A Couplet of Doom

They captured swaths of territory with unspeakable violence. They struck terror into the hearts of those inhabiting the lands they conquered. No military force could initially counter their advances. Could they be the Mongols? Or are they the Islamic State group? A brief look at the history of the two suggests it is not either, but both.

The Mongols, of course, came first. Around the year 1220 the Mongols swept into the Middle East, leaving behind a swath of destruction that was later recorded by Ibn al-Athir. Athir was utterly horrified by the Mongol conquests: not only did he directly compare them to the Antichrist, he gave the Antichrist a more positive review. Given his testimony that the Mongols “[ripped] open pregnant women and [killed] unborn babies” [1], the repulsed reaction is not terribly surprising. In fact, Athir is so appalled by the atrocities he claims they were “the greatest catastrophe and the most dire calamity…which befell all men…since God Almighty created Adam until now” [1]. Now, Athir had spent time following the armies of Saladin, and was thus no stranger to warfare or violence. For him to be so utterly stunned as to proclaim the worst calamity in the history of mankind reflects the sheer magnitude and ruthlessness of the Mongols.

In late-2014, the United Nations released a report [2] detailing atrocities committed by the Islamic State group in Iraq. According to this report, the Islamic State groups undertook executions, assassinations, and other killings (to include stonings, decapitations, and more), and practiced the use of civilian human shields. They also particularly targeted women and religious leaders and monuments. These examples only scratch the surface of the acts detailed in the 40-page report, but nonetheless one can draw parallels to the acts of the Mongols.

There is some irony in the fact the Mongols persecuted Muslim populations in their conquest, while the conquests of the Islamic State group were motivated by their faith (hence the name, and the goal of creating an independent Islamic state). Still, even the Islamic State group attacked other Muslims, and subjugated them to horrific acts.

The similarities between the two are nevertheless striking. Expanding rapidly, the two both conquered large areas of territory and committed acts of atrocity within their boundaries. The Mongols, however, were more given to tolerance of other people within the lands they conquered. They were open to the existence of several religions concurrently. By contrast, the Islamic State group targeted and persecuted those of even different sects of Islam heavily, not to mention Christians, Jews, and others within the land they conquered.

In the downfall of both, too, there are differences. The Mongol conquest was halted when a succession crisis (like with nearly any empire) forced the advances to halt on the eastern edge of Europe. The Islamic State group, on the other hand, was forced to retreat after a local coalition with international backing (read as: incessant airstrikes from western nations) wrested back control of the conquered lands.

The world was unprepared for the Mongol invasion and never expected anything like it. While the exact form it took may have been unusual, the Islamic State group’s rise was predictable based on regional turmoil and past example. Despite this, the two bear remarkable similarities stretching from their rapid speed of expansion, persecution of those within their borders, and legacy of terror. In the (alleged) words of Mark Twain, “history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

Tom Vilinskis

Word Count: 548

Sources:

[1] The Perfect History, Ibn al-Athir c.1225

[2] Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Iraq: 6 July – 10 September 2014 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMI_OHCHR_POC_Report_FINAL_6July_10September2014.pdf

[3] ISIS: The first terror group to build an Islamic state?https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/world/meast/who-is-the-isis/index.html

Finding the Common Ground

Christians and Muslims throughout history have been pitted against each other due to seemingly irreconcilable differences and general mistrust on both sides. This is largely thanks to several historical events, examples being the Crusades in which the Christians attacked and occupied the Holy Land and modern-day Muslim attacks on Christians in Nigeria. Many believe that the underlying reasoning for this violence and mistrust between the two religions stems from Islam and Christianity’s lack of common ground. While the two religions are mutually exclusive, they share surprising similarities such as afterlife and belief in the existence of Jesus Christ.

Both Muslims and Christians believe that ‘Judgement Day’ will come and that all men and women will be judged according to their deeds. On this day, these religions concur that the universe will end and that God will select those who are loyal and good, and banish those whom lack belief. Islam’s sacred text, the Qur’an, states that “those who believe and do good deeds, they are the dwellers of Paradise, they dwell therein forever” (2); Christianity’s Holy Bible similarly reads: “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (1). While the specific events of Judgement Day vary between the religions, such as Christians believing the Earth “shall be burned up” (1) and Muslims believing the day will follow a schedule of events known as Qiyama, both centralize on the idea of good versus evil.

Christianity and Islam also interestingly share a belief in the existence of Jesus Christ. To Christians, Jesus is the central figure of the religion and his life and death provide the key to forgiveness and salvation. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the “word of God who became flesh” (1) and is therefore both human and divine. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was born of a virgin mother, performed miracles, was crucified, and his second coming will bring the end of time. Muslims also hold Jesus as a special figure in their faith and believe that he was the second greatest of all prophets, next to Muhammad. The Quran gives details about Jesus’s miraculous birth, wise teaches, and miracles. However, Muslims believe that Jesus “was no more than a messenger” (2) and he is therefore not the son of God or divine.

Despite the similarities stated above, Islam and Christianity are indeed mutually exclusive. One cannot believe in both Christianity and Islam, for the two religions diverge in essential areas. In the example of Judgement Day, Muslims would believe that Christians would be sent to Hell and vice versa. Additionally, as stated previously, Christianity centralizes around the belief that Jesus is God and Islam outright rejects this. While both religions share fascinating similarities and cross paths on certain values, they are fundamentally different. These differences do not mean, however, that conflicts between the two religions should continue. It rather invokes the need for Islam and Christianity to focus on their shared beliefs and respect their divergences.

Lauren McDonnell

Word Count: 518

Sources:

The Holy Bible: King James Version. Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, 2001.
The Holy Qur’an. https://quran.com/ (accessed 25 March 2019).

Relentless Regimes

The Mongol Empire was a very brutal regime that had no limits. They conquered in all directions to include most of Central Asia and even Eastern Asia. A regime in history that is somewhat similar to the Mongols in regards to conquest and brutality, is the German Nazis during World War II. Like the Mongols, the Nazis were relentless in their conquest in murdering the Jewish people to include women and children in unethical warfare. The Mongol Empire and German Nazis have some similarities in their ruthless acts of war-fighting and conquest.

The Mongols conquered other cities for the sake of their warfighting mentality and revenge. Temujin took it upon himself to reunite the Mongol empire and conquered surrounding tribes in the process. Temujin describes their purpose as, “Man’s greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize all his possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing”[1] (400). During their conquests, the Mongols would slaughter all enemies (including women and children), rape women, cut open pregnant women’s wombs, and boil enemy chiefs. During World War II, the German Nazis were similar to the Mongols in their level of brutality. They were relentless in killing their enemies to also include women and children. They used immoral warfare to include gas chambers. They were able to gain power quickly with their strong military, similar to the Mongols.

Obviously, the Mongols and Nazis had many differences. The Nazis targeted a specific group of people, being the Jewish, while the Mongols would slaughter anybody in their way. The Nazis also did conquer many cities, but for the sake of spreading their beliefs of the “superior race” and capturing Jewish people. The reason the Nazis were able to get away with what they were doing for a while, was through propaganda. Adolf Hitler convinced his people that what they were doing was morally right and deceived other nations using propaganda. In this case, Adolf Hitler can be related to Genghis Khan because of their ruthless leadership in conquest and rule. Another major difference is that the Mongols’ conquest lasted over a century while the Nazis only lasted a few years before being defeated.

I believe that although both Mongols and Nazis conducted inhumane tactics in warfighting, the German Nazis are more heavily criticized because of the time period, and it has had more of an impact on today’s society since WWII took place only about seventy-five years ago as opposed to the Mongolian regime which took place in the twelfth and thirteenth century. Most of society now does not understand the terrifying Mongols and their impact on Central Asia and Eastern Europe in early history especially since the Mongol history is still not fully understood.

-Kevin Semma

Word count: 432

[1] Spodek

“Thinking Done by Cowards, Fighting by Fools”

Most consider meritocracy the standard for any institution. In fact, most modern college applications are arguably “meritocracies,” seeking the best and most adequate to shape the future of society. As seen in many ancient Chinese dynasties, however, the system is not perfect. When scholars manage a system designed to reward scholars, as in ancient China, the system works well when it needs scholars, but when the government is required to use force, there is no manner of changing the leadership to adapt.

Mencius, a Confucian scholar, once said to King Hui of Liang, “Only the true scholar is capable of maintaining, without certain means of livelihood, a steadfast heart… when an intelligent ruler regulates the livelihood of the people, he makes sure that they will have enough,” (Pomeranz et al. 102). This was the common view of the Confucian system of merit-based bureaucracy. The scholars, as the most intelligent and selfless group, would be the ones with the knowledge, understanding, and compassion to take care of the people without becoming too powerful themselves, and to a degree this was true. The Confucian bureaucracy placed many in positions of power who used their knowledge and education to the benefit of the people, but this was not a permanent trait of the system.

In the Book of Lord Shang, Shang Yang criticized the Confucian system for being the starting point for the weakness of the law and the dynasty as a whole. As Mencius wrote, the Confucian view of the law was that it should center on caring for the people through virtue, saying, “When men are won by virtue, then their hearts are gladdened and their submission is sincere… if you mete out punishment, it is like placing traps for the people. If a humane ruler is on the throne, how can he permit such a thing as placing traps for the people,” (102). This was the view of the Confucian scholars, and so it was the manner in which the government operated. Since the scholars remained in power through the meritocracy-based bureaucracy, it was extremely difficult to change this system. Shang Yang saw this system as flawed and too weak to handle governance adequately. He states in his book, “sophistry and cleverness are an aid to lawlessness… kindness and humaneness are the mother of transgressions… If the virtuous are placed in prominent positions, transgressions will remain hidden,” (de Bary 110). This was a major flaw in the Confucian bureaucracy. It was run by those who were kind hearted and focused solely on the development of virtue and knowledge in the government. As a result, the system became very weak on crime and lawlessness, especially in the eyes of the more militaristic members of society such as Shang Yang. By focusing solely on a caring and virtuous government, “lawlessness” was left unchecked. Furthermore, since the scholars believed this was the best way to govern, it continued to operate in that manner for generations, allowing the growth and spread of unpunished crime.

Shang Yang continues criticizing the weak, comfort and virtue minded scholars, saying, “If the people see both the comfort and the advantage of these… walks of life, then they will indubitably shun agriculture; shunning agriculture, they will care little for their homes; caring little for their homes, they will certainly not fight and defend them,” (110). This was another major flaw of the Confucian bureaucracy. While the system of virtue, kindness, and caring put forward by the Confucian scholars may have been effective in times of peace, it was less than effective in handling matters of force. Punishments for lawlessness were but one example. As a result of the groups the Confucians promoted as beneficial (merchants, artisans, scholars), the people lost interest in ways of life like agriculture. As the agricultural sector suffered, the nation as a whole suffered, especially the military, which relied on agricultural products to maintain the army to defend the country. Furthermore, Shang Yang argues that the Confucian policies undermined the people’s willingness to fight in defense of China, promoting a “soft” society.

While the Confucian bureaucracy may have had many advantages, promoting the virtuous and caring side of the government in an aim to take care of its people and promote the respectful culture of the 5 relationships, it posed a serious threat to the dynasty’s well-being. As pointed out by Shang Yang, when men of peace and virtue govern indefinitely, deterring crime and defending the nation become difficult. Men who might merit running the country in peace, do not necessarily merit handling it in war.

-Nate Forrest

Words: 597

De Bary, Theodore. Premodern Asia. Columbia University Press, 2008.

Pomeranz, Kenneth L., et al. Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A Companion Reader. Vol. 1, Norton, 2011. ffffff

Modern Crusades

When I picture a “crusade”, I think of the image that we discussed in class. That is, hordes of people from Medieval Europe traveling to the Holy Land. In the image conjured up in my mind, there are knights with horses, bloody victories “in the name of Christ”, and a new Holy City (Jerusalem) that is established in the aftermath. It’s weird to think about a crusade in any other context—the word crusade literally comes from the French, Spanish, and Latin words for cross. However, today’s version of a crusade is much different from this definition.
I came across the article entitled “Elon Musk’s Billion-Dollar Crusade to Stop the A.I. Apocalypse”. Essentially, the article focused on entrepreneur Elon Musk’s many efforts to fight back against the growth of artificial intelligence. While Musk spends time informing his colleagues (many of whom are major developers and investors for A.I. projects) about the dangers of artificial intelligence, his main attempt to fight back against artificial intelligence lies in his SpaceX rocket factory which he hopes to use to colonize other planets, such as Mars, in the event of A.I. taking over Earth.
The word crusade obviously has religious meanings and connotations, so it is a little odd to call something a crusade that has nothing to do with the actual origin of the word (that being, the cross). However, if you take more of an objective view of religion, and look at it as something that one believes in, then it is more acceptable to call Elon Musk’s efforts a crusade. The crusades were all about taking back the Holy Land, because they felt almost a divine belief that they were being called to do so. Elon Musk is investing in things such as his rocket factory, because he strongly believes in ensuring the existence of humanity, which he feels is threatened by the growth of artificial intelligence. Just as the Christians fought back against the Muslims to claim the Holy Land, Elon Musk is spending billions of dollars as a means of fighting back against artificial intelligence with the goal of claiming another planet that humans could colonize to preserve humanity in the event of an artificial intelligence take-over.
Some qualms that I had with this use of the word crusade is that it is an individual crusade. While I recognize that an individual can have their own wars that they hope to win, the original crusades (especially the later crusades) also served as a tactic to unite Europe. Rich, and poor, young, and old, from all sorts of countries—all types were involved in the crusades. With Elon Musk’s crusade, this is not the case. Musk’s crusade involves all of mankind, but the majority of mankind does not have billions of dollars to pour into a rocket factory, nor do they even have access to information on many of the latest developments in artificial intelligence, as much of this information is privy to investors only. While the actual crusades were a large group of people fighting for a cause that affected a large group of people, Musk’s crusade is one person fighting for a cause that affects a large group of people. Even the fact that the word crusade can be traced back to so many different languages shows just how universal the first crusade was. Musk’s crusade, as the article describes it, is more of a personal cross, or a personal war, or fight, despite it having universal affects.
Word Count: 580
Source:
Dowd, Maureen. “Elon Musk’s Billion-Dollar Crusade to Stop the A.I. Apocalypse.” The Hive, Vanity Fair, 26 May 2017, http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/03/elon-musk-billion-dollar-crusade-to-stop-ai-space-x

The Ideologies of Christianity and Islam

Islam and Christianity have similar philosophy’s and differing ideologies. Both religions believe in Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary. Certain aspects of both religions line up such as the belief in the New Testament, but the backstories of Jesus’ crucifixion do not quite match. When comparing two of the core ideologies of Islam and Christianity, salvation and hell, they seem moderately different at first glance. Upon further interpretation, they are very similar in their general purpose of being saved from sin by God. In Christianity, salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. In Islam salvation is attained through good works and worshiping God, Allah. Worshiping and having faith in God and Jesus involves performing deeds of righteousness and repenting on one’s sins. Therefore, salvation in Christianity and Islam are attained in similar ways. The concept of hell is another core belief that has similar ideologies in both religions. Christians consider hell to be a place where unrepenting sinners go after they die, hell is a punishment for eternity. Muslims view hell as a place of torment and fire but there are many levels to it and a person may or may not spend eternity there. Despite the differing potential timelines for hell, it is a place where Christians and Muslims go after death as punishment for sin and evildoing. With the beliefs of salvation and sin being so similar in Christianity and Islam, I find the opposing viewpoints on sin very surprising. For both religions, salvation and hell surround sin because it is a means to a person’s being after death. However, Muslims do not abide by the notion of original sin and believe that people are born sinless. Christians believe people inherited sin from Adam, the first person to sin against God, therefore everyone has an innate nature to sin. I am more surprised with the differences in Islam and Christianity given the amount of similarities in their core beliefs.

Christianity and Islam are mutually exclusive despite some of their similarities. Both religions cannot coexist if they do not believe in a monotheistic God. Christians believe in one God who exists in three forms. Muslims refute this claim because they believe that God is one form. God, in both religions, is the presiding factor and basis for which they live their lives. The Quran, the sacred text of Islam, is said to be a direct revelation from God and instructs Muslims on how to live. They must abide by a set of behavioral rules referred to as the five pillars of Islam in order to foster and demand obedience. The pillars are practices that promote good morals and are instructed by God for the people. A similar ideology is adopted by Christians, except their set of rules is referred to as the 10 commandments. These 10 rules are instructions on how to worship God and practice good morals. The commandments are found in the bible, the sacred text of the Christianity, and are given by God. The same God that is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit which are three separate beings according to Muslims. Christians and Muslims conceptualize God in different ways and therefore cannot coexist.

—Ariana McKenzie

Word count: 533

Sources:

http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html

https://www.allaboutreligion.org/islam-vs-christianity-faq.htm

A Modern Crusader

The article “Roxcy Bolton, Feminist Crusader for Equality, Including Naming Hurricanes, Dies at 90,” speaks about one woman’s fight for equality as a crusade. From Florida, she was an avid feminist who founded the first rape treatment center in the U.S. and in terms of law enforcement and medical services, she brought about a stronger focus on preventing rape and treating it. Bolton played a large part in advocating against naming tropical storms solely after women. She argued that it was unfair for women to be entirely associated with this type of disaster. For this she received heavy resistance from a primarily male weather forecast industry. Eventually the National Organization for Women assisted her by sending a resolution to the National Hurricane Center. Her crusade included other such actions as working to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment would have established constitutional equality for women, although it was unsuccessful. Bolton did manage to convince airlines to give pregnant flight attendants maternity leave, when in the past, they were simply fired. She also advocated heavily for Women’s Equality Day, which President Nixon proclaimed in 1972.

I believe that using the term ‘crusade’ in a modern context to describe something people feel strongly about is a fair use of the word. No longer does ‘crusade’ have to be solely connected to the Holy Wars of the Christians, nor any sort of religious war. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term ‘crusade’ can refer specifically to the original military expeditions of the Christians in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries, and war blessed by the Church, or “an aggressive movement or enterprise against some public evil, or some institution or class of persons considered as evil.” The latter is the definition of ‘crusade’ as used by the article. Language is never solidified, but always changing and expanding. The modern definition of ‘crusade’ came about because of the historical definitions, but is now completely legitimate. Thus, there is not necessarily a better word, but synonymous words would be ‘campaign,’ ‘fight,’ or ‘battle.’ As early as 1786, Thomas Jefferson wrote an article to an American professor George Wythe emphasizing the significance of public education for the future of America. In it he states “…Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people.” Throughout America’s history especially, this contemporary version of ‘crusade’ has been adopted.

-Matt Malone

Word count: 400

https://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/92uva/92facts1.htm

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/45256?rskey=yJ1bOb&result=1#eid

The Modern Crusade

The original Crusades were fought over religious sovereignty in the Middle East. Since then, the use of this term has expanded to more than just the wars over the Holy Land. Today, the term “crusade” can be used to describe any mission or plan to carry out an objective. Usually the modern use of the term “crusade” indicates a passion or strong feeling about something. According to Google, the definition of “crusade” is to “lead or take part in an energetic and organized campaign concerning a social, political, or religious issue”. While the current use of the term does not necessarily have to have a religious attachment, it is still commonly used to describe efforts in promoting or campaigning for a religious group.

In October 2018, The Daily Advance published an article about a collaboration between 25 different churches, of all different denominations, in an effort to bring awareness of Christianity to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The mission began with a focus on a small section of Elizabeth City, referred to in the article as a “pocket of lostness”, and quickly expanded to a city-wide intervention. In the article, statistics showed that “70 percent of people within a three-mile radius….did not know Jesus Christ”. The 25 different churches met once each night for four consecutive nights. The pastors involved in this endeavor described their efforts as an “evangelical crusade”. While the nature of this situation differs slightly from the nature of the Crusades, I think using the term “crusade” for this mission is fitting. While on the surface the mission in Elizabeth City and that of the Crusades seems to differ greatly, the underlying ideas are the same.

The conflict of the Crusades centered on religion and control of the Holy Lands. The main purpose behind the Crusades was to expand and promote Christianity. Similarly, the pastors involved with this “crusade” had the main intent to educate and preach Christian word. I think these two events had the same basic goal which is to spread Christianity. However, they differ in their nature. The Crusades strategy to attain their goal was to fight other religions and engage in warfighting. However, in this recent event we see much different approach.

The nature of the so called “evangelical crusade” was clearly not to overthrow or take over Elizabeth City. Rather, the pastors clearly wanted to preach and educate the residents of the city in a peaceful manner that would invite people to the Christian community. While with the Crusades there is a rift between religions and various sects within religions, here we see the exact opposite. In the case with Elizabeth City, the 25 churches are all of various denominations who come together under a common goal.

When we look at the original Crusades and what they stood for, and how the term “crusade” is derived and interpreted to meet modern descriptions, I think it fits the mission of pastors in Elizabeth City. Both endeavors were to spread Christianity, and while they reasons and methods may differ, the ultimate goal is the same, or at the very least very similar.

Article: http://www.dailyadvance.com/News/2018/10/20/25-churches-team-up-for-crusade-that-starts-Sunday.html

Word Count: 517

They Share More than Numbers

Islam and Christianity are the two most followed religions in the world. There are many differences between them such as the “ideology and theology”, however, there are similarities (All About Religion). Both religions believe in kindness to others and moral living. What surprised is how Islam began.

What also surprised me is both regard prophets such as Moses, Noah, John as high profits. Islam also believes Jesus was a prophet, while Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God and is part of the holy trinity. They acknowledge the same people as part of their religious beliefs. The Bible is used as part of their faith. In Christianity, the Bible is the core text while in Islam the main book is the Quran. I did not know they believed in three main revelations from the Bible: the Torah, Psalms, and the Gospels. The Bible and the Quran have the ten commandants written in them. While Mary, is the only woman mentioned in the Quran by name, in the Bible she is Jesus’ virgin mother. This brings me to the next similarity which is Jesus. It is widely known that in the Bible, Jesus came to Earth as the son of God. While Jesus is acknowledged, in Islam he is only considered a prophet. He is a prophet that is held in high status as mentioned before, but a profit nonetheless. Islam and Christianity also both mention the devil in their holy books.

I do believe that the ideology between the two religions is mutually exclusive. The core beliefs between the two are fundamentally different in their beliefs when it comes to God himself. Christianity firmly believes in the Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. That is what the faith is focused on. Jesus came to be able to take the punishment of mankind’s sin. By doing this it allows man to go to heaven. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb. Since Islam does not believe in this, it is impossible for the two to be exclusive. It is great that the religions seek a life that is filled with being good and kind, however, that will not lead to one choosing to practice another religion. Today, Islam is misconstrued because of the terrorist who claim Islam as their religion. By doing so, it has allowed a negative connotation to appear on this religion. Nonracial Islam’s do not support that kind of behavior.

WC:V401

https://www.allaboutreligion.org/islam-vs-christianity-faq.htm

Of the Crescent and the Cross

Michelle Therianos

In today’s society, Islam and Christianity appear to be as different as night and day. Upon further examination, however, it is evident that the two faiths share some resemblances. To begin, both religions are monotheistic, Abrahamic, and text-based, even sharing prophets and certain customs, such as fasting and praying. One of the more surprising similarities is the fact that Jesus Christ is acknowledged and respected by both religions. While he is not necessarily considered divine by the Muslims, he is still a prophet and of virgin birth. In fact, his mother, Mary, is the only woman ever referred to by name in the Quran, and is even mentioned more often in the Quran than in the Bible itself. It is interesting, however, that Muslims hold Christianity’s namesake in high regard, but Christians vehemently regard Muhammad, Islam’s founder, as a false prophet.

Another surprising commonality is that both Muslims and Christians believe in Judgement Day. Although the specific events of this day differ between the two religions, the end result is the same: all humans on Earth will die and be sent to Heaven or Hell based on their loyalty and obedience. The members of both religions acknowledge that Hell is the destination for sinners while Heaven, or Paradise, is the haven, in the form of a garden, for God’s good followers. In addition, Satan is a constant figure in both faiths, and exists as the evil parallel to the righteous God. The fact that both Muslims and Christians have the same afterlife is fascinating; they are judged by the same god and placed in the same Heaven or Hell, where they may coexist.

Through a canonical lens, Islam and Christianity are indeed mutually exclusive. The truth is that a Muslim cannot be a Christian, and vice versa, due to the basic tenants of both religions. The most fundamental belief of Christianity lies in its namesake: to be a Christian, one must accept that Jesus Christ is the son of God and is consubstantial with the father. To add to this, they must also believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day on his own accord because he was fully God and fully man. Both of these principles, as well as the idea of the Holy Trinity, are utterly rejected by Islam. Practicing both religions purely would be essentially impossible because the issue of Jesus is too different.

Word Count: 403