Running head: CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 1

Christianity and Islam: Similarities and Differences

between Them, and the Ethic and Morality in Christianity and

Islam

Olorunlana Taiwo Justice

Lynn University

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 2

Christianity and Islam: Similarities and Differences between Them, and the Ethic and Morality in

Christianity and Islam

Introduction

With the arrival of the Christian missionary in the early 13th century; Christianity was

splits into two category phases; the post apostolic era and the apostolic era, when the first

apostles was alive and led the church; Christianity is an ecclesiastic faith that started as a Jewish

avowal and it begin with the Abrahamic religion. Christianity believes that Jesus Christ died for

sin and resurrected from death after three days; they believe that Jesus Christ was a messiah of

mankind. However, they believes that Jesus was sent by Almighty Father from heaven to save

humankind. Besides they used holy book as the criterion of their faith; they have good faith that

Jesus Christ came to save mankind from their generational sins that were committed by their

forefather. In aspect of Muslim, Islam religion started in the 7th century with the rebuilding of

Muhammad life afterward his death. Moreover, it begun extended in the Ocean to Central Asia

behind Muhammad first declamation of the Quran. However Joseph Meri all “Muslim

understand Quran 33: 56 as a command to say may bless and salute him. However, instantly

following any mention of the prophet Muhammad” (Joseph Meri). However, Islam is an Arabic

word, which mean compliance and appeasement; they rely on affirmation to Abrahamic religion

that believes in reconciliation to the God Allah and Muhammad as the great prophet. Islam

religion makes used of Qur'an as their direction of the Muslim. It accepts the fact that Allah

acknowledge or reveal to Muhammad orally through Angel Gabriel. This research paper

concerned with the similarity and different between Christianity and Islam. It claims the ethics

and morality of Christian and Islam. It will talk about the problem arose among Christianity and

Islam; the relation to what happening in the world between Christianity and Islam. Finally it will

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 3

conclude. However the teachers of the Quran are classified in the Hadith, it characterized to

Muhammad accomplished under Sharia law, as an ethical rule or law acknowledge to be accurate

code to Almighty God, and this religion believe famous for its five pedestals, Fasting, Prayer,

Testimony, Pilgrimage and almsgiving.

Christianity and Islam have been on the channel for over fourteen centuries. As a religion

that began after the time of Christ, and therefore after the New Testament had been completed,

Islam has always presented a theological challenge to Christian especially in relation to

Muhammad's status as prophet and the Quran status as revelation.

Christians believed that Jesus intend to come back to reward those who lived

righteousness life and those who lived unrighteousness life. Wiener Noah noted that” understand

the origin of Christianity, one must start with the population of Jewish Christian who lived

during Jesus’ Lifetime. However, the early Christianity scholar Geza Vermes examines the

origin of Christianity by analyzing the attributes of the Jewish Jesus movement to view how it

developed into a incisively gentile Religion” ( Wiener Noah). Subsequently, Christianity was

designed by the life and doctrine of Jesus Christ as was demonstrated by the Holy Book (Bible);

it started as a Jewish church or school of thought from the Eastward Mediterranean see in the

first century, it was controlling by the Roman commonwealth. Christianity religion advance and

expanse to United States of American, Canada and all over the Universe through immigration or

colonization, analysis work, and evangelists work, from now on become plurality determine or

influence in western civilization crystalize. In today's society, it all recognized the fact that

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and it symbolize about a division of the whole

population, and it was well reviewed as an accomplishment and domain religion in various

countries; it's classified into three main batch. Orthodox, Catholics and Protestant.

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Theologically speaking, the problem that arose between Christianity and Islam; is that the

message of great soothsayers such as Noah, Moses, Abraham and others prophets. They message

from God, but the main problematic is that Christian didn't give Muslim adventitious to precise

their views about Jesus Christ and there Islam. Muslim believes in Jesus Christ and other

soothsayers before him. However, Islam Bifurcates from Christianity in its repudiation of various

principles: the divine nature of Jesus Christ, the trilogy, the compensation of Christ, the mercy of

God and the being afterlife. In today's society, it seen that Islam is bounteous bloodthirsty or

violent than Christianity; the aggregate atrocity devoted under the Islam are more aggrandized

openly braggadocio concern the religion crisis. It seen as majority of Islam are danger or threat

to Religion freedom, in reality.

In many Muslim or Islam countries, the religion freedom or right for non-Islam is barred

at altering smooth; most Islamic government has degenerated to caution the entire Declaration of

Human right, and whichever accommodate the right to novitiate or convert. Stetzer, 2013

"United States of American looks Islam as a threat to their Nations religious liberty.

Approximately as strongly as they consider it an endangerment to religious freedom

internationally"(Stetzer, 2013). He elucidate further that "most persecution happens

worldwide,39 percent of American Adults say Islam threatens religious freedom in the United

States, substantially as many as the 40 percent who view Islam as a global threat"( ED Stetzer).

Conventionally speaking, the conflict arises between Christianity and Islam; is when the

individuals in different religious person acclaim a consortium of religious reality; the

proclamation or acclamation led to animosity, contradistinction, meanness, hatred, fight, dispute,

abhorrence and Cavil between Christianity and Islam. The central issue between the Islam and

Christianity; who is or who is not belonging absolute spiritual reality. These issue starts with the

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 5

members of different religions that charter in the verbal fight that was going with controversy or

debate over religious practices. George Friedman stated that "the recent event the Assassins were

a secret Islamic order to make war on individual they saw as Muslim occupy or Israel destroy"

(George. F). Most of the issue between Christianity and Islam now it based on the basis of

political and economic or industrial crisis; the issue had been ongoing within the Islamic states

which have led them to forces people to convert unthinkingly or accidentally because Islam

people want their position in the Islamic universe particular in Turkey and African. Furthermore,

it distinct knows that Islam or Muslim terrorism are very manslaughter and exasperate by

religious acrimony and animosity; they think that by killing people because their insisted not to

convert or because of their politicide or ethnocide their might took over the world.

In my perspective way, I see the crisis that happened between Christianity and Islam as

the religious bigotry which led Islam or Muslim people to forces individuals to convert to the

Islam; they believe that by violence they could achieves their goals; However, they recruiting

people to come to the Muslim saying that do not follow this church is not good. I commend that

Islam want turn the whole Nations to the Islamic states that is the target of ISIS AND BOKO

HARAM; despite that Boko Haram is local terrorism but the weapon their use are not locally;

they have joined hand with Isis to forcing all Nigerian to Muslim and to implement Sharia law

nationwide across the country. After Nigeria government didn’t accept their plan; they began

killed Christians and others religion practices in the country. The issue of Islamic terrorism have

become the global problem that all Christians around the world are facing; in the Islamic

countries they criticize and penalize those who practicing other religions such as Christian,

Buddhism and Hinduism in their country. As a result; Christian and Islam have frequently

inherited ideas, images and stereotype, mostly negative, which marked their mutual perceptions.

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 6

The main question I would like to asked. Is that. Is religion going to save you at the end of the

day or your faith?

Similarities between Islam and Christianity

To compare the similarity between Christianity and Islam, one need to read the

encyclopedia articles of the two Religious meticulously; in order to come out with a real fact. I

can say there deuce of similarity between Christianity and Islam. Christianity and Islam share

common Terra firma or ground, in this following, I will describe some most important key that

Christianity and Islam have in common and what they believe.

Both the Christianity and Islam believes in soothsayers, God's messenger revelation

scripture, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both Islam and Christianity believe in one God;

the supreme one, the one who created Heaven and Earth, and everything that creep on the earth

and under the earth. Also, both the Islam and Christianity believes that Satan is evil; people

should not follow him. However, both the two world largest religious aspect the fact that Jesus

of Nazareth, Furthermore, both Christianity and Islam believes in one God who has to

acknowledge or reveal his will through sacred scripture; they all recognized or identify the figure

of Abraham as a great father of Faiths. Both Christianity and Islam are looking to an end time

when the God lawfulness, Justice, and power will triumph. In term of Jesus Birth, both the

Christianity and Islam believes in Virgin birth of Jesus Christ and both religion practices have to

attest and bear witness to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Theologically speaking, in term of

view of Jesus Christ, Christian seen Jesus Christ as the Messiah; the only son of God. And Islam

views of Jesus Christ as the great prophet and the son of Mary; the only woman mentioned by

name in Quran.

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Furthermore, both Islam and Christianity believed that Jesus performed miracles and did

what others prophets never does. They all believes that Christ will come again by moving down

from heaven and reward everybody accord to their works. Both Christianity and Islam accept the

fact that there is paradise and hell; the paradise is meant for righteousness and Hell is for those

who disbelieve and follow Satan. Lytton & Holroyd noted that "both Christianity and Islam are

Abrahamic religion, and they believe in the existence of one supreme God" (Strachey L & John

S). Conventionally speaking, both Christianity and Islam instructed or teaches the Old Testament

and putting regard in as the true within it

Religiously speaking, both the Christianity and Islam had calmly synchronized and

engaged in lengthened epoch of warfare. Moreover the two world largest religion accept the fact

or given an account of the life and works of Jesus Christ; both Christianity and Islam are sharing

the same principal or predominant morals and ethical administration which is for the gain of

humankind and nature. The primary principle is more likely crucial for the humanity to

participates in living in amicably, calmly and love, trust in community with the different sets of

beliefs and cultures. Both Christianity and Islam are akin and congruous in practicing bilateral

consideration and respect to their followers. Stranda stated that both Christianity and Islam

"believes that God created the world and that Adams and Eve were the first humans he created"

(Stranda, C)

Differences between Christianity and Islam

Honestly speaking, it was said that Christianity and Islam believe in one God, but they

have the different perspective about God. Christianity believes in the trinity, the father, the son

and the Holy Spirit that mean Christianity see God as three different person; Christianity believe

that Jesus Christ is the savior of mankind that die for our sin. While Islam believe One God

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 8

(Allah in Arabic). Both celebrated different Holyday, Christian celebrated Christmas (celebration

of the birth of Jesus), Good Friday (death of Jesus, etc. Whereas Islam; celebrated Ramadan

(month of fasting), Eid-ul-Adha. Regardless it was said that Christianity and Islam have beliefs

in different things and all of them have million people behind them, and each of them is saying

they are better than each other. Christianity accepts the fact that Jesus Christ rose up from the

death after three days of his crucifixions. Whereas, Islam believes that Jesus Christ didn't die, but

he rose bodily to Heaven by God.

In Christianity, the ideas of human nature are different from Islam perspective; Islam

believes that every human being or humanity is good and sin unpaid by born; men had a

comparable and equal capability to do good or evil, they believe that it all about the decision an

individual makes. Whereas, Christianity strategy way, the ideas of human nature, they believes

that God was created both men and women as his image and mankind hereditary and inbred sin

from Adam and Eve, because they are disobedience against God instruction and confine or

enslave to sin. Christians believe that once person become born again, so far the person confess

his or her sin and not go back to the sin again, he or she receive new nature from the Holy Spirit.

However, in term of worship, Christian keeps the Sabbath day as was instructed by God, which

was the (Lord's Day) and set alone from church service not for doing other things. Christian

believe that this commandment was the obligation they are own to God, and they shall keep it

Holy. While, Islamic contemplate or notice Five compulsory prayer times a day, this including

the Friday prayer. Christianity, the main communion ritual are the rites that comprise holy

sacrament and baptizing prayer, couple life, climax or Pinnacle: While Islam they have five

crucial rituals known as the five pillars of Islam, Pilgrimage of the Holy city of Makkah, Fasting

Hass, almsgiving, saw and Zakat.

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 9

Furthermore, the mean of Salvation in Islam quite different from the way of salvation in

Christianity, the idea of a way of salvation in Islam, is the way of good deed and observe the five

pillars. While Christianity salvation mean achieved through conduct prayer and good faith alone

in Jesus Christ. In term of religious violence, Islam is more war against all other religious in the

world. Whereas Christianity have none violence against any religion practice in the world.

Moreover, Christianity can convert to Muslim without impunity, whereas, in Islam if any person

wants to convert to Christian will be beheadings.

Islam fortifies women to cover their body. While Christianity does not. Islam advised its

disciples or followers to retaliate whenever their attacked by the enemies, while, in Christianity,

they encourage their disciples to forgive their enemies and not retaliate, and even Bible also

instructed Christians to pray for their enemies. The two religious practice have different

perspective of founder and various books, their different in such way their views God salvation

and their future have enormous different.

The Ethics and Morality in Islam and Christianity

The Description of Moral and ethics in Christianity and Islam are more likely to be at that

root and the bedrock of the beliefs. They believe in one God, and it set out as the bedrock of their

faith. In the term of Ethic and Morality, both Christianity and Islam lay abundant and enormous

intensity: and emphasis on equality, Justice, righteousness and clemency and commiserate as

their criterion principle for their enthusiast and devotee. However, the ethics and morals are the

very distinguishing ethical character in the life of an individual. Musselman stated that "Islam

viewed as an amendment and improvement on the circumstance of women related to the agnostic

in the Sinai. Whereas Christianity has some written composition in the holy bible that called for

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 10

women to covered their heads in church and being modest in behaviors and dress"( Thomas, M,

2014).

Methodically, In Generosity, both Christianity and Islam feel a necessity for generosity

and the suitable, mannerly treatment of those needs. Islam, the Almsgiving crave Muslim to pay

a ration of their belonging or money to those who less lucky or auspicious than themselves.

Whereas Christianity, Jesus Christ; for instance of helping those who need; is to proof all over

the four doctrines and provides an instance of Christians to disciplines. However, both Christian

and Islam commonly say this, that almighty God accommodates forgiveness than looking for

retaliation for another's person action. Christian believes that God is the greatest mighty who is

sovereign, uncontrolled and self-deterring.

The New Testament make it clear for us that we should love our neighbors as will love

oneself. It obvious; it is God who acknowledge himself and is the only one that can ascertain his

attribute, quality, individuality and personality of his goodness. This mean that Christian can

have fully understanding and consciousness of God through Jesus Christ his goodness and

graciousness is not changeless or static arrangement, but it is a charismatic and high-powered

state that eagerly regularly and steadily flows. That means that concurrent times the questions of

ethics and morality in Christianity and Islam have become serious argument all over again. I

would like to ask this question. Does ethic require God? In my perspective, I think that ethics

requires God, because ethic means; what is right or wrong, this means that only those who have

faith or believes in God know what is actually good and evil. It is very esteem to depend on the

holy book or other sacred text such as Quran, to understand and to identify what is good and bad.

In my opinion I think the holy bible is the superlative criterion to ethics.

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Furthermore, the morality and ethics in Christianity are little similar to that of Islam, In

Mathew 5, 6 &, Jesus said" you have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery.' But I

tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in

her heart" (Mathew, 5, 6, & 7). While in Quran 17; 32 say "and do not near unlawful sexual

intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an abomination and is evil as a way" (Quran 17; 32). It states it

clearly above that both Christianity and Islam people know what is right and wrong; those people

who do evil thing they have decided to go against what Bible or Quran tells them not to do;

because God has given us the Spirit to know what is right and wrong.

Sincerely speaking, Christianity Ethics focused on the teaching of the Holy Bible which

influenced need of mercy, grace, favor, love and pardon because of sin with the absolute help.

The Christians ethics was established on the idea of grace, love that change an individual life

completely and allows us to decide and do what is right; Because Christian ethics is the picture

of good reputation of the Kingdom of God which make the Christianity proclaimed that the

kingdom of God is at hand, and they preach the reality of the true nature of God to the people so

that they mighty repent for their evil deed. Whereas the Islam Ethics was founded on the

interpretation and understanding of the humankind that have been acknowledged by God's will

In conclusion; this researcher paper has discussed the similarities and differences

between Christianity and Islam; the ethics and morality in Christianity and Isla; the major

problem that arise among them. Aforesaid both Christianity and Islam has enormous contrast

distinction such as the birth of Jesus Christ, crucifixion, death and awaken, the resurrection of

our Lord Jesus Christ. They were different in the creativeness and originality of the holy books

as inspect and analyze to that of Quran inasmuch as Christian assimilates it. Furthermore, both

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 12

Christianity and Islam keep up their own special and unique characters that apparent from one

another. In addition, in the aspect of spreads of the religion; both are culturally and socially alike,

they some crucial figure or people in a top class to spread the faith. Christianity has Constantine

to expanse or spread they religion, whereas Islam has the soothsayer and the caliphates to spread

their religion. All this people they are an essential figure for the religions religiously speaking,

the spread of Islam religion are quite different from the spread of Christianity. The reason I said

this, is that Christianity has government organization that associate in the advance or spread of

the religion, while Islam has no government organization that associates in the spread of their

religion. Abovementioned the main problem arise among them; is because Islam comes up with

some systematic approached to defile or discredit Christianity to extend their reject the

legitimacy and validity of the holy bible. For example, Muslim people attack the fact of

teachings of Trinity, they defile a false understanding and interpretation of the Trinity by stating

that Christian has three gods that don't true at all, Christian does not teach that there are three

gods but what Christian means by Trinity is that there is only one God that appear in three

persons, the name of father, son and holy spirit

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ethical-differences-between-Christian-and-Islamic-teachings

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https://archive.org/details/MedievalIslamicCivilizationAnEncyclopedia

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CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM 14

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