Do we have the same "God"?

[blackribbon]

I have a friend who is Muslim. She doesn't wear the whole headcovering but this is her belief system. As we talk about family, religious beliefs enter the conversation because we can't really separate them from our worlds. I have recommended a couple marriage books to her that I truly believe would help her relationship with her husband. She understands that they are Christian based but stated that it is okay "because we have the same God". It took me back but honestly, I believe she is correct. We both have the God of Abraham...and Adam & Eve in common. I recognize that how we look at God is very different but it is still the same God.

When I was talking to a Christian friend, she said I was wrong...that we don't have the same God.

The don't have Jesus and that is a key difference that is more than a little bit significant and they don't have a personal relationship with God (on any level)...but is it really wrong to say we don't have the same God?

What do you think?

My basis is that there are a lot of people in the world that believe me to be this way or that way ... however, regardless of their perceptions (or the correctness of perceptions) I am still me. Their beliefs of who I am doesn't change the reality of who I am.

Isn't the Muslim faith from Ishmael's lineage?

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I have to side with your friend. Their "version" of God is really quite different when you get into it. And while Ishmael did reside in the Arab nation it was Muhammad who started the Islamic religion.

Here are a couple of links. One shows the differences side by side on the beliefs and the other talks about the Islamic religion and origins.

Basic Beliefs of Christians and Muslims

Where and when did Islam originate? Did Ishmael, son of Abraham start this religion? | Evidence for Christianity


Alot of religions like to say they are the same as Christians but they clearly are not. Mormons are one example. Any Mormon will say they are Christian, but yet they think Jesus and Satan were brothers and you have to earn your way to heaven and on and on and on.

 

[blackribbon]

I did not say the religions were the same...but is the God/god the same?...I mean obviously the Roman, Greek, and Egyptian gods are not...and the Mormon isn't because they all believe that they can strive to become "gods" or god-like without a single deity...

I will read your links when I get home from studying because I am very interested in learning more...I find myself very ignorant on this religion and would like to remedy that...

The Jewish G-d is the same as the Christian God even though our religions and relationship with God are very different....

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I still don't believe their "God" is the same as ours.

 

[blackribbon]

Do you believe the Jewish G-d is the same as ours? Jews don't believe in Christ or original sin.

 

[emilie mayer]

Jesus is the way, the truth,and the life. Jesus died on the cross so our sins would be forgiven.

 

[emilie mayer]

Jesus is the one who makes us able to have a relationship with God. Our sins seperate us from God.

 

[blackribbon]

I know that Christ is the only way to salvation...but that does not mean that there isn't any common history or acknowledgement of the same deity even if they have a warped or incomplete version...

 

[dayhiker]

Black - I think some Muslims probably believe in God in a way that will get them to the same God but not the same Jesus. I think that because God is so gracious.

But I don't think Mohammad had any knew revelation from God, not do I think his life is a good example of how to live a godly life. As I read his life story he was an evil man in his old age. Having a woman and a man who were about 100 yrs old killed for making fun of him. His last wife was 9 yrs old when he took her to his room. And many other things his did didn't know show the love of God in any way.

I spent a year reading everything I could get on Islam after 9-11. Its easy to find Christian web sites that answer the theological issues from a Christian perspective. The site that was most meaningful to me is put up by an ex-muslim who isn't a theist as far as I know, but has the best research, the best histories of how Islam treats peoples. I read the history of how Islam conquered India. One of the saddest stories I've ever read in all my life.

The site is faithfreedom.org But for some reason its not available to me tonight even tho the site is up and running.

 

[blackribbon]

I don't believe that it is some version of an "acceptable" way to God but I do believe that it must have had some history and roots from an oral and maybe written religion handed down from Ismael's generation...maybe mixed with some Jewish and Christian teachings of the time.

I think in many ways a "warped" version of the real God is more dangerous than a false god because there is just enough truth there to make it feel real or for someone to get comfortable. However, it appears to be a religion based on "works" and not faith or grace so it is not a way to Heaven. We can get to heaven either by being sinless or by having our sins covered by Christ's blood. That is it.

Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

It sounds to me like the biggest deception would be a warped version of the truth.

 

[blackribbon]

I read Michelle's link and my belief is still the same...that Islam was very likely a religion that started with the true God and was warped through out the years until it reach Mohammed who revived it and revised it and warped it further.

There is no doubt that Mohammed was a man who had evil in his life...it makes sense because he didn't have Christ. However, Christian history isn't without its own horrible bouts of very unChristlike and evil behavior. The evil is evident when man chooses not to follow Christ.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Do you believe the Jewish G-d is the same as ours? Jews don't believe in Christ or original sin.

Yes I do believe that the Jewish God is the same as ours. That's what my bible says. They were God's chosen people. The problem today with many jewish people is that they are still looking for the messiah. They don't believe that Jesus was "it".

Islam is a WHOLE nother ballgame. It's false, and IMO counterfeit. A counterfeit can look very much like the real thing and that is the devils hope. That we won't see it for what it really is and will believe in a false God. So my belief is still the same. NOT the same God IMO.

 

[blackribbon]

Did you know the Jews don't believe in original sin? Without that, would they even believe they need a personal Savior? They may not even be looking for a "Christ"-like redeemer. I know for a little while we had a Masonic Jew on here. I'd be very interested in hearing his views or anyone else who understands this.

 

[Crypto]

Did you know the Jews don't believe in original sin? Without that, would they even believe they need a personal Savior? They may not even be looking for a "Christ"-like redeemer. I know for a little while we had a Masonic Jew on here. I'd be very interested in hearing his views or anyone else who understands this.

Jews know that God will not ignore their sins, since their God (and our Christian God) is absolutely just. Hence, Jewish people know that they need to be redeemed. This idea of redemption is a constant throughout the Old Testament.

Coming back to your original question, Allah is not God. Allah hates the unbeliever and wants the death of the unbeliever, whereas God loves the unbeliever, to the point that He died for us, sinners. Moreover, according to the Koran in the last day Allah will ignore the sins of the Muslims. Our God could not ignore our sins, because, unlike Allah, our God is infinitely just. That's why Jesus had to pay for our sins. Also, Allah wants his followers to establish an earthly Islamic kingdom, with the aim of enforcing Sharia law upon all mankind (Muslims and non-Muslims), whereas God instructed His followers to save individuals (not to control kingdoms) and to live their lives as pilgrims.

 

[blackribbon]

Thank you Cypto for that information. It helps give me a place to start. Like I said, I am woefully ignorant about Islam.

What do Jews do now for redemption? They used to make blood sacrifices. For Christians, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. How do does the Jewish faith address it now? And what do Jews believe happens after death?

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

I have a friend who is Muslim. She doesn't wear the whole headcovering but this is her belief system. As we talk about family, religious beliefs enter the conversation because we can't really separate them from our worlds. I have recommended a couple marriage books to her that I truly believe would help her relationship with her husband. She understands that they are Christian based but stated that it is okay "because we have the same God". It took me back but honestly, I believe she is correct. We both have the God of Abraham...and Adam & Eve in common. I recognize that how we look at God is very different but it is still the same God.

When I was talking to a Christian friend, she said I was wrong...that we don't have the same God.

The don't have Jesus and that is a key difference that is more than a little bit significant and they don't have a personal relationship with God (on any level)...but is it really wrong to say we don't have the same God?

What do you think?

My basis is that there are a lot of people in the world that believe me to be this way or that way ... however, regardless of their perceptions (or the correctness of perceptions) I am still me. Their beliefs of who I am doesn't change the reality of who I am.

Isn't the Muslim faith from Ishmael's lineage?

You should be able to google the differences between Islam and Christianity, but, no............they do not have the same God in the least. Their God is not the Triune God we worship / Jesus isn't the Messiah / Jesus never died on the cross........instead it was Judas Escariot who fooled everyone / Allah is not personally knowable because he is so far removed from Humans / Mohammed is a greater Prophet that Jesus even though Mohammed did no miracles/ was married to 5 women in which one of them was a 12 year old girl as just a few examples.

Islam is a false religion started by a Religionist named Mohammed whos life was filled with sin , control, and power and who never claimed he was God.........just a regular Man. Islam when uncovered, is really a hostile religion with hardly any tolerance and wrought with manmade heresy like a faithful Muslim Man obtaining a harem of Virgins in the afterlife (so much for their god being one of purity, holiness, and morality) .

Muslims are difficult to reach and are usually quite anti-Christian but there are some who have heard the truth and have exited their Faith . I have some Friends who did .

 

[Crypto]

Thank you Cypto for that information. It helps give me a place to start. Like I said, I am woefully ignorant about Islam.

What do Jews do now for redemption? They used to make blood sacrifices. For Christians, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. How do does the Jewish faith address it now? And what do Jews believe happens after death?

Hi. I am also learning about Islam and the deeper you go into it, the most evident it is that our God and their Allah are not the same person. I recommend you two books of Mark A. Gabriel, a former Islamic scholar who became Christian:

Once I read the story of a Jew who became Christian because he realized that right now it is impossible for Jewish people to pay for their sins. Since the temple of Jerusalem is no longer in place, nobody can sacrifice a lamb as an expiation for the sins of the Jews. He thought about it for a long time, until he realized that Jesus is the true lamb of God, who pays for our sins.

 

[Crypto]

You should be able to google the differences between Islam and Christianity, but, no............they do not have the same God in the least. Their God is not the Triune God we worship / Jesus isn't the Messiah / Jesus never died on the cross........instead it was Judas Escariot who fooled everyone / Allah is not personally knowable because he is so far removed from Humans / Mohammed is a greater Prophet that Jesus even though Mohammed did no miracles/ was married to 5 women in which one of them was a 12 year old girl as just a few examples.

Islam is a false religion started by a Religionist named Mohammed whos life was filled with sin , control, and power and who never claimed he was God.........just a regular Man. Islam when uncovered, is really a hostile religion with hardly any tolerance and wrought with manmade heresy like a faithful Muslim Man obtaining a harem of Virgins in the afterlife (so much for their god being one of purity, holiness, and morality) .

Muslims are difficult to reach and are usually quite anti-Christian but there are some who have heard the truth and have exited their Faith . I have some Friends who did .

Hi. Muhammad had 13 wives. However, I believe that Muhammad's maximum amount of simultaneous wives was eleven. He also had four concubines. This is very strange because the Koran only allows four wives (and an unlimited number of sexual slaves). He betrothed Aisha, his favorite wife, when she was six years old, and he consummated the marriage when she was nine years old (nine lunar years, which are shorter than our current solar years).

 

[TheyCallMeDavid]

Hi. Muhammad had 13 wives. However, I believe that Muhammad's maximum amount of simultaneous wives was eleven. He also had four concubines. This is very strange because the Koran only allows four wives (and an unlimited number of sexual slaves). He betrothed Aisha, his favorite wife, when she was six years old, and he consummated the marriage when she was nine years old (nine lunar years, which are shorter than our current solar years).

A fine example of a Rapist and hardly Someone to call Islams 'Greatest Prophet of God' .

 

[Crypto]

A fine example of a Rapist and hardly Someone to call Islams 'Greatest Prophet of God' .

I concur. The worst aspect of it is that Muhammad is, according to the Qur'an, the finest example of how a Muslim should behave. Therefore, in Yemen and Iran child brides are commonplace.