The strife occurring between the Middle East and the United States, since 911 had me thinking. Thinking WAY BACK…to another life, long ago…when I was in College. I had actually written a paper on the similarities between Islam and Christianity…and at the time (1996) I had no clue that we would be where we are now. So, I had to dig through my old reports to see what I had written so long ago.
Maybe just to remind myself that we are not so different to begin with, and that the fanatics are not the mainstream.
Islam and Christianity are religions, with their respective roots imbedded in two very different cultures. A naïve or ignorant opinion would tend to dismiss any similarities. This may be applicable regarding customs and traditions each religion follows. Like an onion, after peeling away the layers, one realizes basic principles form the very foundation of both.
Christians and Muslims, though not readily acknowledged, believe in the same God, Allah in Islamic. Both religions require and expect moral and ethical behavior, emphasizing charity to the poor. One “Pillar of Islam” asserts if one is capable, perform acts of charity. Contribute to helping the poor. The name Zaket, means you help the poor. Christianity also proclaims the message and importance of charity.
Islam and Christianity recognize a last judgment, heaven, and hell, and Satan as the source of pure evil. The two are not public religions, yet are open to all.
A brief summary of the Pillars of Islam will provide a clearer picture of similarities and differences among Islam and Christianity. All further references towards Allah will be expressed by the term God, for uniformity reasons only.
Islam and Christianity
Are we really that different?
According to the Qur’an, Islamic law, and the prophets of Islam, God directed humankind to live according to certain principles. The Pillars of Islam define these principles, providing the foundation of Islamic religion.
The first Pillar of Islam conveys the importance of living ones’ life morally and ethically. Muslims observe the first Pillar dominant over all others, second to the submission to the will of God. To follow a moral and ethical way of life, as an individual, one must not sin. The definition of sin is consistent in Islam and Christianity.
Unlike Christianity, Islamic followers presume human beings know the difference between right and wrong, sin and non-sin. Though Islam and Christianity recognize the same God, Satan, heaven, hell, and a last judgment, forgiveness of sin exists only in Christianity. Penance for sins does not exist in Islam. The belief is a simple and straight forward one. Muslims believe God assigns guardian angels to record the events and deeds of every human being. Confessing ones’ sins will not bring forgiveness, guaranteeing life after death; only the absence of sin from ones’ life will the passage to heaven be attained.
The next Pillar of Islam one must follow is the practice of prayer. Followers of Islam must pray five times a day while facing the direction of Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Muslims must also fast during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the holy month. Food and water being sacrificed during the day, with feasts usually following sundown. By contrast, Christianity only encourages followers to pray, subjecting no dietary restrictions upon members.
Muslims may gather to pray in a Mosque. Christianity has the Roman Catholic Church, as well as many others. The Mosque is merely a place for the faithful to gather and pray, or study. It is not a church. Being only a gathering place, prayer may be performed in groups, or isolation. Prayer is a highly individual practice for Muslims. Islam stresses the relationship between each individual and God.
Within the Christian Church priests preside, while the head of a Mosque is a very learned person or teacher. There has never been a priest in Islam. Where Christians adorn holy places, such as a church, with images depicting God, Islam strictly forbids graven images of God anywhere. From the earliest times to present, Islam incorporates the use of geometric designs for decorations.
Islamic followers must complete a pilgrimage to Mecca, if possible. According to the third Pillar of Islam, each Muslim is to make a pilgrimage to Mecca during a life-time, the central act being to pray and circle the Kaba. Though pilgrimages to the holy land were common during the early centuries for Christians, no direct requirement exists.
Another Pillar of Islam requires the recitation, study, and even committing the text of the Qur’an to memory of every Muslim. Believing the Qur’an contains God’s true words, recited by the prophet Muhammad, reinforce faith. Muslims believe the study of the Qur’an enlightens one to God’s expectations, providing answers to ones’ most profound questions. Christianity, similarly, encourages and expects followers to read the Gospel, though does not require it.
The fifth Pillar of Islam forbids consumption of pork and alcohol. Christianity recognizes no such dietary restrictions, those existing in the past were customary rather than directed by a prophet.
Absent from Islam, while embraced in Christianity include: covenants, bonds, the acceptance of faith, love, grace, and white light. Unlike Islam, the Christian doctrine contains an enormous amount of complexities. Christianity advocates the presence of Christ as God, life after death, the resurrection, supernatural nature and mysteries of the universe.
In contrast, Islam rejects these complexities of faith and mystery. The over-riding aspect of Islam is the submission to the will of God. Islam simply declares, submit to God, and all will fall into place. Submitting to the will of God is to understand the nature of God. There is only one indivisible God; all prophets are human, divinely inspired by God, including Christ.
Both religions presume the presence of evil, yet with differing interpretations. While Christianity’s explanation of the existence of evil in the universe is complex and perplexing, Muslims simply assume evils’ existence. Christian beliefs of evil thwarted by the presence of Christ, and the acquired absolute truth after death, contrasts Islamic beliefs.
While Christians feel at peace with God, Muslims disagree. Muslims portray God as just, revengeful, but compassionate, quick to punish injustice, but generously forgiving to those who abandon evil and submit to his will.
Though there are differences…I believe the two share a very basic belief in right and wrong…and the same basic belief in God, or Allah. Not only that…but as human beings, both sides of the coin desire the same things for ourselves and family members.
So…why is it our two cultures HAVE to clash…and in the process kill our family and friends?
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Very nicely written here Brian.
I believe the biggest difference between our culture and theirs is that a small few fundamentalists run everything in the Muslim world. They make all the rules, keep their people down and say “hey look at the christians” “they are the reason your life sucks”. The average muslim person has no power and no voice and little hope. When that happens you embrace certain ideas tha eventually lead to violence. When you cannot get rid of the dictators that are holding back your life and your family’s life….hatred takes seed in your mind. I believe it could happen very easily here too if we arent careful.
But what do I know? I am an atheist.
It is not a clash of cultures, it is political. And the clashes do not just happen today, look at all the wars say just in the last century. They are not fought between people of different religions but between countries and groups of allies.
You had done an extensive study Urban Cowboy.
Except their political leaders are not really in charge, their Imams are…..religious dictators that run the show
And now with protests in Syria…people around the world are fed up with dictatorship, and are rising to take back their freedom. They have a long way to go, but are making progress. People of all cultures and religions really just want to live a good, happy life without death and torture… and it is STARTING to take fruition in parts of the world that have been ruled with iron fists, and inhumanity.
Yes indeed and I think we will see more and more of them start to fall. We need more women to take a stand in those countries too, they and their children are the ones that really suffer.
Really enjoyed this one.
I’ve always noticed the similarities and could never figure out why no one else mentioned it.
And I can’t help it. Every time I see those Muslim ladies with those burquas or whatever they are, I can’t help it, I think of Mary.
Religion is religion.
Couldnt agree more Deb.
Every time I see a woman wrapped UP in a burka or shador, I am reminded of the subjugation of women. It saddens me. Also, true Christianity doesn’t teach submit or die like true Islam does.
It’s political, religious, and it’s a war.
UP