Is the one most common factor shared by Christianity and Islam their lack of uniformity of all their beliefs?

Question

between the different sects of the religion?

When it comes to the Sects Islam, I can only say what I've seen in the news, but the ones I know of are:
Sunnis, Shi'ites, Sufism, Kahrijites, Wahhabis, Abd al-Wahhab; Ismailis; Shi'a; Zaidis; Fatimids; Nizari; Alawis; Druze; and the Baha'i?

Christendom has hundreds of sects, each claiming their own special knowledge. But, it is more than just that. At least with the Sects of Islam, they share the mosques. Christian Sects don’t share churches, and some sects are looking to confiscate the properties of their own church congregations who are not following the tenements of the leadership on such issues as gay rights, abortion, the ordination of women, and the acceptance of evolution.

Answer 1

I'm a Baha'i and it's not a sect of Islam. It started as a movement within Shi'ah Islam but is now an independent region. To say Baha'i Faith is a sect of Islam is like saying Christianity is a sect of Judaism. I have been to a Mosque a few times, but that's not really part of regular Baha'i practices.
Druze started in a similar circumstances, it also began as a movement within Shi'ah Islam, but it is considered a separate religion.

"Shi-ite" is just an American mispronunciation of Shi'ah.
Sufism is mystical movement that began in Islam, but many of it's followers don't consider themselves Muslim.
But you are right, Muslims will go to the same Masjid (mosque) regardless of sect. The majority of Christians don't seem to do that, at least not very often, and the religious services can vary a great deal.

PS: I read some of the other answers and found two other Baha'is--we didn't compare notes on the statement about "Christianity ... sect of Judaism"--we both came up with the same statement independently.

Answer 2

Correction: The Baha'i Faith is NOT a sect of Islam. This is a huge misconception. It is like saying that Christianity is a sect of Judaism, which it is not.

We're not copycats, we're a bona fide religion.

The Baha'i Faith is an independent religious dispensation, the youngest of the monotheistic religions. We have our Prophet Founder Baha'u'llah, our own scriptures, calendar and holy days, laws, we're organized worldwide on the local, national, and international levels, and our "headquarters" is the Universal House of Justice on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Just as Christianity emerged from a Jewish society but is in fact its own independent religious dispensation, the Baha'i Faith emerged from a Muslim society (mid-19th century Iran), but we are our own independent religious dispensation.

Also, Christianity has not hundreds, but THOUSANDS of sects, appx 25 thousand.

To answer your question, I disagree. The one most common factor shared by Christianity and Islam is the belief in the same God.

Answer 3

A muslim is a person who adheres to the Quran and follows the authentic Hadith (life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad).

If a person adheres to something else, theyre not muslim.

And all those who adhere to the Quran know that the Prophet was the LAST prophet and no more than a human.

The majority of Muslims in the world believe this.

Contrary to the sects in Christianity. Some believe Jesus was God, some believe he was son of God, some believe he was just human.

So the issue of uniformity is really a Christian one, because Islamic schools of thought teach the same core Islamic teachings. While Christian theology schools differ in the core teachings, which leads to separate churches.

Answer 4

There is only one Quraan in Islam. There is only one religion. People interpret what is written and what the prophet said in different ways. Many interpret it to suit their own veiws instead of truthfully.

Id say the common factor is that christians and muslims both have a lack of uniformity in their beliefs rather than that the religion amonst muslims differ. Im not sure about the christians. From what i understand the bible is different accross churches. so i suppose their religion is too.

Answer 5

I'd be careful to paint with such a broad brush. I know many Christian denominations that have no problem sharing their congregational grounds with other denominations. For example, when Hurricane Katrina hit in Southern Louisiana, Lakeview Christian Center was under water & the entire church has been contaminated and is under complete renovation. In the meantime, they're meeting on Saturday's & Sunday's in the Assembly of God church in Metairie. Lakeview is a Reformed Christian organization while the Assemblies of God are Pentecostal. Yet, they have no problem opening their doors to people of other denominations. This is just one example.

The things you list as "issues" would rightly be rejected by any Christian denomination that believes the Bible is the Word of God.

As Christians, we go by Scripture. We don't go by the felt needs of non-Christians who want us to act the way they want us to act. We answer to God. Not to them. No offense. :-)

But, just remember...not every Christian denomination worthy to be called such would bar themselves from other Christians in other denominations.

Answer 6

Im a Baha'i and The Baha'i faith is NOT , i repeat: is NOT a sect of Islam! The Baha'i faith is a new world independent religion, we believe in all the other Prophets and ours too : The Bab and Baha'u'llah, we believe Unity in Diversity , peace on earth.

Answer 7

I will tell u some thing and wish u count it for ur religion
our Prophet Mohammed (GPUH) said:
"Jews divided to 71 sects"
"Christs divided to 72 Sects"
"Muslims will divide into 73 Sects"...and no we are...but one sect in Paradise and others in hell

so ...this is what our Prophet told us...
the best thing in Islam that we know who is the correct section,,,to discuss more i think u can contact me on my mail

Answer 8

First, using statements such as "always, never" is weak arguing. Secondly, Islam and Christianity has many similarities, that is why they get compared to each other so much, even though they are different religions who believe in different gods.

Answer 9

Well, as a Muslim I would tell you that there are two ways to read any holy book:

1> What it really says.
2> What you want/need it to say.

The people who split up religions, you can guess which of these two they picked.

Answer 10

As soon as you organize a religion--it's doomed.As you noted it will always be subject to division & fragmentation-& will wind up as mere tribalism--the old "us & them" mindset
This is paticually evident in the Abrahamic religions-Jewish,Christianity & Islam.Organized religions main fruit is, unfortunately, intolerance -& I don't see it changing in the foreseeable future.