Islam Vs Christianity
Essay Preview: Islam Vs Christianity
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Christianity and Islam are two of the most widely recognized and widely practiced religions in the world. Islams and Christians have many things in common, as well as various opinions on the application of religion in the day-to-day environment. What is each religion and how does one refer to God? What is the nature, purpose, and plan of each God? What is each religion’s view on the “Spirit” and of Jesus Christ? Both Christianity and Islam have a written book by which to live and only pray to one God. The difference between the two is the character of their sacred books, the religion’s effect on mankind, and their views of God and Christ.
The term “Islam” refers to a submission to God or “a total way of life.” The followers of Islam worship Allah, meaning “The God,” who is also referred to as Wise, Merciful, and All-knowing. A Christian, however, is a disciple of Jesus Christ, or “a living sacrifice.” Christians refer to God as the Heavenly Father (meaning “Eternal”), Almighty, and Lord of Hosts. While both religions have Holy scriptures, the points portrayed in each are very different. Christians use the Bible, which is divided into New and Old Testaments, and written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Islamic version of the Bible is Al Quran which is composed of one-hundred fourteen suras (units). The Qur’an was dictated to Muhammad by Angel Gabriel and is considered their link to God.
The nature of each God can be summarized in two short sentences: the first describing the nature of Allah, and the second the Heavenly Father. Allah is one; He does as He pleases. This means that Allah begets no one, has not begotten, and there is no one like Him. God is our Father. This phrase refers to Jesus as His physically and spiritually begotten Son. God’s plan is to bring all humans into the image of Jesus as His divine children. Islams believe everyone is sinless at birth with a capacity for unlimited moral and spiritual progress through belief in God. Conversely, as Christians everyone is sinless at birth, but prone to sin. Only the grace of God and the gift of His Holy Spirit can inspire humans to surrender their evil ways for good. The believers of Allah, are “His slaves,” and their concept of success is “to hear and to obey.” In contrast, Christian believers are “the children of God,” and their concept for success is to “Love God and your neighbors as yourself.”