Our world today has been hit with a religious bomb. There are thousands of religions and beliefs being taught and disputed throughout the world. In America alone, there are hundreds that are constantly being debated. Since September 11th, 2001, two religions have headlined in the news and occupied the world's mind, Christianity and Islam. People believing in these two religions are confused and or upset with each other. They don't fully understand what or how the other believes.
             For a deeper understanding and appreciation of these faiths we need to try to find an 'inside' view of these faiths (Cooper, 60). Therefore we must look at both the differences and the similarities between them. There are many differences that set the two apart a great deal like who Jesus Christ was and is and the differences between the Bible and the Qur'an. On the other side of the issue there are similarities that make them very close together like the belief in one true God and that He is merciful and all powerful.
             Before we begin we need to know what each religions means. "Islam is an Arabic word and connotes submission, surrender and obedience" (61). The Islamic people take the meaning of this word very seriously and put it their everyday life. They believe that one should be completely surrender their life to God and everything that He wills for them to do. For they are not "followers of a religion but away of life with guidance provided by God which governs all aspects of individual and corporate living" (61). Christianity comes from the word Christian, which means one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. It describes away of life that one leads and a relationship that he has with God.
             The founding of these two religions is debated across the board everyday. If we ask the questions: "When did these religions arise, Where did they arise, Who founded them, and How did they ...