Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Christo-Islamic tradition

Christo-Islamic is a term of comparative religion to connect fundamental ideas in Christianity with similar ones in the newer religion Islam. Islam, being based in Judaism, also accepts many peripheral aspects of Christianity as part of its faith - with some differences in interpretation.

The term "Judeo-Christian values" is commonly used in the West, and many Muslim scholars view this term as emblematic of Western cultures' disconnection with Islam.

Brotherhood

The central issue of agreement between Christian and Muslim scholars with regard to central themes of their religion, is brotherhood. According to the Christo-Islamic tradition, Christs' teachings, Christ's child relationship to God represents a path for all man:
'Christ was the son of God, Christ was my brother, therefore, I too am directly decended from God.'
Continuing this further, such respect as one should bestow upon God, must also, by logic be bestowed upon all his children, hence a spiritual understanding of brotherhood with all of mankind. It is this principle which many Christians and Muslims believe that has helped to bring about universalist and humanist principles that have perhaps served to elevate human respect.

Although Islam recognizes Jesus as a prophet, it breaks with the belief that Christ was (is) the son of God. Muslims do not believe that Christ was the "son of God," in literal terms, as if god were a male human; rather, he was a prophet brother who brought to mankind a closer relationship with God and each other.'' In the 'religion-literal' sense, Christians rejects the Muslim religion's understanding of Christ as heretical.