Christianity and Islam was very surprised by many aspects of this movie. First, it had a far more balanced approach to the subject matter than I had expected. Knowing that Dr. Timothy George was a Christian theologian, I was expecting something slanted in favor of Christianity and maybe even suspicious or downright hostile towards Islam. Instead, the film had a very fair perspective. I like that he interviewed Muslim scholars and put their own words in the film, making sure to give the story not just in a balanced way, but from multiple perspectives. It was more about pointing out the similarities between the two religions than marking the differences, and that was the second truly surprising thing.

A never realized before watching this film how much Christianity and Islam were alike. The film does an excellent job setting up the Muslim attitude towards Jesus and salvation, and how Christina teachings apply to Muslims. It is a calm and accessible synthesis of two very complex structures that are fraught with conflict and confusion both within themselves and between each other, now more than any other time since the Crusades. The way in which Dr. George and the film's makers are able to step back from the epic conflict currently waging in some parts of the world and many people's minds and present an accurate and fair picture of these two world religions in union with each other is truly remarkable, and evidence of how much he cares not just about the people of his own religion -- who believe exactly the things he believes -- but for all of humanity.

In a world full of the news of the horrors of religion, from Muslim suicide bombers to bigotry and hatred being spouted from Christian fundamentalists, this film points out the good that religion is capable of and ultimately consists of. That is the greatest similarity between Christianity and Islam, and in almost any religion or spiritual belief system: love for other humans is paramount, and that love comes from understanding. This film helps us to understand the people we share this world with, and the benefits of that can only be good.