Christianity and Islam: Beyond the Looking Glass Essay

Christianity and Islam be 2 of the worlds major religions that atomic number 18 often perceived as largely explicit in tenets and pr proceedices. These two, ar being regarded to engender irrelevant principles. provided is the disparity of their beliefs truly that big? To contain a deeper understanding of twain religions, it would be better(p) to impressionualise their followers in the picture. Sad to say, about mass equate the Muslims with terrorists. I excite in person talked to friends who are afraid to ride a glance over with Muslim co-passengers in it.Are these purely misconceptions because we book already found certain schema against the Muslims? Or are at that place truths in it on which much(prenominal) beliefs originated? If we are to read Suras 2190-193, 2216, 476, 532-36, 796-99, 812-14, 859, 865, 95, 914, 923-29, 938-41, 9123, 474, 4735, 614 and 669, earthly concerny passages in the al-Quran exhort Muslims to consume infidels (non-Muslims), wherev er they find them (Faithfacts, 2004). Some Arabic equip work forcet casualty are only even softened manytimes by English translators who use fight rather of wipe out.In fact, Osama bin Laden was quoted as saying I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god nevertheless Allah, and his prophet is Muhammad in the famous videotape observed in Afghanistan in the late 2001 (cited in Fundamentalism, 2004). These run-in echo the language in the Quran itself and such c everys to violence are non merely distortions of the Quran by extreme radicals who try to twist it for their raging ends because violence is an integral part of Islam. however Muhammad himself set the foundation for violence as seen in his whole shebang and commands, which are traceable in the hadiths. Furthermore, 11 portion of the pages of the Bukhari Hadiths mention the Holy War (jihad), which is a intend to use violence in order to counterpane faith. However, it must be realized as close ly that violence is non unique to Islam for even the watchword has its share of violence, peculiarly in the Old testament. In fact god instructs the Israelites coming out of Egypt to hire over the landChristianity and Islam 2 of Canaan and kill tout ensemble the inhabitants. thither is a engagement though between this and the Quranic violence because the Bible makes it prepare that the Canaanite monastic order deserved it as it was comp permitely polluted by their wretchedly evil practices, including the horrible practice of kid sacrifice as found in Deuteronomy 91-6, 1229-31, 189-14, 1 Kings 1424, Chronicles 33 1-9, Ezra 911 (Faithfacts, 2004).Cases alike these are particularly limited for a particular purpose established by graven image unlike the Quran, where we encounter widely distri plainlyed commands to kill and destroy the enemies of Islam that are applicable for all times, straddles and groups. Even then the fact remains that none of these religions are spare d from committing violence, which proves that their disparity is not that big at all (cited in Fundamentalism, 2004). An another(prenominal) thing to consider is the difference in the practices and t apieceings of the subject religions prophets Jesus of Christianity and Muhammad of Islam.If the last mentioned has led at least 27 crashing(a) invasions, assas blurtated many of his opponents during his disembodied spirittime and executed hundreds of captured men in his battle against the Quraiza Jews, Jesus teachings hasten remained undifferentiated in maintaining its tone of peace, service, spang and humility as found in the biblical passages that could be cited in Mathew 51-12, 543-44, 936, 1930, 2650-52, Mark 935, Luke 627-36, 954-55, 1030-37, 22 49-51, 2332-34, John 107-18, 131-17, Galatians 522-23, Philippians 26-8, 1 Thessalonian 515, and 1 Peter 38-9 (The young Testament, 2008).There is zip fastener like the Christian concept of love your enemies or turn your other chee k (Luke 627-37) that give the sack be found in Islam. While Christianity teaches its believers to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 1919), the Quran instructs its followers not to even take Christians or Jews as friends (Suras 3118, 551, 601-3). Jesus was even sure of this when he warned, the time is coming when anyone who kills you forget deliberate he is put outing a service to God as cited in John 162-4 (The reinvigorated Testament, 2008). Another notable point is the difference in both religions concept of generosity.their followers to give alms to the pitiable but unlike the biblical concept where charity is not limited to any group (cited in Luke 1030-37), the Muslims are taught to give alms to the Muslim scurvy only (cited in Islam, 2008). The two religions besides rich person differences in their concept of justness and exculpateness. In the teachings of the New Testament as cited in Matthew 612, 14-15, the act of forgiveness is being given exceptional emphasis, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, uncomplete will your Father forgive your trespasses.In the teachings of Islam as cited in Sura 538 As for the man who withdraws and the woman who steals, cut of their custody as a punishment for what they have earned, an emblematic punishment from Allah and Allah is Mighty, Wise. Muslims do this even to their children if they steal out of hunger. They would not show compassion and take to the woods the child but would instead sever their transfer and wrists to drive home the lessons of Allah. Likewise, in the Old Testament as cited in Leviticus 1911, Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie to one another.If we die the above teachings, it is evident that both religions consider take as evil however, the Christians are more feel for and subtle in dealing with it since the teachings of Jesus wants his followers to be forgiving. Another interesting difference is on how the two religions treat women and nuptials. In Islam, a man can have up to four wives at the same time (Sura 43) and has the adjust to get to his disobedient wife until she obeys (Sura 434, Bukhari 868). Even Muhammad himself had thirteen wives, two concubines, and four women of uncertain relationships. (cited in Fundamentalism, 2004).In the teachings of Christianity, Jesus insisted on the sanctity of marriage (Mark 105-12), thus, in the Christians period practice, a couple has to undergo the process of fall apart before they are allowed to remarry legally. Christianity also condones the insult of women. The Christian teachings consider the fairness of men and women Christianity and Islam 4 (Matthew 532, 1 Corinthians 1111-12, Galatians 328, Ephesians 525-33) unlike that of Islam, which does not give the wife the right to divorce her husband (Sura 2 228). Islam even teaches that bulk of the people in hell are women (Bukhari 128, 1301, and 2161).Christianity and Islam also differ in the way they consider the temper of God. While the fountain teaches that God is a Trinity one God revealed in three persons or manifestations, Islam denies vehemently the doctrine and even considers it as blasphemy (Suras 4171, 517, 572-75). However, it is interesting to note that Islam has a soaring regard of Jesus. What it denies is his divinity, and that he is the Son of God (Suras 930, 1068, 1935, 4381-83). Another difference is that the God of the Bible is holy perfect in all respects moral, just, faithful, loving, all-knowing etc.(Hebrews 726), while the God of Quran does not invariably come as holy. He changes his mind, promises and does not offer assurance of salvation (Suras 4116, 518, 915). In other words, he is arbitrary (cited in Faitfacts, 2004). Both religions also vary in their concept of salvation and heaven. Christianity teaches us that man cannot earn salvation. We posit a savior to save us from sin thus, he se nt Jesus, his only begotten son. As it says in the Bible All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our blameless acts are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64 5-7) But God demonstrated his love for us in this while we were exempt sinners,Christ died for us. (Romans 58). This belief is wholly denied by Islam, even Jesus crucifixion (Sura 4157). On the concept of heaven, the Muslim considers the paradise as a carnal and sensual place, where gorgeous palaces are found and wine are abundant. Christians, on the other hand see it as a place of bliss, where pain, and tears will be gone and men, women, and children will be treated equally. In the previous discussions, we have already noted several differences on the two religions, which in some instances also meet each other.However, we must also note that they are not just different. If we are to take a go steady at the beliefs of Christians and Muslims, we can see Christianity and Islam 5 that they have some commonalities. Both religions agree in some aspects that there is one God who created the universe and is monarch butterfly in the lives of men God is the source of justice and morality that his ultimate justice is dispensed via life after death in heaven and hell, and that things like pornography and unchaste living are pollutants to the indian lodge (cited in faithfacts, 2008).In other words, both religions believed in a supreme being, whether God or Allah. There is also an agreement that he is the creator of all things. Their teachings both acknowledge that there is good and evil, where the occasion is rewarded and the latter is punished. The forms of reward though, and punishment vary in both religions. Both also emphasizes that following the teachings would let the person experience heaven when he dies.It is clear that Christianity and Islam are not that different at all, neither is Islam an evil belief. The latter may have emphasise the role of violence in its teachings, but it still depends on how such is being interpreted and carried out. They faculty differ in many ways nature of God concept of justice forgiveness and more, but we still could not discount the fact that both are religions with followers that are humans, Christians and Muslims, no proposition what doctrines they follow, also need respect.They may not inescapably agree with each other but there is still a point of agreement as exemplified by their similarities. The issue is therefore, not a brain of which belief is right a wrong, nor is it about favorable position or inferiority. What matters most is that we are guided by our beliefs and in doing this, we do not do actions that would persecute the other.ReferencesDaniel, Abu Yusuf. , Ismail Kaka, Abu Maryam. , & Squires Robert, Abu Iman. (n. d). Misconceptions about Islam. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from http//www.geocities.com/window2islam/miscon.html