format_quote Originally Posted by
MustafaMc
Following are some of my thoughts contrasting Islam in green font and Christianity in blue font. I took the liberty to speak for Protestant Christianity in USA. Those who recognize errors will kindly correct me.
I see only a few minor changes I would make. Mostly in word choice. I am just going to post my additional comments in red alongside what Mustafa's has already written. Perhaps Jayda may care to give the Catholic view, as mine is mainline protestant.
God
Allah - the One and only God. Has no sons, no daughters, no father, no mother, no equal, no partner, none comparable to Him. Known by His 99 names and attributes: the Merciful, the Beneficient, the Creator, the Holy, the Truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, etc
One, but with three manifestations or persons (Trinity):
Father - object of worship in the Lord's prayer, the One that Jesus prayed to in the Garden & said this is my Son at Jesus' baptism and transfiguration,
Son - Jesus, son of Virgin Mary, God with us, 100% human yet 100% God,
Holy Spirit indwelling of God in born-again Christians, on Day of Pentecost Jesus' disciples were 1st to be filled with
One God who exists in three co-eternal persons (
not manifestations, that implies modalism -- though I have actually erred and used that word myself at times), yet is only one being. The Father is the source of all being including his own being and that of the Son, but he does not preceed the Son for the Father could not exist as a Father unless he were a Father to the Son. The Spirit proceeds from both the Son and the Father as the Son proceeds from the Father. The Father is the
subject (not object) of worship in the Lord's prayer, and Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Father declared of Jesus "This is my son." at Jesus' baptism and again on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Jesus
One of the most honored and respected Prophets and Messenders of Allah. Born to the virgin, Mary. Allah said "Be!" and he was createdwithin Mary's womb. No more than a Servant of Allah. Was raised to Heaven without dying.
The only begotten Son of God and yet fully God. Born to the Virgin Mary. God became incarnate within Mary's womb. Lived a perfect life, died on the cross as an eternal sacrifice to redeem humans from their sin and was resurrected from the dead before ascending to Heaven.
The only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through the Son all things were made that have been made (or will be made). For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary and was made man. He was complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin. He is one and the same Christ (i.e. Messiah), Son and Lord, recognized in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death on the cross and was buried; on the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended to heave. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
Holy Spirit
An angel created by Allah and named Jibra'il. A messenger who told Mary that she would give birth to Isa and who communicated the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad.
Himself God, no connection to the angel Gabriel at all. The Lord the giver of life who is co-eternal with and proceeds from both the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He convicts people of sin and guides them to righteousness. Through His presence in our lives we have fellowship with God and with one another.
Muhammad
The final Prophet and Messenger of Allah. Established Islam as the way of life in accordance with Allah's Will. Over period of 23 years received the Quran as revelation from Allah through the Angel Jibra'il. His life is the pattern for Muslim's life and their worship of Allah.
A false prophet that misleads people away from accepting the Gospel - the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, as the only means for salvation.
A person that lived in the 7th century AD, who founded a new religion that borrows from certain aspects of both the Christian and Jewish faiths while rejecting those essentials which are most important to our beliefs and practice to produce something that is is entirely unique and not derivative from the other faiths in the Abrahamic tradition.
Divine focus
Allah - Muslims have no mental image
Predominantly, God in form of Jesus
Communion with God through Jesus Christ
Human focus
The life example and teachings of Muhammad. His death is of no importance other than the end of revelation.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. His teachings are of secondary importance
Not sure what is meant by human focus. But I agree with the statement of what is of primary and what is of secondary importance.
Original sin
No, each person is born in a pure state with accountability for sins commited starting at puberty.
Yes, the sin of Adam is passed on to all descendents. Redemption only through the blood of Jesus.
Yes, the disobedience of Adam resulted in a lost of fellowship with God that cannot be restored by any effort on mankind's part, thus all human beings who lived subsequent to Adam inherited the depravity that were the consequences of his sinful actions.
Satan
Shaytan - a jinn who disobeyed Allah's command to prostrate before Adam. Strives to mislead humans to join him in Hell.
A fallen angel. The one, in form of a serpent, who tempted Eve to eat of Forbbidden Tree.
The tempter, deceiver who tries to tempt men to assert their own free will to be sovereign in their lives rather than submit to God's will for them. He is the accuser that tells people they are not good enough for God.
Salvation from Hellfire
Based on belief in Allah and ascribing no partners to Him. Allah judges one's deeds, words, worship, & sins in the balance according to His scale. Some Muslims will spend some time in Hell. Muslims strive to live sinless and worshipful lives, but ultimately rely upon the Mercy of Allah. No Muslim will claim to know he is "saved" from the Hellfire.
Based on acceptance of Jesus as one's personal Lord and Saviour through believing that he was the Son of God and that he died on the cross for their sins. Foregone conclusion they are saved.
Obtainable only as an act of God's grace. Christians believe in the promise of God, that will impute the righteousness of Jesus who had no sin to those who have no righteousness because of their sin. We know of no other way to heaven and fully rely on God to accomplish this for us in the work of Christ Jesus.
Prescribed personal worship
5 daily prayers in Arabic & according to sunnah (tradition) of Muhammad, fasting during day of month of Ramadaan, 2.5% charity tax, pilgrimage to Mecca
None
1. To love God, neighbor, one another and one's enemies as Christ loved.
2. To practice the means of grace: prayer, fasting, repentance, and partaking of the sacraments.
3. And to do good works as an offering of thanksgiving for the gift of new life received from Christ.
(Mustafa, One of the few your really missed.)
Congregational worship
Friday for sermon and ritual prayer. Encouraged to meet for 5 daily prayers in masjid.
Sunday before noon for song, prayer, a sermon, tithe and fellowship. Also, Sunday and Wednesday night for more of same.
No specified time. Simply the injunction not to forsake assembling together. Most general pattern is Sunday morning. But many take advantage of additional offerings that may be virtually any day of the week. For some those are their primary service, for others they are secondary services.
Dietary restrictions
No pork, carion, blood, alcohol
None
None
Male circumcision
Yes
No
No. No actually required for religious reasons. But in practice it remains more common than not, and most think it is for religious reason; but in reality it is a cultural belief, not something taught by the church. (At least that is the phenomena in the USA, whether that is true in the rest of the world, I don't know.)