Comparative Theology · Common Ground
Faith without deeds is dead
Handle with care. Christians have serious answers here. Do not present it as an unanswerable knockout.
In short
- 1.James 2:17 says faith by itself is dead.
- 2.James 2:24 says a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
- 3.The Qur'an pairs belief and deeds constantly.
The claim being examined
The Letter of James states directly that faith unaccompanied by action is dead.
The Islamic position
This is the Islamic position almost word for word: belief and righteous deeds are named together throughout the Qur'an.
Analysis
The tension between James and Paul on faith and works is one of the oldest recognised problems in New Testament - Luther famously called James an epistle of straw.
From the Qur'an
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
wa-alladhīna āmanū waʿamilū l-ṣāliḥāti ulāika aṣḥābu l-janati hum fīhā khālidūna
But those who believe and do righteous deeds - they are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein.
From the Bible
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Read it in their BibleYou see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Read it in their BibleSources
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