What are the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What is your opinion of Paul's meaning in Galatians 2 11-16 where he appears to be criticizing Peter?

There was quite a rift among the early Christian leaders. James, the brother of Jesus, didn't accept Gentiles into the family of Christ, while Paul preached actively among the Gentiles. Peter (Cephas) tried to be the peacemaker. However, any hope the Apocalyptics had of a Messiah bringing a multitude of angels to establish a Kingdom of God in Judea were dashed with the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 ce.

Edited April 17, 2013 by The Patriot

[himher 634]

Depends on how you use the term Christian I suppose.

I could say certain people are Muslims, but if they don't believe in the supernatural, would they really be Muslims by most Muslims' definition?

Dead Sea Scrolls give us insight into the Essene community (in which John the Baptist was probably a part of) and gives us the oldest recorded scroll of Isaiah. I don't know how they relate to the New Testament though I'm sure I'll run into that as I study, but if there are any current textual variants, I could always find them in my critical edition (shows every variant and what they are -- 99% of the variants are meaningless, movable nu's or nomima sacra's or things of the sort). Though, even the skeptic (not actually an atheist, but more of an agnostic) Bart Ehrman thinks the New Testament we have today (existing as the Nestle-Aland critical edition of the Greek New Testament) is basically what the originals were. I'm sure you could find an interview somewhere online where he would say so. I've heard him say it. I think it was a radio program or debate.

Many of us go on what the disciples of Jesus wrote about him to know what he actually said. I believe he called himself the Son of God because his disciples basically said he did. He spoke in parables to crowds but plainly to his disciples.

Peter called him the Son of God and Jesus confirmed his confession with, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

I looked up textual variants and didn't see any in this portion of Scripture.

Matthew 16:16-17 ---> In case you want to look it up for yourself to see if there are any variants.

Thomas called him God after he saw him after the crucifixion and Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me, and yet believe." (John 20:29 - I don't see a textual variant on this either)

Even though this is based on what his original disciples said about him, I think it is fairly reliable. They seemed to believe he said these things anyway.

But we could go into 1000s of different issues regarding these texts and authorship, etc.. At the end of the day, we only have what these writings tell us.

The other so-called gospels like the Gospel of Thomas were from Valentinian gnostics. They still saw Jesus as God, but not really as as actual human. Some of the stuff that is written in them is just off the wall. Like Jesus claiming that he would turn Mary into a man so she could be a disciple. Gnosticism was a belief system that took on a lot of things around it in the day (Christianity, Judaism, mystery religions, Roman Paganism, etc.) in order to gain disciples from different regions. They took a very neo-platonic worldview.

Anyway, we could talk for centuries about the topic.

The story of Thomas is in one version of the resurrection. There are different and conflicting versions however and no two versions or the cricifixion and resurrection story have the same people doing the same thing or seeing the same thing. 3/4 of them have to be incorrect. So there is no way of knowing if the version with Thomas is the correct one or not.

JESUS never, himself, stated "I am the Son of God" or "I am God". Others did.

Direct conflict in the factual information imply rewrite, tampering, or storytelling.

Edited April 17, 2013 by himher

[james&olya 1,121]

Many claiming to be christian criticize the Quran based on texts calling for severe punishments for various infractions of rules. If you want to see some equally if not more shocking rules and punishments spend some time in the first 5 books of the old testament, especially Leviticus. Thankfully few, if any, modern Christians actually believe any of this stuff, finding various rationales to downplay the harshness found there. But it is there and if the whole bible is really the 'word of god' then it should be paid heed to.

I personally grew up with all of this literally every day of the week. I don't believe any of it is from a non-human source or inspiration. Man needed a 'God' and so one was created. Actually there have been countless gods of various types and attributes created over recorded history.

[cybernco 1]

The topic is very difficult because so few people have studied both religions. But I'd like to take a quick stab at it and ask for everyone's input. I believe that the main difference is in how one gains entrance to heaven. In Christianity we are putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to make us clean and holy. Is it fair to say that the Islamic faith depends upon the works of the individual believer?

[spookyturtle 9,465]

The topic is very difficult because so few people have studied both religions. But I'd like to take a quick stab at it and ask for everyone's input. I believe that the main difference is in how one gains entrance to heaven. In Christianity we are putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to make us clean and holy. Is it fair to say that the Islamic faith depends upon the works of the individual believer?

In Christianity we are supposed to do our part too.

[cybernco 1]

Ephesians 2:8-9 Says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."

Romans 3:27-28 Says, "Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."

What scripture are you referring to that shows that Christians must work or earn their way to Heaven?

We are called to repent, turning away from sin and evil and then put our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to be saved from hell and be granted passage into Heaven.

Edited April 17, 2013 by cybernco

[bsd058 296]

What is your opinion of Paul's meaning in Galatians 2 11-16 where he appears to be criticizing Peter?

He was criticizing Peter. Peter was in no way perfect. He was giving in to the 'Judaizers' a Christian sect that claimed that being circumcized and Jewish raises the status of them above those who are not circumsized or that it could in some way add to the saving faith that the apostles first advocated. Paul stood up to Peter because Peter was showing favoritism when he shouldn't have and Peter backed down. The apostles were declaring that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. And Peter was being hypocritical by showing favoritism to the Jews and forcing Gentiles to live like Jews when God had told Peter that these Gentiles were clean (a vision Peter had about the Gentiles that he wrote about--Acts 10:13).

The story of Thomas is in one version of the resurrection. There are different and conflicting versions however and no two versions or the cricifixion and resurrection story have the same people doing the same thing or seeing the same thing. 3/4 of them have to be incorrect. So there is no way of knowing if the version with Thomas is the correct one or not.

JESUS never, himself, stated "I am the Son of God" or "I am God". Others did.

Direct conflict in the factual information imply rewrite, tampering, or storytelling.

Just semantics, really. Jesus confirmed what his disciples said about him to their face.

What do you suppose this means?

Matthew 16:13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Are you saying that Jesus wasn't saying that Peter was right that he was the Son of God?

[Darnell 8,478]

Oh, I thought of another similarity between Christians and Muslims ( the religion, not necessarily the peoples).

There are sects of Christianity, fighting over dogma

There are sects of Islam, fighting over dogma ..

[decocker 7,198]

The topic is very difficult because so few people have studied both religions.

this is completely untrue.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

this is completely untrue.

Yes and no. Besides the religious education I received by spending 5 years in parochial school, I also have a couple community college level courses under my belt, one on World Religions, and one on Western Religious thought - essentially all the dirt on Christians up to and including the Age of Enlightenment, plus many hours watching Joseph Campbell on PBS. I would say I have learned a lot more about Islam and even other Christian sects, here on VJ than I did in my cursory prior education.

[decocker 7,198]

Yes and no. Besides the religious education I received by spending 5 years in parochial school, I also have a couple community college level courses under my belt, one on World Religions, and one on Western Religious thought - essentially all the dirt on Christians up to and including the Age of Enlightenment, plus many hours watching Joseph Campbell on PBS. I would say I have learned a lot more about Islam and even other Christian sects, here on VJ than I did in my cursory prior education.

your personal experience does not equate to 'so few people' have studied both religions.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

your personal experience does not equate to 'so few people' have studied both religions.

I think the poster meant people here in this discussion, not a handful of scholars here and there.

[decocker 7,198]

I think the poster meant people here in this discussion, not a handful of scholars here and there.

or maybe the problem is that it is difficult to properly study two religions when subscribing to one and not the other. i took the sentence for exactly how it read. my bad i guess.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

or maybe the problem is that it is difficult to properly study two religions when subscribing to one and not the other. i took the sentence for exactly how it read. my bad i guess.

So, you are saying that the discussion is not difficult, and you don't need to be an expert in any religion to participate. If that is what you are saying, I agree. That was the "yes" part. As far as being able to discuss with any authority and a complete understanding of both religions, that was the "no" part.

[duraaraa 203]

I have studied neither of these religions because I don't think there is really anything for me to gain from studying them... with that said...

TV shows from the 80s and 90s have taught me one thing. That is, if someone has a disagreement, you have to lock them in together somewhere until they sort it out. Perhaps if we lock Muslims, Jews, Christians, Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Bahais, and those of religions not mentioned (sorry) together in a closet regularly enough, we'll get more group hugs and less fighting.

Edited April 24, 2013 by duraaraa