Prince Alwaleed Bin-Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding

by Dr. John L. Esposito

(courtesy Naples Daily Special News)

As someone initially trained as a Christian theologian and subsequently as a scholar of Islam, Paul E. Jarrett’s guest commentary, “Differences between Christianity, Islam are important,” on Feb. 11 caught my eye.

I was pleased to see that the education director of a Christian church was addressing relations between Christianity and Islam, the two largest of the world’s religions that engage each other globally. Islam is the second-largest of the world’s religions (1.3 billion) and the second- and third-largest religion in Europe and America, respectively. Muslims are our fellow citizens and neighbors in many parts of the United States, including Florida.

In our multi-religious, multicultural and pluralistic society, it is important to heed President George W. Bush’s caution, and that of many mainstream religious leaders, that it is critical to distinguish between the teachings of the religion of Islam and the rhetoric and actions of Muslim extremists, their misuse of religion to legitimate acts of terror.

Regrettably, Jarrett’s discussion of Christianity is misinformed, lacks balance and fails to recognize the diversity of Islam and of Christianity.

He asserts that Islam is a work-based system and Christianity is a grace-based system. Which form of Christianity is he speaking of — Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Unitarian? Islam is worked-based? In fact, Islam teaches that one is judged by intentions as well as deeds. Most importantly, Islam does not have a notion of “salvation.”

A believer is judged, rewarded or punished by what he/she does and intends, not by the acts of a savior. Jarrett says that Muslims are inclined to throw stones or kill those who do not measure up to his standard, but Christians are prevented from such actions and minister to the weak. Is he speaking of most or some Muslims?

Has Jarrett read the theology or watched TV programs of Christian preachers who condemn to hell not only all non-Christians, but Christians who do not believe as they do?

What about abortion-clinic bombers or the Catholic and Protestant antagonists in Northern Ireland? If the answer is that they are not true Christians, Muslims would say the same thing about Muslim terrorists.

Islam, he tells us, was spread by the sword, but not Christianity. As anyone who has studied the rise of Islam knows, with some exceptions, early Muslim rulers spread their empires, not the religion of Islam. They were not particularly motivated to forcibly convert non-Muslims since they believed that Islam was an Arab religion and they received higher taxes from non-Muslims.

Jarrett should read about those Christian groups who welcomed Muslim rule since they were persecuted by an intolerant official Christianity as heretics or schismatics and paid higher taxes.

All religions have both a transcendent and a dark side. Jesus is the prince of peace; Christians, like Jews, but also like Muslims, use the greeting, “Peace be upon you.” Jesus embodies compassion and mercy, and every verse of the Quran begins with “In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate.” Observant Muslims begin every action — eating, driving and writing — with this phrase.

At the same time, both the Bible and the Quran speak of God as a just and even vengeful judge. Sacred scriptures have to be interpreted within their contexts. Yes, violence and terror have been, and continue to be, committed in the name of Islam by religious extremists and terrorists.

But have we forgotten the dark side of Christian history — the Inquisition, the Crusades, the religious wars of the Reformation when Protestants and Catholics slaughtered each other; the use of Christianity to justify European colonialism (Crown and Cross); slavery; the Ku Klux Klan; abortion-clinic bombings; the carnage in Northern Ireland?

What lessons then can we learn? A common error or mistake that many make is comparing ideal Christianity with selective examples from the realities of another faith. If we want to compare Islam and Christianity, then the comparison should be of Christian ideals to Muslim ideals and Christian realities to Muslim realities.

In an America which protects the rights of all believers and nonbelievers, we should expect nothing less.

John L. Esposito is University Professor and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding