Posted by I understand Christianity to be a religion of love. We are told by Jesus to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. When we are wronged by someone, we must forgive them. The importance of love of neighbour is strongly emphasised by Jesus. We must forgive others for any evil done to us, because God forgives us for the evil in our own hearts and actions.
I understand Islam to be a religion of justice. The focus of the Qur’an is on how good and bad deeds are weighed up by God who rewards or punishes our behaviour both in this life and especially on the day of judgement following the resurrection of the dead. Paradise and hell are discussed continually in the Qur’an, and it is emphasised that we should always be focused on the Last Day. Doing charitable acts and behaving in a good way gives us the best chance of being favoured by God on judgement day, and evildoers will suffer in hell, though the Qur’an emphasises that God does whatever He pleases.
Further thoughts:
I appreciate the beauty in both Christianity and Islam, to the extent that I find it difficult to prefer one religion over the other. Perhaps this is okay with God, though both Christians and Muslims might respond to that comment with the insistence that their way is the only right way.
Love and justice are both virtuous, in my view, and I believe both Christians and Muslims are generally conscientious and well-meaning. I therefore appreciate living in a country (England) where religious tolerance is enshrined in law, and I hope this will never change.
Photo by Cody Pulliam on Unsplash
Perfect Chaos 