Comparing Christianity and Islam:
the world's two largest religions
Sponsored link.
Overview:
Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam are three closely related religions.
Because they all revere Abraham and certain other patriarchs mentioned in
the Hebrew Scriptures, Christian Scriptures and Qur'an as their spiritual ancestors, they are sometimes called Abrahamic
religions. (The Baha'i Faith is sometimes also included in this
grouping.)
However, their many points of similarity are no guarantee
that their followers can get along. Most of the serious religiously motivated conflicts, mass crimes against
humanity and genocides in the 20th century
have been between Muslims and Christians. This has included genocides
in Bosnia Herzegovina, East Timor, and the Sudan, as well as serious conflicts in Cyprus,
Kosovo, Macedonia, and the Philippines. As of late 2009, two of these conflicts
(Sudan and Philippines) are still active, and
three others are inert only because of peacekeepers on the ground.
It is difficult to compare
Christianity to any other religion, because there is such a wide range of
beliefs and practices among various wings of Christianity:
Roman
Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox churches, the Anglican communion and the
tens of thousands of Protestant faith groups. Some commentators have suggested
that Christianity consists of a number of different religions which share little
more than the Bible and the name of their religion. Protestant
Christianity is obviously divided into a least
liberal and conservative wings -- divisions which hold few beliefs in
common. Some of the descriptions below will thus
necessarily be somewhat simplistic and lacking in precision.
To complicate matters further, religious practices and beliefs throughout the
world are influenced by many factors:
What the religion's holy book says.
How the book is interpreted by theologians and clergy
The impact of scientific findings.
Individuals' personal experience, and above all:
The culture in which the religion is embedded
These factors vary from country to country. This leads to selective reading
of the Holy Book to find justification for local practices. To take one example,
consider what different faiths in various countries teach about homosexual
behavior, and how their legal systems treat lesbians, gays, and bisexuals:
Same-sex behavior is a capital crime in six Muslim countries.
One Christian country in Africa is considering making such behavior a
capital crime.
Many countries, both Muslim and Christian, assign long term jail sentences
to sexually active gays and lesbians.
Other countries have no laws on the books regarding same-sex behavior.
Same-sex couples in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and South
Africa -- all at least nominally Christian -- can marry.
Thus, it is quite impossible to compare the Muslim and Christian beliefs and
practices concerning same-sex behavior without going into a major explination --
something for which we have no room below.
Basis of determining who goes to Heaven or Paradise:
There is no consensus in Christianity.
Different faith groups hold Various diverse beliefs: trusting Jesus
as Lord and Savior, good
works, church sacraments, baptism, avoiding the undefined unforgivable sin.
Once they reach puberty, his/her
account of deeds is opened in Paradise. To attain paradise, at death, their good
deeds (helping others, testifying to the truth
of God, leading a virtuous life)... must outweigh their evil deeds.
Confessing sins:
Roman Catholic: to God or Jesus, either directly or through a priest; Others: to
God or Jesus
To Allah
Probably the most misunderstood term:
Immaculate Conception: Roman
Catholics believe that the conception
of the Virgin Mary, circa 20 BCE, was without sin. Many
incorrectly relate it to Yeshua's' conception.
Jihad: internal, personal struggle
towards the attainment of a noble goal. Many incorrectly equate it to
"holy war."
* From John 14:16: "And I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."
Strongly affected by cultural
traditions. Severely oppressed in some countries.
Marriages forbidden:
Inter-faith marriages, in the Eastern
Orthodox church. Marriages between conservative Christians and others,
within conservative Christianity.
A Muslim woman may not be married (or
remained married) to a non-Muslim man.
Racism:
Promoted by the LDS church until
1978. Still
supported by Christian Identity, KKK, and other
Christian fringe groups. Officially rejected by almost all other denominations.
Remains widespread.
Officially rejected by all Islamic
movements. 5
Reaction to apostasy (leaving the faith due to
religious conversion):
Prior to 1792, the end of the "burning
times," execution was possible.
Traditionally, death to the apostate.
This is rarely practiced in the 21st century.
Historical treatment of
Jewish people in Muslim countries (Prior to World War 1):
Gregorian solar calendar. 1
CE occurred
about four to seven years after birth of Jesus.
Many Muslims use Gregaorian calendar. Religious
events based on the Islamic lunar calendar. 1 AH occurred
in 622
CE, the year of the Hegira when Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina.
Most misunderstood practice:
The sacrifice of the Mass, a Roman
Catholic ritual. Some Native Americans and others interpreted it as a form of ritual
cannibalism.
Female genital
mutilation. This is often incorrectly considered to be a religious requirement of
Islam. Actually it is cultural tradition common in some countries of
Northern Africa. It is unknown in many Muslim countries.
Sponsored links:
Notes:
The Christian church is normally considered to have begun at
Pentecost, 50 days after Christians believe that Jesus was executed. Unfortunately, the year of
his death is unknown.
Most religious
historians view Islam as having been founded in 622 CE. However, many if
not most of the followers of Islam believe that:
Islam existed before Muhammad (pbuh) was born.
The origins of Islam date back to the creation of the world.
Muslims traditionally acknowledge respect for Muhammad, Jesus and other prophets (peace be
upon them) by adding this phrase or an abbreviation "(pbuh)" after their
names.
Greg H. Parsons, Executive Director, "U.S. Center for World Mission,"
Pasadena, CA; quoted in Zondervan News Service, 1997-FEB-21.
One exception is the Nation of Islam which promotes a black
supremacist ideology. For example, leader Louis Farrakhan stated that "White
people are potential humans'they haven't evolved yet." (Philadelphia
Inquirer, 2000-MAR-18). However, most Muslims do not consider the
Nation of Islam to be part of Islam, because of its unique beliefs
about God, humanity and the rest of the universe.
The books included in the Bible differ among Christian faith groups. The Roman
Catholic Church includes the Apocrypha; most other Christian denominations do
not. Members of the approximately 100 faith groups in the
LDS Restorationist movement, including The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) add other holy books,
including the Book of Mormon. Christian Scientists consider Mary Baker Eddy's
book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"
to be a major resource.
Muslims generally believe that the Qur'an is the
literal word of God, as dictated to Muhammad over an interval of 23 years. It is
the only book that is considered free of tahrif (error). There
are four additional books:
The Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (Scrolls of
Abraham/Ibrahim) which have been lost.
The Tawrat (the Pentateuch from the Hebrew Scriptures) which many Muslims
believe were altered by ancient Hebrews.
The Zabur which many Muslims believe
are the Psalms from the Hebrew Scriptures.
The Injil (the Gospels; the words of
Jesus). Muslims believe that this consists of the entire Christian
Scriptures (New Testament), or perhaps only the four canonical Gospels. They
also have been distorted and corrupted over time. Other Muslims believe that the
Injil is not a book, but a group of teachings.
"The Wisdom Fund" views their purpose as promoting the truth about Islam. See:
http://www.twf.org
"Death of Jesus in Quran 'reasonable and valid," Light &
Islamic Review, Vol. 70 #3, 1993-MAY/JUN, Pages 9 & 10. See:
http://www.muslim.org/light/93-3.htm