Webmaster, I don't think they are just ideals, I think they are truth! What my comment was meant to convey, is that in no way should we expect to see overnight results when we are in dialogue with Muslims. You won't. You might have to keep covering the same ground over and over again and patiently explain things which might seem so obvious. But never give up hope. If they keep asking, they are still searching.
This certainly seems to be working here, they keep coming back and as long as they keep coming back, I hope and pray we can be here for them.
And yes.. use the Qur'an and keep using the Qur'an. I am totally convinced we can move them to an understanding that the Qur'an contradicts it self if we patiently keep talking to them and using it to show it's contradictions. We can also give them the gospel from the Qur'an.. though at some stage we need to keep sending them back to the Bible to search it and find out the truth about the Lord Jesus.
As to what do they believe? I think it's a real help we will have the likes of Naaji and Omya around, as they will be the 'benchmark" for what is believed. As in Christianity there are schisms and variations in beliefs, but there are the basics. By having regular people in dialogue we will be answering questions, comments based on what these guys think. Mind you, there is a basis for faith even in Islam, and to be honest, that is the only basis we need to be discussing, not personal opinions. Christians and Muslims share that tendency to not debate from the perspective of the words they believe are the Word of God (be in the Bible or the Qu'ran) but from personal experience, personal thoughts.
I try never to discuss anything with personal opinion, even as to how a particular passage of scripture is translated. Unless a translation is totally wrong in it's translation, as some of the very modern versions are (though they don't pretend to be a translation.. they are a so and so's version in todays english), it's better to show why a word is translated the way it is.. what it's foundation is. The English bible (regardless of it's version) is no more THE Word of God than is the Swahili Bible. All are translations of the original manuscripts, so public arguing about the "true" Bible, is actually negative in our desire to convince Muslims that the Bible is the Word of God. Better instead, to discuss how translation work occurs around the world, and why for example, Jesus is "the pig of God" rather than "the Lamb of God" in some translations.
This is all very exciting. Can't wait to talk more with you and Alpha and others on this subject.
Carol