After I finished reading JCM chapter 6, “Monotheism in Islam,” I came up with one serious question.Do Jews, Christians, and Muslims believe in the same God?
When President Bush was asked by the same question 3 years ago, President Bush replied, “I believe we worship the same God.”
Scripturally, the Quran is known to insist that its God is the same as the God of Judaism and Christianity; Chronologically, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all recognize Abraham as the first generation.
If President Bush is right, then, why do the Moon God of Mecca, known as Allah, the God of Israel, known as YHWH, and the Christian God, known as God the Father, seem so different from one anther (honestly, I do not see the difference between YHWH and the God the Father. However, the Moon God of Mecca seems so separated from the other two)?
Why do we believe in different doctrines and practices if Allah, YHWH, and God the Father (Jehovah) are the same Supreme Being? Why do we use different scriptures? Why are those different scriptures (the Torah, Qu’ran, and the New Testament) written in different styles if they have been come from the same God?
Why are they so different while believing in the same God?
3 comments:
You bring up an interesting question. The fact that there is so much “competition” between the religions makes them appear more separate than they should be. I was in Ein Rafa, Israel this past winter where my group visited a mosque and talked to the head authority there (I do not know what his position is called). He said that it angers Muslims that in Islam, they recognize and accept prophets from Judaism and Christianity, but that Judaism and Christianity does not accept Muhammad and prophets of Islam. God, however, is known as the same entity, but called different names. I think that the rituals, varying scripture and overall culture of the three religions, influences how people see God to the point where it seems as if there are three of them.
I very much agree with Sam's comments. The three traditions are now more political. unfriendly and competitive than they were in the beginning because of social practices and the way they have evolved over the years. Alice raised a very good question which will be wonderful to keep untill we start learning about Christianity. I know it seems obvious now that we can point out the differences and similarities the three religions, but it will be easy to compare them when we study all of them.
This reminds me of something our speaker said: if you don't believe your religion is the "right" one, you wouldn't be a part of that religion. Though I believe in interfaith and believe that everyone who worships worships the same God, there is a fine line between supporting your religion and supporting interfaith. I believe, however, that it is possible to do both.
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