Christianity and Islam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Beliefs |
|
Allah – Oneness of God |
| Practices |
| History & Leaders |
|
Muslim history |
| Texts & Laws |
| Major branches |
| Culture & Society |
|
Academics • Art • Philosophy |
| See also |
The historical interaction between Christianity and Islam, in the field of comparative religion, connects fundamental ideas in Christianity with similar ones in Islam. Islam and Christianity share their origins in the Abrahamic tradition though Christianity predates Islam by centuries. Islam accepts many aspects of Christianity as part of its faith - with some differences in interpretation, and rejects other aspects. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are often collectively referred to as the Abrahamic religions.
Contents |
[edit] Abraham
Christianity and Islam (as well as Judaism) are known as "Abrahamic religions" because of their common origin through Abraham. The firstborn son of Abraham, Ishmael, Muslims consider Father of the Arabs and the ancestor of Muhammad. Abraham's second son Isaac is called Father of the Hebrews. His story is told in the Book of Genesis.
Muslims commonly refer to Christians (and Jews) as "People of the Book."
[edit] Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an
The Qur'an (Koran) contains many references to people and events that are mentioned in the Bible; especially the stories of the prophets of Islam, among whom are included Moses, David and Jesus.
Muslims believe that Moses was given the Tawrat (Torah in Hebrew, or 'the Law'); that David was given the Zabur (or Psalms) and that Jesus was given the Injil (Greek evangel, or Gospel) from the Abrahamic God (Allah in Arabic). Traditionally, Muslims have believed that parts of these teachings were eventually lost or distorted to produce what is now the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament.
There are several events that are present in both holy books in some form.
[edit] Views on Jesus
 |
This section does not cite its references or sources. Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations. (help, get involved!) Any unsourced material that has been or is likely to be challenged may be removed at any time. This article has been tagged since June 2006. |
Although Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet, it does not believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims do not believe that Christ was the "unbegotten son of God" and they do not accept the Trinity. He was a man and prophet brother who brought to mankind a closer relationship with God and each other. In the "religion-literal" sense, Christians reject the Muslim religion's understanding of Christ as heretical. Archbishop Dmitri of the Orthodox Church in America has described Islam as the most prevalent form of Arianism (a fourth century heresy) still extant, observing its similarity to Arianism in that both assert Jesus's status as a creature made by God, rather than God Himself. Waraqah ibn Nawfal who believed in and encouraged Muhammad after his initial "revelation" was himself a Nestorian priest which would help to separate the divinity and humanity of Jesus in the eyes of Muhammad. Muslims, however, reject Arianism's view that Jesus was an angelic creature, instead seeing him as a holy man.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the official doctrine document released by the Roman Catholic church, has this to say regarding Muslims:
"The Church's relationship with the Muslims: The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day." (CCC 841).
Islam and Christianity differ in their fundamental views in regard to the crucifixion and ressurrection which is essential to Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus was condemned to death by the Sanhedrin and the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, physically crucified and resurrected. Muslims believe that Jesus was condemned to crucifixion (for reasons not clearly defined in the Qur'an) and then miraculously saved, "And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, God's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain.(Quran Chapter 4 Verse 157)" Some Muslims hold the belief that another man was crucified and made to look like Jesus as is listed in the apocraphyl (heterodox to Catholic and Orthodox faithful) scriptures. Muslims would deny the death and resurrection of Christ which is held as the basis of all faith for Christians in that it redeems man from death and the blot of "original sin". In the Qur'an Jesus is said to ascend into heaven. In Christianity, Jesus is present for 40 days after his resurrection and ascends to the heaven and appears briefly two more times, once to Saul of Tarsus, known as Paul and then again to Philip the apostle.
It is sometimes asked, "What do contemporary Christianity and Islam share with each other that they do not share with Judaism?" The first and most important answer is their shared certainty in the objective existence of heaven and hell in the afterlife.
Moreover, they both believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, but disagree on the nature of Jesus' paternity in relation to the conception.
Even some of the more gnostic aspects of Christianity, present in Gospel of John and The Apocalypse of John are also present in Islam, although what they mean are not always the same. Such as;
- Jesus is the Word of God.
- Second Coming
- Antichrist
- The Beast
[edit] See also
- Abrahamic religions
- People of the Book
- Judeo-Christian
- Islam and Judaism
- Comparative religion
- Christianity
- Islam
- Christian view of Muhammad
- Islamic view of Jesus
