A Groundbreaking Comparison by Esteemed Scholars

The Bible and The Quran:
Comparing Their Historical Problems

An in-depth exploration of the historical challenges inherent in both foundational texts, presented by two globally esteemed religious scholars.

Are the foundational stories of the Bible and Quran historically sound?

Course Overview

Explore the Historical Challenges of the Bible and Quran

In this groundbreaking course, explore the historical challenges inherent in two of the world's most influential religious texts—the Bible and the Quran.

Led by Dr. Ehrman and Dr. Hashmi, dive into the origins of Islam and the historical quandaries posed by the Quran alongside those found in the Christian Bible. Through rigorous academic inquiry, uncover insights into original texts, authorship, and transmission reliability. Explore the historical analysis of Jesus and Muhammad, navigating the intersections and disparities between scholarly perspectives and religious interpretations. Additionally, confront sensitive issues surrounding scripture's potential role in fostering violence and intolerance while examining the viability of applying historical and critical lenses to religious study.

Controversial Questions Covered

Does the Quran actually go back to Muhammad, and has it really been “perfectly preserved”?
How do historians separate fact from fiction in the Gospels enshrined in the New Testament?
Are Quranic stories historical and scientific or do they contain elements of myth and legend?
Did the historical Muhammad really exist?
To what extent are acts of intolerance, hatred, and violence rooted in the Bible, and is the Bible itself to be blamed, in whole or in part, for perpetuating such behaviors?
Is there something unique or inherent to Islam – its scripture, its founding moment, and its historical experience – that predisposes it to hatred, intolerance, and violence?

Your Instructors

Bart Ehrman

James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2025. Recognized internationally for his scholarship on the New Testament and early Christianity, Professor Ehrman has written or edited thirty-five books, including six New York Times bestsellers. His college-level textbook The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings has remained the best-selling text in the field for more than twenty-five years. His scholarly works have been published by Oxford, Harvard, Yale, and other premier academic presses, and his books have been translated into twenty-seven languages, reaching millions of readers worldwide.

Javad Hashmi

Ph.D. candidate in the Study of Religion (Islamic Studies) at Harvard University

Javad T. Hashmi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Study of Religion (Islamic Studies) at Harvard University, specializing in Quranic Studies, Islamic origins, and the historical Muhammad. He has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Arabic & Islamic Studies from UC Berkeley and Harvard, respectively. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the ethics of war and peace in the Quran and during the lifetime of the historical Muhammad. Dr. Hashmi is also a board-certified emergency physician and was formerly a Fellow of Medical Ethics at Harvard Medical School, specializing in Islamic (bio)ethics.

BONUSES!

Exclusive Bonuses & Included Enrollment Benefits

Registration Includes Lifetime Access to the 8-Lesson Online Course complete with:

Bonus Lecture

The Hebrew Bible: The Primeval Histories

A fascinating look at the opening chapters of Genesis that reveals the Bible’s hidden complexity. Why do Genesis 1 and 2 tell such different creation stories? Why are there two genealogies and two flood accounts? In this eye-opening session, Joel Baden shows how Genesis 1–11 weaves together multiple sources, authors, and theologies, inviting you to see the Bible not as a single tale, but as a conversation between two ancient voices.

Bonus Quiz

Self-Assessment Quiz

Challenge yourself after completing your course with a customized quiz to the materials found in your 'The Bible and the Quran' course. Turn passive learning into active learning and turn short-term memory into long-term memory with our multiple choice, self-assessment quiz.

Bonus #3

Eight 45-minute lectures

By Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Javad Hashmi.

Bonus #4

Four scholarly talks

Bonus #5

Two recorded Q&A sessions

Bonus #6

PDF lesson guides

Bonus #7

Questions for reflection

Bonus #8

Additional reading list

To dive deeper.

Bonus #9

Audio downloads

For listening on the go.

From Course Participants

What Students Are Saying

The presentations were of college skill level, yet clear and crafted for true learning. I look forward to more such opportunities.

J.S.

Janet ShelferCourse Purchaser

Learning about Dr. Hashmi's perspective of how Jesus and core biblical figures are viewed in Islam was an eye-opener for me. It sparked my desire to learn more about Islam and more specifically the Quran.

E.S.

Elias SanchezCourse Purchaser

See What Most Readers Miss in The Bible and The Quran

8 lectures, the Q&A recordings, audio downloads, and 9 bonus resources. Lifetime access.

Frequently Asked

Questions & Answers

Is this a LIVE course?

This 8 x 45-minute lecture webinar series was recorded LIVE on May 4th/May 5th, 2024. If you purchase this course after May 5th, you will be watching a recorded event. Purchasing this course gives you lifetime access to the lectures and Q&A sessions. You will also receive advanced notifications of new live lectures and online courses.

What is the Special Price?

The regular retail price for 8 individual lessons with Bart Ehrman would normally cost $199.60 ($24.95 per lecture). With the special bundled price you can enjoy lifetime access to all 8 lectures + bonuses for $29.97 for the month of November.

Are any other discounts available?

Yes, if you watch Dr. Ehrman's Youtube channel or listen to the podcast, you'll find a discount code in there. Bart also offers a discount to paid members of his blog at ehrmanblog.org.

Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

Absolutely! If you don't love the lecture series, send us an email and we will refund 100% of your investment. You will have 30 days from the date of your purchase.

Alternatively, this course is available through The Biblical Studies Academy (BSA), our premium membership and training community.

Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee · Lifetime access to all course materials

$1 from your purchase is donated to charity: water.

The Bible and The Quran:Comparing Their Historical Problems