Repudiation of Philosophical and Irfani (Mystical) Fundamentals in Imam Riza (Salaam Be Upon Him)’s Monotheistic Teachings

Part 2

Continuing the footnote by kindfather.com:

...“At its core, Gnosticism formed a speculative interest in the relationship of the oneness of God to the ‘triplicity’ of his manifestations. It seems to have taken Neoplatonic metaphysics of substance and hypostases (“being”) in its attempt to define a new theology. (Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine. Vol. 1, the Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600). Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1971.)

“Although, Athanasius [the renowned bishop of Alexandria, 4th century C.E.] took his monotheism seriously, he later taught that the only way to save mankind from moral and physical extinction was for God to do the unthinkable, descend into human flesh.” Athanasius, “On the Incarnation of the World”, in Phillip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd Series, vol. 4, Athanasius: Select Works and Letters (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994)

“Early Christians were slow to develop a distinctly Christian philosophy. When they did, their philosophical environment was Neo-Platonic. This mind-set directly influenced the historic development of Christian philosophy and theology.” (J. W. Jepson, D.Min.)

“The word ‘trinity’ was not coined until Tertullian [a christian philosopher], more than 100 years after Christ’s death, and the key words (meaning substance) from the Nicene debate, homousis and ousis,  are not biblical, but from Stoic thought. … It was Tertullian (c.160-230) who first coined the term trinitas from which the English word ‘trinity’ is derived. He clarifies thus the ‘mystery of the divine economy ... [Jesus and Father being] different not in substance but in aspect, not in power but in manifestation’ (qtd. in Lonergan 46). … Again, Tertullian explains the concept of [Jesus] being brought forth [from the Father]: ‘As the root brings forth the shoot, as the spring brings forth the stream, as the sun brings forth the beam’ (qtd. in Lonergan 45).” (Cher-El L. Hagensick)

Believing in concepts such as being different not in substance, being brought forth, and … clearly indicates that Tertullian’s belief was a composition of Gnosticism, mysticism and philosophy; the same Wahdat al wujood wal mawjood … !

Here are a few statements of the renowned historian Will Durant from his book: Caesar and Christ. New York: Simon. 1944. Vol. 3 of The Story of Civilization. 11 vols. 1935-75:

“Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it” (Caesar 595)

Durant ties in pagan philosophy with Christianity when he states that the second century Alexandrian Church, from which both Clement and Origen came, “wedded Christianity to Greek philosophy” (Caesar 613)

Durant writes of the famed pagan philosopher, Plotinus, that “Christianity accepted nearly every line of him...” (Caesar 611)

Durant adds that ‘with [Origen] Christianity ceased to be only a comforting faith; it became a full-fledged philosophy … (Caesar 615)

Durant summarizes early Christianity: “In Christ and Peter, Christianity was Jewish; in Paul it became half Greek; in Catholicism it became half Roman” (Caesar 579)

Notice, Durant states that at the beginning Christianity with the teachings of Jesus and Peter, the Prophet and his God Chosen Successor, was in line with the teachings of previous Prophets (before distortions of course), and then Durant states that with Paul, i.e. the usurper, teachings of Jesus and Peter were changed and they became half Greek, and later with the Church, they were distorted further and became half Roman. It is also very important to mention that while for instance the Catholic Church regards Peter very highly, but it too has actually been following the distorted teachings of Paul the usurper, philosophy, mysticism, Gnosticism and ,… . Therefore we all must realize that claiming to love Allah, His Prophets and their Successors is sincere when their genuine and pure teachings are followed.

The Muslims have to be EXTREMELY careful; unless they follow Qur’an and the Prophet Mohammad’s and his Allah Chosen Successors’, the twelve Infallible Imams’, (SBUT) Allah-Taught interpretations and teachings, the same dark clouds of Successorship usurpation, pagan philosophies, mysticism and … have been casting their satanic shadows on the nation of Islam therefore introducing concepts such as Wahdat al wujood wal mawjood- which consider creations similar and even the same as the Creator and thus clearly against Monotheism- in Islam too. One reason that these concepts are so similar in judaism, christianity and islam stem from the sad fact that the teacher has been the same, i.e. Shaytaan … .

… And as the result it has been predicted that those Muslims -who have not TRULY followed Qur’an and the Pure teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and his Infallible AhlulBayt (SBUT)- would step into the same dark footsteps of the nations of the previous Prophets (SBUT) and thus would deviate from the Straight Path of Allah to Eternal Salvation; as a sample Hadith let us look at a saying from the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA) in regard to the verse 84:19:

“You will follow the manner of your previous ones step by step and to a hair … in a way that if they had entered a crocodile hole you will undoubtedly enter into it too!”

The companions asked the Prophet (SBUH&HA) who the previous ones were? And the Prophet Mohammad (SBUH&HA) responded:

“The Yahood (jews) and the Nasaara (christians).”

(Tafsir al-Qomi, vol. 2, p. 413; Behaar al Anwaar (Bihar al Anwar), vol. 24, p. 350; …)

Amir al Mo’menin (SBUH) has also said:

“In problems related to the intellect and reason, they refer to themselves and are their own refuge. They rely on their opinions in ambiguous and unclear matters as if each one of them is his own Imam.”

(Vasaa’elush Shi’ah, vol. 18, p. 117)

Imam Moosa Kaazem (SBUH) has warned:

“O Yunus! Never be an Innovator. One who holds his own opinion is destroyed, one who forsakes the AhlulBayt (SBUT) of the Prophet (SBUH&HA) is deviated, and he who abandons the Book of Allah and the Traditions of His Prophet (SBUH&HA) has indeed disbelieved.”

(Wasaa'el-O-Shshi'ah, vol. 18, p. 24; …)

Imam Ja’far Saadeq (SBUH) has said:

“God is absolutely independent of all His creatures, and all His creatures have absolutely nothing in common with Him. And to whatsoever the expression ‘thing’ is applicable is a creature except God, and God is the Creator of everything, blessed is He, naught is as His likeness and He is the All-Hearing and All-Seeing”.

(al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 82; …)

End of footnote by kindfather.com]

To be continued …