Clouseau

[QUOTE=enoch007;4494306]Ok, so despite the crosses on millions of buildings, you think that the central message of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. How do you work out that 'The similiarities between Islam and Christianity outweigh any differences' when Muslims say that Jesus was not resurrected?

enoch007

[QUOTE=Clouseau;4494370]
My point was the establishment of Judaic religions outside of Judaism. Both the Muslims and Christians point to central Prophets, but, of course, the Christians, in the best tradition of Rome, deified theirs. The cross itself, as a symbol in Christianity, simply points to the struggle of suffering that the human condition entails (with, of course, its promise of resurrection).

enoch007

of course, when I speak of "my point" it is only refering to what I wrote about previously. Other posters above have also made the connection between the two religions which I simply re-stated.

Clouseau

[QUOTE=enoch007;4494386][QUOTE=Clouseau;4494370]Garbage. Your very words were ''The similiarities between Islam and Christianity outweigh any differences.' What an obvious heap of nonsense that is to anyone who knows much about these faiths. The central fact in the whole cosmos is the crucifixion of Christ, as far as Christians are concerned, and maybe as far as a lot more than Christians are concerned. Maybe a snivelling coward in a cave wrote that Jesus did not die, but said that an angel told him to write it. Maybe an angel of Allah did tell him, after allowing the world to believe otherwise for 600 years. Maybe pigs can fly.

The best tradition of Rome? Are you ok? Rome made Christianity illegal for over 200 years, and it was probably unofficially illegal for a very long time after that, too.

enoch007

The similarities of the acknowledged Jewish Prophets, the similarity of the one indivisible god, the shared cultural antecedants and shared history I believe outweigh the differences of catechism. Of course, subsequent history of both movements provide extensive divergence but, if your father and my father were the same man, would we not be brothers despite the fact we despise one another? As for the "whole cosmos (being)...the crucifiction of Christ" I still maintain this was but a vehicle for the resurrection, which is the point of the story. If Jesus were merely crucified, without being zombified and returning, what would the point of the story be?

That the Romans and Temple authorities were oppressive and had people killed, oh, big news there!

Yes, one of the traditions of the Romans were to Deify great individuals. The Roman's had no compunction about Deifying anyone with the reputation or might which demanded it. Regardless of the initial proscription of Christianity within Rome, the cultural enviornment within the Roman world made it easier for people to accept the ascendance of an individual into the ranks of the gods far easier than that case would have been made to Hebrew scholars (who, in fact, rejected such an idea).

Minimalist

[QUOTE=Clouseau;4494227]

Hmmm....why is it that for an outfit that claims it's god wants no "graven images" that every one of their buildings has a graven image of a cross with their godman on it?

Seems to be a bit of a violation of one of their so-called Commandments.

enoch007

[QUOTE=Minimalist;4494545]
Yes, true, right and of course. I never said they were the same religion. Of course you can find differences, which look pretty vast to true believers of either sect. But looking at it from the outside, Islam is far closer to either Christianity or Judiasm than it is to Hinduism, or Buddhism or anamistic religions. One can point to any number of Doctrinal dissimularities but, the singular idea of the One God, coupled with the shared heritage points in a general, singular direction.

Clouseau

[QUOTE=enoch007;4494509][QUOTE=Clouseau;4494444]And the Bible was written by Constantine, too.

It really is quite hopeless the tangle you've got into.

torquemada

In the middle ages Christian theologians could not easily decide whether Islam was a different religion or a Christian heresy. It is so close to early Jewish Christianity -- belief in the True Prophet, etc. -- that it could be called more Christian than anything we now call Christian. It reveres Jesus and Mary, believes her to be a virgin, believes Jesus only pretended to be crucified or someone else was substituted for him. These ideas are found in various early Christian sects and groups.

Clouseau

[QUOTE=Minimalist;4494545]Why is it important? Are you worried for their eternal souls?