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Running Head: THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WORLDVIEWS
Critical Thinking
Islamic Worldview Verses Biblical Worldview
Anita Mehnaz
Liberty University
CRITICAL THINKING ESSAY2
Although we live in the same world but out worldview differ. “A worldview can also be
described as a filter or lens from which one sees and interprets the world and all that it
represents” (Weider & Gutierrez,2014, p59)In both Christianity and Islam, God created the
Heavens and Earth. Although this is a big similarity, the major difference between both religions
are that the Christians believe in Trinity but Muslims believe that God is one and He doesn’t
have any offspring and believes that Jesus Christ (Isa le Sal-lam) is a Prophet. Another similarity
is the number of days God took to create the Earth. The Qur'an states that "Allah created the
heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, in six days" (7:54). While the Bible says,
“And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:29, ASV). Both the
religions have good expectations from its followers. The acts of adultery, murder and lying is
forbidden and if someone has done attempted these acts, they are going to face profound
consequences. Like Christians, Muslim also believe that women were created out of man rib
bone. The Bible says,” And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a
woman and brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:22, ESV) and the Quran say the same about the
creation of women "It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like
nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love" (Qur'an, 7:189).
There is so much similarity but why are we all so different? It is because of our
worldviews. Our worldviews are based of the society we live in, our family and how we grow
up. The religion our family believes in influences us and we grow to investigate our believes and
create our own worldviews. Humans are superior creations of God.” Human beings are the most
fantastic creations out of all of God's creative designs.” (Etzel & Gutierrez,2012, p 62) It is
mentioned in both the Bible and Quran that humans are superior creations of God. The Quran
says, “We have certainly created man in the best of stature;” (95:4). Human beings are made with
CRITICAL THINKING ESSAY3
such perfection that no other creation has. Some can run fast, and some has good sense of smell.
But humans are created with every balance there can be. The Bible says that humans are “a little
lower than the angels" (Psalm 8:5) and therefore we human have a lot of responsibility to keep
our home, the Earth a nice and safe place to live. Muslim do everything to please Allah and to be
saved from the punishment assigned to them in the day of Judgement which is going to Hell for
many years. “He regulates the affair from the heaven to the earth; then shall it ascend to Him in a
day/period the measure of which is a thousand years of what you count.” (Al-Quran, 32:5, Surah
Sajdah) However, For Christian, they are born as a sinner and the only way to be forgiven is
through salvation through the savior Jesus Christ.
Loving God and his creations is an answer to the question, what is humanity? We as a
human must appreciate the sense of humor God has given us and not question on what He has
not. “Death entered the world as a result of human sin.”(Etzel & Small) The scenario of life and
death would have been much different. Christians are required to have a good relationship with
God through Jesus and believe in the doctrines and the Gospel. Muslims believe that they live for
God. What ever they do is for God and a practicing Muslim would eat, sleep and even wear cloth
accordingly so that they don’t get Allah unpleased in anyway. “Islam is a works-based religion,
so the purpose of man is to do enough good works to appease Allah and earn the right to enter
paradise and avoid hell.” (Gutierrez & Weider, p 71)
Muslims believe in life after death. They believe that every human being will be
questioned in the day of Judgement about all their good and bad deeds and Allah will see if they
should be rewarded or punished. However, Christians believe they are born as sinners and they
must acquire Salvation through Jesus Christ to get Paradise. To choose what is right and wrong
depends on one self. It is up to us to choose if we want to lead our life according to the religious
CRITICAL THINKING ESSAY4
belief or we just want to do what pleases us. For instance, abortion is strictly forbidden in Islam.
It is seen as a murder. Do not slay your children for fear of poverty. We shall provide for them
and for you (Al-Quran, Surah Al-Isra 17:31). Similarly, the Bible says God is the life giver and
he holds the only right to take it. (Exodus 20:13). Christianly is a faith-based religion but Islam is
a religion that stands on its five pillars.
Although both Christianity and Islam are two completely different faith systems but their
believe in destiny is kind of similar. In both, human want to earn or get Heaven as a reward of
the good deeds but Christianity asks for Salvation through Jesus Christ. For Muslims “Salvation
is based upon human effort. (Gutierrez & Weider, p 75) Christian must feel that Jesus Christ gave
His life on the cross for them and that He is the Savior. Muslim don’t feel the same but both, The
Bible and The Quran both guides us to walk in the path of righteousness.
(942 WORDS)
CRITICAL THINKING ESSAY
Reference
Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2014). Finding your worldview: Thinking Christianly about the
world, B&H Academics, Nashville, TN
Etzel G, Small M., 2016, Everyday Theology, Exploring the Christian Faith, B&H Academics,
Nashville, TN
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Etzel G, Gutierrez B., 2012. Theology Applied, A Living Faith, B&H Academics, Nashville, TN.
