What can we Christians learn from Islam?

Question

As a Christian I believe in a Triune God and thus have issues with Islam, however, I do not believe that "Christianity" is error free. So what real errors does Islam correct? I expect opinions here. And please only errors that Islam corrects don't give me your general gripes about various Christian sects unless you can show a relationship to Islam. Thoughtful responses from atheists would be appreciated as well as those from Muslims.

So far I hear the following issues:
Remove Pauline errors (which ones?)
No pictures (images of God) IDOLS!!
Original sin issues
Require innocent blood sacrifices
Place of the Law (back to Judiasm?)
Dietary Laws
Discipline Children
Faith vs works
Public witness vs public boasting
Is the basic nature of man good or evil?

Answer 1

I do believe that Christianity is error free, at least at the level of the Nicene Creed.

I think we can be reminded by Islam of the basic transcendence and inexpressable Other-ness and unknowability of God. When I was reading about ancient Gnosticism and later about Islam, I was impressed that all three religions (plus others) saw the unknowability of God as a central problem. Gnostics try to solve it by saying that it wasn't God who created our material world but some other entity (a "demi-urge"), and that only a few, select individuals can get knowledge (gnosis) of spiritual reality. Islam focuses intensely on the unknowability and other-ness of God and bans religious imagery and is appalled at the mere idea of an incarnate God. (Muslims, if I have spoken incorrectly, please forgive me and correct me.)

Ancient Christianity realized full force the absurdity of its claims -- that the unknowable, infinitely other God took on flesh and dwelled among us? The ancient heresies were attempts to reduce the absurdity, to make Christianity more "reasonable."

Today we Christians have lost the awareness of what an amazing thing we claim. Islam can help us become resensitized to that. I am not saying Islam is correct in rejecting the Trinity and the incarnation; I am saying that by becoming aware of Islam's teachings we can get a fuller understanding of our own teachings.

In the sources list below I have put a link to an article I wrote for my parish newsletter on icons and the infinite unknowability of God. We Eastern Orthodox wrestled with this problem for centuries. Also I have put a link to a wikipedia article on the apophatic thread in spirituality, which is strong in Orthodoxy. It talks about what we *can't* say about God.

Answer 2

Well not necessarily faults but as a muslim I believe that the message from allllllllll the prophets had not been concluded until the Qur'an. So the Bible is not wrong, it is just missing certain elements: The Qur'an teaches a person how exactly to pray, we pray as the Prophet Muhammed would have prayed but as Christians you do not pray in the way that Jesus prayed. Of course, we believe the Bible has been altered and certain Gospels were destroyed by priest etc.

The overall fault with Christianity that we hold is that Jesus had no divinity. It was the early christians - Constantine who made Jesus the "Son of God". Before that belief was that he was just a humble man with the word of God. But I don't want to raise anything controversial.
Also, even today there are aspects of christianity that do not show equality with women. Never did Jesus discriminate against women yet women are not allowed to make a sound in church and are burdened with child birth, they should be like slaves for their husbands etc. Islam preaches equality amongst women and men even though many may get the impression that it is the total opposite.

But no one is perfect, we could all learn something from each other.

Answer 3

We can learn how a man-made religion works.

First, you reject most of the claims of Jesus, especially that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through him.

Next, you invent a plastic Jesus who is a prophet of your prophet. You have to reject historical events like the testimony of his disciples, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. What you want is a figurehead, not the living Christ of history.

Then you devise a false piety around your new prophet, covering up all his bad deeds, including armed robbery of caravans, marrying a harem of wives, keeping slaves, having sex with 9-year-old girl as a "wife," taking his adopted son's wife, and massacring all the men of the Jewish town of Qurayzah after they surrendered and selling all their women and children into slavery.

Next, you claim that the writings of your prophet are direct from a god, and create a religion of the book to replace the religion of the Word of God, Jesus Christ. In it, you make up unjust laws, like cutting off the hand of a thief, as if a human hand is no more valuable than some inanimate object.

But the most important thing is to use violence to advance your invented religion. You declare jihad against all nonbelievers, giving them the choice of death or servitude as dhimmis. You also demand death for anyone in your religion who changes his mind.

It's a great system. Close to a billion people today are held in its iron grip, and many of them are willing to commit mass murders to advance theocracy and wipe out freedom in the world.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 4

The only thing we can learn from Islam is that it is a fraud, a pagan created religion to suit and satisfy the need of its followers, this goes for most Christian denominations as well. As for the true Christianity found in the Bible, this truth is absolutely error free and this is why many refuse to believe it and we have the devil to thank.

Many of us are quick to profess their Christianity and aren't any different from any other religions because we are even quicker at dismissing and not believing what our own religion says in the book, we tend to follow the doctrines of men or substitute our own traditions into what the Bible already states.

God's word in the Bible is the absolute truth and so is He and He is never wrong and does not lie. Mark my words as well as the Bible's and every single thing that He inspired to be written in that book: they're surely becoming a reality and are being fulfilled even at this instance. Take note and "take heed that you may not be deceived" "and pray always that you maybe counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:8, 36)....(amplified)


You may read more of these verses at Luke 21:5 -36 to grab and grasp these realities. God bless

Answer 5

Islam claims to have the true message that was corrupted by Judaism and Christianity. I don't believe that however. I believe that what we as Christians have is the truth. The only thing in "error" is certain people's misguided interpretations of it. The Word as handed down to us itself is God's, and it is correct and true, and doctrinally error-free.

In answer to your question, we can learn from Islam, but only in a negative sense. It's not politically correct to say this, but most of today's violence we see in the world that is religion-related is due to varying interpretations of Islam. And the Islamic world doesn't seem to want to address this problem in any substantial way.

Giles P: In other words, Islam is just another "works of man" religion. Fact is, no amount of human works alone will get you to heaven. All of our holiness and self-righteousness is to God as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Christianity accepts that we as humans are a fallen race, and as such we need God's help. No amount of fasting, alms giving, prayer, etc. on our own will bring us to God. That's why God actually became one of us.

sugarbabe: We as Christians are commanded not to make a public show of prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) and not to pray or do any public display of acts of righteousness so that they may be seen by men. That's why you don't see many Christians praying on street corners, airports, etc.

Folks, it's all about God. I suppose Muslims zeal could be considered somewhat commendable, but it's not about how much or often you pray in public, or what sort of good works you do. God's Grace is a **free gift** from God, totally unearned (no amount of human works will earn it for you) and it is this way, lest any man boast (Ephesians 2:7-9). Nobody going "Wow, look how holy those guys are, they pray five times a day for gosh sakes!!" The focus there is on man, and man's actions, not on God. This is all something that Muslims could learn a thing or two from Christians, IMO.

Clark W:

Yes, it really is a fantastic claim isn't it?? When you step back and look at it objectively. I agree, I don't think most Christians consider that. But I've always considered the Scripture quote "With God, all things are possible". Who are we to say what God can and can't do? (I'm Roman Catholic, but I've always had an interest in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church, and in Orthodoxy, BTW)

Answer 6

Islam is a religion of peace and equality. Many view our women as oppressed and second to man, however this is not true. Women have all the rights men do and wear the veil because they choose to. Also, criticism of islam i believe comes from lack of knowledge. Islam encourages respect for yourself, others, as well as respect of other religions.

Therefore we respect those who follow their religions, but we also expect the same in return. Many of the answers i read above have been demeaning and harsh. I feel that what one person can learn from another and their religion is tolerance and dedication. Islam and christianity have alot in common, we both agree there is one God and that the ultimate justice comes after life in heaven or hell. I have not studied religion deeply, however i am aware that not one letter of the quran or the islamic religion has changed, while christianity has changed and evolved, e.g. racisim was promoted by the LDS church until 1978. Also, if Jesus is God himself, how could he be crucified? Muslims believe in Jesus, but as a prophet and messenger or God (Allah).

Answer 7

The brotherhood in Islam is just too strong, and it gets stronger everyday. Whatever differences they have lies mainly in ethnicity.
Christians, however, lack this trait and instead tend to prefer debates and arguments with those from different christian sects or denominations. Moreover, they try to collectively mock non-christians (including atheists) with the "burn in hell" condemnation.
This is not good even though some other religions don't believe in heaven or hell.
Hope you appreciate a sincere answer from a sincere atheist.

Answer 8

the 1st 4 books are the comparable in basic terms with some verses replaced. It has lots of books i've got confidence 166. persist with a distinctive code referred to as the 13 pillars. extraordinarily corresponding to the odl testomony and that they suspect jesus to be a prophet and muhammad to be the final prophet.

Answer 9

At least the Muslims aren't afraid to practice their religion in public, as we Christians are..we don't want to "offend" anybody. The Muslims stop everything they're doing 5 times a day and pray. The Muslims bring their standards of behavior with them everywhere- a woman can do her shopping without being "hit" on Other than that, the Muslims are too strict--I'd rather be "hit" on than to have to wear a burka and veil all the time, and be treated like a third-class or steerage citizen again; we already had that revolution.

Answer 10

I was parked outside a mosque one day and I noticed a group of kids come out of one of its buildings.They were well behaved ,I must say .On a few occasion I have seen Christians kids enter church chewing gum and in not the best of attire.
I have issues with the mullahs ,who are trying desperately to keep Islam together by any means.