What Do Christianity & Islam Have Against Each Other?
@mythociate (21432)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
November 19, 2012 5:43pm CST
Looking at it from a Buddhist perspective (remember, a Buddha IS NOT a God, he's just someone who obeys God long enough to lead others to the Truth), I see that Jesus Christ was a messenger-of-Allah whose friends made Him into something more.
I'm not denying that Jesus was/is indeed the 'Christ' (the Anointed of G-d), I'm just not exactly-sure that that means what Christians say it means.
Muslims say that making anything but Allah equal to Allah is blasphemy! thus that making Jesus equal to Allah is an insult to Allah, punishable by endless fire etc. I remember Jesus saying "I am in the Father & He in me; the Father & I are one," and so that solves the whole 'no G-d but Allah'-disagreement for me.
Same deal with the Trinity. I'm able to "stretch my mind around" the idea of 'one being with three main aspects.' I can even imagine G-d talking to one aspect of himself through another aspect (as when 'the Son' prays to 'the Father,' or when 'the Spirit' whispers to 'the Son).
Why can't everybody just step back and see the big picture once in a while?
2 people like this
17 responses
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
20 Nov 12
Hi mythociate, you asked what Do Christianity & Islam have against each other?
I think the main issue is their opposing views with regard to Jesus. The political situation has inflamed the differences so much that at times no one is ready to accept the other's right to their belief. There are however those Christians and Muslims who like to respect others views and want to live peacefully. We just need to support these people by overlooking the differences as much as possible.
1 person likes this
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
23 Nov 12
Jesus the son of Mary was a great prophet sent from Allah for the guidance of his people, he had a miraculous birth and God showed many miracles through him. He was raised to heavens when people tried to kill him and will return back before the doomsday. Why I believe this is because my book tells me so.
@begladtobeme (20)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
You have lots of points here. And I would like to comment on one, regarding Jesus. If you're going to study what the Bible really teaches, Jesus is not actually the God.
Now, who is the God? Does our creator has a name?
Although a lot of people refer God as nameless, the Bible teaches us what is His personal name. As written originally in Hebrews, God's personal name appears 7,000 times using the sacred tetragrammaton, some translators refer it as Yahweh while in English, the most commonly used form is Jehovah.
Jehovah's name is the name for the Creator, for our God which we cannot used interchangeably with Buddha, Brahma, Allah or even Jesus.
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
20 Nov 12
Yep-- YHWH (short for He Who Has No Name, actually)-- and not interchangeable with Allah. because of the whole trinity concept, Jesus is the son of YHWH, but the situation is a little bit odd.
Buddha was never actually a God at all, in the conventional sense, of course... But yep-- you're correct. Of course most people won't see it that way, but like I said above, when it comes to subjects that are guaranteed to start arguments, take your choice-- politics, economics or religion.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
21 Nov 12
begladtobeme, people can have more than one name. You're argument is rather like saying that Harry Web and Cliff Richard can't be the same person.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Nov 12
I thought YHWH was sort of an insignia used so that Jews didn't HAVE to say the name of G-d when referring to him, derived from a word that meant something like "existing" (as G-d asked Moses to have the people call him "I Am that I Am").
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
19 Nov 12
No one likes to hear someone else say "My religion is the only right religion". It really has little to do with actual beliefs. The christians say that you cannot be saved unless you take the christ as your savior, the moslems say you have to accept allah and sharia for the same reason.
I personally do not care what they believe as long as they keep it to themselves. However, neither are capable of doing so. For years, both groups have slaughtered others to force them to bow to their religions. The christians no longer seem to slaughter, but they still have their ways to force their beliefs on others. The moslems are deep in the slaughter business still and show no desire to soften their actions.
Stepping back and taking a restful breath would really be nice, but it is not going to happen in our lifetime...Unfortuantely.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
20 Nov 12
Hi,
Judaism has its own story of slaughter too. It began long before anything else. There was David and Goliath in the Philistine Wars, Solomon, and Joshua in Jericho, then they killed Jesus himself by way of the Roman Law in order to leave their hands clean. That was just a few of them, in fact the Old Testament is full of war stories and killings therein.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
I just fundamentalism or conservatism is the problem why we have these wars, lack of respect and debating that never ends is not the answer when it comes to living in love and prosperity. there are other things that can be done by the people with out citing too much religious beliefs. unfortunately, there are leaders that does not respect others in terms of beign different and their ideals
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
20 Nov 12
Of course Judaism had wars-- as do all religions. However, Judaism, as a belief system, could not produce Genocide--the systematic extermination of a people, as the Arabs are trying to do again over there at the moment. It is against the Law to do so. In the Bible, the Jews were told to take Canaan-- they did what God told them to do. When they fought a war of aggression, it was G-d who told them they could-- to take the land he had promised them.
As to Jesus, I addressed that above--to the extent that I will address it at all. Jesus was crucified by the Romans, and got resurrected. Nowhere in Roman Law or custom as shown in the writings of the time would the people have been given the privilege of "saving" any prisoner adjudicated in a Roman court. Since none of us was there, who knows what really happened?
But we do know that the rallying cry of "They Killed Jesus" has been used by Christians for centuries as an excuse to exterminate Jews--and hold them in slavery, and steal their possessions. Nowhere in history will you find a group of Jews doing the same, screaming "They Think The Messiah Has Come".
And today, we have a flock of different Arabs of different types, calling for the extermination of the Jews--again, as usual.
Letran, the only subject more likely to start a war than economy or politics is religion-- because religion is a core belief for many people--and both Christianity and Islam take a dim view of people who choose not to join their belief system. The Arabs have also in the past committed atrocities against Christians, and Christians against Arabs. Both Islam and Christianity have moved away from the fundamental teachings of their parent scriptures-- the old testament. So have the Jews, in some ways-- however, the Jews have modified things in a peaceful direction.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
20 Nov 12
I have no time to analyze these things. though I totally respect people that with other religions, we are "what we chose to be" sometimes i believe that analyzing religion and then comparing it to the other is a total waste of time. for me, the important is you follow your religion with out hurting every one else and instead use it to help others and not stick your principles to their throats. 
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
20 Nov 12
I totally agree! Thank goodness no one has to talk religion if they don't want to. But I'm very happy there are some who like to discuss and talk about religion and spirituality! But I don't talk religion at all with someone who doesn't also, or doesn't want to. But of course I can't imagine a world which lacked it! OMG, all that would leave would be mechanics, superficial stuff and drama queen stuff
. I believe I would either have to become a total hermit or take a vow of complete silence..
. I believe I would either have to become a total hermit or take a vow of complete silence..@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
20 Nov 12
I agree as well--freedom of religion, and the choice to discuss it or not, is a very good thing-- and I wouldn't want to live in a world without religion either. To me, it would be a less "human" world, with no upside-- as a lack of religion and the morals and principal taught thereby would imply a world that runs on situational morality, where people would have no reason NOT to do what they wished. And people, as a group, are dangerous at times--to each other, and to nature.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Nov 12
Religion is what shows you when it's worth more to be "right and in-danger" rather than "good but wrong." 
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Nov 12
You a Buddhist?
Whenever I'm a Buddhist, I'm more of a Nichiren Buddhist. Nichiren Daishonen (I think is the last-name he took) was a Buddhist monk who presented a philosophy based on The Lotus Sutra (Myoho Renge Kyo, a dialog presented by a famous Buddha to all his followers).
That philosophy is not based on 'worship' so much as Nichiren Buddhists' mantra (you may have heard it in Innerspace, a movie with Dennis(?) Quaid & Martin Short) "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo."
The basic meaning there is 'Listening, hear the Divine Voice and Heed its commands, giving caution to Other Occurrences & the occurrences which they Cause, knowing that those occurences and the divine voice blend together into One Sound.'
@thomaszhou (4)
• China
20 Nov 12
I think the reason is that they all think their God is the only true god,other gods is fake.If you do not believe what they believe,it is blaspheme.The hell is waiting for you.
I am a atheist, i think all religious are not true.I pray i will not be cursed in someone's response.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
21 Nov 12
thomaszhou, how is believing that all religions are wrong better than having a religion and thinking everybody else is wrong. Anyway atheism makes claims about the paranormal, (i.e. there isn't any) and by extention morals (there's no basis for firm morals) and is therefore a religion. It can also be as intolerant as any other religion.
Adoniah, where do the Jewish scriptures say that you can only be punished in Hades for a year?
@livewyre (2450)
•
26 Nov 12
You have a refreshing outlook, very often Muslims seem to struggle to get beyond 'Trinity' not being the same as three Gods...
Where any faith differs from Christianity is primarily on the position that Jesus holds. I am a bit uncertain about the consistency of your thoughts here, if you are able to consider that Jesus and God could be one, then his friends could hardly make him anything more than that could they?
Maybe you mean 'one' in a way that we can all be 'one' with God? That would be similar to how Mormons would see Jesus I think...
@livewyre (2450)
•
27 Nov 12
It's an interesting thought, but the Bible tells us that God is always the same, so either the Bible is right, or we should ignore it. What I am saying is that it is inconsistent to say you think of the Bible in a way that the Bible itself denies.
The difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament is not a change in God's heart, but the fact that Jesus has taken our punishment, God has been vengeful on Jesus when he was sacrificed for us, so he is no longer vengeful towards us.
If God is the God of creation (as the Bible teaches) then the concept that things didn't go 'as he wanted them to' is mistaken - I believe that God knew that man would rebel against him (that's why he gave man free choice), I also believe that he knew the consequence of this rebelling - IE. that he would have to sacrifice himself so that his creation (man) could be redeemed.
If God makes mistakes, and acts like a child, then he is not God, he is a powerful man - I do not worship a powerful man, I worship God the Father and creator of mankind. Obviously that is just my 'take' on things...
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
28 Nov 12
The Bible also tells us that G*d made man after his own likeness. If G*d never changes; then Man never changes, and we're forever pre-Enlightenment infants.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
27 Nov 12
I'm more 'Nichiren Buddhist' than "Muslim," but then (as Buddhist writings & personal observation tell) "ALL religions are 'Buddhism' (lit. 'following the Awakened/Enlightened One')."
I sometimes see the Bible as 'the story of how G*d grew up': he started out as a big baby, whining & destroying things when they didn't behave as he wanted them to; then he mellowed out and kinda realized that the world is all gonna dissolve sooner-or-later, so the best you can do is 'love others as you would have them love you'; then he got old and tired, and kinda let the world alone.
@fchalida (196)
• Indonesia
30 Nov 12
Hi mythociate,
I am a moslem. But i have an open mind to other people. i don't care about the what the religion, who is your god. If i can have different religion friends i would. I will have or find a friends not from what religion are you? but how i can have good friends, how the friends attitudes to me. Because in my holy book says, my religion is my religion, your religion is your religion. So be it.
Do you relies that out there, christ against moslem(for example: Israel and afganistan). Do you thing this is all about religion? NO..... this is not about religon. But out there, there are white collar crime made this happen? want to dominate or monopoli the land or oil.
And now how we can blame for the innocent people, the innocent baby? are you laughing because you can kill your different religion people???
@atv818 (1980)
• United Arab Emirates
5 Dec 12
Everyone has different interpretations of the Bible and other religions. We can only give so much information and/or advice but in the end, it is up to the person to accept them or not.
I'm a Catholic but my dad is Buddhist and yet we respect each other's religion. If people will only just be open-minded when it comes to discussions like this, then this will definitely be a better world to live in.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5 Dec 12
Yeah, but it's kinda fun to squeeze your mind shut a little and see which way that makes the thoughts squirt out 
@coldnpale (555)
• Greece
20 Nov 12
They are 2 different religions. They both believe in a higher being but in very different ways. In christianity it is not blasphemy to consider jesus god. We believe in the holy trinity of god, christ and the holy ghost. They are three different things but at the same time they are exactly the same thing. Something like god in 3 different forms. Thus it is not blasphemy to call them god, because they all are the same god.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
21 Nov 12
Shavkat, what planet are you living on? How many decades is it since you saw/read/listened to the news?
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
22 Nov 12
Shavkat, I'm sure if you asked any fairly committed Christian, he or she would say, "Islam is evil because it's Satanic deception and would like to see all Muslims converted to Christianity." Fairly committed Muslims would say something similar about Christians should convert to Islam. Many Muslims and Christians would say worse things. Probably only Christians who know very little about Islam or who are very wishy washy would say "Islam is really OK and we shouldn't have any sort of conflict with them." I'm not if any Muslims would say this about Christianity.
@robspeakman (1700)
•
20 Nov 12
It has always baffled my as an Atheist.
Many religions bang on about there is only one God..... So there are only two options.
A. You are all wrong and there is no GOD.
B. You are all following the same GOD - How funny would that be?
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
21 Nov 12
I have said it before, and I'll say it again--
Absence of proof does not constitute proof of absence. None of us, Atheists, deists, theists, agnostics, can PROVE our position
We all operate under the simplest form of Faith-- the belief in an idea without proof to support said idea. And "facts" do not necessarily equal "proof"--"fact" is an observation based on empirical evidence. Defining the meaning of that "fact"--well-- that can get touchy, in some cases.
@Graptopetalum (1807)
• Canada
21 Nov 12
You can't conclusively prove anything but there is evidence, such as unlikely prophecies being fulfilled.
Anyway, it's clear that incompatable descriptions of God must be different gods. If there is only one god, then all but one of those different gods must not exist.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Nov 12
When I was growing up, my dad was The Spanker. I was afraid to misbehave, for fear my mom would issue a bad report to The Spanker. Did I ever call him The Spanker? No, and so the threat of The Spank became less-&-less as I grew older.
Maybe that's how G-d works: the more we refer to him as 'Our Father' & not 'The Spanker,' the more he's encouraged to Provide and not to Spank.
@varuncc (18)
• India
9 Dec 12
please see only mahabharat made by br chopra fully.and any thing u cannot understand about books u can ask me or ask in any iskon centre .most educated persons have joined iskon . i am also giving u an example of uneducated people they are treating sai baba as god.so donot come in the word of people
@varuncc (18)
• India
9 Dec 12
my dear friend i will give u rigth imformation.there is one god and all world is fighting for it.if u want to know who is god u must read books of srila prabhupada.and u must see mahabharat made by br chopra by reading srila prabhupada books founder of international society for krishna conciousness(iskon). whole world is changing by following them.i am following sanatan dharam if you really want to love god one u must follow me.sikh ,cristanity,and any religion u will see brahmjyoti which is light but no one is loving you samadhi is in both the cases but in this case u will enjoy more and some one is there to love u .please take me as your friend not religion changing person.if u donot like any thing i am not forcing u for any thing.but please see mahabharat fully and read books for exact imformation
for any discussion u can discuss with me .
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
20 Nov 12
I agree that some thinking the Son is the Father is, well, sort of confusing and a bit putting off.. and strange. But, I think Jehovah (translated from YaHWeH, Hebrew had no vowels, so actually YHWH) and Alla are not the same entity.
- Although, to be honest, I believe some people's vision or perception of Jehovah, is not actually Jehovah either! But one of those famous entities, a fallen angel. Lucifer, as you might know was a high angel originally.
- The New Testament is a very slim volume and answers so very many questions..
Oner answer to your question might be that this world is in a war and battle of good and evil, light and dark. (Take heart! Two thirds of the angels remained faithful.) Another answer to your question has to do with the two sons of Abraham.. One became Israel, and the other became the Arab nations, or was that the Persians.. and Esau, brother to Jacob (later named Israel) was the father of the Persians or the Arab nations.. I just can't seem to keep these two straight as to which is which. (Time to look it up again.)
- Ultimately it is a very bitter sibling rivalry. The crusades, wars over the Holy Land, well, Jerusalem (and a very much larger Israel than today) was originally Jewish! That Mosque sitting atop the Temple Mount could be seen as the epitome of occupation! Well, Jewish folks, Palestinian and Arabs, all lived peacefully together in the land previous to extreme Islam which began some decades ago..
- I figure in the plant kingdom and animal kingdom, there are many, but when God first began to create, He decided and chose to create the Son first, the only begotten, i.e. straight out from God one, an outraying if you will, though all things consist of God. Jesus is called the "firstborn of all creation" then all else was created through Jesus, and God has his reason for this. In the God kingdom, there are two.. the Spirit of God, being God's Presence, which can be "poured out upon" and within those who believe the message of rescued from non-life the opposite of Life/God/Perfection.
) Another answer to your question has to do with the two sons of Abraham.. One became Israel, and the other became the Arab nations, or was that the Persians.. and Esau, brother to Jacob (later named Israel) was the father of the Persians or the Arab nations.. I just can't seem to keep these two straight as to which is which. (Time to look it up again.)
- Ultimately it is a very bitter sibling rivalry. The crusades, wars over the Holy Land, well, Jerusalem (and a very much larger Israel than today) was originally Jewish! That Mosque sitting atop the Temple Mount could be seen as the epitome of occupation! Well, Jewish folks, Palestinian and Arabs, all lived peacefully together in the land previous to extreme Islam which began some decades ago..
- I figure in the plant kingdom and animal kingdom, there are many, but when God first began to create, He decided and chose to create the Son first, the only begotten, i.e. straight out from God one, an outraying if you will, though all things consist of God. Jesus is called the "firstborn of all creation" then all else was created through Jesus, and God has his reason for this. In the God kingdom, there are two.. the Spirit of God, being God's Presence, which can be "poured out upon" and within those who believe the message of rescued from non-life the opposite of Life/God/Perfection.@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Nov 12
... just a point-of-order: Lucifer was ALWAYS the highest angel. When he started the battle against G-d (or when he lost it, but I'm assuming G-d KNEW Lucifer was going to lose), G-d named him Satan (STN)
And 'names'--to G-d--are more like job-titles anyway. Lucifer STOPPED being 'the Light-Bringer' in order to become 'the Adversary' (Satan).
You can also see that confusion between 'names' and 'job-titles' in "Jesus" (He who saves), Israel (strives with G-d) and numerous other name/job-titles as well ... even as far as YHVH meaning "the Existence (Personified)."
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
20 Nov 12
It is simple. Many are taught that their path is the Only path. So any other Path is wrong or sinful. Plus way back the Muslims captured land that was holy to Christians and there were crusades. And sadly these days many who never heard about Muslims until Sept 11th , believe Muslims are terrorists.That gets in the way of people seeing the similarities.
@Smokinq (41)
• Bulgaria
20 Nov 12
Everyone believes in something
No matter whether it is Islam or hrisityanin
In my own leaders or leaders of both religions create this tension
Most people respect and accept both one and the other religion
The dispute arises from this Which religion has more followers and which is stronger spiritual
How it educates people's faith
