What you can do?
It is possible to compare Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad three persons somewhat connected to the beginning and development of these three religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But they belong to three different moments of history and three geographies with particular political and cultural contexts.
It is possible to compare three religious spaces and what happen there – Synagogue, Church, and a Mosque.
It is possible to compare the Tanak, New Testament, and Qur’an, the holy scriptures of the three religions that emerged from somewhat one region.
It is also possible to pick up a concept – for example, the concept of God or the concept of the Judgment of God – and compare contrast how the three religions look at that particular concept.
Why compare?
a. Some do it to prove the superiority of one over the others! There are plenty of examples for such approach particularly promote in the Internet! We do not go there!
b. Others may compare and contrast these religions to understand one or more better! By doing such comparative studies we may also clarify why people consider religion so important!
Similarities:
Cf. Ira G. Zepp, A Muslim Primer, Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2000. pp. 179-182.
1. Christianity and Islam share a joint legacy of a Biblical tradition and the same heritage of prophethood. Both religions come from Judaism, share the common parentage of Abraham, and delight in the Jewish Torah.
2. Islam and Christianity are both monotheistic religions and ascribe similar attributes to God: Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Forgiver, God and Allah both act in history to further causes of justice, peace, and harmony among all people.
3. Both religions are universal in scope, claiming to transcend differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, and color.
4. Christianity and Islam are both committed to praxis: a unification of faith and
life, prayer and action. They are strongly ethical religions. The Christian
unity of grace and law is similar to the unity of mercy and Shariah in Islam.
5. Both faiths make absolute claims to perfect truth about God. In this way they resemble most religions founded on divine revelation. As a result, when they speak, they are certain they are speaking in the name of the Absolute.
6. Christianity and Islam both say they purify and fulfill religions that preceded
them: Christianity says this about Judaism, Islam about both Judaism and
Christianity.
7. Both religions believe that history has a goal and will culminate in the return of Christ or the Mahdi, both Messianic figures, at the Last Day. Accompanying this is a common belief in Last Judgment, the resurrection, and an afterlife in heaven (the Garden) or hell (the Fire).
8. Islam and Christianity emphasize personal acts of piety such as prayer, fasting, charity and scripture reading. They share as well the prophetic call to help the oppressed, the poor, the widow, the orphan and the homeless.
9. Christianity and Islam are growing, dynamic religions with progressive, reactionary and mainstream dimensions. And in each, change is not betraying the core of the respective faith.
10. Both religions exemplify the human tendency to fall short of the ideas of founders and scriptures. Christianity fail to live up to the model of Jesus, and Muslims seldom achieves the standards set by the Qur’an. Both are united in human frailty but more importantly in the human aspiration to be the best Muslim or Christian.
Differences:
Cf. Alfred Guillaume, Islam, Baltimore: Penguin Book, 1975. pp. 194-199.
Here is Christian’s Apostle’s Creed and what is in italics are aspects that Muslims don’t accept! What is coloured is my emphasis to indicate that Judaism may accept only that part of the Christian Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate. Was crucified.
Dead? and buried. He descended into hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come
to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The Holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
It is possible to compare Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad three persons somewhat connected to the beginning and development of these three religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But they belong to three different moments of history and three geographies with particular political and cultural contexts.
It is possible to compare three religious spaces and what happen there – Synagogue, Church, and a Mosque.
It is possible to compare the Tanak, New Testament, and Qur’an, the holy scriptures of the three religions that emerged from somewhat one region.
It is also possible to pick up a concept – for example, the concept of God or the concept of the Judgment of God – and compare contrast how the three religions look at that particular concept.
Why compare?
a. Some do it to prove the superiority of one over the others! There are plenty of examples for such approach particularly promote in the Internet! We do not go there!
b. Others may compare and contrast these religions to understand one or more better! By doing such comparative studies we may also clarify why people consider religion so important!
Similarities:
Cf. Ira G. Zepp, A Muslim Primer, Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2000. pp. 179-182.
1. Christianity and Islam share a joint legacy of a Biblical tradition and the same heritage of prophethood. Both religions come from Judaism, share the common parentage of Abraham, and delight in the Jewish Torah.
2. Islam and Christianity are both monotheistic religions and ascribe similar attributes to God: Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Forgiver, God and Allah both act in history to further causes of justice, peace, and harmony among all people.
3. Both religions are universal in scope, claiming to transcend differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, and color.
4. Christianity and Islam are both committed to praxis: a unification of faith and
life, prayer and action. They are strongly ethical religions. The Christian
unity of grace and law is similar to the unity of mercy and Shariah in Islam.
5. Both faiths make absolute claims to perfect truth about God. In this way they resemble most religions founded on divine revelation. As a result, when they speak, they are certain they are speaking in the name of the Absolute.
6. Christianity and Islam both say they purify and fulfill religions that preceded
them: Christianity says this about Judaism, Islam about both Judaism and
Christianity.
7. Both religions believe that history has a goal and will culminate in the return of Christ or the Mahdi, both Messianic figures, at the Last Day. Accompanying this is a common belief in Last Judgment, the resurrection, and an afterlife in heaven (the Garden) or hell (the Fire).
8. Islam and Christianity emphasize personal acts of piety such as prayer, fasting, charity and scripture reading. They share as well the prophetic call to help the oppressed, the poor, the widow, the orphan and the homeless.
9. Christianity and Islam are growing, dynamic religions with progressive, reactionary and mainstream dimensions. And in each, change is not betraying the core of the respective faith.
10. Both religions exemplify the human tendency to fall short of the ideas of founders and scriptures. Christianity fail to live up to the model of Jesus, and Muslims seldom achieves the standards set by the Qur’an. Both are united in human frailty but more importantly in the human aspiration to be the best Muslim or Christian.
Differences:
Cf. Alfred Guillaume, Islam, Baltimore: Penguin Book, 1975. pp. 194-199.
Here is Christian’s Apostle’s Creed and what is in italics are aspects that Muslims don’t accept! What is coloured is my emphasis to indicate that Judaism may accept only that part of the Christian Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate. Was crucified.
Dead? and buried. He descended into hell;
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come
to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The Holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
