What are the differences between a Christian's beliefs and a Muslim's beliefs?

Answer 1

Outline

Islam and Christianity (long with Judaism) are all monotheistic, Abrahamic religions.

The religious book for Islam is the Qur'an (or Koran). The religious book for Christianity is the Bible. (The religious book for Judaism is the Torah).

The Qur'an

The Qur'an contains the recitations of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. He died in 632 AD, and the Qur'an was written down by his followers after his death. It contains references to many other prophets, including those mentioned in the Bible, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc. Concerning Jesus, the Quran states in Al-Maeda 5:17, "They do blaspheme who say that God is Christ the son of Mary."

There is a chapter in the Qur'an named "Surat Maryam" (Chapter Mary) named in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus. However, in the Bible, such an honor is not to be found. Out of the 66 books of the Protestants and 73 of the Roman Catholics, not one is named after Mary or her son unless you count the full name of the book of Revelation, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Instead, the New Testament books give the names of the writers who recorded the detailed description of the life and teachings of Jesus. For example, John and Peter were his Apostles and closest friends, Matthew was also an Apostles of Jesus, etc.

The Bible

The Bible is a collection of 66 books. The first part of the Bible contains the writings of Moses (5 books called the Torah, or Pentateuch) and all of the other Hebrew prophets (34 books). These books, recorded from about 1200 BC to 400 BC are the same collection of writings that the Jews believe in and follow. The second part of the Bible is called the New Testament, and contains 27 books including the four eye witness accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus, known as the Gospels. These books present Jesus as the fulfillment of all of the teachings of the earlier prophets. Jesus is called the Christ, or in Hebrew, the Messiah, which means the "Anointed One," the Holy King. The Bible also calls Jesus the Son of God and savior of the world, that was described in all of the earlier prophetic books.

Similarities of Islam and Christianity:

• Both religions believe in one God (are monotheistic). The word "Allah" simply means "God" in Arabic.
• Both believe Jesus was born to Mary, and that Mary was a virgin.
• Both believe that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth.
• Both religions believe that Jesus spoke in the cradle and performed miracles.
• Both religions are concerned with obtaining peace between people and on earth. The word "Islam' stems from the Hebrew word "shalom" which means "peace".
• Parents and spouses should be honoured.
• Faith without works is useless (saying "I Believe" is useless)
• Homosexuality is forbidden.
• Humans have rights. i.e. murder, theft, violence and lying are forbidden.
• Society's laws must be obeyed.
• Fornication and lewd behaviour are forbidden.
• Spiritual illnesses include avarice, pride, greed, gluttony, envy, lust and sloth.
• Suicide is forbidden.
• Intoxication is forbidden.
• Both religions have extreme or fundamentalist members and sects, which, in the past have acted in ways so extreme that go against and forget the original purpose of the religion (which is to obtain peace). Refer to the Muslim Conquests, the French Wars of Religion, the Crusades, and the Reconquista. The violent behaviour in these events does not follow the tenets of the religions themselves.

Differences from Christian beliefs:

• Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the literal Son of God. They believe that he was a Prophet of God.
• Muslims do not believe in the trinity.
• Muslims do not believe that Jesus was crucified.
• Muslims do not believe in the "original sin" and that all people are inherently sinful. They believe that sin is an action that goes against God.
• Muslims do not believe that Eve was made from Adam's rib. They believe that man and woman were created equally from the same spirit.
• Muslims do not believe that they should act to convert people of other faiths.
• There is no priesthood in Islam. Any association with God is direct and personal, without the mediation of priest or imam (Islamic learned scholar). For Christians, any relationship with God must be through Jesus Christ.

Other Views:

• Christianity is the religion of peace, Jesus was the Prince of Peace. The same cannot be said about Islam or Muhammad.

• In Christianity God is all powerful - his spirit can come to Earth and touch the lives of individuals. In Islam God isn't as powerful - he is stuck away from Earth and to comprehend him doing so is blasphemy. This is a contradiction in Islamic theology as it teaches that Moses was visited by the spirit of God. One of the many doctinal flaws of Islam.

• Christianity is far larger than Islam and can be accepted by anyone. The Bible has been translated and you can talk to God in any language. In Islam - conversion and practice has to be in Arabic culture and the Arabic language. The Qur'an can only be read in Arabic, Arabic names are adopted and you can only pray to Allah in Arabic. Islam is not a religion for all people. Note, only a minority of the Islamic world can read the Qur'an in Arabic.

Origins of the Faiths

Abraham had a wife, Sarai, and she had an Egyptian slave girl - Hagar. Sarai could not get pregnant, so she had Abraham sleep with Hagar to produce a baby. That baby was Ishmael. Then later- supposedly at about 90 yrs old, Sarai was made by God to go by the name Sarah for some odd reason that makes no sense, then she because pregnant and gave birth to Isaac. Ismael was made the father of "twelve princes" but supposedly God made his covenant only with Abraham through Isaac.

Islamic Arabs trace their ancestry back to Ishmael while Jews trace their ancestry to Isaac. All the fighting today descends from the fact that Abraham had a child by Hagar, his slave girl.

Answer

1) The concept of Trinity. Both believe that there is only one God. Christians believe in the Trinity, that is "three persons in one God," all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal persons, are of one indivisible Divine essence (ousia, substance), a simple being. Muslims believe that God is one and only one, which is in fact equivalent to recognizing only the person of God the Father. Muslims are totally refusing the concept of Trinity.

2) Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but it was made to appear to his people that Jesus has been crucified. Al-Nisan 4:157-159 "And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. (157) But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. (158) There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them" (159)

Christians believe that Jesus was crucified to take away the sins of the world and then rose from the dead. In John 10:17,18, Jesus said, "17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

3) Christians believe Jesus is the son of God but Muslims believe Jesus is just the Prophet sent by God, just like their prophet Muhammad. In other words, Muslims believe Jesus is just like Adam, i.e. a prophet sent by God to give good news to the believers, and bad news for the disbelievers. In Islam, no Muslim is a Muslim if he does not believe in Jesus, his works and teachings. BUT: only as a prophet, not God.

4) Muslims believe in the inherent SINLESSNESS of man's nature. Gifted with the power of reasoning and choosing between right and wrong. While the Christians believe that every new born babies is a sinner in nature, and that salvation is not by their own efforts, but is by the grace of God given through Jesus Christ.

5) There is no priesthood in Islam. Any association with God is direct and personal, without the mediation of priest or imam (Islamic learned scholar). For Christians, any relationship with God must be through Jesus Christ.

6) The Qur'an contains the recitations of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. He died in 632 AD, and the Qur'an was written down by his followers after his death. It contains references to many other prophets, including those mentioned in the Bible, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc. Concerning Jesus, the Quran states in Al-Maeda 5:17, "They do blaspheme who say that God is Christ the son of Mary."

The Bible is a collection of 66 books. The first part of the Bible contains the writings of Moses (5 books called the Torah, or Pentateuch) and all of the other Hebrew prophets (34 books). These books, recorded from about 1200 BC to 400 BC are the same collection of writings that the Jews believe in and follow. The second part of the Bible is called the New Testament, and contains 26 books including the four eye witness accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus, known as the Gospels. These books present Jesus as the fulfillment of all of the teachings of the earlier prophets. Jesus is called the Christ, or in Hebrew, the Messiah, which means the "Anointed One," the Holy King. The Bible also calls Jesus the Son of God and savior of the world, that was described in all of the earlier prophetic books. The Bible says in Colossians 2:9 "For in Christ all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form." In John 17:4 Jesus prays before his arrest and crucifixion, "5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

7) There is a chapter in the Qur'an named "Surat Maryam" (Chapter Mary) named in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus. However, in the Bible, such an honor is not to be found. Out of the 66 books of the Protestants and 73 of the Roman Catholics, not one is named after Mary or her son unless you count the full name of the book of Revelation, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Instead, the New Testament books give the names of the writers who recorded the detailed description of the life and teachings of Jesus. For example, John and Peter were his Apostles and closest friends, Matthew was also an Apostles of Jesus, etc.

1 John 1:5-10: (NIV):

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

See related links for sources.

Answer 2

there is no different we are all humans but the only thing different is the faith in believing there is only one god and jesus is a prophet not a god. :)

shia:

all divine religions have the same root but some of them deviated from it's origin. if some christian believes that God is only one and he worship him properly and Jesus is his Prophet, he has an acceptable religion. but most of them deny that. I had lots of discussion with christian scholars but they can not defend their beliefs and prof for them.

Answer 3

• A Muslim believes in monotheism (one and only one God). A Christian believes in hanotheism (God and Jesus as God or son of God).

• A Muslims believes in Muhammad as God prophet and messenger. A Christian doesn't believe in Muhammad prophecy.

• A Muslim believes that Jesus is one of God greatest prophets but is not God or son of God. A Christian believes that Jesus is God or son of God.

• A Muslim believes in The Bible, Christians holy book, as God holy book. A Christian doesn't believe in Quran, Muslims holy book, as God holy book.

Refer to related question below

Answer

• God

Muslims call God in Arabic as Allah, calling him the one and only one God.

Christians generally use God, or "Our Father". Most Christians consider Allah to be a foreign god.

• Jesus

Muslims believe that Jesus did not claim to be God - nor a "son" of God. That is because Muslims believe God is only One - there is no other god.

Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, produced by immaculate conception in the virgin Mary. Christians believe Jesus is part of the holy trinity, one God, three parts . The Father , Son and Holy Spirit.

• Mohammad

Muslims believe that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad as the Last God Prophet. That is the whole purpose of the "Good News" - the coming of the final message, the kingdom of God on Earth.

• Holy Book

Muslims follow the Koran, while acknowledging the Bible as a holy book.

Christians rely on the Old and New Testaments of the bible.

• Old Testament

Muslims believe that the Law of God was not canceled. That means that all the laws pertaining to life must be kept - not just 'belief'. This would include the prayer times. Jews have regular prayer times - it is part of the original Law of God.

• Denominations

Christians appear to be more far spread out, and thus have embrace more different ideas from different cultures. Christian churches have branched out into many more different denominations than Muslims thus far. However, this has also caused some dissonance, as there are many people who call themselves Christians who might not be considered 'true Christians' by other Christian groups.

• History and Criticisms

Christianity has been around for several hundred years longer than Islam.

The following comments are opinion and should be taken as such:

As a result of its spread around the world, Christianity has been subject to many trials when integrating or converting others, as well as internal struggles. There has been much detailed criticism of Christianity from many scholars, including the Christian Reformers, and other early Protestants.

Some would argue that Islam has not developed as far in terms of critical analysis of their own religion. Unfortunately, due to events in the last few decades, Islam has become

Answer 4

The main political difference is that the politicians of the US and Europe (with Christian majority) tend to implement their agendas against Muslim majority countries to keep them under their control and to falsify the Islam image in minds of both Muslims and non Muslims.

Answer 5

The term "views" is nebulous and the answers below refer to religious differences.

Answer 1

• A christian prays once a week as a Muslim prays 5 times a day
• Christians believe Day of Judgement is on a Sunday as Muslims believe Day of Judgement is on a Friday
• Christians believe Jesus is god as Muslims believe there is only one god with absolutely no family, just Prophets and messengers

Answer 2

The main differences are:

1. Islam is God religion per Qur'an revelation to Prophet Muhammad. Christianity is God's religion according to the revelations throughout the Bible.
2. Muslims believe that Jesus is one of the greatest God prophets and messengers. Some Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God; some others believe that Jesus is himself divine. Some other Christians believe he is human and neither God nor son of God.
3. Muslims believe in all prophets including prophet Muhammad and Jesus. Christians do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad.
4. Muslims believe in all God holy books including Qur'an and the Bible, but they do not accept the authority of the Bible. Christians do not believe in the Qur'an as inspired scripture.
5. Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified and just his likeness was thrown by God on another one who was crucified. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified as described in the Bible.
6. Muslims believe that every one is responsible for his deeds (good or sinful) in front of God in the Day of Judgment and that those made net good deeds will be rewarded, by God mercy, with entering the Paradise while those who made net bad deeds, unless forgiven by God, will be punished by being pushed in Hell fire. Christians believe that all men and women are responsible for their sins and all deserve eternal damnation. Jesus' sacrifice made it possible for some to enter heaven through God's mercy, and not based on their own merit.

Hint: the above shows that both religions are different only in some faith issues that are regarding the relationship between yourself and your God which is a matter to be resolved by God on the Day of Judgment. However, both religions are quite similar in all issues regarding relationships among all people. In reality, there are no differences between the two religions regarding the way that people of different religions should treat each other. This, logically and spiritually, calls all people to live together in love, peace, and harmony regardless their different religions or beliefs.

Answer 3

It is impossible to claim that 2 billion people have X views and 1.6 billion people have Y views, especially as concerns politics, nationalism, ideals, etc. While there are several religious differences (for which a Related Question has been provided), a Muslim or Christian's views on non-religious matters are often determined more by their immediate surroundings than any unity in the faith.

Answer 6

Christians believe that:

· Jesus is God or the son of God,

· Quran is not God revelation holy book, and

· Muhammad is not prophet.

Muslims believe that:

· Jesus (peace be upon him) is human and is one of the greatest prophets and messengers of God but is not God or son of God

· Quran, as well as Torah and Bible, are God revelation holy book

· Muhammad (peace be upon him) is prophet and messenger of God.

However, some Christians may believe in God revelation of Quran and may believe in the prophecy of Muhammad but they don't accept that Jesus is human and is God prophet and Messenger as all other God prophets.

Answer 7

The major difference is that Christians believe that Jesus is/was God, while Muslims believe that Jesus was a Messenger of God in the same order as Moses.

Answer 8

There are many differences, but perhaps most significant is that Christians believe Jesus was the son of Yahweh, whereas Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet like Moses or Isaiah.