What are the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam?

[decocker 7,198]

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.

if you claim one religion, i don't think you can subjectively understand the other for comparison's sake.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

if you claim one religion, i don't think you can subjectively understand the other for comparison's sake.

Joseph Campbell said more or less the same thing: To be a true believer in any religion requires a certain level of naivety. Once your peek behind the curtain, you lose the ability to truly immerse yourself in any religion. That doesn't mean there is nothing to learn from religion - many of the myths provide interesting and insightful ways to describe the human experience and it is the common human experience, that provides so many similarities between the various religions and their associated myths.

Edited April 24, 2013 by The Patriot

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Joseph Campbell said more or less the same thing: To be a true believer in any religion requires a certain level of naivety. Once your peek behind the curtain, you lose the ability to truly immerse yourself in any religion. That doesn't mean there is nothing to learn from religion - many of the myths provide interesting and insightful ways to describe the human experience and it is the common human experience, that provides so many similarities between the various religions and their associated myths.

That's just a myth.

[himher 634]

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?

Somewhat. It is much like the "faith without works is dead" passage in the bible. Islam teaches that it is a duty to believe, a duty to pray, a duty to fast, a duty to give a specified amount in charity, and a duty to make, if it is possible, once in one's lifetime, the symbolic trip to Mecca. Islam teaches, like Revelations says and as Jesus also taught, that at the end you are judged not only by your deeds but by the intentions behind those deeds and your deeds include the mandatory actions above.

The teachings of Islam and teachings of Jesus, at least the ones that were saved, are similar in nature however the teachings of many christian churches (I was aware of one who taught beards were sinful but taught that Jesus' beard was plucked out for their sins - it appears that Jesus would not be allowed on their platforms or in their churches and what's that about?) Islam teaches that Jesus was saved from crucifixion and Isaiah alludes to this while the gospels tell completely contradictory stories of it.

It puzzles me how the christian church teaches that one gains entrance to heaven by faith in the finished work of Jesus while ignoring that Jesus directly answered a question on how to gain entrance to heaven by listing the laws that the questioner must follow then John followed up with a tale of judgement, a book, and judgement by deeds, as Islam teaches.

[james&olya 1,121]

How is this?

"Faith without works is dead". One's good works are the result of having faith and is how others can know he is 'godly'.

I don't believe any of the supernatural teachings of religions. But I had it force-fed to me daily for 20 years so I know where at least one protestant religion stands on this issue. It would make sense if you could find any basis for needing to believe in a supernatural or other-worldly 'God'.

Somewhat. It is much like the "faith without works is dead" passage in the bible.

You beat me to it! That is what happens when work responsibility interrupts you in the middle of a post.

[cybernco 1]

this is completely untrue.

I personally only know of a handful of people who have studied both religions extensively. I trust Dr. Ergun Caner's knowledge on both religions. How many people do you personally know that are well educated in both?

[cybernco 1]

How is this?

"Faith without works is dead". One's good works are the result of having faith and is how others can know he is 'godly'.

I don't believe any of the supernatural teachings of religions. But I had it force-fed to me daily for 20 years so I know where at least one protestant religion stands on this issue. It would make sense if you could find any basis for needing to believe in a supernatural or other-worldly 'God'.

You beat me to it! That is what happens when work responsibility interrupts you in the middle of a post.

Ironic that the person without faith wants to claim the "Faith without works" verse Good humor

[james&olya 1,121]

Ironic that the person without faith wants to claim the "Faith without works" verse Good humor

Yeah, I couldn't resist jumping in there after all the many hours spent discussing this issue in religion classes over the years. IF one has religious faith, which I do not anymore, than this is so very relevant to how one lives their life. I personally believe that what you do, your 'works' if you will, and why you do them, are ALL that matters from a non-religious moral perspective. (Yes, we godless heathen do actually have morals! )

[cybernco 1]

Yeah, I couldn't resist jumping in there after all the many hours spent discussing this issue in religion classes over the years. IF one has religious faith, which I do not anymore, than this is so very relevant to how one lives their life. I personally believe that what you do, your 'works' if you will, and why you do them, are ALL that matters from a non-religious moral perspective. (Yes, we godless heathen do actually have morals! )

James, you're alright. I love you sense of humor too! I'm sure that we'd be good friends if we knew each other in person.

[decocker 7,198]

I personally only know of a handful of people who have studied both religions extensively. I trust Dr. Ergun Caner's knowledge on both religions. How many people do you personally know that are well educated in both?

i thought you were speaking as a whole, not people you personally know. my close friends have no desire to know about either religion. my family is all christian, some of them are the super scary type who believe muslims must wiped out.

[sandinista! 1,816]

I personally only know of a handful of people who have studied both religions extensively.  I trust Dr. Ergun Caner's knowledge on both religions.  How many people do you personally know that are well educated in both?

ROFL

Ergun Caner is a lying, fraudulent oinker. 

"The main problem with Caner's journey from Jihad to Jesus is that much of it is fiction, a complex lie made up to give his conversion more authenticity. He fabricated almost everything. For someone who allegedly fought jihad, Caner's understanding of the very basic tenets of the faith he is a so-called expert in is rudimentary.

Caner does not know the difference between Islam's article of faith and the first chapter of the Qur'an. He's claimed that the lunar month of Ramadan lasts for 40 days. In his book, he writes that he performed all of the rakats (daily prayers). The actual word is salah. It's not a difference most people would know, but he says he is an expert on Islam. Muslims, he once said, followed something he called the "tobaad." He's claimed to have debated Muslim scholars who've never heard of him. Court records from his parent's divorce indicate that he was in Ohio when he was a young child, long before his alleged move from Turkey. On his books, his middle name is Mehmet (Muhammad in Turkish), yet it is listed as Michael on his concealed-weapons permit in Virginia. Before 9/11, he went by E. Michael Caner.

In one speech, Caner told a crowd that outside the mosque in Kabul there was a sign that read, "Do not teach the women to read and write." The story may or may not be true, but Caner, to give authority to the tale, told the crowd what was written in the native tongue: "bahasha uwtara muwtara seeteeroh." That's neither Dari nor Arabic nor Urdu nor Turkish nor Pashtu. It is an entirely made up language.

To his audience, Caner's tale of moving from darkness to light reaffirmed their convictions about the superiority of Christianity and the decadence of Islam. But the facts eventually caught up with Caner, thanks to a Muslim student in London who methodically went through his speeches and interviews, chronicling each and every one of his lies. Others quickly piled on, including some within the church.

Ironically, in 2005, Caner came to the defense of Florida-based preacher Jerry Vines who angered the Muslim community with his demonization of the Prophet Muhammad. A piece in the Florida Times-Union quoted Caner, who defended Vines by saying, "No one expected a Baptist preacher to actually research."

That's precisely why Caner's duplicitous persona went unchallenged for so long. No one expected a preacher to so boldly fabricate his entire background. It was all a ruse, intended to play off the evangelical movement's ignorance and fear of Islam."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/walid-zafar/ex-muslim-evangelical-exp_b_582225.html

[decocker 7,198]

thank you sandinista, i wanted to point that out.

this is why i said it isn't very likely a person could subscribe to one religion and fully comprehend the other, without bias.

[sandinista! 1,816]

There's some good brains out there. And a few Karen Armstrongs and the like out there that have written about Islam in a very informed manner while not being Muslims themselves. Liberty Uni ain't having any of that though

[himher 634]

How is this?

"Faith without works is dead". One's good works are the result of having faith and is how others can know he is 'godly'.

I don't believe any of the supernatural teachings of religions. But I had it force-fed to me daily for 20 years so I know where at least one protestant religion stands on this issue. It would make sense if you could find any basis for needing to believe in a supernatural or other-worldly 'God'.

You beat me to it! That is what happens when work responsibility interrupts you in the middle of a post.

One's good works are the result of having faith and is how others can know he is 'godly'

Said belief was definitely chastised by Jesus in speaking to the Pharisees who followed up with teaching that good deeds be done in secret with the right hand not knowing what the left is doing, which is also/similar to what Islam teaches

[himher 634]

Yeah, I couldn't resist jumping in there after all the many hours spent discussing this issue in religion classes over the years. IF one has religious faith, which I do not anymore, than this is so very relevant to how one lives their life. I personally believe that what you do, your 'works' if you will, and why you do them, are ALL that matters from a non-religious moral perspective. (Yes, we godless heathen do actually have morals! )

God gave everyone, even godless heathens, a conscience to guide them