Chrislam: history, beliefs, worship, and criticisms in Christianity and Islam

Chrislam is not an official religion, but the beginning stages of what some people characterize as a synthesis between two of the major world religions, Christianity and Islam. As an official movement, Chrislam is relatively new, however as both religions are Abrahamic and non-fundamentalists of either religion have long conceded the possibilities of observing both religions simultaneously. However, within the last decade there has been a push for the observation of Chrislam as an actual religion, not simply an expression of tolerance in either religion.

While Chrislam may be becoming more widely acknowledged in the world, Islam and Christianity have interacted together for thousands of years. Christians and Muslims may have a history of tension, but they also have a history of coexistence. Perhaps, then, it comes as no surprise that Chrislam has really developed in Africa, where Islam and Christianity are the two predominant religions, both having a tremendous influence on the Nation. Worshipers at the True Message of God Mission, which may be the first actual Chrislam place of worship, believe there is a natural overlap between Christianity and Islam (Kerby). In addition, they incorporate traditional African religions into their observations and practices, as well (Kerby). However, the practice of Chrislam is not limited to Africa. A 2011 report said that "congregations in several metropolitan areas -- Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, and Detroit -- preached sermons and held Sunday school lessons recently on the founder of Islam, Mohammad, whom Muslims consider a prophet. Qurans were also placed in the pews next to Bibles" (Groening). While Chrislam has yet to become popular in the Western world, it could be an emerging religious trend.

The basis beliefs of Chrislam are simple to understand. Moreover, they are not rigid because they are built upon the flexible union of two religions that can be very dogmatic. "The essential concept of Chrislam is that Christianity and Islam are compatible, that one can be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time. Chrislam is not an actual religion of its own, but rather is a blurring of the differences and distinctions between Christianity and Islam" (Silva). Furthermore, it is important to recognize a political or secular message that comes with the church. "Amid intense sectarian violence in this half- Muslim, half-Christian country, these groups serve as tolerant peacemakers. Also, with widespread poverty and health concerns here, people are seeking practical, profitable religion more than rigid doctrine" (McLaughlin). This is an important element to the daily practitioners of Chrislam in Nigeria; the religions is strongly linked to faith healing, and the basis of that healing is believed to be the unification of these two major religions (McLaughlin).

As one would anticipate, Chrislam has similarities to both Christianity and Islam. For example, Christians and Muslims believe that they are all descendants of Abraham (Kerby). Furthermore, Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet, though not the son of God, and Jesus is actually a much respected figure for most Muslims (Kerby). For example, Jesus is mentioned 25 times in the Koran (Silva). Both religions have similar ethical and moral tenets (Silva). They are both monotheistic religions, though Islam believes that Allah is the only true god and does not believe in the idea of any sort of trinity (Silva). Furthermore, Islam believes in prophets, but the most significant difference between Islam and Christianity, from an Islamic perspective, is that Mohammed is the greatest of all of the prophets, while Christians believe that Jesus is the last of the prophets, which eliminates the possibility of Mohammed being a prophet (Silva).

Those who practice Chrislam view it as an important approach to religion, not in spite of traditional religious differences, but because of the violence and strife that has long marked the relationship between Muslims and Christians. For example, in Nigeria, Shamsuddin Saka seeks to preach the religious divide between Nigeria's Muslim north and Christian South. "Tensions in the region often spill over into violence, but one man is trying to bridge the gap. He preaches a liturgy that blends Christianity and Islam. Of hundreds of small churches in Lagos, this likely is the only one that has both a Bible and a Qur'an on the lectern. The invocations come loudly from both. Practitioners of what the preacher calls 'Chrislam,' fifteen 1,500 on some Sundays, see no religious fault line" (Kerby).