Islam
and Christianity are two of the largest and most popular religions in the
world. Both of them share a strong historical connection and have certain
theological differences. Their place of origin is the Middle East. Christianity
is basically a monotheistic religion that was developed out of Second Temple
Judaism, and its teachings are based on the life and death of Jesus Christ. On
the other hand, the teachings of Islam depend on the life of Prophet Muhammad
(PUBH) who encouraged everyone to bow before no one but Allah. The followers of
Christianity are called Christians, and the followers of Islam are regarded as
Muslims. Christians view Islam as a religion with diverse ideas, and Muslims
consider Christians People of the Book.
The Development
and Spread of Christianity and Islam
The
development of Christianity began in the 1st century. All of the teachings of
this religion are associated with the life of Jesus Christ and their apostles.
Jesus Christ died as a Jewish sect in Judea, and this religion took no time to
spread throughout the Roman empire. In the Middle Ages, Christianity spread to
Russia and Northern Europe, and during the Age of Exploration, this religion
had expanded all over the world.
As far
as the religion of Islam is concerned, it developed and spread after the
arrival of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in this world. For many years, they spread
the message of Allah and encouraged non-Muslims to embrace Islam. Early
caliphates were also forefronts in this regard. It’s safe to say that trading
played a significant role in the development and spread of Islam in different
parts of the world, especially in Southeast Asia. Muslim dynasties were
established, and with time, the followers of Islam built religious centers
(also called mosques) in different parts of the world. Thus, we can say that
they contributed to the development and spread of this beautiful religion.
Major Tenets and
Divisions
Both
Islam and Christianity have their own distinctive tenets and divisions or
sections. Christianity encompasses a number of faith groups and denominations.
Doctrine is something that is taught and believed in. The core tenet or belief
is that the foundation of Christianity is laid on the life of Jesus Christ. The
message they delivered throughout their life is what Christians trust. This
message consists of some historical facts and is deep in its meanings. The
three core Christian creeds are the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and the
Apostles’ Creed. Together, they constitute a comprehensive summary of traditional
Christian doctrine, sharing the core belief of most of the Christian churches.
As far as the divisions of this religion are concerned, we can say that
Christianity is of five types: the Church of the East, Eastern Orthodoxy,
Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Oriental Orthodoxy.
On the
other hand, the first significant belief or tenet of Islam is that there is no
God but Allah. Secondly, it is taught and believed that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
is Allah’s most favorite and beloved prophet whose life has a lot to learn
from. Muslims living in different parts of the world blindly trust these two
concepts. In order to fulfill their duties toward Allah, they offer prayers
five times a day, keep fasts once a year and visit Makkah and Madina for Hajj
and Umrah. There are three core divisions of Islam: Sunni Islam, Kharijites,
and Shia Islam.
How Each of These
Religions Influenced Politics and Society
There
has been a weak relationship between politics and Christianity. Some people can
be found arguing that Christianity supports only one political philosophy or
ideology. Others think that Christians should not show any interest or need not
to participate in politics. The role of Christianity in society is far better
and stronger than its role in politics. All over the world, various churches
have been built in order to facilitate Christians. In the past, churches were a
big source of social services like healthcare services and schooling. Today,
the ways they are constructed or established influence different artists and
engineers. Festivals like Christmas and Easter have been marked as public
holidays. It is said that Christians have made great contributions to human
progress, especially in the fields of science and technology.
Muslims
living in different parts of the world believe that Islam has influenced the
political systems to an extent. For example, in Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, and
Saudi Arabia, rules and regulations and laws are formulated on the basis of
Islamic teachings. Similarly, in Turkey and Tunisia, everything that comes
under the category of politics is done according to the teachings of the Holy
Quran. Majorities in Muslim countries say that Islam has played a positive and
large role in their political lives. Tunisians view Islam as a constructive,
influencing and impressive religion, and it is believed that their political
system has been strengthened because of this religion. Similarly, Islam has
left a good impact on society. Since its foundation in the 7th century, the
religion of Islam has allowed many people to shape their lives. In the 13th
century, the Muslim world was considered the center of intellectual activities,
with Baghdad serving as the capital for scientists, mathematicians, and
philosophers. From their language to their lifestyles, Muslims follow the
teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and bow before Allah, claiming that it is
the only way for them to survive in this world.
In
conclusion, we can say that both Christianity and Islam are beautiful
religions. They might have their distinctive values or beliefs, but the core
idea is the same: human beings should be respected and valued irrespective of
their religions.
