Religious transformation is the awakening or understanding of the religious knowledge in the case of a human being who had no knowledge or belief of spiritual existence. The spiritual awakening leads to the transformation of lifestyle and other things that humans do that are inconsistent with the spiritual beliefs that they hold, after the transformation. Transformation is the fundamental meaning of religious conversion from one denomination to another. However, the transformation is affiliated with special rituals that are symbolized depending on the religion the human being is affiliated with after the transformation.
The African schristians and Islamic communities in Africa faced a lot of opposition before they transformed into what they are in the modern world. People in the 14th century, according to John Bossy were peasants, and they spent most of the time in their farms trying to fend for their family. According to him, he did not believe in the church, and he thought that the Catholic priests were blasphemous and bestial. This showed how he felt about religion and how he hated the church as he even made fun of the priests. The Sufism and Islamic religion were not left behind as it developed over time. However, there were oppositions as Islamic religion was seen as not, true believer of God because they were not afraid to take away people’s lives (Hoffman, 1995). Sufism is still in existence in Egypt and in Islamic religion. Religion transformed because women were active in religion and they played a significant role in Sufism. Christianity and Islam in Europe religion transformed significantly since the early ages and there are contrasted from each other in various ways.
The two major religions that are I will contrast and compare are the Islam and the Christian religion. The essay will look at the transformation of the two religions and their development over the years. The two religions are Abraham in that they originated from Abraham. For instance, according to the Muslims that believe that Ishmael, who was the first son of Abraham, was the father of the Arabs and Isaac who was the second son to Abraham was the father of the Hebrews. The two religions have a common book that they refer to during their worship, and they believe that the book is a guide to them obtaining the love of God when the world ends. Muslims have the Quran, which is their holy book, and the Christians have the Bible. The two holy books help the believers know that if they live a holy life they will see God after the afterlife. This is one of the most common similarities between the two religions.
The two religions have the greatest number of people in the denomination, in the world. There are about two billion Christians in the world and about 1.6 billion Muslims. The two religions have a significant number of believers as well as followers. Religion has transformed over the years as people want to learn more about their God. Due to the increase in technology and innovation religion has spread all over the world as people are able to access the world of God in print and through the media among other form of access of information that people have to learn through to be able to understand about their religion.
Both religions believe and recognize the existence of Jesus Christ, and they believe that he was sinless and was born of the Virgin Mary. Additionally, they believe that Jesus performed miracles and ascended to God after his death. They also believe that Jesus resurrected after three days. Christians and Muslims believe that Jesus will come again to take the sinless and those who have believed in him all along.
Both religions also believe in fasting and thanksgiving where they set aside days to worship God almighty. For instance, Muslims fast each year on the ninth month of their calendar, which is referred to as a lunar calendar. This period of fasting is called the Ramadhan. During this period, they do not eat any food between sunrise and sunset. When it comes to Christians, they fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On Fridays, Christians are asked to abstain from meat until the fasting period is over. This period is referred to as lent. Muslims is asked to give one fortieth of their property every year to God while Christians are asked to give ten percent of their earning or property to God and the church.
The two religions have differences and similarities. As discussed earlier in the essay, they are both Abrahamic religions as they originated from Abraham. The two religions are monotheistic or have a monotheistic belief in that they believe in the existence of only one God. However, in this issue Muslims believe that Christians are polytheistic because they believe in the holy trinity that is God the father, the son and the spirit. Muslims believe that there is only one God and they do not believe in the existence of the holy trinity. Nonetheless, the two religions believe that there is one God.
African and European Christians and Muslims believe that God created human beings in his own image and the purpose of our being or existence is to serve God and to love him. For that reason, both Christians and Muslims believe that if they do not do the will of God, they will be judged by the almighty and the sinners will go to hell while the righteous will go to heaven where they will never know pain or suffering. In some instances, Muslims believe that, in heaven, it will be more of a paradise than meeting with the creator. Both religions believe that God loves, understanding and forgiving, as he is the creator. God created humanity in his own likeness the two religions believe that he has a special relationship with humans. For that reason, he has created a covenant the living, especially those who believe in him and have faith in his word.
The similarities in the two religions can be seen, however, they are various differences between the two religions. First, or one of the major differences between the two is that Christians believe in the three persons is one divine power or the holy trinity Muslims believe that there is only one God or one person. Therefore, the belief that Christians have in the Holy Trinity is the belief of three Gods. Secondly, Muslims believe that Muhammad, was sinless and infallible, and founded Islam. Christians on the other hand, believe that the founder of Christianity was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Muhammad as the founder of the Islamic religion was a political leader when it comes to Christians; they believe that Jesus did not involve himself in politics. This has influenced greatly in today’s Christians as they separate political issues from the church, and they believe that the church is a sacred place that should not be tainted with politics (Savory, 1980). The issue of Jesus is highly controversial in both religions because the Muslims believe that Jesus was only a prophet like Moses, David, John the Baptist and Noah among others. However, Christians believe that Jesus is God himself.
Salvation is another issue that makes a lot of difference between the two religions. For instance, Christians believe that Adam sinned and for that reason, every child that is born in the world is born of sin except Jesus, who was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Christians also believe that human beings are not perfect, and the only way they can earn salvation is through the grace of God and the sacrifice that Jesus made by dying on the cross. Therefore, through repentance and good work we can be forgiven of those sins because Christians are one as a church. However, Muslims believe that human beings are born without sin and; therefore, they have a responsibility to maintain the state of being born sinless throughout their life. This is to mean that they believe that every person is responsible for his or her own salvation and no indulgence can be received from any person, as Christians believe.
Muslims have various views on Christianity for instance; Muslims believe that the teachings of Jesus are compatible with those of Islam, and they further state that they are followers of the teachings that Jesus gave to his disciples (Hsia, 2004). They also believe that the real Bible reflects the message that God intended for his people as the Holy Scripture. However, the bible that is read today is corrupted and does not reflect the tries teachings of God. Muslims also believe that Christians think that, without the holy trinity, there is no Christianity, as Christians believe that the trinity makes a link with God; that is not the case with Muslims.
On the other hand, Christians think that Muslims do not worship the same God as theirs because Muhammad was a slave owner, a thief, a sex glutton and a killer. This is not a good example for any person who believes in God should follow. Muslims do not value their women, and they do not allow them to school and use them as sex slaves, which is not right according to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus respected women and did not kill or persecuted any person. This was not the case with Muhammad, who persecuted people because they did not believe in him. He also killed those who did not fall to his knees. Jesus treated every person equally and loved every person, as his own children.
In conclusion, the two religions believe in the existence of the living God and in the miracles that were performed by his prophets for that reason it is right to say that although the two religions are controversial they have a lot in common, which makes it easier to believe that there is the existence of one God. The teachings of God are almost the different religions. Although the world has different denominations and religions at the end of the day, they all believe in one supreme God. For that reason, it does not matter which religion one belongs to all that matters is whether, as an individual a person believes in the coming of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins. God is the creator of the universe, and he created all human beings in his likeness.
Reference List
Hoffman, Valerie J. 1995. Sufism, mystics, and saints in modern Egypt. Columbia, S.C.: University of South Carolina Press.
Hsia, Ronnie Po-chia. 2004. A companion to the reformation world. Malden, MA: Blackwell. http://www.sehepunkte.historicum.net/2004/11/5321.html.
Savory, Roger. 1980. Iran under the Safavids. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wiesner, Merry E. 2009. Religious transformations in the early modern world: a brief history with documents. Boston, Mass: Bedford/St. Martins.
