Trinity Reformed Baptist Church

                                                Topeka Kansas 66614

 

           Sanctify them through Thy Truth,

           THY WORD IS TRUTH!

          John 17:17

 

 

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declaring truth without apology!

 

 

Christianity and Islam 

Are the two largest religions in the world and they have many points of contact. Both inherited from Judaism a belief in one God who created the world and cares about the behavior and beliefs of human beings.

In the approximately 1,300 years of history since the life of the Prophet, the relationship between Christianity and Islam has rarely been harmonious. As it spread, the Muslim Empire quickly conquered much of the Judeo-Christian Holy Land and the Christian Byzantine Empire. The Christian Crusades of the 11th through 13th centuries, waged in large part against Muslims, served only to widen the divide between the two faiths. Constantinople, the "New Rome" and the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, fell to the Turks in 1453 and has lived under Islamic rule ever since.

In recent centuries, mutual distrust between Christians and Muslims has continued to grow. On the other hand, some have pointed out that the conflict has more to do with political tensions and divergent cultural worldviews than with religion, and efforts have been made by both Christians and Muslims to find common ground and engage in respectful dialogue.

To illustrate the similarities and differences between the two largest religions of the world, the following chart compares the origins, beliefs and practices of Christianity and Islam. Please note that numbers are estimates and beliefs and practices are oversimplified for brevity's sake.

History & Stats

Christianity

Islam

Date founded

 30 AD

622 CE

Place founded

Palestine

Saudi Arabia

Founders & early leaders

Jesus, Peter, Paul

Muhammad

Original languages

Aramaic and Greek

Arabic

Major location today

Europe, North and South America

Middle East, Southeast Asia

Adherents worldwide today

2 billion

1.3 billion

Adherents in USA

159 million

1.1 million

Adherents in Canada

21 million

500,000

Adherents in UK

51 million

1.6 million

Current size rank

Largest in the world

Second largest in the world

Major branches

Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant

Sunni, Shiite

Religious Authority

Christianity

Islam

Sacred text

Bible = Old Testament (Jewish Bible) + New Testament

Qur'an (Koran)

Inspiration of sacred text

Views vary: literal Word of God, inspired human accounts, or of human origin only

Literal Word of God

Status of biblical  prophets

True prophets

True prophets

Status of Jewish Bible

Canonical

Non-canonical but useful as a (corrupted) inspired text

Status of Jewish Apocrypha

Canonical (Catholic);
useful but Non-canonical (Protestant)

Non-canonical

Status of New Testament

Canonical

Non-canonical but useful as a (corrupted) inspired text

Summaries of doctrine

Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed

Six Articles of Faith

Religious law

canon law (Catholics)

Sharia

Other written authority

church fathers, church councils, ecumenical creeds (all branches);
papal decrees, canon law (Catholics)

Hadith

Beliefs & Doctrine

Christianity

Islam

Ultimate reality

One creator God

One creator God

Nature of God

Trinity - one substance, three persons

Unity - one substance, one person

Other spiritual beings

Angels and demons

Angels, demons, jinn

Revered humans

Saints, church fathers

Prophets, Imams 

(especially in Shia Islam)

Identity of Jesus

Son of God, God incarnate, savior of the world

True prophet of God, whose message has been corrupted

Birth of Jesus

Virgin birth

Virgin birth

Death of Jesus *

Death by crucifixion *  [See below]

He did not die, but ascended bodily into heaven (a disciple died in His place)

Resurrection of Jesus *

Affirmed * [See below]

Denied, since He did not die

Second coming of Jesus

Affirmed

Affirmed

Mode of divine revelation

through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in Bible

Through Muhammad, 

recorded in Qur'an

Human nature

"Original sin" inherited from Adam - tendency towards evil

Equal ability to do good or evil

Means of salvation

Correct belief, faith and repentance. (some emphasize good deeds or works, 

and the sacraments )

Correct belief, good deeds, 

Five Pillars

God's role in salvation

Predestination, various forms of grace

Predestination

Good after life

Eternal heaven

Eternal paradise

Bad after life

Eternal hell.

(Catholicism temporary purgatory)

Eternal hell

View of the other religion

 Some respect Islam as a monotheistic religion, but Muhammad is not seen as a true prophet according to the scriptures

Christians are respected as "People of the Book," but they have mistaken beliefs and only partial revelation

Rituals & Practices

Christianity

Islam

Day of worship

Sunday

Friday

House of worship

Church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, meeting hall

Mosque

Religious leaders

Elders, pastor, minister, preacher, deacon,  bishop, archbishop, priest, patriarch, pope,

Imams

Major sacred rituals

Baptism, Communion (Eucharist)

Five Pillars: prayer, pilgrimage, charity, fasting, confession of faith

Head covered 

Generally no

Yes

Central religious holy days

Lent, Holy Week, Easter

Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, month of Ramadan

Other holidays

Christmas, all saints days

Mawlid, Ashura

Major religious symbols

Cross, crucifix, dove, anchor, fish, alpha and omega, chi rho, halo

Crescent, name of Allah in Arabic

 

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1 17-24.  

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: . . .: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. . . And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . . For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  1 Corinthians 15:3-15.

 

Jesus Christ atoned for our sins on His cross 

without His sacrifice of Himself - there is no forgiveness of sin.

Christians are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins. 

 

 - Islam is a works religion -

They can not atone for their sins

before a Holy God. 

They will perish.

 

 

                           

            Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: 

        and they are they which testify of Me.

    John 5:39

 

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, 

but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:12.

 

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