Islam vs. Christianity
The ongoing
global clash between Western--essentially American and European--civilization and Islamic fundamentalism is a cultural and religious struggle.
Often, it is portrayed as a national struggle (the US vs. Iraq), sometimes
as a non-linear war (a "world community" vs. an unaligned, loosely-knit terrorist network, and occasionally as a cultural battle (permissive, decadent Western culture vs. strict, conservative fundamenal Islam).
Only
occasionally is the worldwide conflict between Islam and "Christendom" depicted in spiritual terms.
However, at several levels, it is easy to see spiritual strife in this situation.
Assignment:
For this
assignment, please develop an analysis of the spiritual dimensions of the current struggle between Islamic fundamentalism and Western civilization.
You may consider matters of the human spirit, issues related to the
spiritual (supernatural) realm; and topics connected to spiritual (religious) practices.
Please think and research carefully before writing about this topic. Please do not simply provide a "Christianity vs. Islam"
table or a series of comparisons and contrasts.
Your goal is to get to the heart of the matter from a spiritual perspective.
Be sure to consider these issues:
What is "fundamental" about Islamic fundamentalists?
How is Islamic "fundamentalism" different than Christian "fundamentalism"?
What spiritual or religious principles motivate Islamic fundamentalists?
What spiritual or religious principles motivate resistance to Islamic fundamentalism?
What are the goals of fundamentalist Islam?
Is fundamentalist Islam compatible with Christianity? Can they coexist?
If
the ultimate goal of Christianity is to see the whole world saved for Christ, what is the ultimate goal of Islam?
As you consider this topic, be sure to consult the source documents (the Holy Bible and the Koran), as well as other research resources.
Also, spend some time getting to know each group's positions, not only their
scriptures but how they influence their adherent's lives.
Visit several of the English-language Web sites devoted to Islam and life in the Islamic world. Include a section in your paper about your experiences and how
they help shape your understanding of fundamental Islam.
Finally, to address our overall objective for HIST 3255, what, in your opinion, is the nature and character of God in Islam? In Christianity? How are they the
same? How are they different? (For this section, please concentrate on God's "nature and character.")
Expected Length: 12-15 pages (combining Assignment 6 and the final paper).
