Monday, March 22, 2010

What is the difference between Islam and Christianity?

A Muslima friend of mine asked me this recently. What do you say? How would you answer this question to a Muslima who sincerely wants to know your point of view?

16 comments:

The Blogger Formerly Known As Lvka said...

We're evil guys who ascribe partners to God, bow down to some guy we think is God in the flesh, and have a higher moral teaching than they can even begin to fathom.

That, and that we recite mantras like the Buddhists. :D -- I think that should do it for now. >:)

Oh, and we bow down to idols and worship dead ancestors in faith, and our most treasured saint is a woman!!!

Tim Herald said...

We worship that which we know.

Don said...

Our God loves us unconditionally. What he has done for man is motivated by that same love.

Anonymous said...

The difference can be found in how God revealed himself to Mohammed through an angel, and how God revealed himself using angels to persons of the Judeo Christian faith.
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In one, the messenger of God terrorizes and shakes his prospective prophet so bad that he wants to commit suicide by throwing himself off a mountain.
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In the other, the messenger of God has no need of terror/despair/fear to get the cooperation of a prospective prophet. There is never a doubt of God's authentic presence.

Alex said...

Christianity is an orthodox faith. Christian's believe in a creed that says Jesus died for the sins of humanity and this gift is free for anyone who believes. Islam is an orthopraxic faith which says that salvation is something achieved through works and human effort. Christianity assumes original sin and therefore the only answer is the cross and Jesus, while Islam assumes people are born without sin and therefore sin is not a condition but an action that humans can control...

BillyHW said...

Jesus healed a 9 year old girl. Mohammed had sex with one.

Ed Cole said...

Christians believe that God is beyond anything we could possibly imagine (in the most strict and literal sense); the Holy Trinity is a "mystery" in the sense that our finite minds cannot contain it. Muslims believe in a simple god.

Christians believe that "God is Love," (1 John 4:8) which is meaningless without the doctrine of the Trinity.

Muslims say that Allah hates sinners, but loves those who obey him; Christians say that God loves sinners and became man to deliver us from our sins. We cannot please God on our own efforts, but He takes away our sins so that we can love Him properly. "Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us." 1 John 4:19

Ed.

Jeff said...

In Islam, men submit to God and thereby get to paradise.

In Christianity, God submits to men and thereby makes them fit for paradise.

Islam is a religion about how to do right. It's when you discover that men cannot do right that you turn to Christianity.

The Last Ephor said...

Our prophet was never deceived by Satan and never had to retract part of his teachings.

Abu Daoud said...

My answer was this:

In Islam, one can never know the essence of Allah, only his traits. In our faith we do know the essence of God: love.

May God bless us and keep us on this great feast of the Annunciation.

Steve Scott said...

In Islam, God is aloof. In Christianity, God becomes one of us and demonstrates first-hand what he desires of us. Then after he goes away he sends a Helper to help us live that way.

Jeff said...

Very good answer, Abu Daoud! :)

JohnG. said...

Well, I wouldn't have been able to answer so shortly. But I would have began like that : "Let me tell you about Jesus Christ"

trencherbone said...

The absolute unity of Allah versus the Christian Trinity.

Warrick Farah said...

See this post.

Biblical faith is trusting completely in the redemptive work of God in Christ, whereas Islam is trying to constantly remember God by following his guidance.

Mahsheed said...

In Islam, with respect to God you're a slave, a slave-master relationship; in Christianity you're an adopted son, a son-father relationship.