Hello World.
I’m using my daily thoughts and encounters to discover as many things as possible which bring together, rather than divide, our various belief systems and cultures.
This will be my final entry in this particular blog, as I feel a calling to go elsewhere and expand on the question of how science intertwines with religion instead of, as so many seem to believe, refuting it. This seems a natural progression for me, but I do not wish my words in this blog to be forgotten, and hope that I, and anyone who has read this, can encourage people around them to celebrate what they have in common.
It is possible, even between people or cultures that seem impossibly different, to find common ground and peace through that. If I were to ask you which two religions are the most dissimilar, perhaps you would reply that Christianity and Islam are. After all, they argue on so many theological points, are separated by communities and whole sections of the planet, and have even been to war with each other.
Yet if we look properly we find so many more similarities. Some may find this to be a touchy or controversial subject so I will refrain from going into deep discussion, but I will list the points which unite both religions:
- Both are Abrahamic religions; that is, they trace their origins back to Abraham;
- Both teach from a holy book, and Islam recognises the Bible as a valid source of teaching, referring to Christians and Jews as the People of the Book;
- Muslims are taught to revere Christians as humble and wise, and defend them from aggressors;
- Both believe in one God (the name Allah means God);
- Both believe Adam to be the first created man, and that he was misled by a fallen angel;
- Both believe in the stories of Cain and Abel, and Noah and the Ark, which both also believe came to rest atop a mountain after a great flood;
- Both believe in the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and their subsequent destruction, which Lot’s wife failed to fully survive;
- Both believe in Joseph and some of his visions;
- Both believe in Moses, his adoption, his communication with God through a fire, the plagues, the parting of a sea, commandments written on tablets of stone, and the golden calf;
- Both believe in the story of David and Goliath;
- Both believe in the story of Jonah and the large fish;
- Both believe in Zechariah and that he was promised a son despite his wife being barren, and that John was his son and was a great prophet;
- Both believe in Jesus and that he was born of an immaculate conception;
- Both believe Jesus was able to bring the dead back to life;
- Both believe Jesus was able to heal leprosy and blindness;
- Both believe Jesus was condemned to be crucified;
- Both believe Jesus ascended to Heaven and will return to judge us.
In addition to this list there are well over fifty common characters in the Bible and the Qu’ran. Let us not forget the shared doctrines of belief in peace, humility, loving one’s neighbour, and righteousness, and here we actually have two religions, which, on the face of things and in our current climate, seem so very different but yet can be reconciled a hundred or more times over.
As if to underline this point even further (and perhaps highlight it in bold), I recently ready about a very unusual religion. This religion is called Chrislam and does exactly what it says on the tin. Currently it exists only in Nigeria, but seems to be quite extraordinary. Combining both religions, it believes in both holy texts, sings songs from both faiths, and holds joint services. Similarities are revered, differences ignored.
I find that truly amazing, and in an area of Africa experiencing many daily struggles it must be a blessing for the people to have something they can turn to which does not judge them harshly for being faithful people, just because they follow a different creed to their neighbours.
So should we all convert to Chrislam? No, of course not. But if there exists a community where two such different religions can co-exist in perfect harmony, then there is surely no excuse for the rest of us. After all, we may be different to the people living next door, as individuals we all are, but there will always be greater differences which better people than me have successfully reconciled.
To summarise this blog then...let’s do the same. Thanks for listening, and if you wish to follow my new blog, you are most welcome on a new journey.
Take care!
