Fashion Forum

There are a lot of similarities between Christianity and Islam, mostly as a result of the age of the latter being about 500 years after the former. The similarities are interesting, from creation, to the Ten Commandments through to the Lord's Prayer, and I've always been fascinated by the placing of Hebrew and Christian 'characters' such as Jesus within Islam.

However, for relationships (and continuing to look at the same religions as raised above) some of the differences are what can create the largest of problems - be they the rituals and practices (Islam is far more stringant) or secularism.

Post by Steve Lockyer If you can quote 1 scripture from the bible that says to be tolerant of other religions...........I'll take back my comments.

Here you go:

Mark 9:38-40
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.â But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.

Luke 9:52-56
And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them."

Post by ruru

if you want to talk about the Qur'aan, it specifically says that "people of the book" (Chistians and Jews) are believers and will be able to get into heaven provided they are good people. ifyour christian you have to accept Jesus etc. Ofcourse it talks about things specific to the religion- the religion is based around the book!
The difference isnt that big but maybe you shouldnt speak from ignorance.

ruru, i know that in the Koran (Qur 'aan) it does accept people of the book, including Jews and Christians.But reading the Bible and the Koran from a literary stand point, the Koran seems to have much more of a religious agenda. For instance in the story of Ibraham, i think its in the second surah but i could be wrong on that, im not claiming to be an expert, just sharing my thoughts. Anyways, in the story of Ibraham, God commands him to become Muslim, I found this to be interesting, because the God presented in the Old Testament/ Genesis account of the story of Abraham, does not command a religion, but a devotion and relationship to God. Thats what I was trying to portray before.
I have not studied the Koran in awhile and I have not read the entire book, so like i said, i am not claiming to be an expert, just sharing my thoughts. I appreciate any response and my goal is not to offend.
I have much more back ground to discuss the Bible, as opposed to the Koran.

The golden key is not to read any Holy Book fundamentally. It is not correct that Islam is a more 'stingent' religion. In the Koran, it is stated that 'the sun will rise from the west'. This is symbolic of the fact that the Muslims in the middle east have interpreted and portrayed Islam incorrectly to the rest of the world. Since when is a fairytale read literally? It is not a hard concept to graps, that books, let alone Holy Books, should not be read fundamentally.
I'm a Muslim & I love finding out about the symbolic meanings in the Koran and also in my life. Surah 101 is my favourite. It is symbolic for unity and oneness.
I once lost my pearl necklace in my car! Pearls symbolise wisdom and are really quite beautiful. Without this knowledge, I can't appreciate that perhaps at that point in time wisdom was missing from my life.
I would love to raise children with a man of a different faith. I think our children would be really special!!
I went to a Catholic school yet I know how to read the Koran in Arabic. Although this means nothing at all. You need to understand what you read!
And understanding is the other golden key!

Post by heLen

It is not correct that Islam is a more 'stingent' religion

Isn't it? Christianity has two prescribed prayers and a handful of rites, and these are only necessary as part of a mass. There are certainly nowhere near the level of detail in daily rituals or prayers.

i went to a christian school too. maybe thats how i know a lot about christianity. As a religious book I dont think you can criticise that the Qur'aan has a religious agenda. I also am interesting in the point about God not commanding Abraham to follow religion, but to create a relationship with God in the Bible but in the Qur'aan he comanded him to be muslim. To explain this you need to look at 1) the timeframe 2) the language and 3) the context. In the time of Abraham, Christianity did not exist and therefore God could not have said "become Christian" as this term was given much much later. In the Qur'aan, similarly, Islam did not exist in its current form, and belief was simply that, belief in one God, and Abraham is often described in the Qur'aan as "on who turned away from all false" 3:95, 3:67 4:125, 6:161, 16:20, 16:123. The word muslim translates in arabic to "one who surrenders", which Abraham had done (he simply surrendered to the will of God). At the time in which it was said, the word was not connected to the religion of Islam.
My point is, unless you know what you are talking about or have some sort of fact to base your judgements on, it is better to not say anything. The religion does have a lot of detail but it is intended as a basis and model for how to live and conduct ones self and in its pure form it has a lot of wisdom and beauty.

True Christianity is about leading a simple life in the example of Jesus. Giving up all my possessions is far more stringent than meditating five times a day. For me anyway. Although I wouldn't complain if it was fashionable to strut about town in Jesus sandals any time of day!! I actually recite the prayers in english b/c it makes sense to me that way! Hence I use the word, meditating.
The other 'stringent' requirement of Islam would be I guess fasting for a whole month & that is from sunrise to sunset! Now that is stringent! In todays context its like a detox diet (if u don't binge at sunset!). Giving up meat or a desired food type, is far more stringent, for me anyway, because if I go without chocolate for more than a week, I don't smile!! & if I go without meat, I will faint like the other 90% of women b/c of low iron levels. I don't fast during Ramadan. I don't particularly think it's healthy to go without water for 12 or so hours.
Just in regards to the daily ritual of washing with water before prayer, I don't pray 5 times a day, but I reckon if I did & washed my face 5 times a day before prayer, I would save a lot of money on beauty products b/c my face would be the cleanest ever! Perhaps I would use the money saved on a trip to the Kabeh?!

:)

well, like i said, i was definitely not claiming to be an expert, just sharing observations from what i have experienced. thanks for the translation ---for "one who surrenders." and i think it would be better to voice an opinion, that may have some wrong thinking, so that i may stand corrected or become further educated, rather than stay quiet about something i obviously already had an opinion on. my goal in discussion is to learn, not just be heard. and if i say something that is rooted in something of which i do not have full understanding, then i appreciate the corrections :-)and i know my understanding of Islam is limited.

Well well...remind me to bring this topic up at the next party!

:) Especially a party with parents & grandparents!