Post by paradoxymoron on Aug 17, 2005 0:52:05 GMT -5
[Mods, sorry if this belongs in the Philosophy section. I wasn't sure.]
So here's the deal: I was doing a project that involved comparing the beliefs of Christians and Muslims. Being the type of person who would, oh say, join a religion-based message board, I got a little more into it than I probably needed to, and came across this idea (summarized):
"Christians believe that God is a perfect being because - well, he just is. His personal morals fit with the perfect set of morals that comes with the universe, since he is only capable of good. Muslims believe that Allah is perfect only because he is Allah, and that whatever he does becomes the universal standard for 'good', and whatever he doesn't do or doesn't approve of becomes the standard for 'evil'."
I hope I explained that semi-clearly. The article itself is multiple pages long, and a lot of it consists of intelligent statements followed by ".... and that is why Christians are better." It kind of ruins the mood.
So anyway, my question to you is this: Is this an accurate observation? Both viewpoints can be used to rationalize behavoir that you may feel is wrong - something we know extremist Christians and Muslims are experts at. This idea also puts into words the impression I've always had that Christians view their God as more "pure" somehow - more innocent, maybe - whereas Muslims seem to focus more on Allah's power. Alrighty, I'll leave you to ponder this. Go crazy.
So here's the deal: I was doing a project that involved comparing the beliefs of Christians and Muslims. Being the type of person who would, oh say, join a religion-based message board, I got a little more into it than I probably needed to, and came across this idea (summarized):
"Christians believe that God is a perfect being because - well, he just is. His personal morals fit with the perfect set of morals that comes with the universe, since he is only capable of good. Muslims believe that Allah is perfect only because he is Allah, and that whatever he does becomes the universal standard for 'good', and whatever he doesn't do or doesn't approve of becomes the standard for 'evil'."
I hope I explained that semi-clearly. The article itself is multiple pages long, and a lot of it consists of intelligent statements followed by ".... and that is why Christians are better." It kind of ruins the mood.
So anyway, my question to you is this: Is this an accurate observation? Both viewpoints can be used to rationalize behavoir that you may feel is wrong - something we know extremist Christians and Muslims are experts at. This idea also puts into words the impression I've always had that Christians view their God as more "pure" somehow - more innocent, maybe - whereas Muslims seem to focus more on Allah's power. Alrighty, I'll leave you to ponder this. Go crazy.