What are the Key Theological Differences between Islam and Christianity Regarding Concepts of God

[Dawnofhope]

Islam and Christianity are the two largest world religions. Both believe in One God therefore being monotheistic. Both believe their respective founders Muhammad and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?

I've made a small list of what appear to be the major differences. Please indicate if you agree with the options provided and feel free to offer any additional points of difference you believe should be added or removed.

 

[Estro Felino]

Speaking of "holy" figures who lived a "holy life", Jesus is comparable to Siddharta Gautama aka Buddha.

Unless we want to upset and twist the meaning of the word "holy".

 

[Dawnofhope]

Speaking of "holy" figures who lived a "holy life", Jesus is comparable to Siddharta Gautama aka Buddha.

Unless we want upset and twist the meaning of the word "holy".

In regards the manner in which the Founders of the main world religions lived their lives, Buddha appears the most comparable to Jesus. I’ve been careful to limit comparisons between Islam and Christianity to concepts of God. An analysis of the lives of their founders will be more ‘challenging’ to put it mildly.

 

[David T]

Islam and Christianity are the two largest world religions. Both believe in One God therefore being monotheistic. Both believe their respective founders Muhammad and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?

I've made a small list of what appear to be the major differences. Please indicate if you agree with the options provided and feel free to offer any additional points of difference you believe should be added or removed.

Both mutually agree they are right they just disagree on tiny details is all. Like science say in cosmology. Hey it's all meaningless random nonsense but the really important question which dimension is correct. They disagree on merely the dimension. Is it 123 3 4 12 256 512 1024 2048 4096...... To infinity and beyond!!!!!!seems most agree beyond infinity is where its at.

I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
We walked a million hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago
Who knows?
Not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

 

[nPeace]

Islam and Christianity are the two largest world religions. Both believe in One God therefore being monotheistic. Both believe their respective founders Muhammad and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?

I've made a small list of what appear to be the major differences. Please indicate if you agree with the options provided and feel free to offer any additional points of difference you believe should be added or removed.

Imo, that's not the easiest question to ask, since Christianity today, is not viewed in the same light.
For example, the world views Christianity as all worship that involves professing belief in Jesus Christ (which has many conflicting teachings), while others view Christianity as, worship that involves clear evidence that one is following the teachings, and example of Jesus Christ - although this can have various views also.

However, I guess others will be comfortable with the question, so I can always just look on.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Islam and Christianity are the two largest world religions. Both believe in One God therefore being monotheistic. Both believe their respective founders Muhammad and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?

I've made a small list of what appear to be the major differences. Please indicate if you agree with the options provided and feel free to offer any additional points of difference you believe should be added or removed.

Two big ones not currently on the list:

- the prophethood of Muhammad
- divine inspiration of the Qur'an

 

[`mud]

Jesus vs. Muhammad
A little research will tell anyone who really cares will quickly show one that Jesus was forgiving for people and Muhammad was very cruel to people in general.
Muhammad had sex with children and the murder of other non-believers.
And on and on...several dozens of examples are seen everywhere.
Being an atheist I would choose Jesus to be the winner of this comparison.
But.....Catholics believe Jesus is `god`, don't they, and Muhammad is not.
Your choice !

 

[1213]

...and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?...

Muslims seem to worship a stone in the desert (Kaaba stone), I think that is the greatest difference.

 

[idav]

As far as theology, Muslims see God as completely sovereign not willing to share his divinity even with a son which is specifically said in the Quran. Some versions of Christianity have different takes on the trinity than mainstream Christianity but it is said the God of Islam would not have a son.

 

[Trailblazer]

As far as theology, Muslims see God as completely sovereign not willing to share his divinity even with a son which is specifically said in the Quran. Some versions of Christianity have different takes on the trinity than mainstream Christianity but it is said the God of Islam would not have a son.

I think that Judaism and the Bahai Faith take the same theological position on God as does Islam.
One then has to ask, what happened to Christianity?

 

[Dawnofhope]

I think that Judaism and the Bahai Faith take the same theological position on God as does Islam.
One then has to ask, what happened to Christianity?

The Emperor Constantine would be a good start to answering that question.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Islam and Christianity are the two largest world religions. Both believe in One God therefore being monotheistic. Both believe their respective founders Muhammad and Jesus brought a Revelation from God. Both have books, the Qur'an and Gospels that provide a record of their Founders Teachings. However the two appear to have some significant theological differences in regards their concepts of God. What are those differences and why?

I've made a small list of what appear to be the major differences. Please indicate if you agree with the options provided and feel free to offer any additional points of difference you believe should be added or removed.

I still think Christianity is quasi-monotheistic.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Imo, that's not the easiest question to ask, since Christianity today, is not viewed in the same light.
For example, the world views Christianity as all worship that involves professing belief in Jesus Christ (which has many conflicting teachings), while others view Christianity as, worship that involves clear evidence that one is following the teachings, and example of Jesus Christ - although this can have various views also.

However, I guess others will be comfortable with the question, so I can always just look on.

It is essential to understand how both Christianity and Islam have deviated from the Teachings of their original Founders. Arguably the areas of greatest difference between the two religions are also the areas that may have changed the most as a result of man made doctrines.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Two big ones not currently on the list:

- the prophethood of Muhammad
- divine inspiration of the Qur'an

While I agree that what you say highlights THE major point of difference between Islam and Christianity, it seems to me incorrect to categorise these 'Christian beliefs' as theological perspectives of God. Its important to be clear about the language being used.

We are considering the perspective that Islam and Christianity has about God based on what each faith considers their sacred writings. How Christianity's sacred writings views another religion is not the question here. In addition there is nothing in the Bible specifically and explicitly about Islam. It didn't emerge until at least 550 years after the first gospel was written.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Jesus vs. Muhammad
A little research will tell anyone who really cares will quickly show one that Jesus was forgiving for people and Muhammad was very cruel to people in general.
Muhammad had sex with children and the murder of other non-believers.
And on and on...several dozens of examples are seen everywhere.
Being an atheist I would choose Jesus to be the winner of this comparison.
But.....Catholics believe Jesus is `god`, don't they, and Muhammad is not.
Your choice !

Hi Mud, these are all important considerations when comparing Islam and Christianity. For now I've confined the discussion to each religions perspective about God. An analysis of the lives of Christ and Muhammad is a separate topic, but in some ways touches on the key differences between the two religions much more dramatically than what the Bible or Qur'an says.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Muslims seem to worship a stone in the desert (Kaaba stone), I think that is the greatest difference.

The Kaaba is a central part of the Muslims for all sorts of historic reasons. So while Muslims worship at the Kaaba they do not worship the Kaaba as they worship Allah and have no other God but Him. I suspect you knew that.

 

[Dawnofhope]

As far as theology, Muslims see God as completely sovereign not willing to share his divinity even with a son which is specifically said in the Quran. Some versions of Christianity have different takes on the trinity than mainstream Christianity but it is said the God of Islam would not have a son.

Both Islam and Christianity see Jesus as born of the virgin Mary.

The Quran speaks highly of Jesus but makes some important distinctions, for example:

“O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion, and do not say anything concerning Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers . . . “ (Quran 4:171; see also 66:12).

In this passage Jesus is the Messiah, the Messenger of God, a Word from God, and a Spirit from God. However Muhammad seeks to discourage exaggeration in religion. Muhammad continues:

“Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender”
(Quran 4:171).

The passage highlights that if Jesus was literally the 'son of God' then there woud be two Gods and this would contradict there being One God. Some scholars make the distinction between Jesus not being the 'son of God' whereas He is the 'Son of God'. So the Son of God in a metaphysical not literal sense.

The gospels also identify Jesus as the 'Son of God' as opposed to the 'son of God'.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

 

[Dawnofhope]

I still think Christianity is quasi-monotheistic.

With its emphasis on a triune God and Jesus as both Son of God and God, then yes. It appears an area of sensitivity for many Christians that their religion is not as monotheistic as they had presumed.

OTOH Islam, Judaism, and the Baha'i Faith are all clearly monotheistic.

 

[Estro Felino]

In regards the manner in which the Founders of the main world religions lived their lives,.

To us Christians that is not an insignificant detail, but the main and the exclusive reason why we exclude a priori that that religion is divinely inspired.
Or that it deals with God

 

[Trailblazer]

"In regards the manner in which the Founders of the main world religions lived their lives."
To us Christians that is not an insignificant detail, but the main and the exclusive reason why we exclude a priori that that religion is divinely inspired.
Or that it deals with God

What is it about the way Muhammad lived His life that proves to you that Islam was not divinely inspired?