Compare And Contrast Christianity And Islam
analytical Essay
1023 words
Christianity and Islam Most of the contemporary problems bedeviling our society are because of lack of proper spiritual anchorage. Civil and technological differentiations embodied in the media have aggravated the situation. Technological differentiation has undermined religion by taking the place of spirituality in adherents’ lives. Religion is an organized collection of beliefs and cultural systems that entail the worship of a supernatural and metaphysical being. “Religion just like other belief systems, when held onto so much, can stop one from making significant progress in life”. Together with religion come traditions that provide the people with ways to tackle life’s complexities. A subscription to the school of thought of great scholars …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains the similarities between christianity and islam, focusing on human dignity, identity, difference, and guardianship.
- Explains that religion is an organized collection of beliefs and cultural systems that entail the worship of a supernatural and metaphysical being.
- Analyzes how christianity seeks to answer the question of its relationship with race.
- Explains ipgrave, michael, and marshall's humanity: texts and contexts. portier, william, tradition and incernation: foundations of christian theology.
The Much common ground is shared in attempt to provide approaches to finding answers to some of the deepest questions of life. I will discuss these significant similarities focusing on human dignity, identity, difference, and guardianship. “Islam is similar to Christianity in respect to human dignity and identity in that both acknowledge creation and that God is the creator of heaven and earth”. The aspect of both subscribes to the role of prophets who were venerated in both Islam and Christianity. Due to this fact, they both are traced to the times of Abraham (Ipgrave and Marshall 14-77). The goal of each faiths’ ethos is to love God by way of obeying His commandments on guidance from their respective Holy Books. They both do broadly consist of individuals that owe their allegiance to a metaphysical deity. Owing to the fact that the two are considered Abrahamic religions. They do both captures in the strictest sense the aspect of guardianship in respect to both having belief in only one God. A belief is impliedly preaching the existence of heaven and hell. Goes on to affirm the existence of the belief of the second coming of the Savior, which affirms the faiths’ ethos towards the attainment of the religions’ goals. Aimed at promoting and achieving a holistic understanding of religion, as the flexibility to accommodate diverse backgrounds of its adherents that is always prone to abuse. Christianity and Islam’s …show more content…
Recent happenings in history; For instance, the apartheid that was about the racial oppression that a contest of supremacy of races is traced to the religion of Christianity. Christian teachings of the gospel are totally opposed to domination or being subdued of one race by another. “The biblical understanding of racial differences has been taken out of context resulting to racism an issue Christianity is seeking to address to combat racism true to the Scripture”. Christianity itself places a duty on its faithful to object and protest against racism. 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
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- Islam: Christianity And Islamcomparative essayThroughout history it is evident that many religions have been tried, tested, and, for some, radically changed. Many religions have gone through periods of time in which the way they were run or enforced underwent changes in practice and leadership. In many cases disagreements and differing outlooks among members of certain religions were to blame for these changes. Christianity and Islam are two examples of religions that have experienced changes over the course of their existence. While these religions seem to have little in common at first glance, both have strikingly similar pasts that consist of radical splits due to disagreements among members of the Christian and Islamic churches, resulting in new branches within each religion.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that many religions have gone through periods of time in which the way they were run or enforced underwent changes in practice and leadership.
- Explains that christianity in europe was in a questionable and corrupt state before the 16th century protestant reformation.
- Explains that martin luther was a very religious man who dedicated his life to the scriptures of the church and to god.
- Explains how luther and his followers advocated for a break from rome, which became known as the protestant reformation. the protestant woodcut embodied luther's movement away from the church.
- Explains that islam is the act of submission to the will of god. muhammad set up the five pillars of islam that guided his followers.
- Explains that muhammad died in 632 and left no male heirs to take his place as the leader of islam. this split in islam was the result of disagreements about who the rightful leader was.
- Compares the world religions of islam and christianity. they both went through transformations that had drastic impacts on the way they were controlled and taught to the followers.
1222 wordsRead More - The Connection between the Monotheistic Traditions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam with Respect to Divine Revelations within the Traditionsanalytical essayIn looking at the world, one would not be surprised to find a great variety of people with varying beliefs and cultural traditions according to the culture’s history and geographic location. But what might strike one as odd is a great similarity across most of those people as well: a belief in God. And not just any God, but a single God who has divine knowledge and power over humanity. Yet with these commonalities, the three traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each have a unique take on what they feel is the correct belief about God. But with so many commonalities, one might think the three traditions would be closer linked than they appear. Could these three faiths all have a common source beyond simply monotheistic beliefs, but rather a common belief in the same deity? For this paper, through the lens of divine revelation, I wish to research the connection between the three monotheistic traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism with respect to the identity of the Supreme Being (God, Allah, YHWH) and discover if these three identities are found in the same being.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the three traditions of judaism, christianity, and islam each have a unique take on what they feel is the correct belief about god.
- Analyzes how michael lodahl examines the traditions of islam and christianity in a side-by-side analysis of their beliefs.
- Explains that john hick, a well-known philosopher of religion and pluralist, discusses this compelling idea in his book disputed questions.
- Argues that if we hold, with the universal aspect of our three faiths, that there is only one god, who is the source of all other existence, and the ultimate lord of the universe, does it not follow that these three divine personalities cannot each be simply identical?
- Analyzes how kevin timpe's essay, introduction to neo-classical theism, explains that one voice offers help to determine a clearer understanding of what identity means.
- Explains that god is the one and only being who is almighty, merciful, providential, and worthy of worship.
- Explains that monotheism is the view that there is only one god. this belief deepens in the three traditions with their deity instructing followers to be committed to worship and belief in god alone.
- Explains that while islam and judaism have a strict understanding that there is only one god, christians hold that the one true god is triune as god the father, the son/word, and the holy spirit.
- Analyzes how lodahl's analysis of the three traditions reveals the nature or character of god in a divine interaction with people associated with god.
- Explains that abraham, the father of nations, is the common ancestor of all three traditions. abraham's descendants are direct, blood sons of abraham.
- Explains that god became relational to humans through abraham in a unique way. lodahl compares abraham's story in the qur'an, torah, and old testament with the aspect of anthropomorphism.
- Argues that the moral/ethical lifestyle and outcome from following the guidelines of each religion are similar, but the same basic principles about faith and life are at the core of all three traditions.
- Analyzes john hick's argument that all three traditions worship the same god, but there is a unique perspective on why those beliefs are held or how those ideas are lived out.
- Analyzes how mark grear mann distinguishes between inclusivism and pluralism. pluralism states that no single religion has salvific superiority or ultimate truth over others.
- Argues that it is possible for the three monotheistic traditions to all worship the same deity. however, this does not mean that all three traditions should combine into one cohesive faith.
- Explains hick, john, disputed questions in theology and the philosophy of religion.
- Describes timpe, kevin's introduction to neo-classical theism in models of god and alternative ultimate realities.
- Explains mann, mark grear, and thomas jay oord's "religious pluralism."
- Explains wainwright, william. "monotheism". stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
2810 wordsRead More - The Birth and Rise of Christianity and Islamexplanatory essayAs of today, the world’s two largest religions Christianity and Islam share an estimated 3.6 billion members, more than half of the world’s population. On the surface, they appear to have almost nothing in common, however, as one goes beyond the surface and examines the other factors such as the rituals, beliefs, ethics, founders, and convictions, the two religions share many similarities. However, in order to truly see and understand these similarities and differences, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that christianity and islam share an estimated 3.6 billion members, more than half of the world's population. however, to truly understand these similarities and differences, one must date back to the rise and birth of christianity.
- Explains that jesus and muhammad were considered prophets of god, although they had a few followers in the beginning, the majority thought they were dangerous.
- Explains that the bible was an ancient collection of writings composed of the old testament and the new testament, while the qur'an contained 114 chapters of muhammad's revelations.
- Explains the beliefs, rules, teachings, and messages of christianity and islam differ amongst each other.
- Explains that jesus and his ethical concepts of humility, charity, and brotherly love form the basis of christianity.
- Explains that the ten commandments were a set of rules that if followed, would grant entrance to the lord.
- Explains how christianity spread throughout the roman empire and islam, but how and where they spread was of a discrepancy.
- Explains how abu bakr, muhammad's father-in-law, set out to expand the muslim empire by attacking and defeating the byzantines in syria in 636 and the persian empire in 650.
- Explains that both christianity and islam have overcome obstacles and doubts that once shadowed their followers. orthodox, catholic, and protestant religions differ from each other, while sunni and shi'ites argue about their beliefs and rules.
- Compares the beliefs of christianity and islam on the concept of deity and the view of jesus.
2607 wordsRead More - Christianity and Islamexplanatory essayIslam and Christianity both come from a common foundation as religions of peace, both of these religious traditions share the foundational element of peace of their beliefs. In both the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity peace is a virtue and is seen more as a sense of wellbeing than just the absence of conflict and violence. Overall peace is found in unity with God, for Christians and Muslims are taught to live a life a life of peace with others, not only in their own communities but the entire of human society. The Qur’an in Islam and the New Testament in Christianity are respectively the principal sacred texts for these religious traditions. The Qur’an and the New Testament both express the importance of peace and peacemaking as evident in Jesus’ Beatitudes “Blessed are the peacemakers”. The search for inner peace is the core message of the Qur’an and the New Testament and the adherents of both traditions are taught that inner peace will come through faithfully devoting yourself to God.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam and christianity share a common foundation as religions of peace. the qur'an and the new testament both express the importance of peaceful and peacemaking as evident in jesus' beatitudes.
- Explains that jesus' life is the perfect model for living in peace, and maintains a steady balance between prayer and active service.
- Explains that in islam, peace is being at rest with an adherent's own desires, ambitions, and having a balance in life.
- Explains that shahada is the first of the five pillars of faith. it is about witnessing the oneness of allah and the importance of prophet muhammad.
- Explains that zakat purifies wealth so that it can be free from greed and selfishness. the fourth pillar of sawm is the period of fasting during ramadan.
- Explains that christianity and islam have clear guidelines when it comes to the adherents finding inner peace in their lives.
1290 wordsRead More - Finding Truthanalytical essayIn almost all major religions, there abounds the undertone of the spiritual battle that takes place inside someone regarding the succumbation to sin or earthly desires and the like. Also ever present in the soul's journey through life is the search for a prize; an ultimate Truth, especially in the early Middle Ages when religions where beginning to mature and take power in society. Though the doctrine theoretically differs greatly, Christian and Islamic faith as one body contextually share the same ideals and foci on the issues pertaining to the soul. This is made evident when analyzing the works of Christian mystic, Margery Kempe, and Sufi poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi, who despite the difference in gender and culture, shed light on the meaning of Truth through acts and words of devotion and love for a common God.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in almost all major religions, there abounds the undertone of the spiritual battle that takes place inside someone regarding the succumbing to sin or earthly desires.
- Analyzes how margery kempe's life was normal until a traumatic event thrust her into life-long sojourn for truth and holiness. she refers to jesus as her lover in her autobiography.
- Analyzes how rumi urges his readers to "empty the glass of desire so that you won't be disgraced" to achieve the truth and become one with god.
- Analyzes how kempe's union with god and her yearning for the truth is so strong that she will not allow herself to succumb to him.
- Analyzes how margery kempe revealed that devotion is the secret to finding truth as she lived a very holy life.
- Explains that truth is the answer to all of our questions and the search for it finds many outlets depending on religion,ethnicity and culture. the muslim and christian beliefs expressed here show that despite cultural differences, our human goals and aspirations are still basically the finding truth.
- Explains that in almost all major religions, there abounds the undertone of the spiritual battle that takes place inside someone regarding the succumbing to sin or earthly desires.
- Analyzes how margery kempe's life was normal until a traumatic event thrust her into life-long sojourn for truth and holiness. she refers to jesus as her lover in her autobiography.
- Analyzes how rumi urges his readers to "empty the glass of desire so that you won't be disgraced" to achieve the truth and become one with god.
- Analyzes how kempe's union with god and her yearning for the truth is so strong that she will not allow herself to succumb to him.
- Analyzes how margery kempe revealed that devotion is the secret to finding truth as she lived a very holy life.
- Explains that truth is the answer to all of our questions and the search for it finds many outlets depending on religion,ethnicity, and culture. the muslim and christian beliefs expressed here show that despite cultural differences, our human goals and aspirations are still basically the same.
1549 wordsRead More - Gender, Religion, College Studentsanalytical essayReligion is placed throughout many areas of life. It can be used for many different purposes. Historically speaking, religion is something for individuals to believe in for strength and security. While religion plays a large role in an individual’s life, it is to be seen if religion is something that provides individual identification or if it is something that is manipulated during changing times of life. There have been many studies that point toward religion being a thing of centering an individual’s life. According to Lebedev, “These days, religion does not serve to form a person’s basic knowledge about the world, about the social and interpersonal relations out of which his ideas about the meaning and purpose of life organically flow. Religion becomes a part of the individual’s life and world exactly on the level of these latter things, whereas the foundation of his social knowledge in terms of values and worldview turns out not to be correlated with it” (2009: 85).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes ethnic differences in sexual attitudes of u.s. college students: gender, acculturation, and religion.
- Analyzes the personality predictors of religious orientation among protestant, catholic, and non-religious college students.
- Analyzes mattila, anna s., yorghos apostolopoulos, sevil sonmez, lucy yu, and vinod sasidharan.
- Analyzes the impact of gender and religion on college students’ spring break behavior. journal of travel research 40: 193-200.
- Analyzes the effect of religion on risky sexual behavior among college students.
- Explains that religion and sexual risk-taking behavior during the transition to college. journal of adolescence 23: 223-227.
- Explains that religion is placed throughout many areas of life and can be used for many different purposes.
- Explains that there is a definite interest placed on how college students view religion and their gender.
- Argues that females are more prone to be unwavering in their religious choices, compared to males.
- Analyzes attitudes toward abortion, religion, and party affiliation among college students.
1264 wordsRead More - Islam in Americaanalytical essayIslam, a religion of people submitting to one God, seeking peace and a way of life without sin, is always misunderstood throughout the world. What some consider act of bigotry, others believe it to be the lack of education and wrong portrayal of events in media; however, one cannot not justify the so little knowledge that America and Americans have about Islam and Muslims. Historically there are have been myths, many attacks on Islam and much confusion between Islam as a religion and Middle Easter culture that is always associated with it. This paper is meant to dispel, or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas and this will only be touching the surface.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that islam, a religion of people submitting to one god, seeking peace, is always misunderstood throughout the world. the paper is meant to dispel or rather educate about the big issues that plague people’s minds with false ideas.
- Explains that islam in america has historically been misunderstood due to the misconception of culture and religion, lack of education, and incorrect portrayal in the media, which gives a skewed idea of islam.
- Analyzes how malcolm x captured the hearts of many. his autobiography is a full and honest account of his life, his struggle against racism, mistakes, regrets, choices good and bad.
- Analyzes how malcolm x's autobiography portrays muslims as "fascists" and "anti-christ" in a television show.
- Analyzes how malcolm x discovered that islam did not entice an ounce of hate, in mecca he saw the most amazing kind of brotherhood, which was loving and welcoming towards all races and colors.
- Explains that islam in america is a volatile subject historically, with the wrong happenings in the world always falsely linked to teachings of islam by the media and the little knowledge possessed.
- Explains that jihad does not mean war or violence; it's simply the daily struggle a human goes through in his life. islam doesn't encourage violence, suicide or killing of innocence.
- Analyzes how the misunderstanding of culture and religion is taking a toll on the religious freedom of muslims.
- Analyzes how the outrage over the cordoba house, an islamic community center, is an example of how far these misconceptions are taking american minds.
- Opines that education is the first step towards the truth; however, comprehension is just as necessary, because without understanding, knowledge is useless.
- Opines that malcolm x's efforts to change america are similar to those of muslim americans today. he believes that brotherhood can save america from imminent racial disaster.
2522 wordsRead More - Religion, Resistance, And Religions Of Revolutionexplanatory essayHistory has frequently demonstrated that forces of religion, sometimes involving other factors which include war, economics or technology, all help bring about the ‘social transformation’ of the world we live in today. Religion, in many sense can be referred to as the celebration or even ‘self-worship’ of the human society, this is so the functions of religion can stabilize society and put a powerful effect on many people around the world over numerous generations.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that religion, in many senses, can be referred to as the celebration or even ‘self-worship’ of the human society.
- Explains the three main functions that religion uses to maintain order and control are, religions of the status quo, resistance, and revolution. these three categories help elucidate the connection between religion and government.
- Explains that the term status quo originates from the latin term meaning ‘existing state of affairs’ and preserves the traditional religious relations in israel.
- Argues that the status quo reinforces harmony and also deals with life crisis that corrupts and disrupts our society.
- Explains that missionaries are helping to rebuild and restore positive transformations in societies that are struggling and don't have the resources that we have.
- Explains that religions of resistance are recognized by resisting the status quo by challenging it on a daily basis.
- Explains that religions of revolution are more of a military opposition; they are known as 'extremists', which utilises violence as the key answer to solving everything.
- Explains that there are examples of religious inspired ones that have occurred almost instantaneously due to wars or revolutions, such as the overthrow of shah in iran in 1978 to 1979.
- Opines that religion plays a vital role in society today. it gives people something to believe in, which makes them feel safer and comfortable. religion provides the essential meaning of life.
1052 wordsRead More - A Lost Wordanalytical essayOne word in the English language above all others throughout the history has caused more controversy, both in terms of human fatalities and words written about it than religion. Religion has been a subject of major controversy long before there was an English language, long before there was a word for the concept. What follows however, is not a discussion of the controversy, or history for that matter. What follows is a discussion of the word and it’s meaning. “Religion” since it’s first minting has come to be an immensely broad term. So broad in fact that It defies a singular comprehensive definition. The word has come to refer to a loose and chaotically organized system of aspects and ideas, topics of you will. Many philosophers have attempted to define religion but only succeed in identifying a new topic. Overlap is always the case but this continual attempt to define the word has only resulted in the continuation broadening process.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that religion has been a subject of major controversy long before there was an english language. it has become an immensely broad term.
- Analyzes karl marx's view that religion is an economic, social, and psychological construct. without man there is nothing behind religion except a reflection of ourselves.
- Analyzes how rudolf otto defines religion as the experience of awe and mystery.
- Analyzes how freud, the father of modern psychology, understands religion differently than marx. he sees it as a projection of man's hopes.
- Analyzes how karl barth's view of religion differs from those of his other theist colleagues. he sees christianity as a state of mind and non-belief against truth.
- Analyzes how ajith fernando disagrees with barth's view that christianity is the true religion with the one true revelation. he rejects syncretist notions that all paths are equally valid.
- Explains that rahner believed strongly in christianity as the real truth, but was not as stern towards those who did not know christianity. he sees the grace of god as universal force not limited to a geographic area or group of people.
- Analyzes john hick's view that all religions have a differentiation of reality, as it can be understood and real reality.
- Compares cobb to hick, but he does not believe in a central essence of religion. cobb believes that the real wisdom and conception of reality lies outside of our grasp to perceive.
- Opines that religion isn't a neat word and that its meaning is so dilute that it's almost inappropriate to continue its use.
1789 wordsRead More - Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus and Modern Psychologyanalytical essayIn the past we believed that religion could solve all our problems (physical, mental or spiritual) if we turned up the piety level another notch; now we have swung too far in the other direction. As human beings we h...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how may, a psychiatrist from the shalem institute for spiritual formation in washington, d.c., criticizes religion for having sold out to psychology in its attempt to remain "relevant."
- Opines that psychology can help us cope with stress, achieve happiness, and transform our difficulties into opportunities for personal growth and increased creativity, but it cannot provide us with an ultimate reason for living.
- Analyzes how humans have been created with a religious longing. pascal sees our ambiguous condition between the animal world and the spiritual world as the cause of restlessness. dr. faustus dreams of godlike power.
- Analyzes how may discusses in some detail the function of magic in his chapter entitled "encounter with evil." magic, witchcraft, and sorcery hold that individual human will can through various means actually control and manage supernatural power.
- Opines that faustus and modern psychology receive the knowledge and power they desire only to find that it results in mediocrity and boredom. a leveling of all difficulties cuts out the agony but also the ecstasy of life.
- Analyzes how g.k. chesterton tells the story of two boys, paul and peter, playing in their front garden which was about "the same size as the dinner table."
- Argues that most of faustus' supernatural powers have become commonplace phenomena.
- Analyzes how faustus realizes that the devil drives a hard bargain. the supernatural thrills lose their attraction, eventually bringing despair and then more hopeless revelry.
948 wordsRead More