Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions in the world, with approximately 2.3 billion and 1.8 billion followers respectively. Both religions originated in the Middle East, are Abrahamic religions, and believe in one God. Christianity originated from Second Temple Judaism in the 1st century AD and is based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Islam, which was formed in the 7th century AD, is based on the teachings of Muhammad and represents complete submission to the will of God. Christians call themselves "Christians," while those who believe in Islam are called "Muslims," which means "people who are willing to surrender to God." Between the two religions, the role of Jesus became an important point of disagreement in the belief systems.
Muslims regard Christians as "the people of the Book", but because Christians believe in the concept of the Trinity, Muslims regard them as "Kafirs" who do not believe in God.
In Christianity, Jesus is considered the incarnation of God, the Son of God in the Trinity, which is the core of most Christian beliefs. However, in Islam, Jesus is revered as "Al-Masih" (Messiah), but Muslims do not recognize his divinity and do not accept his resurrection. According to Islamic teachings, Jesus' death was the result of misunderstanding and wrong planning, so that a lookalike was crucified and Jesus himself was taken to heaven.
The Christian Bible includes the Old Testament and the New Testament, while the main Islamic classic is the Koran. While there are certain narrative similarities between the two scriptures, there are significant differences in the underlying nature of the beliefs and the format in which the texts are presented. Christians believe that the Bible is the inerrant text of God's revelation, while Muslims believe that the Koran is the only unaltered revelation.
Christians maintain that the salvation of all believers comes from faith in Jesus Christ, while the salvation of Muslims depends on obeying the will of God and doing good deeds.
The name of God in Christianity is "Jehovah", which is intended to express the Trinity of God. At the same time, Islam calls God "Allah" and firmly maintains that God is one and indivisible. The Christian view of the Trinity is considered polytheistic in Islam.
Christianity emphasizes salvation through the atonement of Jesus Christ, while Islam believes that God will judge everyone based on their good deeds and beliefs. This creates a significant contrast between the two concepts of salvation. The Christian creed emphasizes the necessity of faith, while Islam emphasizes the value of works.
In the contrast between Christianity and Islam, the identity of Jesus and the interpretation of his teachings have become the focus of constant debate. This not only reflects the two religions' different understandings of fundamental beliefs about God, prophets, and their teachings, but also exposes potential tensions between the beliefs. After all, can we use this difference to have a deeper dialogue and enhance mutual understanding and respect?