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Islam & Christianity
Three Sunday Course
April 23, 30 & May 7, 2017
Comparison of Christianity & Islam
The Articles of Faith & the Five Pillars of Islam
 How Islam Started, Its Major Sects & Its
Controversies
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Definitions
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Islam is the name of the religion.
Muslim is the name given to people who
believe in Islam.
The Quran or Koran is the religious text of
Islam. It is akin to our Bible.
Muhammad is the Muslims' ultimate example
of piety, morality and wisdom.
A Hadith is a saying of Muhammad or a report
about something he did.
Islam & Christianity
Comparison of
Christianity & Islam
Major Islamic & Christian Beliefs
Similar Beliefs
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Same God, Creator, Giver of Life
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Guidance from God in Torah & from Old Testament prophets
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Heaven, hell & final judgment day
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Guidance from Jesus, born of Mary & who ascended to
Heaven
Islamic Views
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God is not a Trinity, thus, Jesus is not His Son, just a prophet.
Text of Bible has been corrupted over time; the Quran has not
been corrupted.
Muhammad is a messenger of the Word of God.
Summary Comparison of Christianity and Islam -1
Christianity
Islam
30 AD
622 CE
Place founded
Israel
Mecca and Medina,
Arabia
Founders & early
leaders
Jesus, Peter, Paul
Muhammad
Original languages
Aramaic and Greek
Arabic
Adherents worldwide
today
2 billion, largest in
world
1.6 billion, 2nd largest
in world
Date founded
Lissa Caldina https://lissahk.wordpress.com
Summary Comparison of Christianity and Islam -2
Religious
Authority
Christianity
Islam
Sacred text
Bible = Old Testament +
New Testament
Qur'an
Inspiration of
sacred text
views vary: literal Word of
God, inspired human
accounts, or of human
origin only
literal Word of God
Biblical
prophets
true prophets
true prophets
Summaries
of doctrine
Apostle's Creed, Nicene
Creed
Six Articles of Faith
Lissa Caldina https://lissahk.wordpress.com
Summary Comparison of Christianity and Islam -3
Beliefs &
Doctrine
Christianity
Islam
Status of
Jewish Bible
Canonical, referred to as
the Old Testament
Noncanonical but useful as
a (corrupted) inspired text
Spiritual
beings
angels and demons
angels, demons, jinn
Identity of
Jesus
Son of God, God
incarnate, savior
true prophet of God, whose
message has been
corrupted
Birth &
Death of
Jesus
virgin birth, death by
crucifixion & ascension
into heaven
virgin birth but did not die,
ascended into heaven (a
disciple died in his place)
Mode of divine
revelation
through Prophets and
Jesus (as God Himself),
recorded in Bible
Lissa Caldina https://lissahk.wordpress.com
through Muhammad,
recorded in Qur'an
Summary Comparison of Christianity and Islam -4
Beliefs &
Doctrine
Christianity
Islam
Human
nature
"original sin" inherited from
Adam - tendency towards
evil
equal ability to do good or
evil
Means of
salvation
correct belief, faith, good
deeds, sacraments (some
Protestants emphasize faith
alone)
correct belief, good
deeds, Five Pillars
Afterlife
eternal heaven & hell
eternal paradise or hell
View of the Islam is respected as a fellow Christians are respected
other
monotheistic religion, but
as "People of the Book,"
religion
Muhammad is not seen as a but they have mistaken
true prophet
beliefs and only partial
revelation
Lissa Caldina https://lissahk.wordpress.com
Articles of Faith
1. Belief that Allah is the only deity & Muhammad is His
messenger.
2. Belief that God has angels.
3. Belief in the Books of God , especially the Qu'ran
4. Belief in successive revelations of Adam, Noah, Jonah,
Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
David, Solomon, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the last from
Muhammad.
5. Belief that the world will end, judgment will occur, and
there will be life afterward.
6. Belief in supremacy of God's will.
The Five Pillars of Islam
1. Testimony and declaration of faith – Allah is God
alone.
2. Prayer 5 times a day
3. Give 2 & ½ % of surplus wealth to charity
4. Fast during month of Ramadan
5. Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your
lifetime
Islam & Christianity
How Islam Started
Ancient Trade Routes
Ancient
History
Time
Line
Century - Date
1st BC
Roman Empire expands
1st AD
Jesus's life, death & resurrection
4th AD
Emperor Constantine embraces Christianity
330 AD
Roman Empire splits & Byzantine Empire begins
476 AD
Roman Empire falls
610 AD
Muhammad's prophet-hood begins; creation of Islam
632 AD
Muhammad dies; Islam spreads throughout Arabia
632-661
Arab Muslims conquer Jerusalem & Middle East
661-699
Arab Muslims conquer N. Africa & Spain
700-716
Arab Empire extends from Lisbon to China
Muhammad
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Born in Mecca in 570 CE & orphaned before he was 6.
Raised by his uncle, he became a merchant, married at
25, an older, wealthy woman, and rose in status in
Meccan society.
At 40 he heard voice of angel Gabriel & began
proclaiming God's message.
Meccans, who were polytheists, feared his teachings
would bring an end to tribal gods and to abuse of the
poor, enslaved, orphans, widows and women so they
persecuted him.
His wife and uncle die, and he is forced to leave &
settles in Medina, 280 miles north.
Muhammad
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His followers grow in numbers. Their common faith
bands them together rather than tribal affiliation.
His attempts to convert Jews fail.
Raiding, particularly rich caravans from Mecca, &
warfare were source of income for Medans.
In 628 CE, Muhammad negotiates peace with
Meccans.
Following the killing of one of his followers in Mecca,
Muhammad leads attack on Mecca which surrenders.
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Polytheism in Mecca is eliminated.
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Muhammad receives revelations until his death in 632.
Islam & Christianity
Major Sects of Islam
Shia (~15%) & Sunni (~85%)
Muslim Distribution Today
Islam & Christianity
Controversies of Islam
12
10
8
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
6
4
2
0
Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
Muslim Extremists
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Less than 1% of Muslims in Europe & the USA are
at risk of becoming radicalized.
Radicalization doesn't always lead to violent
extremism.
Radicalization might just mean that Sharia law is
favored.
Probably less than 1% of the 1% of Muslims at
risk of becoming radicalized will become
extremists.
This probability is higher in Islamic countries.
Violent Extremism
And Domestic Radicalization
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Radicals exist on the fringes of every religion.
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Religion can influence it, particularly in Islamic societies.
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Charismatic clerics play a pivotal role.
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Radicalization is driven by personal dissatisfaction,
grievances, indignation, and a sense of adventure.
Abject poverty and unemployment among youth makes
them easy prey for radicalization.
Social contacts and networks play an integral role.
The desire to affect societal and political change can easily
enthuse radicalism.
Javid Ahmad, a South Asia analyst, graduate student at Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University
Sharia Law
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It is Quran & Hadith based guidance created by Islamic
scholars. It is not a book of statutes, regulations & judicial
precedent like Western law which confines itself largely to
matters relating to crime, contract, civil relationships and
individual rights.
It is both religious & civil law in some Islamic countries. It is
not law in all countries with Muslim majorities.
It has been developed to help Muslims understand how they
should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's
wishes.
It recognizes rights of women but more limited than what we
have. It is not anti-feminist.
It has harsher punishments than what we have.