The Islamic Dilemma: Does the Quran affirm the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Jewish and Christian scriptures?
The Islamic Dilemma Debate: David Wood Vs John Fontain
David Wood argues that the Quran affirms the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, which then contradict the Quran, making Islam false. John Fontaine argues that the Quran refers to an original, uncorrupted Torah and Injil that are not the current Jewish and Christian Bibles, thus resolving the dilemma.
The case is decided
It wasDavid Wood.
David Wood defended 20 of 21 claims, while John Fontaine defended 8 of 10. The balance of successfully defended claims across the debate favors David Wood.
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David Wood
The Quran affirms the inspiration, preservation, and authority of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, which contradict the Quran, therefore Islam is false.
- Claims raised21
- Defended20
- Refuted1
- Unanswered0
- Concessions0
- Fallacies (weighted)0.0
John Fontaine
The Quran does not refer to the current Jewish and Christian Bibles when it mentions the Torah and Injil, but rather to original, uncorrupted revelations that are now lost.
- Claims raised10
- Defended8
- Refuted2
- Unanswered0
- Concessions0
- Fallacies (weighted)0.0
Definitional alignment
When the same word means two different things, the entire exchange becomes contestable. Below: every term where the debaters did not agree on a definition.
- Torahnot alignedDavid Wood
The Jewish scriptures (Pentateuch) as they existed in the 7th century and today.
John FontaineAn uncreated, uncorrupted book given to Moses, which is the speech of Allah, distinct from the current Jewish Torah.
high
- Injilnot alignedDavid Wood
The Christian Gospels as they existed in the 7th century and today.
John FontaineAn uncreated, uncorrupted book given to Jesus, which is the speech of Allah, distinct from the current Christian Gospels.
high
- Islamic Dilemmanot alignedDavid Wood
If the Quran affirms the Bible, Islam is false (due to contradictions). If the Quran contradicts the Bible, Islam is false (due to affirming its preservation). Either way, Islam is false.
John FontaineThe dilemma is based on the false premise that the Quran refers to the current Bible. Once this is disproven, the dilemma is resolved.
high
- Allah's wordsnot alignedDavid Wood
Includes the Torah, Gospel, and Quran, all of which are unchangeable.
John FontaineRefers to the original, uncorrupted revelations (Torah, Injil, Quran) which are unchangeable, but the previous revelations were not meant to be eternally preserved.
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