Christianity and Islam
Essay by Maxi • December 23, 2011 • Essay • 856 Words (4 Pages) • 1,735 Views
Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind and three days later resurrected himself and awaits all his true believers above in Heaven. Christianity began as a sect of Judaism before being released as a separate religion free to all walks of life without necessary conversion. Christianity spread throughout Asia Minor and Europe quickly; despite the persecution and resistance of the Roman Empire.
Christianity emerged within the Roman Empire because the people of Rome were not necessarily part of a majority organized religion; outside the Empire and the Emperor there were little alternatives to live by. Jesus and his apostles drew large crowds, increasing support, and gained popularity throughout the region as his teachings and miracles spread across the region. As Christianity continued to grow the Empire's stance against the religion began to waiver from their original position that the religion was nothing more than a movement or a cult. This perception of the religion by the Empire helped convert those who did not fully support their Emperor and Empire. This left the door open for Christianity to become the de-facto side to be taken outside committing fully to the Empire and this also became the time when the Roman Empire decided to take action against the religion and their leader. Dreading the possible political effects that Christianity was beginning to sculpt against the Empire the leader of Christianity, Jesus Christ, was ordered to be crucified by Pontius Pilate; the current Roman procurator.
With the fall of the Roman Empire there many new challenges awaiting those citizens and non-citizens who up until then had lived inside the Empire; within their walls and security. In the old world there was a large belief in demons, the occult, and the supernatural. Residents of this era believed they were susceptible to daily dealings with evils outside of their control. Christian prophets were confident in their dealings with exorcisms and the occult and performed what these citizens called miracles upon their lives in casting out all evils; this was a large drawing point to the religion. When the Empire cracked down on the Christian faith the followers of Jesus Christ only got stronger; they stood up in the face of executions and persecution. While the Roman Empire weakened, eventually folding, the Christian faith grew from 5 million followers to 30 million followers; their strength in the face of such tribulations played a large part in the growth of the religion.
The religion of Islam is based upon the text of the Quran; believed to be the words and teachings of the one true God; Allah. Followers of Islam are propelled to live by the five pillars of Islam; this is a similar concept to the seven catholic sacraments. Those five pillars are followed by ten rules that will lead a follower from prayer through living their life only for their faith.
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