It is common that Muslims and Christians tend to misunderstand each other regarding their religious beliefs. When two people from these two religions are trying to explain their faith and beliefs, they always end up in arguments mainly because of the differences in worldview. This paper will feature a comparison of the two worldviews, identifying any similarities and differences in the process. Five important aspects of religion will be considered. These include; origin, identity, meaning/purpose, morality, and even destiny.
Comparison of the Biblical and Islam Worldviews
Origin
Different religions have varying beliefs on how the universe and humanity came into existence. However, the Biblical and Islam Worldviews have similar beliefs in this case. From the Biblical Worldview, God created the Universe, before creating humankind (Wiher 304). In the Islam worldview, Allah who Muslims perceive as unique and the only Deity is said to have created the Universe and humankind (Hulmes 522). There is a similarity in the sense that God and Allah are a reflection of an omnipotent, divine being that is given credit for the existence of human beings and all other creations.
Identity
From a Biblical worldview, God created human beings in His image. Both male and female were created in His image before he breathed life into them. Therefore, this shows that human beings have real value regardless of age, gender, or race (Wiher 306). All human beings are equal. However, on a deeper level, it is evident that there is more to it as being created in the image of God and having him breathe life into the human beings was unique. For Christians, to be human means to live life in a Godly way as he is the foundation of life. Without him, Christians are mere hollow beings who will not be a reflection of him. Also, these factors give human beings authority over other creations. In the Bible, God gave human beings command and authority over his creations. The Islam worldview argues that man was Allahs first creation. Allah made human beings from mud and breathed into him life (Hulmes 523). This is a similar theory as the Biblical worldview. Thus, for Muslim, being a human being means living to give thanks to Allah and to live according to his expectations alone. Also, the Islam worldview believes that human beings are superior and that they do not deserve worthlessness and humiliation, which would make them equal to other creatures. Allah made the whole universe to offer service to man.
Meaning/Purpose
In the Islamic worldview, human beings have a purpose of being slaves to Allah and doing nothing but his will. Muslims believe that because Allah blessed human beings and distinguished them from the rest of the creation, He entrusted them with the establishment of his deen on earth (Hulmes 523). According to the Biblical worldview, God created human beings for His glory. Therefore, humanity has a purpose of glorifying God through their deeds. Human beings should glorify God by not living for their pleasure but instead live in the honor and obedience to God (Gustafson 149).
Morality
One of the gifts gifted to man by Allah was to be able to distinguish between good and evil. This Islam worldview believes that the human soul was inspired by Allahs corruption and righteousness (Hulmes 523). Therefore, the human being needs to choose for himself the path he will follow. This is one area where a difference is noted in these two worldviews as the Biblical worldview indicates that God revealed himself as holy to human beings. Therefore, he has given them an idea of what moral looks like. He has also given human beings the spirit of conscience which enables them to distinguish what is right and wrong (Wiher 306). The Bible is also used to act as guidance as it features stories that teach morality.
Destiny
The afterlife in Islam worldview features a continued existence of the human soul and a transformed physical existence. There is also the belief that there will be a day of judgment where the soul will either be condemned to hell or taken to paradise. This is the exact belief held by the Biblical worldview. Christians believe in life after death and on judgment day. They also believe in heaven and hell. However, a difference is noted in the fact that the Islam worldview seems to promise paradise to those who die as martyrs. Hence the many religious wars experienced today (Hulmes 523).
Conclusion
It is evident that these two worldviews are not so different. The only differences noted are about the nature of Allah and God, where the latter is holy, and the previous is both good and bad.
Works Cited
Gustafson, James M. "Participation: A Religious Worldview." Journal of Religious Ethics, vol. 44, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 148-175. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/jore.12135.
Hulmes, Edward. "Jews, Christians and Muslims in Encounter." Heythrop Journal, vol. 55, no. 3, May 2014, pp. 522-523. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/heyj.12071_101.
Wiher, Hannes. "Worldview and Identity across Conversion." Evangelical Review of Theology, vol. 38, no. 4, Oct. 2014, pp. 304-323. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=99380153&site=ehost-live.
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