Do Muslims, Jews and Christians worship the same God?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even the blasphemer is communicating with/about the same God as the rest of us, because there is only one God - any monotheistic religion is dedicated to the same God as the rest of the others; it's just that some people are misguided. But being misguided about how to communicate with God and what he's trying to tell us doesn't mean that another God exists. That is simply not true. I'm not sure how any one who claims to believe in God could conclude differently. If you're a polytheist, I'll give you a pass on this one, but any monotheist should fundamentally understand more than anything that there is one God and he has a relationship with all of his creation. The fact that some people misunderstand that relationship doesn't take away from his singleness.

This is a nice view, but it doesn't mean that Amun-Ra and the God of Islam are the "same." Maybe if there is a God, he hears all people's prayers, but that does not mean all people are worshiping the same "entity." In other words, a monotheistic religion could have a description of God that is "wrong," or a set of beliefs that are fundamentally different from another monotheistic religion. For example, I do not believe that God is a flying spaghetti monster. Someone worshiping a flying spaghetti monster is not worshiping the same God as me, even if he says that flying spaghetti monster is the god of Abraham.

But none of the major monotheists believe that God is a spaghetti monster. Those of us who believe in God, believe that God created the world and all it contains and that over time he has continually reached out us to give his loving guidance - and every time he does that, there are those who reject his message and his sacrifice. His attempts to reach us and guide us are what materialize in the different religions. The source of differences between the religions is that people have a hard time distinguishing between God's genuine attempts to reach us and false prophets. Those who reject his genuine communication because they fear false prophets - those people are not worshiping a different God, but they now have mistakenly rejected a complete relationship with him. That is not the same as starting a relationship with a different entity. And those who mistakenly follow a false prophet are not worshiping a different God either. They are misguided and therefore their relationship with God is off-track, but that relationship has not died or been transferred to another power.

Are you arguing that this is the Christian point of view? I don't think you can speak for "those of us who believe in God" because many people would not agree with you. The God of Christianity is very specific and has a character that is not replicated in other religions. If "God" is some vague concept to you, it is easy to see how all versions of "God" look the same. The "God" of other monotheist religions might as well be a flying spaghetti monster to me, because my God is a Trinity. The "God" of Islam has characteristics that are completely antithetical to my beliefs, no matter the resemblance in other areas. I don't believe in that god. If you have a belief system that says all religions have some validity, that is great. But it has no basis in Christianity.

[Anonymous]

I believe everybody worships the same god and that god reveals himself differently to different people"

[Anonymous]

God is God. Greater than anything man can create.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same origins but different interpretations and paths. I find these three religions more to do with history and politics and less with spirituality. So they are the cause of strife and war.

Oriental religions like Buddhism is more spiritual and peaceful.

Let's not confuse the history of the Orient with one being entirely peaceful. I know many, many peaceful, spiritual Christians who look for God's grace and works in everything they do.

Individuals, yes, but Christian countries have gone to war in the name of Christ.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if all the different gods that people believe in get along with each other -- or even know each other.

Do they all live in the same heaven, or do they have separate territories?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same origins but different interpretations and paths. I find these three religions more to do with history and politics and less with spirituality. So they are the cause of strife and war.

Oriental religions like Buddhism is more spiritual and peaceful.

Let's not confuse the history of the Orient with one being entirely peaceful. I know many, many peaceful, spiritual Christians who look for God's grace and works in everything they do.

Individuals, yes, but Christian countries have gone to war in the name of Christ.

Are you talking about the Crusades?

I thought of something when the Crusades were brought up in an earlier thread. At the time of the Crusades (1000 AD), there was no printing press. Most people were not literate. Regular people did not read the Bible, nor did they know what was in it. People did whatever authority figures likely told them to do. A few bloodthirsty people could easily sway that type of population. So while this doesn't excuse Christendom completely (hello Catholic church) I think that it is a useful point when we think about the people who are committing violence in the name of religion. Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire post makes me want to be an atheist (though I am not). Who cares whether I think I worship the same god as you do? You care? Because you have a special deal or relationship? I somehow dilute your religion by claiming that my god is the same as yours? Excuse me for saying - but that's just crap. It's what I can't stand about how some people use religion to create division and strife. It sucks and I wish people would stop.

But that's a natural part of religion -- otherwise there would be only one religion and no one would want anything else. God either doesn't want people to agree on him or he can't get people to come to an agreement about him.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Jews' God (the God of Abraham) is Allah for Muslims and God the Father for Christians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this isn't some pot-stirrer looking for trouble.

Sort of. They have the same root. The Christian God shows up in the Trinity but Islam is against that. Jesus in the gospels is very different from Jesus in the Quran on things like eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, separation of church and state, turning the other cheek, and so on.

Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet, like Moses, that was sent by God to teach. It is not my understanding that Christians' only holy scriptures are the New Testament, and thus Christians also have as part of their heritage, eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, etc. The big difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims don't. IMHO, that doesn't make that God any different - just makes their belief in Jesus different.

If you do not believe in a Trinity you are not Christian- the Trinity is a basic tenet of Christianity.

Wikipedia says this: "Modern nontrinitarian Christian groups or denominations include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dawn Bible Students, Friends General Conference, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God." Frankly I haven't heard of most of those and wouldn't have included Jehova's Witnesses, LDS or some of the others as Christian. The Trinity is in the New Testament, so I don't know how a Christian denomination couldn't believe it.

Can you provide the citation? I can find it anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christians believe that Jews and Christians worship the same God, but I don't know any Jew who believes that.

I do! My DH! We have an interfaith family, and we have many, many peers.

I'm a Catholic and was married to a Jew. This is what we believed as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This entire post makes me want to be an atheist (though I am not). Who cares whether I think I worship the same god as you do? You care? Because you have a special deal or relationship? I somehow dilute your religion by claiming that my god is the same as yours? Excuse me for saying - but that's just crap. It's what I can't stand about how some people use religion to create division and strife. It sucks and I wish people would stop.

Yes, that is basically it. Words are important. If you say "We all worship the same God," that really makes all religions acceptable. If my God is the same as your God, then we're both following the right path to heaven. But if my religion says "the only way to heaven is through Christ," but I have decided your religion is an ok path to God, I have already disregarded a very big tenet of my religion.

Are we so mentally weak that we cannot even tolerate the idea of someone disagreeing with our concept of God? This is not about claiming superiority. This is not about being intolerant. We don't need to pretend that our religions are the same thing to live like civilized people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this isn't some pot-stirrer looking for trouble.

Sort of. They have the same root. The Christian God shows up in the Trinity but Islam is against that. Jesus in the gospels is very different from Jesus in the Quran on things like eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, separation of church and state, turning the other cheek, and so on.

Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet, like Moses, that was sent by God to teach. It is not my understanding that Christians' only holy scriptures are the New Testament, and thus Christians also have as part of their heritage, eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, etc. The big difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims don't. IMHO, that doesn't make that God any different - just makes their belief in Jesus different.

If you do not believe in a Trinity you are not Christian- the Trinity is a basic tenet of Christianity.

Wikipedia says this: "Modern nontrinitarian Christian groups or denominations include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dawn Bible Students, Friends General Conference, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God." Frankly I haven't heard of most of those and wouldn't have included Jehova's Witnesses, LDS or some of the others as Christian. The Trinity is in the New Testament, so I don't know how a Christian denomination couldn't believe it.

LDS is not Christian? I think that is news to them!

LDS believe in Jesus as the Christ, but not in the Trinity? I really need to find a good objective book on Mormon theology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this isn't some pot-stirrer looking for trouble.

Sort of. They have the same root. The Christian God shows up in the Trinity but Islam is against that. Jesus in the gospels is very different from Jesus in the Quran on things like eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, separation of church and state, turning the other cheek, and so on.

Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet, like Moses, that was sent by God to teach. It is not my understanding that Christians' only holy scriptures are the New Testament, and thus Christians also have as part of their heritage, eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, etc. The big difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims don't. IMHO, that doesn't make that God any different - just makes their belief in Jesus different.

If you do not believe in a Trinity you are not Christian- the Trinity is a basic tenet of Christianity.

Wikipedia says this: "Modern nontrinitarian Christian groups or denominations include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dawn Bible Students, Friends General Conference, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God." Frankly I haven't heard of most of those and wouldn't have included Jehova's Witnesses, LDS or some of the others as Christian. The Trinity is in the New Testament, so I don't know how a Christian denomination couldn't believe it.

Can you provide the citation? I can find it anywhere.

Yes, the New Testament. You should read the whole thing. You can find the concepts of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit throughout. Hard to miss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this isn't some pot-stirrer looking for trouble.

Sort of. They have the same root. The Christian God shows up in the Trinity but Islam is against that. Jesus in the gospels is very different from Jesus in the Quran on things like eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, separation of church and state, turning the other cheek, and so on.

Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet, like Moses, that was sent by God to teach. It is not my understanding that Christians' only holy scriptures are the New Testament, and thus Christians also have as part of their heritage, eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, etc. The big difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims don't. IMHO, that doesn't make that God any different - just makes their belief in Jesus different.

If you do not believe in a Trinity you are not Christian- the Trinity is a basic tenet of Christianity.

Wikipedia says this: "Modern nontrinitarian Christian groups or denominations include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dawn Bible Students, Friends General Conference, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God." Frankly I haven't heard of most of those and wouldn't have included Jehova's Witnesses, LDS or some of the others as Christian. The Trinity is in the New Testament, so I don't know how a Christian denomination couldn't believe it.

LDS is not Christian? I think that is news to them!

LDS believe in Jesus as the Christ, but not in the Trinity? I really need to find a good objective book on Mormon theology.

LDS believes in Christ as a perfected man, not the eternally existing creator and sustainer of all things, not as God. Mormons are not Christian, despite their use of the name Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope this isn't some pot-stirrer looking for trouble.

Sort of. They have the same root. The Christian God shows up in the Trinity but Islam is against that. Jesus in the gospels is very different from Jesus in the Quran on things like eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, separation of church and state, turning the other cheek, and so on.

Not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Muslims believe that Jesus is a prophet, like Moses, that was sent by God to teach. It is not my understanding that Christians' only holy scriptures are the New Testament, and thus Christians also have as part of their heritage, eye-for-eye justice, dietary restrictions, etc. The big difference is that most Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Muslims don't. IMHO, that doesn't make that God any different - just makes their belief in Jesus different.

If you do not believe in a Trinity you are not Christian- the Trinity is a basic tenet of Christianity.

Wikipedia says this: "Modern nontrinitarian Christian groups or denominations include Christadelphians, Christian Scientists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dawn Bible Students, Friends General Conference, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Living Church of God, Oneness Pentecostals, Members Church of God International, Unitarian Universalist Christians, The Way International, The Church of God International and the United Church of God." Frankly I haven't heard of most of those and wouldn't have included Jehova's Witnesses, LDS or some of the others as Christian. The Trinity is in the New Testament, so I don't know how a Christian denomination couldn't believe it.

Can you provide the citation? I can find it anywhere.

You can google: trinity in the new testament and you will find many, many, many explanations about this. Take your pick. This issue was basically settled 1000 years ago so you will find lots of sources!