Introduction “I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It 's just that the translations have gone wrong.” (John Lennon, as cited from Quotes About Religion, n.p.). Religion plays an important role in many peoples life. While there are many religions in the world, two of the largest religions are Christianity and Islam. Understanding the similarities and differences of these two religions’ teachings and imagery will explain how through religious tradition, religion continues to influence our current society.
The Sacred Book In Christianity, there is a written guide
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According to The Guinness Book of World Records, since 1815 the Bible has sold approximately 2.5 billion copies and has been translated into more than 2,200 languages or dialects (Tan). In addition, Tan continues explaining that a survey commissioned by the America Bible Society found that 69% of Americans believed the Bible provides answers on how to live a meaningful life.
While I am personally not familiar with Islamic teachings, I was unaware of similarity teachings in the Christian scriptures to those lessons taught in Islamic scriptures. In my personal and professional life, I live each day and make each choice based off the reward and punishment system I have been taught from the Bible scriptures; the same concept also found in the Holy Book of Islam. So I agree with the article written by Tan that indicates that I base my decisions and how to live my life daily are based on teachings and lessons taken from the Bible on how to life a meaning life.
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In addition, both religions instill the concept of a reward and punishment system that has been influential on how people choose to daily life. However, regarding the idea and tradition of art and imagery in both religions has been drastically different. In Islam, there was a great resistance to imagery and therefore their place of worship is simple and not distracting. To me, this concept allows the followers to focus on the true message of the religion. On the other hand, for Christianity, art and imagery has been very influential in the growth and influence of the religion, it has led to much conflict and division within the religion; as well as in my personal life with regardless to my faith and
Christianity’s and Islam’s outlook on trade significantly varied from the 1st century until the 15th century. Trade in the two religions differed greatly at first, since one believed that it was sinful, while the other embraced it. However, by the end of the Post Classical era, the religions' view on trade and merchants were almost as if they were switched. Christian teachings warn about the consequences from the effects of trade, whereas the Muslims practice trade as an accepted way of life (Docs 1,2,3,6). Even with these differences ideas on the topic, they still preached the importance of fair trade (Docs 2,4,5,7). By the 15th and 16th centuries, Muslims and Christians both changed when Muslims started to demand fairer trade and Christians
Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply
Both Christianity and Islam mirror Judaism. From Judaism, Christianity and Islam derived the doctrines of monotheism, prophecy, resurrection, and a belief in the existence of heaven and hell. Both Islam and Christianity have a holy book. Christians consider the Bible the inspired word of God, however Muslims believe that the Koran is the literal word of God. Mohammed was merely transcribing the words of Allah, much as a court reporter does. Muslims therefore attribute greater spiritual
Renard, John. Islam and Christianity: theological themes in comparative perspective. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011. Print.
The world religions of Islam and Christianity may have their differences to the naked eye, but when you take a closer look into their histories similarities arise. They both went through transformations that had drastic impacts on the way they were controlled and the way that the religion was taught to the followers. Christianity and Islam have both experienced splits between their members due to the fact that followers thought that their beliefs were the correct way to practice the religion. While these transformations are long in the past, the splits that have occurred within each religion continue to have lasting effects on Islam and Christianity to this day.
However much Islam and Christianity would seem to share common ground, the discussion is not complete without noting the parallels between this two that have taken center stage. Some of the remarkable differences as they try to answer deep life complexities arise in the areas of religious practices by both their adherents and the clergy (Dorothy 13-28). “There is also a stark contrast to the belief system subscribed to, means of salvation, scriptures”. The most prominent difference present concerns the belief of life after death and practices of depicting the metaphysical
Religion has the power to bind one to others as well as the aptitude to alienate people with conflicting beliefs. Throughout history, cultures have created several different belief systems, each with its own ideals, to satisfy the typical human curiosity and explain the unclarified events that occur in nature. Inspecting the role of religion from the earliest civilizations to the present, its tendency to divide rather than unify groups becomes apparent.
Although there are some aberrations in Christianity and Islam, there are many more similarities between the two. Those who practice Christianity consider being Muslim taboo because they are said to have renounced Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Aside from that factor, most practices are equal. Sadly, most Muslims and Christians will never get along because in their eyes, the few differences are colossal enough to keep them divided. Each side is too blinded by the error of the others ways to see how analogous to one another they actually are.
If they do the wrong things, they may suffer supernatural retribution. For instance, the most sacred text of Islam, the Koran, not only provides detailed lists of specific kinds of crimes and appropriate earthly punishments, but it also gives descriptions of how to do mundane tasks such as eating specific kinds of food. The sacred texts of religions usually set precedents for proper behavior in common situations. The Judeo-Christian Bible stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, Noah, Job, Moses, Solomon, and even Jesus provide examples of how virtuous people should lead their lives.
Judiasm, Christianity, Islam.. are all examples of what? Religion. It is easy for us to come to the conclusion that religion is the leading cause of most conflicts that have taken place or are taking place even today. This is not entirely true. Yes some aspects surrounding religion have played a role in some of the previous historical warfare’s and the most recent flare of modern day terrorism. But think about it... Is it religion itself that causes these conflicts or is it certain people’s interpretations of it that lead to these violent outcomes? Though many would prefer to solely blame religion, other non religious factors have further influenced these as well. As humans we always have to find an answer as to why these events take place and religion seems to be a fallback in providing us with this solution.
At the first glance, Islam and Christianity appear to have nothing in common, however; as you go beyond the surface, they appear to have many similarities such as their beliefs of God, their beliefs of life after death, their holy scriptures, and their prayers. These religions, although are two entirely different beliefs, share a similar origin. Like many other religions, they both claim to be the one and only true way to God. In order to truly see and understand their similarities, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam. Throughout the course of this essay, I will compare the many facets that show the alikeness between these two growing religions.
There are numerous topics that can be compared and contrasted between the two faiths, however, a few topics can demonstrate the major similarities and differences. Islam and Christianity believe in one high power which is superior to everything in life. Pertaining to Christianity, Walsh and Middleton state, “All creation (which includes us as human creatures) is covenantally bound to God and is constituted essentially as a response to his laws” (1984, p. 51). Christians rely on God and make Him a priority.
Religion plays an enormous role in the history of mankind. Wars have been fought over it, lives have been surrounded by it, and it has directly or indirectly shaped the lives of many individuals. Culture and religion play a large role in developing each other. People’s religion is decided by their culture. The prominence or the lack of religion will develop someone’s religious identity have play a core role in determining what that person believes.
viewed as instructions of God to his Muslim followers to kill unbelievers, to capture them, to ambush them (Quran 9.5). Till this day many attack the unequal justice present between men and women in Islam. Scholars claim Islamic law, such as verse 4:34 of Quran, allows and encourages domestic violence against women, when a husband suspects disobedience, disloyalty, rebellion, ill conduct in his wife. Not only Islam was accused of such but also Christianity. The Bible comprises /far /more /verses flattering or /urging /bloodshed than does the Quran, and biblical /violence is /often far /more /extreme, and marked by more /indiscriminate barbarity. If the /founding text /shapes /the whole /religion, then /Judaism and /Christianity deserve the highest criticism as religions of /savagery. In the “Old Testament” /the principle /of /"an eye for an eye" is /often /referred to /using the /Latin /phrase /lex /talionis, the law of /talion. The significance of the /principle Eye for an Eye is that an individual who has /injured /another person /returns the /offending /action to the /originator in /compensation. It also contains versus allowing slavery.
The Bible is the bestseller in many English speaking countries today. The reason for this is especially the US, whose founding base still lies behind religion. The first efforts of translating the Bible into English began about two millenniums ago. Partial translations of the book can be traced back to the 7th century. There are many manuscripts written in Old English, Middle Age English and the language we use today. When we sum up all these, we reach a number like more than 450 different copies of the biblical writings.