Christianity Vs. Islam: A Religious Difference

Christianity vs. Islam: A Religious Difference

Brittnay Howell

ENG 121

Professor Anna Crerand

10/3/2012

Christianity vs. Islam: A Religious Difference

Have you ever wondered about the differences and similarities between Christianity and Islam? Both Christianity and Islam are monotheistic, meaning they both believe in one God. In both religions God is the creator of everything and is loving and forgiving. He also has a special relationship with humans, and has made covenants with them. However, there is one major difference between the beliefs of Christians and Muslims regarding God. While Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, or three persons in one divine nature, Muslims believe that God is only one person. The trinity mentioned in the Christian religion is the belief in three God's.

The first major difference between these two religions is their founders. Muhammad is the founder of Islam. He, like all other Muslim prophets is believed by Muslims to be infallible and sinless. He was not only a religious leader, but also a political leader, which explains the common practice of integrated church and state in many Muslim countries. The founder of Christianity is Jesus. Although both Muslims and Christians recognize Jesus, their beliefs about him differ greatly. Both believe that Jesus was sinless, infallible, and born of the Virgin Mary. Both religions accept that Jesus preformed miracles, and was ascended, or raised up, to God. But while Muslims see Jesus as a highly regarded prophet, Christians see Him as God Himself. They believe that Jesus was crucified and resurrected on three days later in atonement for the sins of all mankind. Jesus was a spiritual, but not a political leader, and today most dominantly Christian countries practice a separation of church and state.

The idea of how salvation is obtained also varies among Christianity and Islam. Both believe that God created man, along with everything else, and that man has a special place among creation. Christians believe that Adam sinned, and that all people, aside from Mary and Jesus, are born with this ability to sin. While Islam believes that for a Muslim, the purpose of life is to live in a way that is pleasing to Allah so that one may gain Paradise. It is believed that at puberty, an account of each person's deeds is opened, and this will be used at the Day of Judgment to determine his eternal fate.

Although it seems like Christianity and Islam only has differences, there are still some similarities between the two. Islam and Christianity both have Prophets and prophecy; including many of the same characters Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Jesus. Although