Differences between Islam and Christianity - Article Example

Islam and Christianity In his article, “Islam, Sovereignty, and Democracy: A Turkish View,” by Hakan Yilmaz focus on empirical relations between Islam and Christianity. The author in the first part discusses historical formation of Christianity and Islam as dualist and monist respectively. Additionally, the paper mentions political theories of the two religions. The author notes that at the end of Middle Ages the Islamic countries build secular state apparatus that replace religion based on sovereignty of the new state. Other political changes that occur include deportation of Islam from state to the society, re-birth of Islam as a political ideology aimed at re-capturing a lost state. The issue of Islam and democracy precipitates controversy since 9/11 terrorist attack. The issue of bringing democracy to the Islamic states in the Middle East is a crucial issue in United States foreign policy. Some scholars argue that democracy is a concept from Western civilization that originates from Christianity. Islamic civilizations do not incline to democratic government. Some scholars’ state that socioeconomic other than cultural factors is the underlying causes for lack of democracy in the Islamic world. Christianity and Islam during historical context Christianity was born in society and Islam in the state in their historical contexts. The emergence of the two religions shed light on political dualism in the doctrine of Christianity and political monism in Islam. The author states that the emergence of Christianity is within the society and after three centuries, it became the religion of the state. In 312 AD, Roman Empire Constantine converted to Christianity. He ensured that Christians did not suffer persecutions. In the era of Emperor Julian, the Apostate persecution of Christians resumed. For that reason, one can note that Christianity was not a state religion in western part of the Roman Empire. Once the Roman capital moved to the eastern side of Constantinople, Christianity became a religion of the state. The emergence of Christian Church in Rome served as a state –independent organization to coexist with decentralized feudal states. At first, Christianity became hegemonic within society and then rose to the status of official ideology. The rise of the religion follows an evolutionary path to portray a wave coming from below. At the formulation of Christian belief, the Roman Empire established a legal tradition called the Roman law. The dictum of Caesar reflected a pact between the church and the state where the church had the status of the supreme authority over spiritual matters. Modern state in Western Europe underlines the influence on state formation on the cultural context that shaped Catholic dualism. The dualism consists of Temporalia and Spiritualia to distinguish Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. Islam as opposed to Christianity began by state-makers in the Arabian Peninsula at the time when Prophet Muhammad and a few others that began spreading the Islamic creed. Some scholars argue that the time was ripe for the establishment of a central and ethnic homogeneous state. The progenitors of Islam all belong to the Quraysh that had immense power in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Founding fathers of Islam aims to build a central authority that exercises power on various tribes of Arabia. Some tribes supported Muhammad called the Medina coalition while the opposing forces were the Mecca. Medina conquered the war between the two factions and had to accept Islam as a new dominant system of ideas and Muhammad as their leader. The core of Islam developed a process of war making and state making. At the end, the leaders of Islam became the leaders in the society unlike divisions of spiritual and temporal jurisdiction between God and Caesar in Christianity. Christianity and Islam during the middle Ages Both religions follow their formative periods that last five centuries from the end of philosophy to the age of reform. The middle ages of religion are a period of doctrinal and institutional stability that embeds ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. The age of reform is a typically precipitated by change in non-religious areas and external crisis. The Christianity in the Middle Ages starts with the appearance of St. Augustine those campaigns on the City of God against the Pagans in the 5th century. The Middle Ages end with the Reformation in the 16th century that was the outcome of rise in the commercial capitalism, emergence of absolutist states, and geographical discoveries. Christianity goes through 1000 years middle ages before it faces the challenge of reform. Islam middle ages last 700 years that end with doctrinal and institutional crisis brought by the challenge of Western colonialism. Conflicts in the two religions The issue of theology causes tensions between the religions and a greater cause and resource for reconciliation. Historically and theologically, both Christianity and Islam are offspring to a common parent. Both religions have theological genes of Abraham and his prophetic descendants. The y may have the same parent while they are genetically and historically different from each other. One hadith in the Quran for Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him recognizes the sibling relationship. The prophets are half brothers while their mothers differ. The issue is one of sibling rivalry just like brothers and sisters of the same family. The two religions have the capability of caring for each other to demonstrate deep-seated love that siblings have for each other. Choosiness Both religions inherit from the Jewish mother a inherent trait in origins and history called chosenness. Jews believe that the Divine that they refer to as Allah or God acts in history and chooses for them a special role. Muslims and Christians have each been chosen for a special task in history passed down in the same way. God’s choice serves as a responsibility other than a privilege. Both religions perception outweigh heavily on the scales that decide on the eternal destiny. No religion is superior from other religions. A sense of superiority hover believers hearts where they feel special and God’s favorite not due to achievements but due to God’s eternal wisdom. Supersessionism It is the belief that one’s religion is specially chosen by God will not necessarily lead to rivals and conflicts. If all religion are chosen for a special task there should be no rivalry between them. The same god can assign different tasks with different regions. It is possible to be in a situation of superssessionism. Where each religion laid claim on the same privileged birthright. Each religion feels it has superseded their parent in being God’s chosen people and God’s chosen religion. A Christian believes that historical Jesus does not stumble on a new religion that takes place the Torah and the Temple. Christians recognize the value of Jewish tradition that consists of paving the way and preparing for the coming of Jesus and the Church. Majority of Christians hold that God intends Christianity to supersede and take the place of Judaism. Islam recognizes the value of the prophets of Israel that appear corrupted in the history of Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe in God’s ideal that Christians and Jews find fullness and finality of God’s revelation fulfilled by Islam. In the medieval era, Christianity in its both doctrine and institution maintains its original separation between God and Caesar’s realms of power. In the 5th century, Saint Augustine demarcates the City of God distinct from City of Flesh. The formulation forms the basic tenet of the western Christian Church after the death of St. Augustine. At the start of 16th century, Christianity experiences different challenges in modernization, Protestant Reformation, Enlightenment, Materialism, Rationalism, Renaissance Humanism, and Materialism. At a socioeconomic level, Christianity deals with Commercial Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and colonial expansion. On a political front, Christianity experiences challenges in national states, absolutist state, liberalism, socialism, and nationalism. England during absolutist monarchy confiscated church property. Christianity accommodated the secular changes due to dualism while maintaining the authority of spiritual realm. Any change in Islam depended on the Quran. For the authorities to issue a new regulation on the area they had first to legitimize the regulation within the body of Islam. The process of government in accordance to the rules of statecraft is Islamicization of rules within Shari’a. Prior to Islamicization of rules: (1) there has to be proof that such a rule in the Quran or in the traditions of the Prophet referred to as First Order of Islam. (2) Show that one can deduce the rule from First Order. (3) a demonstration that the rule does not contradict the First Order. Once a new rule undergoes Islamicized in any of the three ways it is then added to the Second Order of Islam. Islam religion depicts intolerance, the problematic nature of Sharia laws concerning women, and a lack of emphasis on grace, love, kindness, and forgiveness in comparison to Christianity. Total submission practiced by Muslims leads to dictatorship, strict hierarchy, chauvinism, and extreme sensitivity to criticism. Muslims teaching inclines on hate attitude towards non-Muslims and Christian leaders seem superior to Muslim clerics. The intellectual motivations that lead to some individuals leaving Muslim include difficulty in ascertaining historicity of Islam sources, Prophet Muhammad’s character from a moral perspective, Quran failure to appear divine, issue with taboos, and theism. Islam colonialism and historical mistreatment of women and slaves is appalling in theory and practice. For many years, conflicts arise between Christians and Muslims. The sacred Council currently pleads for all to forget past conflicts and urges for a sincere effort made to achieve mutual understanding to benefit all religious sects. Declaration on the relation of the Church to non Christian Religions issued in the fourth and final session of the Second Vatican Council references to a letter in 1076 from Pope Gregory VII to a Muslim cleric called Al-Nasir. The cleric issued a precise request to the Christians living in Algeria. Thirty-six years later the pilgrimage to Syria by Pope John Paul II offer full observation concerning relations between Christians and Muslims. Interreligious dialogue enables Christians and Muslims to live together as they engage in daily activities. For instance, in Syria Christians and Muslims live side by side for many years and have a rich dialogue of life that continues unceasingly. Christian teaching concerning conflicts is that it is essential to seek forgiveness with each other. Jesus teaches us that we must pardon others offenses if God is to pardon us our sins (Mt. 6:14). As members of one human family and believers, we all have an obligation for justice and solidarity for common good. Interreligious dialogue can lead to many forms of cooperation especially in the response of the duty of care for the less fortunate in the society. Works Cited Yilmaz, Hakan. "Islam, Sovereignty, And Democracy: A Turkish View." Middle East Journal 61.3 (2007): 477-493. Print. Read More