But I would not like to leave your questions unanswered...

But I would not like to leave your questions unanswered; and, therefore, I am writing a few sentences about alteration. What is alteration? Alteration means that the original writing of a book is changed by others and loses its authenticity. Alteration of the Gospels: I do not think that anyone who has studied the early history of Christianity, can have any doubt about the Gospels having been altered.

The condition at that time clearly shows that the institution of Christianity was over-run and captured by new-comers and the Byzantine emperors. Miller, a Christian scholar, writes that a group of innovators took their place in the churches as elites; and as a result different teachings were invented. The Byzantine emperors were trying hard to remove the traces of the original Christianity. Religious leaders were killed, burnt or banished.

One may clearly see the effect of that environ- ment (which lasted for three hundred years) on Christian scriptures and books. A fresh proof of this claim of mine are the fragments of the manuscripts of the old copies of the Gospels which were discovered not long ago; they are different from present Gospels.

John Alder, a well-known American mis- sionary in Iran, writes that in one place two papyrus writings have been found which contain sentences attributed to Christ, but most of which differ from those which we read in the New Testament." (Bastan-Shanasi Kitab-i Mugad- das, p.109). In view of the above, we may easily find out the period and motive of the alterations.

And after the advent of Islam, more altera- tions have been done; and changes are constantly made on the pretext of `correction.' (END OF CORRESPONDENCE) Previous…