWH) and Allah are NOT the same and they are NOT different terms of referring to the same God.

Originally posted by fini
Yo Ignoramus Maximus, shut up.

Originally posted by Regret
Thus prophets are shown to exist following Christ.

Muhammad was no ordinary man.

Originally posted by gordomuchacho
Christianity does not recognize Mohammad as a prophet, however, I believe he was spoken to by the angel Gabriel to teach the arabs about god. He had lived in a polytheistic community so the likelyhood of him imagining this stuff up himself is very unlikely, especially when Gabriel is a figure also found in the bible. So assuming he was divinely inspired, does this make him a prophet? What do you think the criteria are for being a prophet? Does anyoen know the official christian stance on this issue?

Gabriel was mentioned in both Christianity and Judaism, however both of these religions (and particularly Judaism) were VERY well known in the Arabia at the time.

Mohammad was a son of a merchant, who traveled places dominated by Christians and Jews, and the stories of the Abraham, prophets, Gabriel, and one God were very well known.

Qur'an recognises Jesus and Moses as prophets.

I believe he was spoken to by an Angel in cave, as much as I believe that Moses was spoken to by a burning bush, and that Jesus was born of a virgin. In another words, it is not impossible, but extremely unlikely.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Gabriel was mentioned in both Christianity and Judaism, however both of these religions (and particularly Judaism) were VERY well known in the Arabia at the time.

Mohammad was a son of a merchant, who traveled places dominated by Christians and Jews, and the stories of the Abraham, prophets, Gabriel, and one God were very well known.

Qur'an recognises Jesus and Moses as prophets.

I believe he was spoken to by an Angel in cave, as much as I believe that Moses was spoken to by a burning bush, and that Jesus was born of a virgin. In another words, it is not impossible, but extremely unlikely.

I absolutely agree....in case someone was wondering what I thought.

Originally posted by Alliance
Well, maybe the definitnon of prohpet is more complex than that?
They are of Jesus's era. I;ever heard of them being termed as prophets...Jesus apparentyl didn't want competition...or mayby its just Mormonism and its poly-prophetism

They weren't termed as such, but they did occur following his death, resurrection, and ascension. The occurrences are the same as what defines a prophet pre-Christ, as far as Biblical accounts go. There is no Biblical evidence that supports these occurrences yet denies future occurrences that would be similar. Christian denial of modern prophets is without support.

Unless you believe that God doest exist or talks to no one.

Originally posted by Alliance
Unless you believe that God doest exist or talks to no one.

Well, yes, but then the question is moot.