RELS201-Historical Relationship between Christianity and Islam Religio

Christianity was established in
the 1^st century CE. Consequently, this was  from the Second Temple Judaism.  Islam on the other hand was established in the 7^th century CE (Richards, & Bergin, 2014).   Moreover, it is founded on the teachings of Muhammad and the people following the religion are referred to as Muslims. Christianity is founded on the teachings of life, death as well as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Persons that follow Christianity are referred to as Christians. The two religions hold their original conceptualization to be in the Middle East as they both assert that they are Abrahamic religions (Richards, & Bergin, 2014).

Muslims and Christians have an array of views regarding each other. A good example is the Muslim view of Christians as fellow monotheistic scriptures possessors and heretics. Christians on the other hand regard Islam as fellow Abrahamic religion that worships the same God to the perception that it is also a heresy (Asad, 2009). According to Islam, Christianity is defined as being a Christ follower. Islam call Christians as people pf the scripture and asserts that Christianity has distorted Abraham. Consequently, Islam claims that Abraham was a monotheist and did not have anything to do with the Jewish race.  Additionally, was the grandfather of Israel that is Jacob and with a Christ to worship (Burbank, & Cooper, 2010).

 Many of the prophets that are in the Hebrew Bible are also utilized in the Qur’an However, it stipulates that Muhammad is the last true prophet (Asad, 2009).  Jesus is the next to importance to Muhammad who the Qur’an asserts that is not the son of God thus not divine. Christians believe in the opposite. The political resistance to Islamic teachings is the one that resulted in a series of conflicts that led to the emergence of Islam as its own separate religion with its own identity (Asad, 2009). Therefore, the theological differences that have continued to exist throughout history is what has led to challenges of interfaith relationships (Asad, 2009).

Islam regards itself as a religion of submission to God only. Islam is a pure monotheistic faith and has a criticizes trinity or any other type of polytheism (Armstrong, 2011).  According to the Quran anything that is similar to Polytheism is mentioned with anger. The mention of the concept of a son is mentioned as being the most atrocious thing which could result in the collapse of the universe (Armstrong, 2011).

Furthermore, there are certain periods in the world history that reveal a harmonious interaction of the two religions. A good example is the Medieval Andalusia where an avenue for Muslims and Christians to live not only in proximity but mutual appreciation was developed (Berkes, 2013). During this time, several Christians converted to Islam.  However, this was short lived as minorities ill-treatment, tensions, prejudices are what that characterizes the two communities.  other encounters for example, the Crusades have also left the two communities bitter and angry (Burbank, & Cooper, 2010).  The ongoing question sovereignty of the Jerusalem has remained an issue for the longest time. Christians regard this city as the Holy City and Muslim also have greatly venerated it as well.  The venerated interest is what has contributed to shift in relations between the two communities (Burbank, & Cooper, 2010).

Conclusion

Christianity and Islam relations today are influenced by centuries of fears of Islamic violence, the fears have been escalated as a result of the various terrorists’ events that are continuing to occur in several parts of the world (Armstrong, 2011). Today, nearly 70 percent of the world’s refugees are muslims.  Moreover, there is also widening concern of the rise of immigrants that are coming into various countries from some parts considered as Muslim regions thus raising the fear about the presence of Islam. The fear as well as mistrust has tapped into the history of mutual aggression. Consequently, on the practical domain most of the people fear that Islam will contribute to the loss of jobs, reduction in social services as well as cultural integrity.

Muslims on their perspective view what they are experiencing as international colonialism. A good example is Western powers controlling Muslim countries especially in those in the developing world through such mechanisms as the UN Security Councils, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank.  Consequently, the western countries have also been known for providing support to corrupt dictators so as to gain in terms of economic needs thus it is not surprising that Muslims question the sincerity of the belief in both democracy and justice of the west (Richards, & Bergin,2014).

References

Armstrong, K. (2011). A history of God: The 4,000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity and

Islam. Ballantine Books.

Asad, T. (2009). Genealogies of religion: Discipline and reasons of power in Christianity and

Islam. JHU Press.

Asad, T. (2009). The idea of an anthropology of Islam. Qui Parle, 17(2), 1-30.

Berkes, N. (2013). Introduction. In the Development of Secularism in Turkey (pp. 35-54).

Routledge.

Burbank, J., & Cooper, F. (2010). Empires in world history: Power and the politics of difference.

Princeton University Press.

Richards, P., & Bergin, A. E. (2014). Handbook of psychotherapy and religious diversity.

American Psychological Association.