Overview:
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three closely related
religions. Because they all revere Abraham and certain other
patriarchs mentioned in the Bible as their spiritual ancestors,
they are called Abrahamic religions. However, their
many points of similarity are no guarantee that their followers
can get along. Most of the serious religiously motivated
conflicts, mass crimes against humanity and genocides in the 20th
century have been between Muslims and Christians. This has
included genocides in Bosnia Herzegovina, East Timor, and the
Sudan, as well as serious conflicts in Cyprus, Kosovo,
Macedonia, and the Philippines. As of mid-2001, two of these
conflicts (Sudan and Philippines) are still active, and three
others are inert only because of peacekeepers on the ground.
It is difficult to
compare Christianity to any other religion, because there is such
a wide range of beliefs and practices among various wings of
Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox churches, the
Anglican communion and the tens of thousands of Protestant faith
groups. Some commentators have suggested that Christianity
consists of a number of different religions which share little
more than the Bible and the name of their religion. Protestant
Christianity is obviously divided into at least liberal and
conservative wings -- divisions which hold few beliefs in common.
Some of the descriptions below will thus necessarily be somewhat
simplistic and lacking in precision.
About the religions themselves:
| Name
of the religion: |
Christianity |
Islam |
| Meaning of the name: |
Believer in
Christ (a Greek word meaning Messiah). |
Submission
to the will of God. |
| Name of a believer: |
Christian. |
Muslim. |
| Date of founding: |
circa 30
CE. |
622 CE. |
| Name of founder(s): |
Yeshua of
Nazareth (aka Jesus Christ, (pbuh) 3
& Paul. |
Muhammad (pbuh)
. However, Muslims generally
regard Islam as dating back to the time of creation |
| % of world's population as
followers: |
33%. |
20%. |
| Worldwide growth rate in
numbers of members |
2.3%/year. |
2.9%/yr. |
| Growth rate: % of world's
population: |
About 0.0%.
Numbers have been steady for decades. |
Increase of
about 0.6%/yr. |
| Estimated year when Islam
will become the most popular world religion: |
2023
CE (if above numbers are valid) to beyond 2200 CE (as
estimated by some religious futurists) |
| % of U.S. population as
followers: |
2001 ARIS
study estimates 76%, declining about 0.8% a year. |
2001 ARIS
study estimates 0.5%; some Muslim groups estimate 6
million (2%). |
| Internal divisions: |
Roman
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, and
others. |
Shi'ite,
Sunni, Sufi. Sufi is a mystical tradition. |
Beliefs:
| Name
of the religion: |
Christianity |
Islam |
| Concept of deity: |
Most
believe in the Trinity; three persons in one Godhead:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. |
God (Allah)
is one and indivisible. believing in a strict
monotheism. "Allah" means God in Arabic. |
| Status of Yeshua of
Nazareth (Jesus Christ): |
Generally
considered the Son of God, worshiped as God; part of the
Trinity. |
Very highly
respected as the second-last prophet. |
| Birth of Yeshua: |
Conservatives:
virgin conception.
Liberals: conventional birth. |
Virgin
conception. |
| Death of Yeshua: |
Executed by
Roman Army circa 30 CE. |
Was not
killed, crucified, or suffered death. Muslims believe that
he ascended alive into heaven. |
| Yeshua's location |
Ascended
into Heaven |
Ascended
into Heaven |
| Identity of "another
helper" or "comforter" * |
Holy Spirit |
Muhammad (pbuh) |
| Second coming of Jesus |
Conservatives:
expect in near future. Liberals: varied. |
Anticipate
the second coming in the future. |
| Status of Adam: |
Disobeyed
God in the Garden of Eden. |
Free from
all major sins and faults. Some regard him as a prophet. |
| Holy book: |
Bible. |
Qur'an. |
| Original languages: |
Hebrew,
Aramaic, Greek. |
Arabic. |
| Status of the holy book: |
Conservatives:
the inerrant Word of God. Liberals: a historical spiritual
document. |
God's word
and final revelation, dictated by angel Gabriel. |
| Additional guidance: |
Writings of
the leaders of the early Church. For Roman Catholics:
church tradition. |
The Hadith
-- sayings of Muhammad (pbuh). |
| Ethic of reciprocity
(Golden rule): |
"Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them." Matthew 7:12 |
"Not
one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother
what he loves for himself." Fourth Hadith of an-Nawawi
13 |
| A baby's status at birth |
Conservatives:
A baby is born with a sin nature, separated from God. God
needs to give him grace so that he may be saved. |
All babies
are a born in a pure state of submission to Islam.
However, as they mature they are often taught other
beliefs. |
| Life after death: |
Either
Heaven or Hell. Catholics believe in Purgatory as a third
state. |
Heaven or
Hell. |
| Basis of determining
destination after death: |
There is no
consensus in Christianity. Different faith groups hold
Various diverse beliefs: trusting Jesus as Lord and
Savior, good works, church sacraments, baptism, avoiding
certain actions. |
Once they
reach puberty, his/her account of deeds is opened in
Paradise. To attain paradise, at death, their good deeds
(helping others, testifying to the truth of God, leading a
virtuous life etc.) must outweigh their evil deeds. |
| Confessing sins: |
Roman
Catholic: to God or Jesus, either directly or through a
priest; Others: to God or Jesus |
To Allah (swt)
Shi'a believe you can make dua through Imams but they do
not pray directly to them. |
| Probably the most
misunderstood term: |
Immaculate
Conception: Roman Catholics believe that the
conception of the Virgin Mary, circa 20 BCE, was without
sin. Many incorrectly relate it to Yeshua's' conception. |
Jihad:
internal, personal struggle towards the attainment of a
noble goal. Many incorrectly equate it to "holy
war." |
* From John 14:16: "And I will pray
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever."
Notes:
- The Christian church is normally considered to have begun at
Pentecost, 50 days after Christians believe that Jesus was
executed. Unfortunately, the year of his death is unknown.
- Most religious historians view Islam as having been founded
in 622 CE. However, many if not most of the followers of Islam
believe that:
- Islam existed before Muhammad (pbuh) was born.
- The origins of Islam date back to the creation of the
world.
- Muslims traditionally acknowledge respect for Muhammad,
Jesus and other prophets (peace be upon them) by adding this
phrase or an abbreviation "(pbuh)" after their
names.
- Greg H. Parsons, Executive Director, "U.S. Center
for World Mission," Pasadena, CA; quoted in Zondervan
News Service, 1997-FEB-21.
- One exception is the Nation of Islam which promotes a
black supremacist ideology. For example, leader Louis
Farrakhan stated that "White people are potential
humans…they haven’t evolved yet." (Philadelphia
Inquirer, 2000-MAR-18). However, most Muslims do not consider
the Nation of Islam to be part of Islam, because of its
unique beliefs about God, humanity and the rest of the
universe.
Copyright © 2001 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2001-AUG-4 Author: B.A. Robinson
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