Similarities between Islam and Christianity?

Submitted by Dean Freeman (United States), Jul 23, 2005 at 18:04

There are two issues I have with commentors who opine there is great similarity between Chrisitianity and Islam and that they both want to impose their views on others.

1) Acceptance of Jesus Christ is based upon a FAITH that His divinity/teachings are valid. Most importantly, there must be a FREE WILL acceptance of these teachings. Historically Islam has imposed its strength through forced conversions. While there are shameful historic animosities between Christian denominations, the bottom line still exists, that the Christian life is adopted by a free will, which is frequently influenced by personally edifying spiritual growth.

2) Christians, as citizens of any country, have a personal right as a citizen to advocate, strive for, and be party to political actions which affect society, including the abortion issue, how war is or is not conducted, whether Social Security is to be saved or not, or sexual programming of youth. Christians do not surrender their right to speak out on public funding of social programs or social engineering projects which they find offensive simply because they are Christians. Christians can be active citizens while being faithful to their Churches.

Islam, through Sharia Law, imposes a template that all must adhere to. It forces/imposes upon people, not through free will and willing conversion, the obligation to conduct themselves in a particular way that is determined by the religion. This conduct combines both social/cultural expression and religious duties/obligations. Nowhere that I know of is there a move afoot to have Judaic/Mosaic Law imposed as a template over civil law within the United States. Additionally, I am not familiar with any Christian who wishes to impose Christian legalisms on the body politic without debate. There is a difference between being enfranchised to vote on a particular issue, which is appropriately debated in a society, and having the law already pre-determined and imposed from above, i.e. Sharia Law. Muslims in Canada are already seeking the ability to have special recognition of Sharia Law given to them!!!!!!!!!

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