Comparing The Founding of Christianity With Islam In the history of the founding of the Islamic religion there is a tremendous contrast with the religion of Christ and the Christian religion he founded. Look at the contrast: In the case of Mohammed, the founder of Islam: • Mohammed founded his religion mainly on military successes. • Mohammed built a coalition among the clans and tribal leaders, and became powerful enough to force a surrender of his enemies. • Mohammed built a kingdom the usual way men build kingdoms, and as a result, he died as a political success in the eyes of men. In the case of Jesus, founder of Christianity: • Jesus founded his religion on the basis of not returning evil for evil, but by turning the other cheek and by teaching men to love their enemies. (Mat. 5:39, 44) • Jesus surrounded himself with twelve men who were told to preach to the people of their day, Arepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.@ (Mat. 10:7) • Jesus died on a cross by the hands of wicked men, a failure by the standards of many. But look what has happened in the past two thousand years. The strategy of Jesus did not play to the psychology of evil (which promotes striking back), but the psychology of Jesus brings out what is best in human beings. This is not all, but it alone would put Jesus in the front of all moral leaders as the greatest of moral and ethical leaders of all time. Christianity has converted more people without force than any other system. Comparing Islam and Christianity There is a great amount of difference in specific matters taught by Muslims and people who believe the Bible. In this article we will consider only one of the discrepancies: In the case of Islam Abraham offered Ishmael. • According to the Koran and the teachings of Islam, Abraham was willing to offer Ishmael upon the altar as a sacrifice. • Muslims believe that this first son of Abraham by Hagar, not Isaac, was the son of God=s promise to Abraham. • In accordance with this the Muslims celebrate the Agreat feast of sacrifice@ on the tenth day of the last month of the Muslim year (this ASacrifice Festival@ celebrates the willingness of Abraham to offer Ishmael). (Sura 22:35-38) In the case of the Bible Abraham offered Isaac. • In Genesis 22, God gave the command to offer Isaac, and Abraham saddled his donkey, and proceeded to do as God had commanded. • Since Christians believe in the divine revelation of the Old Testament, they believe, even as the N.T. teaches (James 2:21), that this event concerns Isaac, not Ishmael. • The Bible is very clear that Abraham=s son Ishmael was not the promised son (Gen. 17:19). In this matter there is an irreconcilable difference, and Christians believe the Bible account. – Max Patterson, 4438 South 89th Road, Bolivar, MO 65613-8012
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:33:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015