Customer Reviews

The Sayyid Qutb Reader: Selected Writings on Politics, Religion, and Society

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This collection would have received 5 STARS but was demoted to 3 because Al Bergesen perpetuates the myth that there is a parallel between the Protestant Reformation reading of Scripture and Islamic Fundamentalist reading of the Qur'an. He notes how Muslim fundamentalist leaders tend to read the Qur'an individualistically without appealing to earlier tradition and interpretation (pp.8-10). This however was certainly not the case with the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. They all recognized their indebtedness to the church fathers, ecumenical councils and creeds.

Martin Luther [1483-1546] said about the Apostles' Creed, "This confession of faith we did not make or invent, neither did the fathers of the church before us. But as the bee gathers honey from many a beautiful and delectible flower, so this creed has been collected in commendable brevity from the books of the beloved prophets and apostles, that is, from the entire Holy Scriptures" (Trinity Sunday Sermon, 1535).

John Calvin [1509-1564] said, "I venerate them [ecumenical councils] from my heart, and desire that they be honored by all" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, IX.ix.1).

William Whitaker [1547-1595] wrote, "For we also say that the church is the interpreter of Scripture, and that the gift of interpretation resides only in the church: but we deny that it pertains to particular persons, or is tied to any particular see [jurisdiction; i.e. the bishop of Rome] or succession of men."

See also
Keith Mathison, "A Critique of the Evangelical Doctrine of Solo Scriptura"
[..]

Keith Mathison, "Solo Scriptura: The Difference a Vowel Makes"
[..]