Kanisa Katoliki Sumbawanga bado tete

Mwandishi Wetu, Sumbawanga

SAKATA la mamia ya waumini wa Kanisa Katoliki Jimbo la Sumbawanga mkoani Rukwa kutengwa na wengine kufukuzwa waumini ndani ya kanisa hilo limezua sura mpya, kwa wakazi wa mkoa huo huku viongozi wa kanisa hilo wakivitaka vyombo vya habari kuwa makini wakati wa kutoa taarifa za suala hilo.


Kanisa hilo, limenukuliwa hivi karibuni kuwasimamisha waumini wake karibu kwa tuhuma za kuwapigia kura wagombea wa CCM ambao wanadaiwa kulidhalilisha kanisa hilo.
Aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge wa Jimbo la Sumbawanga kupitia CCM Aeshy Hillary pamoja na wagombea udiwani wa jimbo hili kwa nyakati tofauti wanadaiwa walisikika wakisema kuwa ukimchagua Rais Kikwete ni sawa na kumchagua Mungu’ Kikwete ni Mungu Baba na kwamba mbunge Aeshy ni Mungu Mwana huku madiwani wakifananishwa na mungu Roho Mtakatifu .

Hata hivyo habari za ndani ya kanisa hilo, zilieleza kuwa baadhi ya waandishi wanaoabudu katika kanisa hilo watachukuliwa hatua za kisheria kwa mujibu wa kanisa hilo wakituhumiwa kulifuatilia suala hilo wakati mapadri na waumini hawakutaka litangazwe.

Viongozi wa kanisa hilo, wanadaiwa kuendelea kupokea majina ya waumini kutoka kwa viongozi wa jumuiya ya watu wanaotakiwa kutengwa na kanisa hilo.

Baadhi ya wakazi wa hapa walianza kupata hofu dhidi ya waandishi wanaofuatilia sakata hilo na kusema kuwa wasipokuwa makini wanaweza kupata uendawazimu kutokana na maombi yanayofanywa na waumini wa kanisa hilo.

Katika kipindi cha kampeni za uchaguzi mkuu, baadhi ya waumini hao, waliotengwa wanadaiwa kuwafafanisha wagombea ubunge na Urais kupitia CCM na utatu mtakatifu

Hata hivyo waumini na wananchi wa Mji wa Sumbawanga wamemtuhumu aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge wa jimbo hilo kupitia CCM Hillary pamoja na wagombea udiwani wa jimbo hilo kwa kuzusha tafrani hiyo.

Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo vya habari inafafanua kuwa kauli hiyo ilitolewa vibaya na baadhi ya waumini wa dini hiyo huku wengine wakitilia mkazo kuwa ni kweli mbunge huyo alitamka hadharani akiwa katika mkutano wake wa kampeni uliofanyika Izia mjini Sumbawanga.

Chanzo kimoja cha habari kinaeleza aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge huyo, alifafananisha utatu huo mtakatifu na mafiga matatu kauli inayotumiwa na wanachama wa CCM kwamba ili kauli hiyo itimie ni lazima awepo diwani ,mbunge na rais.

Kutokana na hali hiyo, mbunge huyo, alinukuliwa akisema kwamba katika vitabu vitakatifu kuna utatu mtakatifu na katika siasa kuna mafiga matatu na kusema kuwa kauli hiyo ilikuwa ni kauli ya kuwavuta wananchi ili waweze kumpatia kura za ndio katika uchaguzi mkuu uliopita wa Octoba mwaka huu.

Vyanzo hivyo vya habari vinaeleza kuwa kauli hiyo ilionekana kuwaudhi viongozi na waumini wa makanisa ya kikatoliki katika jimbo hilo la Sumbawanga.

Katika kipindi cha wiki ya mwisho ya kampeni mgombea huyo alionekana akiomba radhi katika mikutano yake ya kampeni na kusema kuwa yeye hakuwa na lengo wala nia mbaya ya kufafanisha mafiga matatu na utatu mtakatifu.

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda aliyefika katika mkutano wa kampeni uliofanyika katika kiwanja cha Shule ya Sekondari Msakila, aliwaomba radhi wananchi kutokana na kauli hiyo

Mufti Simba adai Serikali imekubali kurejesha Mahakama ya Kadhi

Salim Said na Ibrahim Jyamola
SHEIKH mkuu wa Tanzania, Mufti Issa bin Shaaban Simba amedai kuwa serikali imekubali kuirejesha Mahakama ya Kadhi nchini na kwamba mchakato wake ulisimama kupisha uchaguzi mkuu.

Mufti Simba alisema hayo jana alipokuwa akitoa salamu za mwaka mpya wa Kiislaamu wa 1432AH na akaweka bayana kuwa kipaumbele kikubwa kwa Waislamu katika mwaka huo ni kuona Mahakama ya Kadhi inaanza kazi na serikali kuitambua siku ya maadhimisho ya mwaka mpya wa Kiislamu kwa kuifanya iwe ya mapumziko.

“Mchakato wa Mahakama ya Kadhi unaendelea na umefikia mahala pazuri kwa sababu serikali imeshakubali kuirejesha," alisema Mufti Simba.

Kauli hiyo ya Mufti Simba imetolewa baada ya makamu wa rais, Dk Mohamed Gharib Bilal kueleza Novemba 17 wakati akijibu salamu za Baraza Kuu la Waislamu kuwa Waislamu nchini wataona matunda mazuri ya kilio chao hivi karibuni.
“Kuhusu Mahakama ya Kadhi, insha-Allah Mungu tutawafikisha kuona matunda mazuri muda si mrefu,” alisema Dk Bilal.
Kilio cha Waislamu kudai Mahakama ya Kadhi kiliongezeka katika miaka miwili iliyopita wakati walipoanza kuishambulia serikali kwa kushindwa kutekeleza ahadi ya chama tawala ya kuwaanzishia chombo hiyo kwa madai ni sehemu ya ilani yake ya uchaguzi wa mwaka 2005.

Baada ya mvutano wa muda mrefu na viongozi wa dini ya Kiislamu, serikali ilitoa taarifa kuwa Mahakama ya Kadhi itaundwa nje ya mfumo wa sheria za nchi na kuunda kamati ya kushughulikia utekelezaji wa maazimio hayo.
Akizungumza na wanahabari ofisini kwake jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Mufti Simba aliwatoa wasiwasi Waislaamu wote nchini kuhusu Mahakama ya Kadhi akieleza kuwa mchakato wake ulisimama kupisha uchaguzi.
“Mchakato wa Mahakama ya Kadhi ulisimama kwa sababu baadhi ya watu ambao tulikuwa nao katika mazungumzo walikuwa wanagombea,” alisema Mufti Simba.

“Kilichobaki ni kuweka mfumo mzuri ambao utaendesha mahakama hiyo. Kwa hiyo siku chache zijazo majopo yote mawili yatarudi mezani kumalizia mchakato na hatimaye mahakama ianze kufanya kazi.”
Hata hivyo, mufti Simba alisema kuwa Waislaamu hudai mambo yao kistaarabu na kwamba hakuna haja ya kuweka shinikizo kwa maandamano, migomo na mabango.

Kuhusu mapumziko siku ya maadhimisho ya mwaka mpya wa Kiislaamu, Mufti Simba alisema tayari wameshaiandikia serikali kuomba jambo hilo kama ilivyo kwa sherehe za maadhimisho ya miaka mingine.
Aliwataka Waislaamu kuijali siku hiyo na kufanya maadhimisho mbalimbali katika ngazi ya taifa, kanda, mkoa, wilaya, kata na hata msikiti, ikiiwa ni pamoja na kupamba nyumba zao na sehemu zao za kazi kuashiria sherehe hizo.

“Ili serikali iweze kutusikia na kutufikiria, lazima sisi wenyewe tuonekane tunaihitaji hiyo siku. Ombi tayari tumelifikisha serikalini na tunaamini serikali italishughulikia,” alisema Mufti Simba.
Mufti alisema mapumziko katika sikukuu ya mwaka mpya wa Kiislaam yangekuwapo, lakini kulikuwa na makosa mwanzoni.
“Miaka ya nyuma; wazee wetu kabla sisi hatujaja, waliulizwa wataje sikukuu za Waislaam, wakasema ni Idd Kubwa na Idd ndogo pamoja na siku ya Maulidi ya kuzaliwa kwa Mtume Muhammad (S.A.W). Wakaisahau siku ya mwaka mpya wa kiislaamu,” alibainisha Mufti Simba.

Mufti aliwata Waislaamu kuingia katika mwaka mpya wa 1432 ambao ulianza jana kwa kuwajibika katika kujitafutia maendeleo na sio kutegemea wafadhili katika kila jambo.
Aliwataka Waislaam kuhama kutoka katika maovu na kuhamia katika kufanya mema na kushiriki katika kazi za ujenzi wa taifa.

Aliwaombea dua viongozi wa nchi, akiwemo Rais Jakaya Kikwete, Makamu wake na baraza lote la mawaziri na kuwataka kuihamisha Tanzania kutoka katika hali iliyopo sasa ya kiuchumi na kuipeleka kwenye maendeleo mazuri

Padri anayedaiwa kulawiti kortini

Daniel Mjema, Moshi
HATIMAYE Padri Stanslaus Msafiri Salla (70) wa Parokia ya Kilema ya Kanisa Katoliki Jimbo la Moshi mkoani Kilimanjaro, amefikishwa mahakamani akikabiliwa na shtaka la kumlawiti kijana mwenye umri wa miaka 16.

Padre Salla ambaye alipelekwa mahakamani jana kwa njia ambayo polisi walisema ni ya “kistaarabu”, aliachiwa kwa dhamana baada ya kutimiza masharti ya kuwa na wadhamini wawili waliomdhamini kwa Sh10 milioni kila mmoja.
Ingawaje hati ya mashtaka iliwasilishwa kortini na polisi saa 3:00 asubuhi na kufunguliwa na kupewa namba 743/2010, lakini padre huyo alifika mahakamani hapo saa 5:30 kwa mazingira yaliyoibua maswali mengi kuliko majibu.

Mshtakiwa huyo aliingia mwenyewe jengo la mahakama na polisi mwenye cheo cha Koplo namba 5397, alimwelekeza asiingie mahabusu bali aende moja kwa moja kukaa kwenye benchi la hakimu aliyepangiwa kesi hiyo.
Akimsomea shtaka linalomkabili, Wakili wa Serikali, Abdallah Chavulla, alidai mahakamani kuwa, Oktoba 30, mwaka huu majira ya usiku eneo la Kilema Leso, Padre huyo alimuingia kinyume cha maumbile kijana mwenye umri wa miaka 16.

Alidai kuwa, kitendo kilichofanywa na Padre huyo kilikuwa ni kosa chini ya kifungu namba 154 (1) (a) cha sura namba 16 cha kanuni ya adhabu kama kilivyofanyiwa marekebisho na Bunge mwaka 2002.

Chini ya kanuni hiyo, anayepatikana na hatia atatakiwa kutumikia kifungo cha miaka 30 jela isipokuwa kama mshtakiwa atakuwa amemfanyia kitendo hicho mtoto chini ya miaka 10 basi, adhabu yake ni kifungo cha maisha.
Hakimu Mkazi Mfawadhi Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro, Simon Kobelo, alisema dhamana ya mshtakiwa huyo ilikuwa wazi na ndugu waliojitokeza mahakamani hapo wakiwamo baadhi ya mapadre, walifanikiwa kutimiza masharti hayo.

Wakati huohuo, Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa Kilimanjaro, Lucas Ng’hoboko, amekanusha kumlinda kwa namna yoyote mtuhumiwa huyo akisema hapaswi kunyooshewa kidole kwani, yeye ni mtawala sio mpelelezi wa makosa ya jinai.
“Naambiwa natumia ukatoliki wangu kumlinda Padre, kwanza mimi ni mtawala tu sio mpelelezi,” alisema Kamanda Ng’hoboko na kuongeza kuwa, uandaaji mashtaka sasa unafanywa na ofisi ya Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali.

Ng’hoboko alifafanua kuwa, taarifa kwamba fomu ya polisi (PF3) iliyopelekwa kwa mwanasheria wa serikali sio halisi, amezisoma kwenye vyombo vya habari na kuwataka wenye nakala halisi kuiwasilisha kwake ifanyiwe kazi

Askofu Malasusa apata ushindi wa kishindo KKKT- DMP

Mwandishi Wetu
MKUTANO mkuu wa 30 wa Dayosisi ya Mashariki na Pwani (DMP) ya Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT) umemchagua Askofu Alex Malasusa kuingoza tena dayosisi hiyo hadi atakapostaafu utumishi wa kanisa hilo. Askofu Malasusa, ambaye pia ni mkuu wa KKKT nchini, alichaguliwa kwa kura ya imani iliyopigwa juzi jioni, mwanzoni mwa mkutano huo ambao ulitanguliwa na madai ya kuwepo njana za kumuhujumu kiongozi huyo.

Madai ya hujuma yalibainishwa Novemba 23 mwaka huu wakati Msaidizi wa Askofu, Mchungaji George Fupe alipowaeleza waandishi kuwa kuna kikundi cha watu wanaojiita waumini wa kanisa hilo ambao alidai kuwa walikuwa wakifanya njama za kuhujumu mkutano huo kwa kutumia magazeti.

Kwa mujibu wa Mchungaji Fupe, Halmashauri Kuu ya KKKT-DMP iliyokutana Novemba 18, 2010 iligundua kwamba hoja zinazoandikwa katika magazeti ya Kiswahili moja la kila siku (siyo Mwananchi) na jingine la kila wiki yanayomilikiwa na kampuni moja, “zinalenga kuvuruga na kuchafua maandalizi ya mkutano mkuu wa 30 wa Dayosisi”. Katika mkutano unaoendelea mjini Bagamoyo ambao una ajenda 14, uchaguzi ulikuwa ajenda ya mwisho lakini utarabu huo ulibadilika baada ya hoja iliyotolewa na mmoja wa wajumbe ya kutaka zipigwe kura za imani (uchaguzi) kabla ya kuendelea na ajenda nyingine.

Habari kutoka Chuo cha Maendeleo ya Uongozi wa Elimu (ADEM) mjini Bagamoyo ambako mkutano huo unafanyika, zinasema kuwa baada ya ajenda ya kwanza ya kuhakiki akidi ya wajumbe wa mkutano, mmoja wa wajumbe alitoa hoja kutaka mabadiliko ya mtiririko wa ajenda.

“Mjumbe aliyetoa hoja hiyo alitaka mkutano mkuu uthibitishe, kukubaliana au kutokubaliana na tamko la Halmashauri ya Dayosisi lililotolewa kwenye sharika na kwenye vyombo vya habari kuhusu kuwepo kwa njama za kuhujumiwa kwa mkutano,” kilieleza chanzo chetu kutoka ndani ya mkutano huo. “Hoja ya kutaka kura zipigwe mapema ilitolewa kwa maelezo kwamba ni kumwezesha mwenyekiti wa mkutano (ambaye ni Askofu Malasusa) kuendesha kikao akiwa na amani na wajumbe wote na kama kulikuwa na wanaompinga, pia wawe na amani baada ya uchaguzi kufanyika.” Kwa mujibu wa habari hizo, hoja hiyo ilizua mjadala miongoni mwa wajumbe kabla ya kuafikiana kufanya mabadiliko ya ajenda hivyo kura za imani zilipigwa na Askofu Malasusa kupata ushindi mkubwa. Katika uchaguzi huo, Askofu Malasusa alipata kura za imani 256 sawa na asilimia 96.6 ya wajumbe 265 waliokuwepo. Wajumbe nane hawakupiga kura na mjumbe mmoja alipiga kura ya kutokuwa upande wowote.

Kura hiyo ya imani ni kwa mujibu wa kanuni za Dayosisi ya Mashariki na Pwani zinazobainisha kuwa askofu wa dayosisi ataongoza kwa kipindi cha miaka sita, na baada ya kipindi hicho atapigiwa kura ya imani na mkutano mkuu wa dayosisi. Akizungumza mara baada ya kupigiwa kura ya kuwa na imani naye, Dk Malasusa aliwashukuru wajumbe kwa kuwa na imani naye na kuwataka waendelee kufanya kazi ya Mungu bila kuwaangalia wanadamu. Alisema katika mazingira ya sasa ambayo baadhi ya watu wenye fedha wanataka kuliamulia kanisa jinsi ya kuenenda, Wakristo wanatakiwa kuwa imara ili wasiyumbishwe na shetani kwa kuruhusu magazeti kuamua ajenda za kanisa.

Naye askofu wa zamani wa DMP, Elinaza Sendoro alimpongeza Askofu Malasusa kwa kazi nzuri anayofanya na kueleza kuwa chini ya uongozi wake, kanisa linaendelea kusonga mbele kwa kuwa sharika na mitaa ya kanisa hilo imezidi kuongezeka.
Dayosisi ya Mashariki na Pwani ya KKKT inayochukua eneo la Dar es Salaam, Pwani na Zanzibar imekuwa chini ya uongozi wa Askofu Alex Malasuasa kwa miaka sita na kiongozi huyo pia ndiye mkuu wa KKKT. Askofu Malasusa alichaguliwa rasmi kuongoza DMP mwaka 2004 na Julai 18, 2007 alichaguliwa kuwa mkuu wa kanisa baada ya kuwashinda kwa kura nyingi wagombea wenzake ambao ni maaskofu, Dk Stephen Munga wa Dayosisi ya Kaskazini Mashariki na Dk Oldenberg Mdegela wa Dayosisi ya Iringa.

Pia Dk Malasusa ni Makamu wa pili wa mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Kikristo Tanzania ( CCT) na pia ni makamu wa rais wa Fungamano la Makanisa ya Kilutheri la Dunia (LWF), akishughulikia bara la Afrika.
Mkutano mkuu wa Dayosisi hiyo hufanyika kila baada ya miaka miwili na hujumuisha wajumbe wawili kutoka katika kila usharika na wachungaji wote, wakuu wa vitengo na viongozi wa dayosisi

The Islamic and Christian views of Jesus: a comparison

The person of Jesus or Isa in Arabic (peace be upon him) is of great significance in both Islam and Christianity. However, there are differences in terms of beliefs about the nature and life occurrences of this noble Messenger.

Source of information about Jesus in Islam

Most of the Islamic information about Jesus is actually found in the Quran.

The Quran was revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and memorized and written down in his lifetime. Today, anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim believes in the complete authenticity of the Quran as the original revealed guidance from God.

Source of information about Jesus in Christianity

Christians take their information about Jesus from the Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments.

These contain four biblical narratives covering the life and death of Jesus. They have been written, according to tradition, respectively by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are placed at the beginning of the New Testament and comprise close to half of it.

Encyclopedia Britannica notes that none of the sources of his life and work can be traced to Jesus himself; he did not leave a single known written word. Also, there are no contemporary accounts written of his life and death. What can be established about the historical Jesus depends almost without exception on Christian traditions, especially on the material used in the composition of the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, which reflect the outlook of the later church and its faith in Jesus.

Below are the views of Islam and Christianity based on primary source texts and core beliefs.


ISLAM


1. Do Muslims believe he was a Messenger of One God? YES

Belief in all of the Prophets and Messengers of God is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Thus, believing in Prophets Adam, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) is a requirement for anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim. A person claiming to be a Muslim who, for instance, denies the Messengership of Jesus, is not considered a Muslim.

The Quran says in reference to the status of Jesus as a Messenger:

"The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!" (Quran 5:75).


2. Do Muslims believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES

Like Christians, Muslims believe Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus.

"Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family, to a place in the East. She screened herself from them; then We sent to her Our spirit (angel Gabriel) and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: I seek refuge from you in God Most Gracious (come not near) if you do fear God. He said: Nay, I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a pure son. She said: How shall I have a son, when no man has ever touched me, and I am not unchaste? He said: So it will be, your Lord says: ‘That is easy for Me; and We wish to appoint him as a sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It was a matter so decreed" (Quran 19:16-21).


3. Do Muslims believe Jesus had a miraculous birth? YES

The Quran says:

"She (Mary) said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.' He (God) said: ‘So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: ‘Be!'- and it is" (3:47).

It should also be noted about his birth that:

"Verily, the likeness of Jesus in God's Sight is the likeness of Adam. He (God) created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!'-and he was" (Quran 3:59).


4. Do Muslims believe Jesus spoke in the cradle? YES

"Then she (Mary) pointed to him. They said: ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: ‘Verily! I am a slave of God, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; " (19:29-30).

5. Do Muslims believe he performed miracles? YES

Muslims, like Christians believe Jesus performed miracles. But these were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.

"Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic' (5:110).


6. Do Muslims believe in the Trinity? NO

Muslims believe in the Absolute Oneness of God, Who is a Supreme Being free of human limitations, needs and wants. He has no partners in His Divinity. He is the Creator of everything and is completely separate from His creation.

God says in the Quran regarding the Trinity:

"People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to God nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and in His Messengers, and do not say: ‘God is a Trinity.' Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. God is indeed just One God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. God is sufficient for a guardian" (Quran 4:171).


7. Do Muslims believe that Jesus was the son of God? NO

"Say: "God is Unique! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him!" (Quran 112:1-4).

The Quran also states:

"Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be' and it is" (Quran 19:34-35).


8. Do Muslims believe Jesus was killed on the cross then resurrected? NO

"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156) “God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .




CHRISTIANITY


1. Do Christians believe Jesus was a human being and Messenger of God? YES & NO

With the exception of Unitarian Christians, who like all the early followers of Jesus, still do not believe in the Trinity, most Christians now believe in the Divinity of Jesus, which is connected to the belief in Trinity. They say he is the second member of the Triune God, the Son of the first part of the Triune God, and at the same time "fully" God in every respect.


2. Do Christians believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES

A chaste and pious human woman who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, and at the same time "fully" God Almighty in every respect.

Christians believe however, that while she was a virgin, she was married to a man named Joseph (Bible: Matthew:1:18). According to Matthew 1:25, Joseph "kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus".


3. Do Christians believe he had a miraculous birth? YES

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit" (Bible: Matthew 1:18)


4. Do Christians believe he performed miracles? YES

"And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretches out thy hand to heal, and sign and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus (Bible: Acts 4:30).

Christians believe that Jesus performed these miracles because he was the Son of God as well as the incarnation of God.


5. Do Christians believe in the Trinity? YES

With the exception of the Unitarian Christians, who do not believe in the Divinity of Christ, the Trinity, according to the Catholic encyclopedia, is the term used for the central doctrine of the Christian religion. The belief is that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons or beings are distinct from each another, while being similar in character: uncreated and omnipotent.

The First Vatican Council has explained the meaning to be attributed to the term mystery in theology. It lays down that a mystery is a truth which we are not merely incapable of discovering apart from Divine Revelation, but which, even when revealed, remains "hidden by the veil of faith and enveloped, so to speak, by a kind of darkness" (Const., "De fide. cath.", iv). The First Vatican Council further defined that the Christian Faith contains mysteries strictly so called (can. 4). All theologians admit that the doctrine of the Trinity is of the number of these. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that of all revealed truths, this is the most impenetrable to reason.



6. Do Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God? YES

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (Bible: John 3:16).

However, it is interesting to note that the term "son of God" is used in other parts of the Bible to refer to Adam (Bible: Luke 3:38), Israel (Bible: Exodus 4:22) and David (Bible: Psalms 2:7) as well. The creatures of God are usually referred to in the Bible as children of God.


The role of Paul of Tarsus in shaping this belief and the belief in Trinity

The notion of Jesus as son of God is something that was established under the influence of Paul of Tarsus (originally named Saul), who had been an enemy of Jesus, but later changed course and joined the disciples after the departure of Jesus.

Later, however, he initiated a number of changes into early Christian teachings, in contradiction, for instance, to disciples like Barnabas, who believed in the Oneness of God and who had actually lived and met with Jesus.

Paul is considered by a number of Christian scholars to be the father of Christianity due to his additions of the following ideas:

that Jesus is the son of God,

the concept of Atonement,

the renunciation of the Law of the Torah.

Paul did these things in hopes of winning over the Gentiles (non-Jewish people). His letters are another of the primary sources of information on Jesus according to the Christian tradition.

The original followers of Prophet Jesus opposed these blatant misrepresentations of the message of Jesus. They struggled to reject the notion of the Divinity of Jesus for close to 200 years.

One person who was an original follower of Jesus was Barnabas. He was a Jew born in Cyrus and a successful preacher of the teachings of Jesus. Because of his closeness to Jesus, he was an important member of the small group of disciples in Jerusalem who had had gathered together following the disappearance of Jesus.

The question of Jesus's nature, origin and relationship with God was not raised amongst Barnabas and the small group of disciples. Jesus was considered a man miraculously endowed by God. Nothing in the words of Jesus or the events in his life led them to modify this view.

The Gospel of Barnabas was accepted as a Canonical Gospel in the Churches of Alexandria till 325 CE Iranaeus (130-200) wrote in support of pure monotheism and opposed Paul for injecting into Christianity doctrines of the pagan Roman religion and Platonic philosophy. He quoted extensively from the Gospel of Barnabas in support of his views. This indicates that the Gospel of Barnabas was in circulation in the first and second centuries of Christianity.

In 325 (CE), a council of Christian leaders met at Nicaea and made Paul's beliefs officially part of Christian doctrine. It also ordered that all original Gospels in Hebrew script which contradicted Paul's beliefs should be destroyed. An edict was issued that anyone in possession of these Gospels would be put to death.

The Gospel of Barnabas has miraculously survived though.


7. Do Christians believe he was killed on the cross? YES

This is a core Christian belief and it relates to the concept of atonement. According to this belief, Jesus died to save mankind from sin. However, this is not stated explicitly in the four gospels which form the primary source texts of Christianity. It is found, however, in Romans 6:8,9.

Christians believe Jesus was spat on, cut, humiliated, kicked, striped and finally hung up on the cross to endure a slow and painful death.

According, to Christian belief, the original sin of Adam and Eve of eating from the forbidden tree was so great that God could not forgive it by simply willing it, rather it was necessary to erase it with the blood of a sinless, innocent Jesus.


Resurrection

The four Gospels and the Epistles of St. Paul are the main sources of Christianity which discuss the Resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. According to St. Matthew, Jesus appeared to the holy women, and again on a mountain in Galilee. Mark's Gospel tells a different story: Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene, by the two disciples at Emmaus, and the Eleven before his Ascension into heaven.

Luke's Gospel says Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus, appeared to Peter and to the assembled disciples in Jerusalem. In John's Gospel, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the ten Apostles on Easter Sunday, to the Eleven a week later, and to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.

Another account of the resurrection by St. Paul is found in Bible: Corinthians 15: 3-8.

According to Christian belief, Resurrection is a manifestation of God's justice, Who exalted Christ to a life of glory, as Christ had humbled himself unto death (Phil., 2: 8-9). This event also completes the mystery of Christian salvation and redemption. The death of Jesus frees believers from sin, and with his resurrection, he restores to them the most important privileges lost by sin (Bible: Romans 4:25).

More importantly, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus indicates Christian acknowledgment of Christ as the immortal God, the cause of believers' own resurrection (Bible: I Corinthians 4: 21; Phil., 3:20-21), as well as the model and the support of a new life of grace (Bible: Romans 4: 4-6; 9-11).

Mwanaume Abakwa na Wanawake 10

Kijana mwenye umri wa miaka 17 wa nchini Papua New Guinea amelazwa hospitali akipatiwa matibabu baada ya kubakwa genge la wahuni wanawake wapatao 10.
Kwa mujibu wa kamanda wa polisi wa Southern Highland, nchini Papua New Guinea, Teddy Tei, kijana huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 17 alikumbana na zahama hilo siku ya ijumaa wakati alipovamiwa na kundi la wahuni wanawake wapatao 10.

Wanawake hao wakiwa na visu walimshambulia kijana huyo kabla ya kupokezana kumbaka kwa zamu.

"Hii ni kesi tunayoifualia kwa ukaribu zaidi, tunawatafuta wanawake waliofanya unyama huu", alisema kamanda huyo wa polisi.

Taarifa ya polisi ilisema kwamba wanawake 10 wakiwa na visu walimshambulia kijana huyo na wanawake wanne kati yao walimuingilia kinguvu kijana huyo.

Kamanda Tei aliongeza kuwa kijana huyo aliwahishwa hospitali kwa matibabu zaidi.

Kijana huyo ambaye jina lake limewekwa kapuni, anafanyiwa uchunguzi ili kujua kama ameambukizwa magonjwa ya zinaa au la.

"Ugonjwa wa ukimwi ni tatizo kubwa hapa Papua New Guinea, ninahofia huenda baadhi ya wanawake waliombaka huenda wakawa ni waathirika", alisema Kamanda Tei na kuongeza.

"Nimekuwa nikiwaonya wanawake wawe waangalifu sasa inanibidi nianze kuwaonya na wanaume nao wawe waangalifu mitaani".

Did Jesus rise from the dead?

We all wonder what will happen to us after we die. When a loved one dies, we long to see him or her again after our turn comes. Will we have a glorious reunion with those we love or is death the end of all consciousness?

Jesus taught that life does not end after our bodies die. He made this startling claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.” According to the eyewitnesses closest to him, Jesus then demonstrated his power over death by rising from the dead after being crucified and buried for three days. It is this belief that has given hope to Christians for nearly 2000 years.

But some people have no hope of life after death. The atheistic philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote, “I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my own ego will survive.”1 Russell obviously didn’t believe Jesus’ words.

Jesus’ followers wrote that he appeared alive to them after his crucifixion and burial. They claim not only to have seen him but also to have eaten with him, touched him, and spent 40 days with him.

So could this have been simply a story that grew over time, or is it based upon solid evidence? The answer to this question is foundational to Christianity. For if Jesus did rise from the dead, it would validate everything he said about himself, about the meaning of life, and about our destiny after death.

If Jesus did rise from the dead then he alone would have the answers to what life is about and what is facing us after we die. On the other hand, if the resurrection account of Jesus is not true, then Christianity would be founded upon a lie. Theologian R. C. Sproul puts it this way:

“The claim of resurrection is vital to Christianity. If Christ has been raised from the dead by God, then He has the credentials and certification that no other religious leader possesses. Buddha is dead. Mohammad is dead. Moses is dead. Confucius is dead. But, according to…Christianity, Christ is alive.”2

Many skeptics have attempted to disprove the resurrection. Josh McDowell was one such skeptic who spent more than seven hundred hours researching the evidence for the resurrection. McDowell stated this regarding the importance of the resurrection:

“I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history.”3

So, is Jesus' resurrection a fantastic fact or a vicious myth? To find out, we need to look at the evidence of history and draw our own conclusions. Let’s see what skeptics who investigated the resurrection discovered for themselves