Christianity or Islam?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michail24
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Michail24

Guest
So I have been researching a lot into many different types of religions, trying to find the truth. I’ve been seeking truth for about a year now. I have denied any polytheistic religions so there goes Hinduism and Buddhism doesn’t have a God. I believe in monotheism (as four billion people on this Earth also do) I’ve searched into monotheistic religions and narrowed them down to the two big ones. Christianity and Islam have been the two leading worlds religions for a good minute. I know they both teach truth (to some extent) but I cant figure out which one teaches the fullness of truth. I mean its hard when they both say they are the one true religion. It seems a bit funny to me that I’m posting this question on a website that is, in the majority, Catholic. So could any of you mad historians and scientists help me out here with my big question of Jesus or Allah?
 
Only one was the fulfillment of numerous prophesies. Only one performed innumerable miracles which are well attested to. Only one promised to rise from the dead - and did. The other is still in his tomb.
 
Last edited:
Only one rose from the dead, my friend! That’s the definitive proof. I can point you to those prophecies. I would also strongly recommend an apologetic classic on the Resurrection, called The Third Day by Arthur Lunn (available online at EWTN.com). God bless.
 
Once the virus has resolved, there is a way to know with absolute certainty.

Love of Truth waits.

In the meantime, watch some of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s videos on YouTube. Beginning with this one:

 
Last edited:
Arnold Lunn, sorry. Also, you will come to find Catholicism to be so eminently compatible with reason as to be undeniable. At the intersection of faith and reason is Catholicism.
 
I have respect for Islam. In many ways, it’s a great way to live; like respecting your parents, being active in prayer, fasting, giving to charity, etc. However, it doesn’t go all the way. Having some benefits is not the same as having the complete package. I used to be a muslim and I have found that Christianity has almost all the answers I’m looking for (i.e. much more than Islam)

Muhammad contradicted the Qur’an, though. On one hand, the Qur’an says that there is no compulsion in religion. On the other hand, Muhammad said that anyone who leaves Islam must be killed. That leads to many people going through the motions out of fear. They want to leave the faith, but the threat of execution prevents them. Truthfully, only a sinister religion would keep people following it out of fear. You should be free to come and go, but the countries that rule by Sharia have the death penalty for apostasy.

Don’t make the same mistake I did. Islam will only lead you to spiritual darkness.
 
Last edited:
Well, I recommend watching one of our Masses and see if you agree with it:

http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass

As a Catholic we favor the New Testament. Other Christian Denominations will have more emphasis on what we call the Old Testament. They may call it the First Testament. The structure of our Mass is to first read some portions of the Bible which share a common theme or a contrasting theme with the New Testament Gospel being the most important readings. After the readings, the Priest gives a Discussion. The last part of the Mass is in preparation for the Eucharist which probably can’t be appreciated by watching it online.

Just to clarify, I’ve studied Buddhism in College and the oldest Branch is Mahayana and they do believe in One God and a Buddha is not THE God. It seems western versions of Buddhism tend to distort the original message. And a lot of Secularist call themselves Buddhist, which makes no sense. But again, they are from the West and haven’t read the old, original Mahayana Works. Lastly, there would be more Mahayana Buddhists in the World were it not for China’s Cultural Revolution. Either way, I agree with you in not delving into Buddhism because there is no way in the West to practice it authentically.

As for Islam. I grew up with Muslims before the majority of Americans knew what a Muslim was with a bad introduction by 9/11. I know Muslim people are very religious and good people, loving people. I’ve read various parts of the Quran and while it is it’s own books it is in ways more Old Testament than New Testament. It’s almost a nice bridge between Christianity and Judaism. So I’ve had many Muslim friends and I know the religion is open to conversion.

Again, the reason I am Catholic is because we are the oldest Christian Denomination with a rich heritage in theology and philosophy. Also, we have quite an extensive tool box to help us spiritually including the Rosary, Divine Office, the writings of Saints, the writings of Theologians, the Writings of the Clergy. This entire tool box means we always have a source for answers. Again, unlike other denominations who are called Sola Scriptura (meaning only based on the Bible) our Catholic Religion begins with the Bible but it doesn’t stop there.
 
I will say it has been very hard to differentiate from truth and not truth because I can go to one source that says (for example) Islam says this that and the other, which is bad. I then look at another source saying Islam does not say this that and the other. It can be quite hard sometimes
 
Caveat: Allah is just the Arabic word for God, Middle Eastern Christians will tell you this. Now, whether or not Muslims and Christians worship the same God I will leave to theologians, although the catechism says they do, and there’s only one God to worship. My issue with Islam, is that it denies an historical fact, that’s not even disputed with serious Muslim historians, namely the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. If that never happened, then according to Paul, we are still in our sins. I don’t want a religion that doesn’t offer forgiveness of sins.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
My issue with Islam, is that it denies an historical fact, that’s not even disputed with serious Muslim historians, namely the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.
Click to expand...
True. Islam is based on a conspiracy theory. “Everything you thought you knew about all of that is a lie; now, believe this!” It’s self-defeating. Why should we believe the new story?

Consider that perhaps, as Muslims claim, an archangel truly did appear to Muhammad and told him the gospel needed correcting. So this “archangel” told him that the truth is a somewhat different version, and gave him a new book. A book that has divided and set the believers in the God of Abraham against each other, violently, for millennia. Then consider that St. Paul wrote this 600 years earlier in a letter to a new church he helped establish in Galatia (an area in what is now central Turkey):
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.”
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I have talked to a muslim man from morocco a few times in person. I found that it was very difficult to reason with him. Whenever I showed him examples of muhammad behaving immorally or being contradictory he would say that he was special and god allowed him to do these things.

What is your story that brought you to Christianity what was the biggest thing?
 
In Christianity it is often said that God created man in his image is a Human, but goes a step further - God IS a human. He came down from Heaven, became one of us, lived among us, saw our hopes and fears, saw us at our worst, and still loved us so much that even when we judicially murdered Him for telling the truth He accepted this so we would know that He forgave our sins and then rose again so we would know that our existence did not end at the grave. In Christianity we are fallen and in a way that is a relief to know - it means that the selfishness and cruelty humans have so often displayed is not our natural state, is not inescapable.

In Islam, Allah is alien and unrelatable. He does not beget, was not begotten, does not have a body, did not create humanity in his image, is certainly not a human, and sees as slaves rather than as children.

There are a lot of differences in these two religions, but I think the main one is how they view God’s relationship with humanity.
 
drac16 said:
Muhammad contradicted the Qur’an, though. On one hand, the Qur’an says that there is no compulsion in religion. On the other hand, Muhammad said that anyone who leaves Islam must be killed.
Click to expand...
Some would have us believe that the punishment ordained for apostasy is death; but this is not the case.

Allāh (subḥānahu ūta’āla) says: ‘As for those who believe, then reject the faith, then believe again, then reject the faith again and become increasingly defiant, Allāh will not forgive them, nor will He guide them on any path. (Prophet), tell such hypocrites that a grievous punishment awaits them.’ (Al-Nisa: 137-138).

If death is the ordained punishment for apostasy, then why do these verses not say so? Indeed, they are made a nonsense by the notion that one who rejects the faith must be killed; for how can a dead person accept what he once rejected; reject it again; and grow in defiance?!!

Although the Qur’an speaks of apostasy more than a dozen times; nowhere does it authorise an earthly punishment for abandoning faith. On the contrary, Allāh (subḥānahu ūta’āla) reserves for Himself the right to judge such behaviour; and to do so on the Day of Judgement.

Some would have us believe that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) required the death sentence for apostasy. According to these folk a number of aḥādīth support of their claim; the best known is this:

‘Ibn Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever changes his religion, kill him.”’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

I opine that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said no such thing; and that this ḥādīth – and others like it – was fabricated to support corrupt rulers and governments; and is now being employed for that very purpose.

(Continued).
 
Here are my reasons:

The Qur’an was revealed throughout the Prophet’s life. At no time was he given permission to judge, or to execute, apostates. On the contrary, the Qur’an makes it perfectly clear that his role was to convey the message – to preach and teach the Faith, as expressed in the Qur’an – and nothing more. He was NOT to impose it by force:

‘Ask those who were given the Scripture, as well as those without one: “Do you too devote yourselves to Him alone?” If they do, they will be guided, but if they turn away, YOUR ONLY DUTY IS TO CONVEY THE MESSAGE. Allāh is aware of His servants.’ (Al-‘Imran: Verses 18-20); and again: ‘Obey Allāh, obey the Messenger, and always be on your guard: if you pay no heed, bear in mind that the SOLE DUTY of Our Messenger is to DELIVER THE MESSAGE clearly.’ (Al-Ma’ida: 92).

The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was given no authority to enforce belief; no authority to kill a person simply for changing his religion. Given the restrictions placed upon him by his Lord, it is unthinkable that he would assume authority for himself – that he would usurp the Exalted’s role as sole judge in this matter. This is why I discount all aḥādīth that suggest the contrary (and by the way, I am not a Qur’anist!). My argument is supported by the fact that the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) did not order the death of a single person for apostasy alone.

Those who believe that the Prophet authored the Qur’an must ask themselves why he did not give himself permission to kill apostates; why he did not claim authority from his Lord.
 
Last edited:

Apostasy and Human Rights​

The full text taken from a paper that was presented by Ibn Warraq at a panel discussion on “Apostasy, Human Rights, Religion and Belief” held at the the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva, 18th April 2005.

It is clear quite clear that under Islamic Law an apostate must be put to death. There is no dispute on this ruling among classical Muslim or modern scholars… Sura II.217 is interpreted by no less an authority than al-Shafi’i(died 820 C.E.), the founder of one of the four orthodox schools of law of Sunni Islam to mean that the death penalty should be prescribed for apostates. Sura II.217 reads: “… But whoever of you recants and dies an unbeliever , his works shall come to nothing in this world and the next, and they are the companions of the fire for ever.” Al-Thalabi and al -Khazan concur. Al-Razi in his commentary on II:217 says the apostate should be killed . Similarly, IV. 89: “They would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all like alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes for the cause of God. If they desert you seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them…” Baydawi (died c. 1315-16), in his celebrated commentary on the Koran, interprets this passage to mean: “Whosover turns back from his belief ( irtada ), openly or secretly, take him and kill him wheresoever ye find him, like any other infidel. Separate yourself from him altogether .Do not accept intercession in his regard”. Ibn Kathir in his commentary on this passage quoting Al Suddi (died 745) says that since the unbelievers had manifested their unbelief they should be killed.

Former Muslims are often persecuted, abused and killed by Muslims. This treatment of apostates is not simply down to the issue of state-enforced religion as some may suggest. The violence or threats of violence against apostates in the Muslim world usually derives, not from government authorities, but from family members and individuals from the Islamic communities themselves, who operate very often with impunity from the government. This point is further emphasized by the persecution and murder of former Muslims which has now become evident in many non-Muslim societies. For example, in 2007 the daughter of a British Imam was taken under police protection after receiving death threats from her father (a leader of a mosque in Lancashire) for converting to Christianity.[19]
 
Michail24 said:
Jesus or Allah?
Click to expand...
I always feel the need to point this out because many people do not know this. Muslims do not give their god a name. Allah is not the name for their Muslim god. It is an anglicisation of the Arabic for God. There are Eastern Christians whose language is Arabic and they call God allah.

Mohamed was only a prophet and we should not believe his false teachings. Jesus Christ was not just a prophet. He was God incarnate. He humbled Himself to dwell among us, He suffered death on the cross to free us from our sins and He rose from the dead to give us everlasting life.

There simply is no choice. Christianity is the only true religion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top