Fundamentalists, Is There a Difference?

[John Wayne]

What are the similarities between fundamentalist Muslims and Christians? With the all too obvious differences between the practitioners of the two largest religions in the modern world, it is easy to overlook just how similar their staunchest believers are. Yet conflicts from all across the globe and throughout history have thrown a cloud of dust into the face of any who look at Christianity and Islam. From the Crusades of the 11th-13th centuries to ethnic cleansings in Serbia, conflict has marred many a hope for the two religions to coexist peacefully. The recent Gulf War in 2003 has only
heightened these feelings of discontent and distrust. Yet if one takes a long step away from the smoke cloud that surrounds Islam and Christianity, they are able to see the many similarities between the two faiths. From dogma and basic concepts to its application in real life, both Islam’s and Christianity’s most ardent followers and believers are more similar than they would want to consider.

The Dogma of both faiths is forever intertwined, thanks in part to Mohammad viewing Jesus as a previous prophet of God and looking at both the Holy Bible and the Torah as sacred texts. The Ten Commandments are a prime example of this as the blessed book of both faiths holds all the commandments with practically no difference in the actual written word and the message that it gives. Take the Sixth Commandment, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) and compare it to its counterpart within the Qur’ran, “Nor take life which Allah has made sacred” (Qur’ran 17:33). Although the verses themselves are only slightly different in wording, the general message, that killing is wrong and should not be done, is not lost on either faith.

In addition to the dogma many basic concepts, such as there being only one god and that he or she is omnipotent and omniscient, are trends in both credos. How they treat women, as objects who have as much in common with slaves than they do with the men, is another similarity; as is the belief of an eternal soul or spirit that continues to exist after the death of ones mortal container and that a final judgment will determine our eternal abode, Heaven or Hell, can be found in both the Bible and the Qur’ran. Both faiths believe in Jesus Christ as a prophet of God, although Christians also believe that he is the Son of God. This is a most surprising fact to many Christians, who do not know nor realize that Muslims view Jesus and other Hebrew prophets as being valid in their faith.

Along with the basic dogma and concepts, the mythos of each faith is connected as well. Angels, for example, exist in the mythos of Christianity and Islam. The most well known of the angels being the Archangel Gabriel, who is prominently featured in both religions. This archangel was the one who heralded the birth of Jesus to Mary, and whom convinced Joseph not to recant his marriage to Mary after he learned she was pregnant. Within Islam it was Gabriel, his name pronounced Jibril in Arabic, who told Mohammed the Qur’ran and took him to Heaven to meet the past prophets of God.

Despite the many similarities between the two religions it is not the religion itself we are focusing on, but how the fundamentalists of each faith act. We already know that both sets of Dogma profess the need for women to be subservient to men in many fashions. Despite the recent ‘advancements’ of gender equality, many women who are raised in a fundamentalist setting continue to act in a submissive manner to the men of their respective families. For both Christian and Muslim women, they can not have a job unless their husbands or fathers let them, they must cover their bodies at all times, they must concentrate solely on pleasing their husband in any manner possible, and should take whatever their husband gives them, such as a beating.

It is not only the women who follow this faith that must abide by those rules, but others who either marry into it or visit an area heavily populated by its practitioners. The most noticeable examples would be the First and Second Gulf War and going to a church in Europe. During the two Gulf Wars, female soldiers had to cover their bodies if they left a military base and they could only leave the base if a fellow male soldier escorted them. When visiting a Catholic Church in Europe, it is required of women to wear a long dress, or long pants, and a shirt that covers the shoulders as it is considered disrespectful to God to not do so.

In both situations, women conducted themselves in such a manner as to not earn the ire of those in power, Saudi and Catholic officials respectively. The above actions have been viewed as being considerate of the religion in the region. Yet I see this as religious strong-arming. The officials forced women to act and dress in a manner that befits women according to their individual sacred texts. Forcing ones religious views down the thought of others is not considered to be tasteful, even in such circumstances. Yet the above actions only clarify my point of how similar the fundamentalists of each faith are in both dogma and its application.

As I have shown, Islam and Christianity are very similar faiths. From specific dogma to the religions mythos, both faiths are forever entwined on a written level. Yet it is when the fundamentalist believers of both credos stand side by side that the most hidden similarities can be found and revealed to all. Conflicts, both past and present, have created a dust cloud around the faiths. Then viewed with a critical eye, the question of how similar they are can be answered without pause.

[Turbo]

My opinion -

One thing I've remarked with fundamentalists is a literal interpretation of either the Koran or the bible. They seldomly interpret it themselves but allow their leaders to do it for them. Parts of the scripture that does not suit their interests are often ignored. Past teachings or church history is ignored as if it never happened. Most fundamentalists are not traditionalists. Also, the only path to enlightenment and salvation is their path and belief only.

Let qualify my comments by saying I don't know anyone who is a Muslim fundamentalist except what I have read. I have met plenty of protestant fundamentalists.