Stories about Biblical characters such as Adam, Noah, Abraham and even Christ can also be found in the Koran, the holy book of Islam.
Christianity, Judaism and Islam aren't as dissimilar as many people think, according to an Aberdeen professor. Martin Albl, who is Christian, teaches world religion at Presentation College. Monday, he gave what amounted to a crash course on the oft-misunderstood religion of Islam to about 65 people during a brown bag lunch discussion on the PC campus.
The notion that Islam is a violent religion is inaccurate, he said. In fact the word Islam, when translated, means “Surrender to God.” That'd be the same God that Christians believe in. But whereas Christians believe in a trinity - father, son and holy spirit - Islam teaches that there is only one God and that he has no equal. For Muslims, the trinity takes “away from the oneness of God,” Albl said.
“There is no God except God, and Mohammed is his prophet,” reads the first and most important belief of Islam.
Believers in Islam, called Muslims, believe that Christ is a prophet as well. But Mohammed takes priority because he is believed to be the author of the Koran.
Mohammed died in 632 A.D. He lived much of his life in Mecca, believed by Muslims to be the holiest city on Earth.
There are four other pillars of Islam, none of which Christians would find terribly objectionable:
Praying five times a day;
Contributing a certain percentage of one's income to support the poor, an act of social justice;
Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the month during which they believe the angel Gabriel revealed the chapters of the Koran to Mohammad; and
Making a pilgrimage to Mecca if one is physically and financially able. Praying and tithing are Christian teachings. Catholics fast on Fridays during Lent. Members of many religions make pilgrimages to their respective holy lands. Similarities abound, Albl said.
Other Islamic beliefs include:
That Christ was born of the virgin Mary,
That Christ is a messiah;
That Christ preformed great miracles; and
That the books of the Old Testament are holy books.
The extremist sects of Christianity, Judaism or Islam cause tension, he said.
Osama bin Laden, who American authorities say played a large role in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, subscribes to an extreme set of Islamic beliefs, Albl said. So does the Taliban government of Afghanistan. Much of their anti-American sentiment comes from the fact that they think “non-believers,” or those who aren't Muslim, should not be allowed in the Islamic holy land of Arabia for any reason.
That idea may not jive with citizens of a free society, but Christians need to look at the history of their own religion lest they be too critical:
The Ku Klux Klan dubs itself a Christian group.
Prosperous American slave owners proclaimed to be Christians.
The concept of ethnic cleansing in places such as Bosnia was largely supported by Christian leaders who were targeting Muslims.
Starting in about 1100 A.D., Christians launched crusades or holy wars in an attempt to convert Palestinians who were largely Muslims. “If you look at certain ideas, you could get the idea that Christianity is a violent religion. The same can be said of Islam,” Albl said. “You can distort the Christian religion as well.”
American foreign policy adds to the friction, Albl said:
The United States supports the Jewish state of Israel. Most Muslims do not because they consider it part of their holy land.
The United State has also supported leaders such as the Shah of Iran who looked out for American interest while oppressing his own people.
Additionally, an audience member pointed out, the United States, England and France pushed to create the country of Kuwait to serve their oil interests. “We took the oil and left them the sand,” she said. “I think we have our fingers dipped in oil, and that's where the hatred comes from.”
Muslims also generally believe that American culture is morally corrupt. Movies and the Internet have contributed to that image, although it's somewhat deserved, Albl said.
Tension between the United States and many Middle East countries is undoubtedly the result of both politics and religion, according to the professor. But despite the differences, he said, most Muslims have a high tolerance for Christians and Jews.
“But this isn't always carried out in history just as Christians don't always live up to the Bible,” Albl said. “You have to distinguish between what the teachings are and what the actions are.”