Similarities and differences between Islamic and Christian beliefs

¶ … Islam to Judeo-Christian beliefs

Islamic Beliefs vs. Christian Beliefs

The similarities between Christianity and Islam arise from their origin in Judaism. Just as Christianity is seen as Judaism 2.0, Islam can be seen as Judaism 3.0. Thus, the two faiths share beliefs similar to the beliefs of Judaism, including the concept of a jealous God, heaven and hell, and the communication of God to mankind through prophets.

Beliefs

Main Beliefs of Islam

The Islamic belief in Tawhid is equal to the Christian belief in the one True God. The Qu'ran reads, "He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him."

Like Christianity, Islam imagines a jealous God and preaches love only for the one true God.

The Islamic belief in the Day of Resurrection or Day of Final Judgment is synonomous with Christianity's Day of Judgment. Both beliefs state that Armageddon will visit Earth and God will separate the believers and the non-believers. However, Christianity believes that Judgment Day will be triggered by the second coming of Christ, who will himself judge the non-believers and redeem the faithful, establishing the Kingdom of God.

Islam has its own special set of laws, called the Sharia, governing believers. The Shariah covers aspects of daily living as well as aspects of government, influencing and even superseding secular law in many polities. Christianity does not have a comprehensive set of formal laws to govern such detailed aspects of its believers' lives, relying mainly on the Golden Rule and the advice of its priesthood for Guidance.

Unlike Christians, Muslims have a concrete framework through which to prove their commitment to the faith and to guide them in their worship. This framework is called the Five Pillars presents them as a They are creed, daily prayers, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Christians do not have a concrete framework to guide their prayer or prove their commitment to God, believing that it was only necessary to love God in one's heart.

Islam does not believe in a clergy to act as intermediaries between God and God's followers. Although Islam has an imam who leads prayer and acts as a spiritual advisor, this imam cannot be considered a priest in the traditional sense of the word. Christianity has a sacrificial priesthood derived from the original priesthood of Christ.

To this day, clergymen are required to perform various services, such as baptisms or marriages.

Furthermore, Protestant Christians reject the concept of a special intermediary class of Christians and believe in the priesthood of all believers.

Conclusion

The differences between Islam and Christianity are actually very minor when compared to the substantial similarities between the two doctrines. Islam's belief that it is the latest and purest rendering of God's will may contribute to the zeal of its more radical followers. More than doctrine, it is the bloody history between the followers of the two faiths which provide the basis for so much of the current conflict between the Islamic world and the Judeo-Christian nations.