Inevitably, when different religions are compared and contrasted, SOMEONE gets angry, hurt, sad, and/or disillusioned. Or, screams of intolerance, bigotry, and hate abound. When the disagreements fly, so do the attacks. I am hoping that it doesn't come to that, here.
This is why I am prefacing this post with the title:
Warning: Not Politically Correct Post on Religion.
SOMEONE, inevitably, will get angry about this post.
I just hope that we can have a civil, meaningful, respectful type of DISAGREEMENT on these issues.
With that said, here is how the conversation began:
Umm Yasmin said...
Actually Christine, Arab Christians use the word "Allah" because it literally just means "the God" in Arabic :)
Both Christians and Muslims believe there is only one God who created everything that exists; who is omniscient; timeless; and unchanging.
Whether you use one set of phonemes or another doesn't mean there is more than one God.
October 14, 2008 5:16:00 PM PDT
Christinewjc said...
So...umm yasmin,
Are you claiming that Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
October 14, 2008 7:23:00 PM PDT
GMpilot said...
CJW:
Are you claiming that Christians and Muslims worship the same God?
Yeah...the Jews, too. All worship the same God (which is why they are referred to as the "Abrahamic" religions). All three faiths claim Abraham as their founder.
Of course, none of them can agree on the exact characteristics of this God (except the ones umm yasmin listed), or its precise nature.
Those of us who do not worship any gods can only shake our heads.
October 14, 2008 11:25:00 PM PDT
Gary Baker said... [Note: edited for the purpose of this subject.]
Also, your argument on worship is contradictory. If people worship Gods with differing characteristics, they are not worshiping the same God. The Muslim god venerates in death in that the only way that you can guarantee yourself eternal life is martyrdom in the cause of Jihad. Outside of that, it basically comes down to a coin toss.
October 16, 2008 5:07:00 PM PDT
Umm Yasmin said...
Hi Christine,
Yes - of course, we may well (and do) disagree on how God has interacted in human history. Even Jews and Christians disagree on that score.
So if you say we (Muslims and Christians) are worshipping different deities, then this also means that the God that Jews worship is not the same God that Christians worship for obvious reasons (namely that Jews don't believe God has come to earth in the human form of Jesus Christ, just as Muslims don't).
October 16, 2008 6:47:00 PM PDT
Umm -Let me preface this by stating that what I will share will inevitably anger someone. That is not my intention, but it often happens when discussing various religious beliefs.Umm Yasmin said...
Hi Gary,
"The Muslim god venerates in death in that the only way that you can guarantee yourself eternal life is martyrdom in the cause of Jihad."
Actually, this is incorrect. There are two separate questions here: a) can anyone guarantee they have eternal life b) does jihad give guarantee of eternal life. They are related however.
Muslims believe that God promises to reward with Paradise, those who devote themselves wholeheartedly to Him and work righteousness in the world. There is no doubt about that at all. This type of person by definition is a Muslim, and has the assurance of salvation and eternal life in the hereafter.
The question is better asked, how do I know I am living up to being a true Muslim?
This is the same questions Christians might ask of themselves in regard to Christianity's promises about salvation. Because it is possible for someone to have been a Christian all their lives, but on their deathbed renounce Christ and blaspheme the Holy Spirit - would they be assured of eternal life? Matthew 7:21-23 says not.
Are atheists who were former Christians still saved? If you say their Christianity wasn't genuine, but if they honestly believed at the time it was, how do you not know you might end up the same way yourself? How can any Christian *guarantee* what they will do in the future that might invalidate their salvation?
In Islam, everything is judged by intention, and even someone who is martyred in jihad is not assured of salvation, if their intention was merely mundane or political. As Prophet Muhammad said: "One who died and had no intention for jihad, died as a hypocrite." (narrated in Muslim & Abu Dawud). As for whether God venerates death, well the Qur'an denies this when it says: "Kill not one another. Lo! God is ever Merciful unto you." (4:29)
October 16, 2008 7:13:00 PM PDT
You and all Muslims are entitled to your own beliefs.
Jews are entitled to their own beliefs.
Christians are entitled to their own beliefs.
However, when comparing the religions - they cannot possibly all be correct.
I have already shared my analysis about the differences between Islam and Christianity. In case you missed it, here is the link:
Do Muslims and Christians Worship the same God?
For Jews, it is a different story.
Christianity came, as a result of the fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah from the Old Testament writings from Judaism. It wasn't a made up religion (sorry - but true) by a self-proclaimed prophet who died and stayed in the grave.
Jesus rose from the dead, proving who he was and all that he claimed. He fulfilled most of the 300 plus prophecies written about the coming Messiah in the Old Testament. The remaining Messianic prophecies will be fulfilled at his second coming.
There are (currently) Messianic Jews who see Jesus as their Messiah. When Jesus returns the second time - many of the Jews living at that time will join in belief in Him along with their Messianic Jew brothers and sisters.
To be brief, I often like to share a discussion (paraphrased here) that I heard and saw on the Larry King show. Billy Graham was his guest.
Graham (again, paraphrased here) asked King, 'if the Messiah were to return today, what question would you ask him?'
King (paraphrased here) answered, 'is this your first or second visit?'
Basically, in a secular-put nutshell, that is what will be realized by the remnant of religious Jews who will still be looking for their Messiah in the end times.
This is the Christian worldview on this subject. Many Jews who might visit this blog and read this may not agree. It may even anger them. But the prophecies yet to be fulfilled from the OT actually state that they will "look upon Him whom they had pierced." At the crucifixion, John shared this fulfilled prophecy in his gospel:
Jhn 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
[please note: I am NOT CLAIMING THAT THE JEWS , ALONE, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION. THE TRUTH IS - ALL SINNERS ARE! WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE! AND, WE ARE EACH - AND EVERY ONE OF US - SINNERS IN NEED OF THE SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!]
The John 19:37 verse came from the prophecy of Zechariah:
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
Revelation reveals that the Jews will realize that Jesus, whom they (along with the Romans and all of us sinners) had pierced, IS the long-awaited Messiah after all.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
As Christians, Scripture has told us to revere the Holy Land of Israel. Preserve, protect, and partner with the "apple of God's eye" - Jerusalem.
We know that the Holy Land has been fought over for thousands of years. It is the focal point of Biblical prophecy, too.
Well, I'm getting too far off the subject so I will end here.
This HAS NOT been a politically correct comment. However, I have tried to share the truth as I have come to believe through the written Word of God. There is much, much more that can be said about all of this. I have attempted to be brief and to the point.
October 17, 2008 10:44:00 AM PDT
Anyone who wishes to add to this discussion, please feel free to share what you have to say in the comment section.