Catholicism and Islam

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Recommended: Differences and similarities between Islam and Christianity

“I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit”- Khalil Gibran (Think Exist). Islam and Catholicism are just two of the many religions that inhabit the world. While the two are similar in some aspects, it is the differences that clearly set them apart. “Muslim extremists” is one stereotype that clearly sets the two religions apart; rarely do you ever hear someone call a catholic an “extremist”.

Since the founding of these religions, tensions have escalated between them regarding their “ownership” or “rights to” what was once the “Holy Land”. “Holy Wars”, or “Jihad” according to Muslims, have been fought over who should control these lands. Since both groups began within this “Holy Land”, they continue to fight for their “homeland” or “birthplace” of their religion. Instead of merely agreeing or settling the feud, the groups decide to fight continually. When the World Trade Center towers were unexpectedly terrorized on September 11, 2001, tensions grew exponentially. The relationship between these religions will continue to be one of hostility until they can agree to resolve disputes between each other.

Islam was founded in 622 CE on the Arabian Peninsula following the death of Muhammad (Stopke). The beliefs of the Islamic religion include: oneness of God, belief in (the book, the prophets, angels, a Day of Judgment, reward & punishment in the hereafter), and that God is omniscient (Stopke). The original language of Islam was Arabic, and still is a major part of the religion today. There are approximately 1.3 billion believers in the religion of Islam worldwide. Islam believes in the Koran, the literal Word of God, ha...

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...the religion, rarely are Catholics ever classified as “a radical” or “an extremist”. These religions will continue generating hatred for one another if they do not settle arguments over the “Holy Land” and live peaceably according to their holy texts. The stereotypes associated with these religions are based upon actions and words of followers.

Works Cited

ReligionFacts. Comparison Chart: Christianity and Islam. 2004-2010. 31 August 2011. .

Stopke, Steven. Islam Lecture Alex Lohmann. 12 October 2010.

The Roman Catholic Church and Islam. n.d. 31 August 2011. .

Think Exist. ThinkExist.com Quotations. 1999-2011. Web page. 31 August 2011. .

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