Jesus and Mohammad: Christianity and Islam

Jesus and Mohammad

     There are many differences between the messages of Christianity and Islam.  After researching both religions, I also see, however, many similarities.  One major similarity is included in Islam’s five pillars of faith.  Muslims believe in the book of God which includes the Bible of Christianity and Judaism.  They also include the Koran in their book of God.  Judaism and Islam have many of the same prophets including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.  The similarities between the religions are indicative that Islam and Judaism come from the same origins. 

     The Islamic prophet, Mohammad, brought to light the beliefs of Islam.  Have Muhammad’s words been twisted and turned to meet different Islamic sect’s needs? The answer is yes.  There are many different sects in Islam showing how many different interpretations of the Koran there are.  An example of differing sects of Islam include Sunnis, Sufis, Baha’is, and Amadiyyas.  Sunni Muslims are the majority of all Muslims.  They include all of the traditions of Muhammad in their beliefs.  Sufis are a type of Muslim that is very spiritual.  They serve Allah through meditation and concentrate on spiritual growth. The Baha’is and Amadiyyas Muslims seem like a “Modern Muslim.”  They haven’t been around as long as Sunnis or Sufis and are, therefore, considered apostates.  These groups have supposedly corrupted Islamic beliefs. 

     The Bible of Judaism and Christianity has been interpreted differently in Islam as well as in Christianity.  One example of the Bible being interpreted differently Christianity would be the beliefs of Mormons.  Most Christian groups deny that the Book of Mormon is a legitimate book of God.  This book has defined the beliefs of Mormons, however, and is seen as a true source of words from God.  

     It is obvious that people would interpret these Holy Books differently.  Through history the point of view of mankind has changed drastically.  It is, therefore, easier for mankind to change beliefs through interpretation than to completely toss out a religious system.  Most people have a belief system in place from the time they are born so it becomes essential to who they are. 

     I think the main reason that Christians and Muslims cannot get over their differences is the way that each groups sees God.  Muslims believe Allah is all-powerful and that they cannot know him personally.  Allah also judges them based on their good and bad deeds when they after they have died.  Christians believe that they cannot know God personally.  They also believe that Jesus of Nazareth was God’s son while Muslims believe that Jesus was a great prophet like Mohammad.  There are too many similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam to list.  Each religion’s beliefs originated from the same place, but have been altered over hundreds of years to meet the needs of each group of believers.   

Alexander the Great's Contributions to the Hellenistic Age

Lauren Bivens

HIS 101

September 7, 2011

Alexander’s Contribution to the Hellenistic Age

     Alexander the Great’s death brought about a new era in western civilization.  After his death, aspects of different cultures began to fuse.  Some of the cultures that were mixed were the Greek, Egyptian, Iranian, Babylonian, and Hebrew cultures.  Alexander’s successors created many kingdoms which include: Anatolia, Macedonia, Babylonia, and Egypt.  Though these kingdoms were not technically a part of Greece, they displayed more Hellenistic Culture than even Greece itself. 

     An example of this Hellenistic culture was shown in Egypt which was ruled by Ptolemy.  Ptolemy tried to strengthen the cities in Egypt by filling the land with an all Greek army.  The Greek language was used widely in Egypt as well.  The language spread largely because of the Greek invasion of the Byzantine Empire.  The Ptolemies also spread culture by making Alexandria into one of the main centers of arts and sciences.  Today there are still many Greeks living in Alexandria as a result of the Greeks conquest of Egypt. 

     Antigonus took over Anatolia as well as part of Asia Minor.  However, Antigonus and his successors suffered many defeats, making the kingdom weak.  When the Romans invaded years later, the kingdom was overthrown.  Despite Anatolia’s defeat, much of the Greek culture remained.  The Romans embraced and supported the Greek culture in Anatolia.  This was how much of the Greek culture lasted through the changes in rule. 

     An Indo-Greek culture was created in the Kingdom of Bactria.  Bactria included what is now Afghanistan.  Eventually, Bactria ceased to exist because of all of the civil unrest.  However, years later a kingdom appeared in northern India.  The kingdom was ruled by Menander, an Indo-Greek King who converted to Buddhism.  The change in religion caused a very interesting type of culture to spring up in India.  Though this kingdom disappeared, there is a village in India today whose people are believed to be the descendants of these ancient Indo-Greeks. 

     Alexander’s conquest of the western world set many changes into motion.  There were new innovations in literature including epigrams—poems written by women.  Sculptures of the Hellenistic Era were not only given faces, but showed deep, human feelings.  Many philosophies sprang up during this time including: materialism, Epicureanism, and stoicism.  Alexander had a lasting impact on the western world because he did not fight the cultures of other people—he embraced them.