World Religions

The Gospel and Friendship in a Pluralistic Suburb

What Do You Know?

What forms of Christianity are you ashamed or angry

to be associated with?

Do you have any personal experience with Islam?

What do you know about American Islam?

What questions do you have about Islam?

1.2.

3.4.

Our “Mars Hill” Methodology

1.

• A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview

2.

• Areas of agreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice

3.

• Areas of disagreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice

GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking relationship with someone of another faith.

Islam

A Life Submitted to God

Defusing Some Myths

Islam isn’t irredeemably violent

Culture vs. Religion

Islam’s “Moon God of Mecca”

The Birth of Islam: Mecca

Mecca:Center ofPeace &

Trade

Allah:Tribal God

Mohammed:

Marries into a

Caravan

The Birth of Islam: Revelations

The Birth of Islam: Troubles

• Allah is the only godMonotheism

• The idols of the Kabah are sinful

Iconoclasm

• Disrupted Meccan business practiceAnti-usury

The Birth of Islam: On the Run

AD 619:

Flight

AD 620: Night

of Ascen

t

AD 622: Hijra

Islam: The Path of Submission

•SubmissionIslam

•One who Submits

Muslim

•Shalom/PeaceSalaam

God (Allah) in Islam

Allah means ‘God’ in Arabic.

Same Story, Different Players

Allah

Abraham (Ibrahim)Moses (Muse)

David (Dawud)

Jesus (Isa)

Jesus (Isa) in Islam

Born of a Virgin

Taught disciples

Did miracles through God’s powerSeemed to have been crucifiedAscended/Assumed into Heaven

Jesus (Isa) in Islam

Son of Mary

Prophet

Word of

God

Messiah

Jesus (Isa) in Islam

Muslims believe in the Second Coming of Jesus.

Orthodoxy

Orthopraxy

Orthopraxy vs. Orthodoxy

Muslim Scripture: The Qur’an (Koran)

Muslim Scripture: Hadiths

Conservative

Reason=PrideAllah

determines all

LiberalReason is GoodWe have free will

Muslim Practice: The 5 Pillars

Testimony

5 Daily Prayers

Giving to the Poor

Fasting during

Ramadan

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Jihad: The 6th Pillar

Greater Jihad

Lesser

Jihad

Jihad: The 6th Pillar

Historical Development of Islam

632-635

Orthodox

Caliphate

635-750Damascu

s Caliphat

e

750-1258

Baghdad Caliphate

1453-1921

Ottoman Empire

1921-Presen

tModern Islam

Branches of Islam Today

Sunni

• Most Muslims• Emphasis on

Public Life• Broad spectrum

Shi’ite

• Heredity• Light of

Mohammed• 12th Imam• Popular with

non-Arabs

Sufi

• Interactions with Christian monastics

• Is it Muslim heresy?

Other Muslim Practices

Eating Hallal

Prohibition of usury and gambling

Circumcision

Prohibition against making images

Marriage and Gender Roles

Women in Islam

Burkah Hijab

Building Bridges to Islam

We worship the same God

We both value a relationship with God

We both love Jesus!

We both value Family and Tradition

We both value spiritual practices

Where Islam and Christianity Disagree

Polytheism?

Spirit

Father

Son

Making vs. Begetting

God

Father

SonSpirit

God/Father

Son

Spirit

Where Islam and Christianity Disagree

Islam: God is Transcendent

Christianity: God is Love

God

Father

SonSpirit

Incarnation

• Jesus is Godin flesh.

Where Islam and Christianity Disagree

Is God Trinity? Is Jesus God?

Different views of the Bible.

Our sacred histories diverge.

Islam is less social.

Assurance of Salvation

How Not to Build a Friendship

Don’t denigrate Allah (God)

Don’t assume Muslims are violent

Don’t assume Muslims hate Americans

Don’t confuse culture and religion

How to Be a Perfect Stranger

Worship is on Fridays

Men and women separate

Women wear a headscarf

Worship is prayer and a sermon

Be respectful during Ramadan

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