to christians only: how close do you think Islam is to chirstianity?

Answer 1

This is a really interesting question. I think it's CS Lewis who thought that the only true other religion is Buddhism - everything else are just herisies of Christianity.

there's a lot that's in common in the outward idea of the religion - monotheism, morality, many of the same people etc

However I'm with Karl Barth in thinking that it's not about the outward human religion but about the person of Jesus Christ and our relationship with him. So in that respect the human expression of Christianity is as useless as Islam at getting us to God - it's merely our response to the person of Jesus and what he leads us into (ie the church, the scriptures, the sacriments etc) that enable us to draw close to God.

Hope this helps - it's not a clear cut question is it!

Answer 2

Not even close.

Maybe you can tell me whether the central values of Christianity can be found in the Kuran:

1) "If you want to be my disciple, go, sell everything you have, give them money to the poor, and then come and follow me."

2) "The most important law is this: Hear O Israel, the Lord your God! The Lord is one, and you shall love him with all your heart and mind and body and soul. The second is similar: you must love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. All of the law is obeyed if you follow these two."

3) "I am going; but I will send you the Comforter, and he will lead you into all truth."

4) "I am the way. Yes, and the truth, and the life. No one gets to the Father except by me."

I could probably go on but these are the main ideas. First, all human beings need to be born again (3) and this is accomplished only with Jesus' help (4). Numbers (1) and (2) indicate the level of devotion we strive for and what our guidelines are for our daily lives after we've changed our lives and dedicated to following Jesus.

Does that sound like Islam to you?

Answer 3

Theologically there's a whole lot of overlap but Islam denies that Jesus was crucified or resurrected. Islam & Christianity are like squabbling brothers in the sense that they both derived from Abraham. Both religions have that arrogant belief the they're the one and only true religion. Each has as a history full of hatred and violence and some good stuff too.

Answer 4

There exist no relevent comparison betweent the two. Christians know God and have a relationship with God. Muslims worship a black rock in meccia and a false prophet both of whom can't hear , can't answer and can't save from Sin. Gods name is not allah. So how close are christians and Muslims. The only comparison that could get clost to explaining that is. Christians end up in heaven, Muslims end up in hell. That is now close we are. God is very serious about his son atoneing blood with out it all people go to hell. Christians are graced to have recieved God gift of salvation and eternal life. Muslims denounce Christ and reject the free gift. So as things go it is not wise to reject the Lord God almighty for he will be the final judge.

Answer 5

Not very. I will say that I admire the Islamics commitment to their faith. They take their religion seriously. They pray a lot. They follow their rules and teaching very strictly. It seems that they are more committed than many, if not most, Christians. However, they are committed to a wrong, false god. Evidently they feel that their god is honored by killing anyone that does not share their faith. The 9/11 terrorist evidently felt they were doing their gods will in doing what they did. Including killing innocent people, wrecking lives, causing mass destruction, etc. They supposedly felt that they would get some big reward in their heaven. The men would be sort of like kings and have around 72 virgins at their disposal etc.. They feel that Jesus was a good guy but not God. They feel salvation comes through their god and works that honor their god. They do not believe that salvation is through faith and by the grace of God. They don't believe that Jesus died making possible our forgiveness. They might be faithful to their religion but their religion is a false, misdirected religion.

Answer 6

I don't think it is very close at all. 1Corinthians 15:13-17 says
"But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins".
Christ dying and being raised from the dead is vital to the christian religion. The muslims don't even believe Christ died on a cross nor was He raised from the dead.
Incidently, thats very good proof that islam is not true. The Koran, which Mohammad said he got from God, says Christ did not die on a cross. The only historians anywhere who would say that Christ didn't die on a cross are muslim historians. Historians may not all agree that Christ rose from the dead(that's because they won't accept any miracles) but generally they agree that he died on a cross. That's a historical fact. Mohammad was simply wrong on that one which means that Allah was wrong since that's where he says he got his revelation.

Answer 7

I suppose they are as close as the east is from the west.

Which means, it ain't close at all! Islam is like the antithesis of Christianity, denying almost everything that Christianity affirms about the central Person, Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

Islam is a cult religion. Christianity is a real religion.....Islam can no way close to Christianity.

Answer 9

from what I've heard from my Islam friend.. the koran is 65% same to Old Testament.

I'm not sure about the rest of the teaching.. but It's quite different. For Example, Islam don't believe in Jesus, n do not believe in God Trinity.

Answer 10

the rules of righteousness can paralel to many christian dogmas. but when you hold a microscope to the Koran you find things that are very uncomfortable. Lately there have been 3 things posted that I could never accept as truth, that the Koran is allegedly confronted to teach.
I could never become a muslim because of the things ive heard from other muslims on this forum.
however, when i have lived among muslim communities and been with muslim people i see and feel the intense desire to be righteious and holy. I see the same thing in the bible.
the desire to be holy and worthy with GOD, or ALLAH, or ELOIHEM, is one thing i have desired for most of my life. but a muslim would still execute me for not becoming or desiring to become part of their religious belief system.