When people compare Islam with Christianity...

[JRMcC]

I've been noticing that the same point is being raised by christian or christian-leaning westerners again and again.

"Why is Islam an inferior religion? WELL, because Christianity teaches that we should all love our neighbors but ISLAM doesn't."

Maybe in some parallel universe this argument would hold water. However I know very very few Christians who actually love their enemies, or even make any attempt to follow this teaching whatsoever. Ironically, (at least in the USA) it's the Christian conservative population that tends to hate their enemies ("the terrorists") more than anyone else does.
On a personal level, I spend a lot of time with a Protestant woman/girl (honestly we're at that borderline age) who considers herself to be a pretty serious practicing Christian. She, however, has no shortage of other women she despises. I'm always surprised how bad her reasons for hating certain people are, and I once told her that she isn't being very Christ-like. In response she said "well good thing I don't have to be perfect." (Between you and me guys, she's not even trying at all)

It's not even as if Christians tend to love their enemies more than anyone else does.

I've heard it a lot here and I here it from people I know every now and again: Christianity is morally superior to Islam because Christianity teaches you to love your neighbor. But tell me, what is the significance of this if almost no Christians actually follow this teaching?
If you're a Christian and you make this argument then you are most likely comparing Islam to a type of Christianity that you do not follow, so why are you making that comparison at all?

I guess that's my rant... Comment if you have any thoughts on the matter!

 

[Nietzsche]

It's not even as if Christians tend to love their enemies more than anyone else does.

They certainly seem to love having them. Even if they have to make them up.

 

[gsa]

Historically, Christianity was wretched in its treatment of non-Christians, while Islam has always had a more tolerant if condescending approach to certain confessional groups (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, at certain points Hindus, etc). The problem is that neither religion is static, and as the dynamics of Christendom changed to become more tolerant, to the point where historical Christendom is now nearly post-Christian in a great number of countries, the dynamics within Islamic societies have been altogether different. Neither religion is a particularly good example of love or tolerance.

 

[George-ananda]

I think both religions are the same in teaching brotherly love but because of human immaturity many practitioners easily go astray.

 

[Nakosis]

I think both religions are the same in teaching brotherly love but because of human immaturity many practitioners easily go astray.

Certainly no guarantee the followers of either correctly understood the teachings of the founders.

People usually understand their religion based on their own experiences.
Some maturity is required for people to question the truth that they've derived from their experiences.

I understood Jesus as a person of compassion for others. That doesn't seem to be the Christianity some other folks see though. But maybe the compassion comes in the form of trying to save as many people from Hell as possible.

They are convinced that hell or oblivion is real. They have to fight whatever "evil" is keeping people from paradise.

 

[SkylarHunter]

If Christians actually followed what Christ said they would be great, but people have these ways of selecting the parts that suit them better and forget about the rest.

At the same time Islamic ideology is violent and intolerant of anyone who is not one of them.

Talk about the pot and the kettle...

I do prefer fake Christians to real Muslims anytime though, simply because overall they are less of a threat to the world's safety.

 

[JRMcC]

If Christians actually followed what Christ said they would be great, but people have these ways of selecting the parts that suit them better and forget about the rest.

Absolutely!

At the same time Islamic ideology is violent and intolerant of anyone who is not one of them.

Hmm I understand why you might say that. But if you don't mind me asking, have you ever known a muslim personally, and have you ever talked to them about things like this? I spent quite a bit of time with a handful of Saudi Arabian muslims recently and they weren't the kind of muslim you're describing here.

I do prefer fake Christians to real Muslims anytime though, simply because overall they are less of a threat to the world's safety.

I'm going to have to disagree with you here... The United States has done a tremendous amount of harm to he world in the last 60 years or so. Also certain American leaders and their conservative Christian supporters have played a major role in all the middle east violence of the last 20 years.

Putting the two side by side, my heart pulls me toward Christ rather than Muhammed, but everyone is different.

 

[SkylarHunter]

Hmm I understand why you might say that. But if you don't mind me asking, have you ever known a muslim personally, and have you ever talked to them about things like this? I spent quite a bit of time with a handful of Saudi Arabian muslims recently and they weren't the kind of muslim you're describing here.

.

I live in France, I know loads of Muslims. I could tell you about one of my colleagues who is one of the nicest people I ever met but when it came to having a family, he went to Pakistan to many a cousin he had never seen before because western women are just not good enough. In fact his family would have cut him off completely if he even considered the possibility of marrying someone outside their religion.

I could also tell you about the guy I met in a blog who was using the internet to get a few things out of his chest. In real life he's an atheist, but before everyone he knows he's a devoted muslim. These so called respectful people won't accept that one of them leaves the faith, so in order to stay alive he has to keep the charade and live a double life.

The pattern I see when talking to muslims about normal life issues is that even though they can be very kind and look like they're understanding, in their mind they are the superior ones, their religion is the best and only their mentality is acceptable to god. Doesn't work for me. I can accept people being different and thinking different and we'll disagree here and there, no problem. What I can't stand is hypocrisy.

 

[Underhill]

All religions tend to teach what they think is relevant to their peoples situation. During peaceful times it is love and kindness. During unrest the message becomes an eye for an eye. Both religions have a range of (sometimes contradictory) messages that can be tailored to the situation (although christianity seems to delineate them more clearly).

Parts of the old testament would make ISIS feel right at home. Slaughtering entire cities; men, women, children, even the sheep and goats... all in the name of god, because god told us we could have this land. And there are parts of the Koran that aren't much better.

 

[Underhill]

I live in France, I know loads of Muslims. I could tell you about one of my colleagues who is one of the nicest people I ever met but when it came to having a family, he went to Pakistan to many a cousin he had never seen before because western women are just not good enough. In fact his family would have cut him off completely if he even considered the possibility of marrying someone outside their religion.

I could also tell you about the guy I met in a blog who was using the internet to get a few things out of his chest. In real life he's an atheist, but before everyone he knows he's a devoted muslim. These so called respectful people won't accept that one of them leaves the faith, so in order to stay alive he has to keep the charade and live a double life.

The pattern I see when talking to muslims about normal life issues is that even though they can be very kind and look like they're understanding, in their mind they are the superior ones, their religion is the best and only their mentality is acceptable to god. Doesn't work for me. I can accept people being different and thinking different and we'll disagree here and there, no problem. What I can't stand is hypocrisy.

Having lived among christian fundamentalist they are really no different. In this country they won't kill you for leaving the faith, but they will definitely treat you differently. You become an outsider. They believe marrying someone not of the faith is being "unequally yoked"...

 

[beenie]

I live in France, I know loads of Muslims. I could tell you about one of my colleagues who is one of the nicest people I ever met but when it came to having a family, he went to Pakistan to many a cousin he had never seen before because western women are just not good enough. In fact his family would have cut him off completely if he even considered the possibility of marrying someone outside their religion.

I could also tell you about the guy I met in a blog who was using the internet to get a few things out of his chest. In real life he's an atheist, but before everyone he knows he's a devoted muslim. These so called respectful people won't accept that one of them leaves the faith, so in order to stay alive he has to keep the charade and live a double life.

The pattern I see when talking to muslims about normal life issues is that even though they can be very kind and look like they're understanding, in their mind they are the superior ones, their religion is the best and only their mentality is acceptable to god. Doesn't work for me. I can accept people being different and thinking different and we'll disagree here and there, no problem. What I can't stand is hypocrisy.

LOL I love when people make sweeping stereotypes of over 1.5 billion people because, well... you "know tons of Muslims".

 

[ChristineES]

Christians and Muslims don't all fit into neat little boxes The Muslims I know are just normal people like the rest of us. The Christians I know don't think they are better than anyone, including Muslims.

I will be happy if all this sweeping generalizations of both Christians and Muslims stops, but I know it never will.

 

[Underhill]

Christians and Muslims don't all fit into neat little boxes The Muslims I know are just normal people like the rest of us. The Christians I know don't think they are better than anyone, including Muslims.

I will be happy if all this sweeping generalizations of both Christians and Muslims stops, but I know it never will.

There is a difference between generalizing and talking about the community as a whole. I don't claim all christians (or muslims) are conceited. But their doctrine tells them to be separate. It teaches not to do business with non beleivers, not to be married to non believers and that all good things come from god (so how can anyone not in the fold not be looked down on?).

This doesn't make them all bad. Most christians do not practice christianity as taught in the bible. But it is their belief system whether they choose to practice it or not.

 

[Servant_of_the_One1]

Drone brings Love to Yemenis, Pakistanis and Afghans

 

[ChristineES]

There is a difference between generalizing and talking about the community as a whole. I don't claim all christians (or muslims) are conceited. But their doctrine tells them to be separate. It teaches not to do business with non believers, not to be married to non believers and that all good things come from god (so how can anyone not in the fold not be looked down on?).

This doesn't make them all bad. Most christians do not practice christianity as taught in the bible. But it is their belief system whether they choose to practice it or not.

I, being a Christian, know only too well that a lot of my fellow Christians do behave in a way that is rather... unbecoming of our faith. I haven't found that most Christians don't follow the Christianity that is taught in the Bible, some do not.

 

[LuisDantas]

Drone brings Love to Yemenis, Pakistanis and Afghans

I take it that you are talking about the military drones that so many people swear to somehow "work towards peace"?

I have to agree with you. It is a crying shame, an abomination that such tools of destruction are even considered for actual use, let alone lauded as a good thing.

 

[Underhill]

I, being a Christian, know only too well that a lot of my fellow Christians do behave in a way that is rather... unbecoming of our faith. I haven't found that most Christians don't follow the Christianity that is taught in the Bible, some do not.

Jesus teaches to give what we have to the poor. He teaches that a rich man has very little chance of entering heaven. There is a whole lot more, especially in the old testament, that is ignored by most christians. I'm not saying they are wrong to do so, I think it's all hogwash anyway, but the reality is that the christianity taught in the bible isn't much like the christians in most churches these days.

 

[Wirey]

Christians and Muslims don't all fit into neat little boxes The Muslims I know are just normal people like the rest of us. The Christians I know don't think they are better than anyone, including Muslims.

I will be happy if all this sweeping generalizations of both Christians and Muslims stops, but I know it never will.

Every Tigger thinks like that. How many of you guys are there again?

 

[Mycroft]

Trying to compare one religion to another to try and make it look better is like trying to put 18 inch alloys on a wheelie bin.

 

[Sakeenah]

LOL I love when people make sweeping stereotypes of over 1.5 billion people because, well... you "know tons of Muslims".

True ..it does get a bit old..ppl should come up with something more creative