Difference of practice, not metaphysical reality, the issue

Submitted by Damon Lee (China), Jul 3, 2005 at 22:37

Whether or not God and Allah is the same god is not to raise the metaphysical question concerning their identity or difference. The important thing is whether or not they are perceived to be the same god, though understood differently. And of course some Christians and Muslims will claim their god is the true God (the other being false), whilst others will claim that they worship the same God, though the other worshipping wrongly (or at least differently). Awareness of this difference is key to bridging the gap between Christians and Muslims, but first the grounds for disagreement should be acknowledged: is it a difference of gods or of practice? The WoT should include an effort to shift the battle from a dogmatic insistence of Allah as opposed to God (or vice versa) to a disagreement in understanding and appreciating the one Allah/God. Since only the latter provides any ground for creating a peaceful third way.

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