Similarities Between Catholicism & Islam

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George_Waters

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Hello Everyone,

For sometime I have read the posts on this forum and have been adding my own thoughts over the last few months. I have learned a lot about the history and beliefs of Islam as well as the perceptions of this faith from Muslims and Christians alike. I have learned how various governments interpret this religion based on their statements and actions. I have even learned a lot about some of you.

I know we have many fundamental differences between our faiths, but what I am interested in now is our similarities. Is there any interest in discussing our similarities? What our faiths share, how they are alike, etc.? I am sure this thread will not be very popular or exciting and I will not allow it to decay into a you said, he said, she said debate or an argument over some peoples (or nations) actions. OK, now that I have doomed this thread to five or six posts, would someone with more knowledgeable than me like to begin discussing what our faiths share?

Peace

George
 
I think one thing we share is monotheism; not only a belief in “One God” but a faith and belief system in the “One God of Abraham.”
 
Another similarity is our belief that a moral code comes from God. We believe the code is absolute and many, if not most, of the followers of both religions, don’t live up to the code set before us.

This creates a similar problem for evangelists of both religions. They preach a high moral standard and have to apologise for the followers that fall far short of that moral standard.
 
The following is a text of the Apostle’s Creed. Enclosed <> are parts of the Creed that Muslims do not believe in. The unenclosed text is believed by both.

There are similarities – and there are differences.

Blessings,

Gerry

I believe in God <> Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ <<his only Son our Lord,>>
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary, <<suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and buried.
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead.>>
He ascended into heaven,
<>
From there he shall come <>
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
<<The holy Catholic Church;
The communion of saints;>>
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
 
Gerry Hunter:
The following is a text of the Apostle’s Creed. Enclosed <> are parts of the Creed that Muslims do not believe in. The unenclosed text is believed by both.
Click to expand...
it would actually be more like this:

highlighted in red is what muslims believe. parts inclosed in << >> are things we don’t.
Gerry Hunter:
I believe in God <> Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ <<his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost>>,
Born of the Virgin Mary, <<suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and buried.
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead.>>
He ascended into heaven,
<>
From there he shall come <>
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
<<The holy Catholic Church;
The communion of saints;>>
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
Click to expand...
note that when muslims say they believe in the holy spirit, they are referring to angel gabriel.
 
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r.gonzales:
highlighted in red is what muslims believe. parts inclosed in << >> are things we don’t.
Click to expand...
True, but the red items are also believed by Christians.
40.png
r.gonzales:
note that when muslims say they believe in the holy spirit, they are referring to angel gabriel.
Click to expand...
There are indeed many irreconcilable differences between the two faiths.

Blessings,

Gerry
 
Some similarities are only to be expected if you agree with Hilaire Belloc that Islam (Mohammedanism) is one of the five great Catholic heresies.

According to Belloc, it sprang from an oversimplification of the main Catholic doctrines, by a pagan who was not a Catholic and it rose up outside the Church.

Mohammed dropped those doctrines that did not suit him. Most importantly, he denied the Incarnation, the Trinity and the whole sacramental structure. From its roots as a heresy, it developed into a religion on its own.
 
Eileen T:
Some similarities are only to be expected if you agree with Hilaire Belloc that Islam (Mohammedanism) is one of the five great Catholic heresies.

According to Belloc, it sprang from an oversimplification of the main Catholic doctrines, by a pagan who was not a Catholic and it rose up outside the Church.

Mohammed dropped those doctrines that did not suit him. Most importantly, he denied the Incarnation, the Trinity and the whole sacramental structure. From its roots as a heresy, it developed into a religion on its own.
Click to expand...
You cant be serious.

PROVE IT.
 
My honest and personal answer would be no similarities between Catholicism and Islam. Once you compare about the faith how we share Abraham then we also have Jew included. The Jew and Christianity have the same root but not Islam. Their historical background is gross about the Jewish prophets and story about Jesus, thus the only think I can say here, Islam just plagiarized Torah and Bible, and this would automatically contain a lot of similarities in other part. Therefore I wont say those as similarities as Islam is just a heresy. . Its just like you try to find similarities between JW and Catholicism.
 
Gerry Hunter:
True, but the red items are also believed by Christians.
Click to expand...
no where did i say they didn’t. in fact, if you read the thread from the beginning, you’ll find that what i quoted was the “apostle’s creed”, which means everything listed is from catholic belief. my point in highlighting the portions in red was to show which points muslims share belief in… after all, this thread is about the similarities between the two religions.
 
Eileen T:

I have a tendency to agree with Old Thunder (H. Belloc). What’s your take on that? If Belloc is right, then there by necessity will be similarities between Catholicism and Islam. But I think the differences sadly have a heavy weight. Whom we consider GOD incarnate is solely a prophet to them(a man). This is huge. I know the CC will never compromise on this revealed truth at any cost.

in XT.
 
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AquinasXVI:
Eileen T:

I have a tendency to agree with Old Thunder (H. Belloc). What’s your take on that? If Belloc is right, then there by necessity will be similarities between Catholicism and Islam. But I think the differences sadly have a heavy weight. Whom we consider GOD incarnate is solely a prophet to them (a man). This is huge. I know the CC will never compromise on this revealed truth at any cost.
in XT.
Click to expand...
If I remember right (it’s been a while) he said that there were elements of paganism, Judaism & Catholicism all mixed up. Given when Mohammed lived, he is sure to have encountered Catholic preachers (missionaries).

Mohammed picked and chose what suited him best (hmmnnn… that sounds familiar).

Although Islam is a monotheistic religion with roots in Judeo-Catholic teaching, they do not believe in the Trinity, so the God they worship cannot be the same God we worship.
 
Eileen T:
Although Islam is a monotheistic religion with roots in Judeo-Catholic teaching, they do not believe in the Trinity, so the God they worship cannot be the same God we worship.
Click to expand...
Arab christians refer to Jesus as “Isaa Ibn Allah (Jesus son of God)”. Allah is the arabic word for God.

Secondly, your pope (assuming you are catholic), Paul II, said Muslims and Christians both believe in the same God, the God of Abraham, and from what i gather you are supposed to believe in the words of your pope.

Lastly, it is a great lie (and insult) on Islam and Muslims to say Islam is mixed with paganism… Islam is the complete opposite of paganism!

Anyhow, George, i do plan to reply with a post on the similarities i see between the two faiths.
 
Hashi:

I’m assuming you’re Islamic. Just have a couple questions. Why all the violence towards Christians in this day and age, East Timor, Pakistan etc.? I mean, if Islam considers Jesus Christ the Son of God, then why the violence toward Christians? Secondly, Being Son of God to us theologically equate to being God. Does Islam grant this divine nature to Christ as we do?

Just in case you may seem I’m starting a squabble, I’m not, I’m really curious about these things.

Thanks in advance.

in XT.
 
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AquinasXVI:
Hashi:

I’m assuming you’re Islamic. Just have a couple questions. Why all the violence towards Christians in this day and age, East Timor, Pakistan etc.? I mean, if Islam considers Jesus Christ the Son of God, then why the violence toward Christians?
Click to expand...
I cant speak for the actions of some muslims, i can only speak for my own actions and i try to speak on the actual teachings of Islam. I think youve already heard time and time again on this thread that oppression and killing of innocent people is forbidden in Islam and that terrorism has no place in Islam.

As for actions of people of various religions in the world, then all are guilty of oppression and killing in one way or another. To many muslims in the middle east, Bush is on a modern day Crusade in the Middle east (cause he really had no business going there to begin with), and many speculate he will not stop at just Iraq. Oppression and killing of Muslims by Hindu extremists has been going on for decades in India. Christian Serbs tried to exterminate the Albanian and Bosnian Muslims just a decade ago. Muslim Chechians have faced generations of oppression, torture, killing, and rape of their people by the Russians. Lets also not forget Israel and its oppression of the Palestinian people for the past half century. And more examples can be given.
Secondly, Being Son of God to us theologically equate to being God. Does Islam grant this divine nature to Christ as we do?
Click to expand...
We believe Jesus was a man that God sent as a Prophet, a Messenger, and a Messiah. We believe He was born of the Virgin Mary, and that God did not beget Jesus but rather He created Jesus in the womb of Mary, much like He created Adam and Eve. So the Islamic stand regarding Jesus is in between that of Christianity and Judaism. We do not go to the extreme of attributing divinity to Jesus, nor do we go to the extreme of rejecting the Messengership and miracle birth of Jesus.

If you have further questions or wish to discuss this in detail, its best to start a new thread so that we do not go offtopic in George’s thread.
 
Thanks to everyone that has posted so far. Good examples and comments b_justb and Maranatha. Please remember that this thread is to discuss the similarities between Catholicism and Islam. All opinions are welcome, however if you wish to question Catholic or Islamic teachings, please post your questions and remarks on one of numerous other threads started with this aim. Discussion for greater understanding between faiths is fine. Thank you Hashi and Pax for helping me keep this thread on track.

I believe, as I am sure all of you do as well, that there is only one God. Some may believe that another faith is “worshiping a different god”, but we know there is only one God so that statement is false and the belief would more accurately be stated as “having a different understand of God”. We were all created by the one and only God. I know some claim that Islam is the creation of Satan, but even if that is true I know God is greater and I believe He would have introduced some bit of truth into the faith to undermine Satan and to ultimately save all souls. I read somewhere quite awhile ago that Pope John Paul II directed all Catholics to try and recognize the truth in all faiths. I do not agree with Islam, but I do want to find the truth of God that I firmly believe is contained therein.

Peace

George
 
Hash:

Thank you. I really thought that you might have an insight on the mindset of the extremist…your theories of how they see the violence as justifiable and willed by God (whom is Love). That’s a mystery to me and I thought you may have some ideas as to the reasons of the suicidal jihad. If you don’t have one, that’s cool.

With Christ Jesus, where did Mohammed get his theology that Jesus was a man and not God himself. As Catholics we believe the divine nature and human nature of the person of Christ for he testified to it, was crucified for it. Sorry for asking this here, perhaps I should ask this on a different thread…but while we’re both here we may as well give a go at it.

in XT.
 
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AquinasXVI:
Sorry for asking this here, perhaps I should ask this on a different thread…but while we’re both here we may as well give a go at it.
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Don’t be sorry at all!

George
 
i thought i’d “resurrect” this thread because i have just received a book in the mail that i had bought a week or so ago online that deals with this subject.

george, if you’re interested, i’d consider looking into this book: the cross and the crescent.

it’s by a man named jerald f. dirks. he is a former ordained minster in the united methodist church who later converted to islam. the purpose of writing the book was to highlight the similarities between christianity and islam in the hopes of helping christians and muslims “understand the commonality they share”.

sorry, i can’t say more about the book as i’ve just received it and haven’t read it yet. it should be a good read though. 👍
 
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