Can Real Peace Exist between Christianity and Islam?

[carlosox]

I'm much older than most in RF. I've lived many years in a country in which Islam was the main religion. I'm currently residing in a country where Christianity is the main religion. I often ponder if true peace can ever exist between the two largest religions on earth. Unfortunately, time and again I come to the conclusion that peace can never exist between these religions- at least not in their present forms. The crux of both these religions is that their individual religion is the only religion that is the true, and all others lead to hell. Christians will never budge from the fact that Christ is the only son of God and that salvation is only possible through him. Muslims on the other hand claim there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammad is His only true messenger.
Try as one might, these cardinal principles of both religions prevent any movement to reconcile their beliefs. My conclusion on this matter is that there cannot be any peace between these two religions as long as they exist in their present forms. The present forms of these religions call only for world domination- nothing less.
The time will come I believe, that both these religions will be modified to different forms, possibly by Hinduism and Buddhism, to such states that the radicle beliefs of both will be moderated to an extent where peace is possible betweem them.
Regards

 

[michel]

A lot of what you say is fair enough; taking the major religions into context, it is a case of "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell"..From the devout followers. Those who are less devout and more open minded will question that dictate.

In a strange way, the devout are the ones who are following their faith "properly" and they are the ones who ought to be praised for doing so.

A strange connundrum.

I doubt that your scenario will be the solution though; all I can see for the future will be the same divisions...........

 

[Seraphiel]

People who say: "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell". Should be ashamed and try to understand their religion a bit more.

 

[michel]

People who say: "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell". Should be ashamed and try to understand their religion a bit more.

Of course, no one is denying it. I was just making the point that it is a contradiction in terms that the really devout fundamentalists are not portraying what we hope to believe God is really like...

 

[Laila]

Muslims on the other hand claim there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammad is His only true messenger.

I'd like to clear above some misconceptions that the above sentence has produced!
Muslims believe that the Quran is the last and final written revelation from God. You are not a muslim if you do not acknowledge prophets before Muhammed (the final prophet). Muslims must believe in all the prophets before Muhammed - so your statement regarding muslims believe in Muhammed as being 'the only true messenger' is out and out wrong. Muslims must believe in other revelations from God but do not follow them as they follow the most recent revelation (the Quran).
Muslims believe that is is no God except for the God (the one and only). Allah is an arabic word that translates as "the deity" in English - so I could say that Allah is everyones regardless of whether they believe in Allah or not. There is no my God, your God....there is just God.
There is just God....and we (humanity) are one (regardless of whether you are a christian, jew, hindu etc..)- differences in faith do not cause problems it's the people in power who want to cause rifts and arguements.

 

[Laila]

People who say: "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell". Should be ashamed and try to understand their religion a bit more.

That is right making a statement like "the rest of the world will go to hell" is not understanding the message of God.

 

[Laila]

I doubt that your scenario will be the solution though; all I can see for the future will be the same divisions...........

You're right, the only way to stop the arguements is if people really start to follow their own teachings (each to their own beliefs) and practice the concept of "love thy neighbour" or "universal brotherhood".

 

[pete29]

Good morning Friends, My Faith tells me that Jesus is the Son Of God. This is what I must believe. What your faith tells you is what you must believe. Since we are just humans, we can't possibly know exactly what God's plan is. All we can do is hope that he shows us the path to Him. I can tell you this, telling people that they are going to hell because they don't believe as you do, or killing them for the same reason means that the person doing this is putting themselves on the same level as God . This can't be the path to heaven.

 

[jacquie4000]

Can Real Peace Exist between Christianity and Islam?

I think this quote is unfair in itself anyhow. One Muslims argue with different sects of the Muslim religion thinking one path is correct. The same with Christians, we argue over which denomination is correct. So as a people if we can not get along with even our own religions how are we to be at peace with someone elses. I can be at peace with pretty much anyone however I think you can see my point.

 

[jacquie4000]

Another added point....It is not just the Religions that have to come to peace with one another but the cultural differences also. This also plays a big part of the picture.

 

[*Paul*]

It can exist between some muslims and some Christians as individuals and even some communities where neither is oppressed by the other.
But they call us polytheists:

1. [2.135] And they say: Be Jews or Christians, you will be on the right course. Say: Nay! (we follow) the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanif, and he was not one of the polytheists.
2. [98.6] Surely those who disbelieve from among the followers of the Book and the polytheists shall be in the fire of hell, abiding therein; they are the worst of men.
3. [4.171] O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.

Our religions are very different, but how should a muslim treat one they percieve to be a polytheist or disobedient ot their faith?

Oppression and possible violence:
[9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.
[9.30] And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!
9.31] They have taken their doctors of law and their monks for lords besides Allah, and (also) the Messiah son of Marium and they were enjoined that they should serve one God only, there is no god but He; far from His glory be what they set up (with Him).
[9.32] They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah will not consent save to perfect His light, though the unbelievers are averse.
[9.33] He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse.
[9.34] O you who believe! most surely many of the doctors of law and the monks eat away the property of men falsely, and turn (them) from Allah's way; and (as for) those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in Allah's way, announce to them a painful chastisement,
[9.35] On the day when it shall be heated in the fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs shall be branded with it; this is what you hoarded up for yourselves, therefore taste what you hoarded.
9.36] Surely the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah's ordinance since the day when He created the heavens and the earth, of these four being sacred; that is the right reckoning; therefore be not unjust to yourselves regarding them, and fight the polytheists all together as they fight you all together; and know that Allah is with those who guard (against evil).
[9.37] Postponing (of the sacred month) is only an addition in unbelief, wherewith those who disbelieve are led astray, violating it one year and keeping it sacred another, that they may agree in the number (of months) that Allah has made sacred, and thus violate what Allah has made sacred; the evil of their doings is made fairseeming to them; and Allah does not guide the unbelieving people.
[9.38] O you who believe! What (excuse) have you that when it is said to you: Go forth in Allah's way, you should incline heavily to earth; are you contented with this world's life instead of the hereafter? But the provision of this world's life compared with the hereafter is but little.
[9.39] If you do not go forth, He will chastise you with a painful chastisement and bring in your place a people other than you, and you will do Him no harm; and Allah has power over all things.

This is practiced in many countries where Islam is the state religion and the law makers are muslims. There is no real interest in peace there, it is so hard for a Christian to practice their religion there, they can not repair their churches or build new ones in many of these countries (not all). To convert to Christianity often means punishment of death by a family member or even to marry a Christian the same. Yet it is a Christian duty and act of love to evangelise and try to bring people in to discipleship of Jesus Christ, how can we love a muslim and not try to bring them to The Son Of God? This is one major conflict that I can never see being solved unless Christians compromise their faith and no longer try to evangelise muslims. I for one could never do that. But I am at least happy to have them for friends and be civil and discuss things peacefully and if that attitude was spread throughout all then there would be no killing.

So long as some divide the world in to two sections namely the House of Islam and the House of War. The former is composed of all devout Muslim and the latter everyone else. Then there will be no peace.

 

[Booko]

Good morning Friends, My Faith tells me that Jesus is the Son Of God. This is what I must believe. What your faith tells you is what you must believe. Since we are just humans, we can't possibly know exactly what God's plan is. All we can do is hope that he shows us the path to Him. I can tell you this, telling people that they are going to hell because they don't believe as you do, or killing them for the same reason means that the person doing this is putting themselves on the same level as God . This can't be the path to heaven.

Hi Pete and welcome to RF!

Start a new thread and introduce yourself over here in Member Introductions!

 

[Booko]

It can exist between some muslims and some Christians as individuals and even some communities where neither is oppressed by the other.
But they call us polytheists:

Paul, it can be a very big mistake to read anyone's religious text out of its historical and cultural context.

In these verses from the Quran that you quoted, Muhammad is addressing Christians that even you would've thought would be heretics.

He's no more addressing all Christians that Christ is addressing all Jews when he calls one group of Pharisees vipers, y'know?

 

[Radio Frequency X]

People who say: "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell". Should be ashamed and try to understand their religion a bit more.

As long as anyone wants everyone to believe like they do, there will be those who seek to defend themselves against such force. Fear will lead people to want to get rid of other religions. It will go on and on, I believe. Christianity and Islam are hundreds of years away from peace.

 

[*Paul*]

Paul, it can be a very big mistake to read anyone's religious text out of its historical and cultural context.

In these verses from the Quran that you quoted, Muhammad is addressing Christians that even you would've thought would be heretics.

He's no more addressing all Christians that Christ is addressing all Jews when he calls one group of Pharisees vipers, y'know?

It's not a question of how I understand them but how some (many) muslims today understand them, the koran is not read by them as merely historical literature but as containing instruction for them today, there is nothing written there to say it is only meant for that time period and only those who wish to live at peace with their neighbours would interpret it as such and many would consider them to be compromisers, but large majorities do not want this unless it is on the condition that they are superior and acknowledged as such by oppressive taxes and restricitions on meeting together. This is still practised today in many places so those people do not read their vesres (not to mention hadiths) as merely historical.

 

[Sunstone]

Well, these religions had better learn to get along...for everyone's sake. The average person in both religions has no vested interest in the kinds of wars that can be fought with modern technology, including nuclear weapons. So, given the spread of such technology, the average person in both religions would do well to follow only those leaders who are peacemakers.

 

[Booko]

Christians will never budge from the fact that Christ is the only son of God and that salvation is only possible through him.

Christians budged from that position long ago. Some have not, but others have.

Muslims on the other hand claim there is no God but Allah, and that Mohammad is His only true messenger.

Muslims hardly claim that Muhammnad is God's only true messenger. Some of them may believe He's the only relevant prophet for today, and then there are the bulk of the Muslims who actually have read their Quran long enough to notice that Muhammad didn't have a problem with the Prophethood of Jesus or Moses.

My conclusion on this matter is that there cannot be any peace between these two religions as long as they exist in their present forms. The present forms of these religions call only for world domination- nothing less.

I don't see anyone in Detroit advocating world domination, and the only thing that blows up there are meth labs.

The time will come I believe, that both these religions will be modified to different forms, possibly by Hinduism and Buddhism, to such states that the radicle beliefs of both will be moderated to an extent where peace is possible betweem them.
Regards

They are already in the process of being modified, but I would not say Buddhism and Hinduism have much to do with it.

Peace is not only possible -- it's inevitable.

 

[Booko]

A lot of what you say is fair enough; taking the major religions into context, it is a case of "My religion is right and the rest of the world will go to Hell"..From the devout followers. Those who are less devout and more open minded will question that dictate.

Uh...Michel...how much more devout do you have to get than the Pope?

I think you meant...extreme, maybe?

 

[Booko]

It's not a question of how I understand them but how some (many) muslims today understand them, the koran is not read by them as merely historical literature but as containing instruction for them today, there is nothing written there to say it is only meant for that time period and only those who wish to live at peace with their neighbours would interpret it as such and many would consider them to be compromisers, but large majorities do not want this unless it is on the condition that they are superior and acknowledged as such by oppressive taxes and restricitions on meeting together. This is still practised today in many places so those people do not read their vesres (not to mention hadiths) as merely historical.

That's fine Paul, but just realize that if you say things like this about Islam, then Jews will be wide open to claim Christianity is inherently anti-Semetic on the same grounds.

I'm well aware of current abuses of other religious groups in SOME Muslims countries today. I'm a Baha'i and as such we're not even "People of the Book" so we normally get worse treatment than Christians do in those countries that do not tolerate other religious groups.

 

[Djamila]

There can even be peace between completely opposite beliefs, which Christianity and Islam are anything but. It just takes people who are secure in their faith.

I offer two examples... in rural Albania, the villages are often very mixed, as they are in Bosnia. However, in Albania, there is often only one house of worship in small villages. Whether it's a Mosque, Roman Catholic Church, or Orthodox Church - members of all the village's religions use the facility and are burried together in the facility's cemetery. It's been that way for centuries and thus it becomes no surprise that, unlike virtually every other people in the Balkans - including Croatians, Bosnians, Serbians, Greeks, etc. - Albanians are not divided by religion in a national sense.

They're Albanian first, and after that they are Albanian Muslims, or Albanian Catholics. It's the complete opposite of Bosnia, where "Bosnian" is last - after Bosniak, Bosnian Croat, or Bosnian Serb.

Then, take Canadian Evangelicals. They attend the country's Parliament while the government is in session to sit in the gallery above their political representatives and pray. But praying for one party, or partisan objectives, is expressly forbidden. They pray only that the discourse between the parties becomes more peaceful, that the politicians honor each other, and that they work well together.

I think these two examples show a more honorable use of faith.