Theological Themes In Islam And Christianity By John Renard

Both Islam and Christianity share many similarities. From the article “Islam and Christianity: Theological Themes in Comparative Perspective.” By John Renard, he goes into full detail on how these religions are similar in his perspective. He believes that both traditions are now in the form of a “division of labor, identification of levels and grades of authority, and eventually formal structures of governance and the implementation of community canons of behavior-what one might loosely call religious law.”(113) For example, Christians identified roles such as apostles, prophets, deacons, presbyters, teachers, and bishops. During Muhammad’s lifetime, the Muslim community also began to acknowledge the honorific levels among the Companions. Although they didn’t portray the

In general, the Companions would identify someone who was close to the Prophet that will embody the highest levels in authority and credibility. In the Qur’an, there are text that offer summaries of ethical values that identifies the true believer. Generally, the Qur’an has transformed three dominant pre-Islamic virtues into faith-grounded values. Because of this, courage isn’t purposeless and undisciplined bravado, but was fortitude. Generosity is developed from prodigality to only spending for those that are in need, and as a result, loyalty was shifted from the God in response of the divinely initiated covenant. In the result of the transformation, jahl, with its value on rivalry, honor, and capricious behavior, gives its way to islam, “surrender to the supreme authority of God.”(164) An ethical conversion in the text of the Qur’an characterizes the “Steep Ascent,” that emphasizes the social responsibility. “What will convey to you what the Steep Ascent is? It means freeing a slave, and feeding in time of hunger, an orphan of your extended family, or a poor person on hard times, and to be among people of faith who encourage each other to patience and urge each other to deeds