Comparing and Contrasting Islam and Christianity - Literature review Example

?Christianity and Islam Many people wonder about the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. These religions are two of the mostpracticed religions in the world. Muslims and Christians have enormously different views on ideology and theology. However, these religions also have similar views on some points. But before we can compare and contrast the two religions, we need to define and know what these religions are all about. Christianity is a religion based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus (Slick, n.d.).  Jesus is the “Christ” which means the “anointed one”.  Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically (Slick, n.d.). The religion teaches that there is an existence of only one God. According to Christianity, God made the universe, the Earth and created Adam and Eve. Therefore, the best way to answer what Christianity is about is to say that it is a relationship with the true and living God through the person of Jesus Christ by whom we are forgiven of our sins and escape the righteous judgment of God (Slick, n.d.). Islam is regarded as one of the three central Abrahamic faiths along with Judaism and Christianity (Duncan, n.d.). Islam is derived from the word salaam which means “peace”, “submission to God”, and “way to peace”. The followers of Islam are the “Muslims” or those who “submit” to God’s will. Duncan (n.d.) described Islam as a universal religion that teaches that God is merciful and compassionate, and that promises the faithful worldly peace and equality and entrance to a sublime eternity. It is a monotheistic religion which believes only in the existence of one God. Comparing and Contrasting Islam and Christianity These are some of the main similarities between Christianity and Islam. Peter Jackson (n.d.) stated that both religions say that there is only One God. This God is the most sovereign and he rules the history. The two religions also believe in Jesus. However, there are quite differences in how they believe him. Another similarity is the existence of Angels. Both religions believe in the existence of angels which are the referred to as the messengers of God. Both religions have Prophets and prophecy which includes many of the same characters such as Abraham, David, Noah and the like (Jackson, n.d.). The two religions also believe the concept of Heaven and Hell and God’s future judgment (Jackson, n.d.). Heaven is often portrayed as the holiest place in which people who have died continue to exist in an afterlife. Hell, on the other hand, is a place of suffering and punishment afterlife. God’s judgment will determine whether a person will be sent to heaven or hell after death. Although these two religions are similar in many ways, we can’t deny that they differ in a lot of ideologies and theologies. In both religions God is the creator of everything and he is loving and forgiving (McLean, 2007). One major difference between the beliefs of Christians and Muslims regarding God is that while Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, or three persons in one divine nature, Muslims believe that God is only one person and that the Trinity is the belief in three Gods (McLean, 2007). The two religions differ in their founder. Muhammad is the founder of Islam and believed by Muslims to be perfect and sinless. In Christianity, the founder is Jesus. For Muslims, Muhammad was not only a religious leader, but also a political leader, which explains the common practice of integrated church and state in many Muslim countries (McLean, 2007). Both religions recognize Jesus but their beliefs about him vary. Islam and Christianity believe that Jesus was sinless, perfect and born of the Virgin Mary (McLean, 2007). The two religions accept that Jesus performed miracles and was ascended, or raised up, to God. McLean (2007) stated that Muslims see Jesus as a highly regarded prophet, while Christians see Him as God himself. Jesus was a spiritual, not a political leader thus many Christian countries practice separation of Church and state (McLean, 2007). The two religions differ in the idea of how salvation is obtained. Though both Christianity and Islam believe that God created man, along with everything else, the Christians believe that Adam sinned and that all people aside from Mary and Jesus, are born with original sin and it can only be removed through the sacraments (McLean, 2007). Because of this belief, man are regarded as imperfect and cannot earn salvation but receives it through the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. The good works of the saints are ways to which Christians earn reparation for their sins. However, Muslims believe that each person is born sinless and is responsible to maintain this state throughout life and that each person is responsible for his or her own salvation and cannot receive an indulgence. Islam teaches that the only sure way to make it to heaven for a Muslim to die in a Jihad or Holy War. Christians believe that each person has his own free will and that they are saved through grace. Islam denies that Jesus died in the crucifixion, however, Christians believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection (Dew, 2001). Muslims also adhere in the belief of 4 books while Christians believe that adding to God’s words has serious consequences (Dew, 2001). Christianity teaches to love all, even the enemies, while Islam teaches to kill the pagans, apostates, and those of the house of war (www.jerusalemites.org, Jerusalem and Christianity). Both religions have similar beliefs as to what will happen at the end of time and the return of Jesus to judge all people. Both Islam and Christianity believe that there is an eternal heaven but Christians believe that hell is also eternal unlike Muslims. Muslims believe that God can pardon those who are in hell. Important aspects of both religions are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Both have a holy day where all believers and followers are obligated to go to a group prayer. Muslims go to their Mosque on Fridays and Christians go to church on Sundays. Christians daily prayer are less rigid and is seen as a person’s discussion between God and man while Muslims are obliged to go to Mecca, the Holy Land, and five times daily prayer. Christians abstains during lent and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday while Muslims fast each year on Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. In Islam, it is also required to give one fortieth of everything they own each year while Christianity urges to give ten percent of everything they earn each year to the church (McLean, 2007). The two religions may differ with the ideologies and their understanding about God and His words, but they should be given equal respect and importance. Each person is free to choose his own religion, thus he must not be judged and condemned of his choice. Islam and Christianity should be treated as equals and hence, believers, both Christians and Muslims, should not be prejudiced because of their faith. References: Dew, Diane. A Comparison of the Christian Scriptures with the Teaching of Muhammad, (2001). Web 22 April 2011 Duncan, Derek. What is Islam?, (n.d.). Web. 22 April 2011 Jackson, Pete. What’s the difference between Christianity and Islam, (n.d.). Web 22 April 2011 “Jerusalem and Christianity.” www.jerusalemites.org. N.d. Web. 22 April 2011 McLean, Collins. The Differences and Similarities Between Christianity and Islam, (2007). Web. 22 April 2011 Slick, Matt. What is Christianity?, (n.d.). Web. 22 April 2011 Read More