Religion and Theology

The general idea and concept of Hell mainly encompasses a despicable place with flames where wicked and evil souls spend the rest of eternity in torment.  These views of the ever damned place are most likely derived from religious beliefs and old-school dogma from early teachings.  Conversely, the term Hell employing an idiomatic approach is commonly used as an expression for circumstances in which terrible pain, agony, or other horrid and vicious possible consequences may take place.  Therefore, the experiences of suffering, anguish, pain, and plague are often interchanged with the term hell.  The human integrations for the term thereby eliminate any universal or objective definition andor description of hell.  The book, Four Views on Hell highlights several interpretations of hell from the scholarly views of William Crockett, John Walvoord, Zachary Hayes, and Clark Pinnock. 

II. Brief Summary
The truth of the existence of Hell in most religious beliefs and practices is adhered to by most conformists however, most religions refuse to probe on how the process of eternal punishment is actually done. The book Four Views on Hell tackles the topic from several points of view apart from the scriptural accounts.  The author and contributors of the book primarily raise a controversial question to a delicate subject  How is hell to be understood  The book is written in such a manner which really prompts this big question and, this question in turn, branches out to spring up several other questions as well. 

The book initially emphasizes on how religious teachings avoid talking of matters that involve hell instead, preachers and interpreters only give unclear thoughts of how hell promises to make afterlife a punishment for those who opt to go astray.  Most individuals are disturbed by this concept since the thought of eternal torment does not connote very positive prospects.  Thus, the book in itself is an informative source of the several concepts governing hell. 
     
The book details four different perspectives of hell from four professors who are brave enough to tackle a subject in contrast to the typical perceptions discussed in religious doctrines.  It highlights how hell is perceived dependent on an individuals personally upheld beliefs.  The four perspectives that are presented reflect the personal views of the people behind the book are delivered in an informative and scholarly manner. 
   
The books title may stimulate satanic or demonic implications to most conservative Christians but the underlying motive of the book is still directed towards an analysis on the grounds of eternal punishment.  The theological approach of the book expounds on the traditional perspectives of hell while the perspectives explained are backed by the opinion of several theologians that tend to disagree with what the scriptures say.  It tells of how the concept of eternal punishment is explained throughout the bible with the etymology of the word hell. 
     
The book discusses the Old Testament and New Testament doctrines of hell throughout its four chapters in concise and thorough arguments.  In spite of the four separate views of the author and contributors, the book interactively discusses the issues of contradicting beliefs on hell with every contributor sharing reaction toward one anothers opinion.  Four Views on Hell gives the theological argument of hell using the biblical passages, both in the Old and the New Testaments, including the four canonical gospels that contain the words of Jesus Christ himself.  In all the perspectives presented, the Bible is authoritatively consulted and conformed to.   Overall, the book solely argues whether hell is eternal, metaphoric, conditional or purgatorial.  The book in itself ironically presents a topic that is usually avoided or characterized by impropriety. 

III. Critical interaction with authors work
In a strict sense, the book lives up to what it attempts to convey and the biggest contributor to this is the collaborative structure of the publication.  Crockett, Walvoord, Hayes, and Pinnock eliminate the typical narrow perspectives of hell in their respective arguments.  One of the important premises of theology is the biblical canon of hell and theologians for a long period of time have been studying its principles.  It is apparent that the writers attempted to connect the authenticity of the bibles content within the contrasting views of Christian sects and secular non-Christians as well.  It is quite plausible to imagine how a Muslim can be saved from damnation without the acceptance of Christs suffering and death.
   
It is quite lucid that human opinion is divided, but the books literal and metaphorical agonies of hell can scare an individual in any given day.  Though contextually similar to the literal perspective, Crocketts metaphorical aspect concurs to the explanation that the Bible should not be taken literally  nevertheless, the effects of a wicked life are as horrible as the literal interpretations of a place where fire and demons abound.  In contrast to the books metaphorical explanation, the prevalent and general argument that is only limited to literal and non-literal is more plausible to some individuals, and people still prefer alternatives rather than the scriptures provided.   The Literal or Orthodox view further argues that hell is a place of punishment that lasts forever meaning whoever is sent to hell will face a life of eternal and endless suffering.  Hell is further described in detail as a place that is very dark, and where the castigation is done on the physical, mental and emotional levels.  On the contrary, the Metaphorical view avers that suffering in hell is more symbolic and emotional rather than physical where the torment will also be everlasting but not physically agonizing.  In any case, the current progress of mindless conformity in the world can truthfully testify to the literal and metaphorical elucidations of the book.  Though easy to grasp, the literal and metaphorical view poses a challenge on the evangelical end.  This is because the literal and metaphorical views both imply Gods mutual resentment over evil-doers.  As such, the metaphorical and literal view has the probability of impeding the value of Christs suffering and death, thereby causing difficulty of preaching the gospel to a world gradually being secluded from Gods grace. 
     
The Roman Catholic Church meanwhile offers a rather less terrifying account of hell in the belief of purgatory, where souls who led wicked lives are cleansed in preparation to their entrance to Gods grace.  The concept of purgatory offers a ray of hope for those who feel are not upright enough to go to Heaven, but not that sinful to go to Hell.  Hayes here presents God as a forgiving God due to purgatorys offers for the redemption of the wicked souls.  However, the purgatorial approach may counter other biblical teachings such as God being just, who gives to the unrighteous the proper punishment in the afterlife.  In addition, purgatory, though considered by Hayes as a form of punishment, completely counters biblical doctrines of hell, particularly on the eternal implication of such punishment. 
     
Much can also be said about Pinnocks conditional view wherein hell and eternal punishment does not last for eternity and that eternal life is only for the righteous and noble. This perspective may agree with the description of God as a forgiving and merciful God, but the thought once again eliminates the preconceived notion of Gods justice, and His firm aversion toward the sinful and the impious.  Furthermore, Gods merciful nature is negated if the conditional view will be put into consideration.

In addition to these ideas, it is significant to point out the assertion that hell is necessary because not everyone will repent.  It is part of Cathecism or Catholic teachings that hell will be a place for those who are aware of evil and its works but will still take the wicked path.  In other words, since the teachings have been handed down to the Christians, it is not really certain who will actually follow the teachings since some will not be as keen on abiding by the Christian teachings.  Each person is given their entire life on Earth as an opportunity to repent and accept God hence, if they do not take advantage of this chance to make amends for their evil deeds, then it will definitely be in hell that the individual will go to.  This justifies the existence of Hell for the purpose of separating those who are diligent and adhere to the laws as against those who choose not to go along the path of righteousness.       
Four Views on Hell blatantly attempts to give four clear and concise definitions of hell with respect to the Bible that should govern the abilities of the human mind.  This literary piece begets a perception of hell that has been the center of debate among Christians and non-Christians.  Hell for most people revolves around damnation in an unimaginable place.  It is sometimes deemed as an experience that tends to bring human life in fear, disgust, and terror.  Regardless if the interpretations may vary, the thought of hell nonetheless concerns punishments for evil deeds committed.  It is also interesting to note that there punishment in hell is not homogenous but that in actuality there are degrees of punishment in hell, just as there are degrees of reward in heaven.  As such, this connotes that come Judgment Day, each mans deeds will be assessed according to the degree of his good deeds and offenses, and not be dumped together in either Heaven or Hell with all the other souls.     
     
In a similar note, Keith Wright tackles hell in a different perspective in The Hell Jesus Never Intended.  Though Wright explains how hell is feared by most Christians, it is only limited to the Christian point-of-view.  Wright only insinuates two sentiments about hell, contradictory to Four Views on Hell which has four separate and interactive interpretations. 
     
Wrights book gives an implication of how God punishes the wicked as stated in the scriptural doctrines of hell.  God in the Bible is described by numerous qualities that complement Him as The Omniscient being, and this is a point of concern since the torments of hell is a premise in the bible.  Wright religiously conforms to the Bibles descriptions of hell which is characterized by a lifetime of flames and demons, as opposed to what Hayes and Pinnock suggest. 

IV. Conclusion
Crockett and the scholars who contributed in the Four Views on Hell theoretically gave out their personal interpretations on the subject.  .The well-explained insights successfully convey the message to individuals from all walks of life, which is the point of this publication to begin with. 
The book gives more of enlightenment in the form of knowledge rather than strike terror andor fear on the readers, which is the usual reaction of most people.  A first glance at the book can somehow make a person -- particularly of conservative Christian practices -- see the book as blasphemic, but a closer look may strengthen ones faith as he or she may ask how God accepts the souls of the departed.  Human beings are prone to temptation, and subsequently to sin, but God is always ready to accept the repenting, Therefore, Four Views on Hell makes one think that humanity still has hope despite the sinful life.  Though it is really never explained how the depraved and corrupted will be made to pay for their transgressions. 

Isaiah is one of the most significant prophets in the Old Testament. He is the one that foretold the coming of the messiah, who is Jesus Christ. He is also one of the advisors of a number of kings in Jerusalem when it was under pressure from the political threats of its neighboring counties such as Egypt and Assyria. In the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah speaks of justice from the Israelites betrayal against Yahweh. Its beginning chapters tell a prophecy of chaos, war, and an impending collapse of the state of Israel. However, the following chapters of the book show Gods mercy and promise of love.

Isaiah has been subject to many biblical scholars because of the way the book in the Old Testament was written. The textual issues concerning Isaiah have brought the concept of three different Isaiahs, known as Isaiah of Jerusalem, the 2nd Isaiah, and the 3rd Isaiah. Thus, this paper discusses the view of biblical scholars as to why there are three identities to Isaiah in the Old Testament.

Isaiah of Jerusalem
The book entitled, Understanding the Bible written by Stephen Harris provides a comprehensive explanation, based on the view of biblical scholars, as to the textual issues regarding Isaiahs roles in the Old Testament. The book of Isaiah is a collection of Hebrew prophecy which traces its roots to the mid-eight to the fifth centuries BCE. The book is actually a work of at least three prophets addressing three different crises in the history of Israel (201). The first 39 chapters of the book speak of the oldest prophecies made by Isaiah of Jerusalem, to whom the book was named. He served as the counselor to three Judean kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The prophecies in this section speak of wrongdoings in Judea and Jerusalem, judgment against foreign nations, restoration, and denunciations of Judah and Jerusalem (202). This section was more about loyalty to Yahweh and the practice of social justice (203).

The Second and Third Isaiah
Evidence supporting the premise that there was more than one Isaiah in the book on the Old Testament is that the name Isaiah was never mentioned in the chapters following chapter 39. This second main division consists of chapters 40 to 45 where the Assyrian threat is also no longer mentioned. This time, an anonymous prophet addresses the Judean captives in Babylon and declaring Cyrus of Persia as Yahwehs messiah, who will free Israel from Babylonian exile.

The third Isaiah referred to by biblical scholars is found in chapters 56-66. It consists of a number of prophetic oracles to a ravaged colony of exiles that resettled in Judah, which was already in Persian rule at that time (201).

Isaiahs Prophecy of the Messiah
The book of Isaiah is a very popular book in the Old Testament because of the prophecy of the Messiah, a descendant of David who will save the entire people of Israel from foreign rule. This was fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament. Biblical scholars believed that the people of Israel perceived that this was with reference to Hezekiah, who was Ahaz s wife, that her child would become the heir to the throne. This was the occasion for Isaiahs poem in chapter 9, verse 7 (203). Because of the high influence of Isaiah to the people to Israel, future generations after the Davidic throne still looked up to this particular prophecy, which they referred to as Jesus of Nazareth (204).

They are said to have the same religious heritage with very few common elements and roots (Los Angeles Chinese Center for Learning, par 2). They are among the main religions in the world with huge following. Are their any similarities and differences among the three religions One similarity is that all the three religions are monotheistic but the difference comes in on how they view God. The Judaism God is a one being who can never be divided into parts and for them dividing God is an act of paganism. For Muslims, their God is regarded as invisible and immaterial. This God must be held with a lot of awe where by He must be really feared by the faithful. Another characteristic of the Muslim God is that he is omnipotent. Islam rules out the idea of God having a son and for them the idea goes against the divine nature of God and this is like giving God human qualities which according to them, He is not. For Christians, they believe in the holy trinity of God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. They also believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that He is a revelation of God through the human flesh (All about Religion, par. 2).

The three religions also regard God as the author of everything in the world and everything originates from Him. They also believe that God is very caring and He always looks after the well being of the people. He is also just, merciful and gracious. He has given guidelines to His people on how to lead righteous lives that may please Him (Los Angeles Chinese Center for Learning, par 2).
I do not think all the three religions worship the same God even through they are monotheistic. This is because the Judaism God is one and they do not believe that He can be divided into parts. In other words, they do not believe in the holy trinity and the same applies to Islam. For Muslims, they do not believe God can have a son. All these go against the Christian belief in the holy trinity of God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. For me, these are very different concepts about God and thus may not refer to the same God.

The other similarity is that the three religions have their own holy books that have some similarities but also differences. Torah is Judaisms holy book and this one is regarded the original book that contained the Old Testament. Torah is very important when it comes to Judaism worship because it is believed that it received its definite form from the Old Testament. It also contains the Ten Commandments which are very crucial in Judaism for they regard them as foundation or basis of human beings behavior (All about Religion, par. 4). For Muslims, the Quran is the last book from God and thus it is the best. First it was the Ten Commandments which were given to Prophet Moses. It was followed by the golden rule that was given to Prophet Jesus. Muslims regard the Torah, Davids psalms, the book that contains the New Testament and the Quran as the holy book but the Quran is the best. For Christians, the bible which contains both the old and the new testaments is the holy book. They believe that God reveals himself and his thoughts through the bible. The bible is also very important to them because it outlines the beginning and the end of all things including the way one can achieve salvation, and also sins consequences (All about Religion, par 4-5).

The three religions also emphasis on regular prayers and the difference comes in on how they conduct the prayers. For Judaism, there is so much recitation involved and they also have prayer book called Sidder (Religious Facts, par 1). For Muslims, they are supposed to pray 5 times a day (Diversity Planner, par 4). The Christians meet every Sunday to pray and worship (Woodruff, par 1).Those religions emphasize that people should show concern to others and respect other peoples dignity (Los Angeles Chinese Center for Learning, par. 7).

Another similarity is that, they all have holy places of worship but also different. For Muslims, the mosque is a very holy place where one is required to remove shoes and carry out a washing ritual before stepping into the mosque to pray (Diversity Planner, par. 1). In Judaism, synagogues and temples are regarded as holy. The male faithful must cover their heads either with a dress or kipa. They are also required to bow at some point during prayers (Religious Facts, par. 5). For Christians they have various churches where they do their worshipping every Sunday with worship practices varying (Woodruff, par. 1).

In conclusion, the three religions seem to have similarities in regards to the worship of one God but the difference comes in on how they view Him. The same applies to their beliefs about the prophets and the holy books, their places of worship and prayers. They all have prophets, holy books, places of worship and regular prayers but very different or are practiced differently.

The process of worship and development of rituals remains to be an important factor shaping the development of religious beliefs. Here, it focuses on establishing meaning of faith through various symbolisms and application of tenets of a particular religion. Given the diversity of these methods, it then creates a sense of identity among believers as they find common grounds wherein they can share their ideals and principles altogether. Such dynamics then reinforces the process of religion and promotes its transcendence through the constant shaping of new customs and beliefs.

Analyzing my own sense of what worship means, it corresponds to ones ability to exercise the appreciation of belief towards oneself or to a group of people. This constant interaction with this spiritual aspect of mine shapes my ability to perceive and develop new means to identify myself and also hone my values and principles in life. At the same time, it also infuses common perspectives concerning how I relate to my environment and promote better means for both adaptability and growth. In essence, my idea concerning worship seeks to supplement and apply my faith to my interpersonal realm and to others as well.

Applying this in terms of ritual actions, I see the value of using this as supplemental tools towards reaching out and developing my faith. These actions serve to complement my aspect of worship because of its capacity to allow interaction with reality and ascertain value towards specific objects, persons, or even emotional experiences. Seeing this, collaborating both worship and rituals altogether can indeed shape new levels of appreciation as it generates better means for expanding and widening my view not only with my religious beliefs but of my faith.

In relation to the customs and practices of the Islamic tradition, the way they see worship also corresponds to the manner of actively surrendering oneself to the will of Allah. Here, they see their purpose through a holistic manner of mind and body in constant interaction and collaboration towards good. Here, Islam Religion points out that worship has a unique role in Islam, and through worship, a person is regarded as a true Muslim who accords his entire life to the Will of God (p.1).  Due to this, the idea of Muslim worship then seeks to strike the balance between its customary traditions with that of personal feelings and values towards another.

Similarly, this can be seen with the sacrament of Holy Eucharist within the Catholic customs and rituals. Here, it tries to specify the value of collaboration among believers who receive communion and commemorate the actions of Jesus Christ (Religious Facts, p. 1). With the usage of different rituals such as reading of gospels, transubstantiation of bread and wine, and the actual partaking (communion), it supplements the totality of Catholic view concerning the practice of faith - one that is communal and equally shared by all members. This then justifies one aspect in the promotion of faith.

Lastly, for the part of Judaism, their capacity to exercise prayers throughout the day showcases their ability to utilize a personalized view and experience of worship. Here, their rituals remain to be facilitative of tradition but the aspect of application still remains on the part of the doer. By effectively catering to these ideas accordingly, it helps generate an appreciation of faith and exercise of reverence and sanctity towards what they do. All these in turn seek to justify how they value meaning towards their religious services may it be Shacharit (morning prayer), Mincha (afternoon prayer), and Maariv (evening prayer) (Religion Facts, p.1). Such directions then show how they value their prayers as part of the Judaist custom and adherence to specific principles.

Background of religion
Religion is a form of organization that is formed as a result of shared beliefs. Islam and Christianity are the two worlds biggest religions that people share their beliefs in. The two religions are at least found in 80 percent of the countries in the world. They have a history that explains the birth of religion, their past and their current existence and differences. The Christian religion has had many divisions based on beliefs and perspectives of the real faith. The result was the growth of many denominations that were liberal and conservative, The Catholics and Anglicans have been deemed as conservatives and the protestant churches have been categorized as the liberals. Islam likewise has had its fair share of problems and it also split into two major groups the Sunni and the Shiite sects, with the Sunni being the bigger and more established of the two, while the Shea Islam has fewer followers around the world.

History of the two religions
History of the two religions is the beginning of the comparison. The analysis of the similarities in these tow religions spring up from their history. The basis of their faith and the activities that led to their divisions is the basis of the similarity and differences of these two religions. Islam means Submission to God where as Christian comes from Christ. It is derived in the faith we believe in. Both religions have a naming that is derived from the prophet in whom they believed in.

Islam
The history of Islam suggests that the faith of Islam is based on the belief that Prophet Muhammad and all the prophets who came to this world preached the same message of believing in one God Allah. All the prophets were also blessed with a power of divine will or truth. The Arabs believe that HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)the message of Islam was first received by the Holy Prophet Mohammed more than 1400 HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)years ago. It is believed that HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Angel Gabriel is the one who delivered this special message and was thus preservedHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)in the Holy Quran. The origin of the word Islam means PEACE. The Muslims believe that they are supposed to surrender to the HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Will of God. This is typical of Christianity where the followers of the religions are supposed to surrender the pleasure HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)of HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)the world for HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)God. Both religions believe HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)that the creator of the world HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)is the One and the only one worthy of worship. Muslims believe HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)that Muhammad HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)is His last Prophet, HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Messenger and Servant CITATION Raj10 l 2057 (Rajab, 2010).   

They differ with Christians on this aspect since the Christians believe the Jesus Christ was his son and one would not reach the father without going through the son. The Muslims follow the beliefs as laid down by Muslim faith. HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Muslim faithful have five main duties to perform, namely bearing witness to the existence of Unity of God and Mohammed HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)as his Prophet, observing the prayers as taught in the teachings, payment of Zakat, faithful observing the fasts during Ramadan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime. The Islam religion believes that all Human beings are HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)born pure. The teachings in the Holy Quran tell us that God gave human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek Gods pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. In Islam it is believed that God created mankind in His own image and by trying to emulate the qualities and Holy status of God on a human level, mankind is able to attain the right to be near God. Islams main teachings are to worship God and to treat allHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Gods creation with kindness and compassion CITATION Sal09 l 2057 (Salman, 2009).

Muslim teachings encourage their faithful to lead a life full of Kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage, patience and politeness. This is the message that is contained in the Holy Book the Quran. The Hadith and Sunnahs narrate the life and practices of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. These teachings help in the spiritual development of all Muslims. Anyone who seeks spiritual nourishment and needs to get near the Lord needs to seek God through worship and dedication to the principles of the Muslim religion. By following the teachings and observing the required codes of the religion one would be able to establish a relationship with the Almighty Lord in his life(Christopher, 2010).
In these Muslim Teachings we see that the religion has a way which it is related to the Christian religion. The Christian denomination we will be discussing in particular is the United Methodist Church.

The Church
The United Methodist ChurchHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) is greatly the works and efforts of a movement that was began by John and Charles Wesley within the Anglican Church. This largely explains why the churchs theological orientation is mostly Wesleyan. It embeds both liturgical and evangelical elements.    The church membership is one of the largest in the United States after the Southern Baptist Convention and it is ranked as the third Largest Christian denomination. It boasts of membership of about 12 million members worldwide with 8 million from the United States and Canada. It is also enlisted as a member of the World council of churches and world Methodist council CITATION Chr10 l 2057 (Christopher, 2010).

The HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Methodist Church began HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)as a movement within the Church of England by a small       
Group of students from Oxford University Campus the leaders were John Wesley, Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. They laid emphasis on the study of the Bible and scrutinised scriptures and also living a Holy life. The title Methodists came from the mocking from their friends who were fascinated by the Methodical study of scriptures and Bible study, and their lifestyle.  Later on they began teaching members of the Church of England in societies. For those who wanted to live sacred lives. The Wesley Brothers spread the Gospel in different states.

The movement won more followers among the Anglicans and they came up with the conviction of being saved by the Grace of God and through the faith. This came to be known as the doctrine of the church as well as of the scriptures. These were the foundations of the doctrines of the church, salvation was by faith and this became the main topic. These laid foundation to Christian faith and an understanding that by nature all people are dead in sin and they are saved by faith. These became the doctrine which they preached and this doctrine supported their growth into a church. These were the origin of the Methodist church. All the followers of the preachings and doctrines preached by the Young preachers formed the Methodist church. I t was first set up in Baltimore, Maryland(Mary, 2010).
 
This church was formed by two churches that had distinguished histories and had developed influential ministries in various parts of the world.  The new denomination   started as a movement in the 1739. It originated from the teachings of John Wesley in England. They never intended to form a new church but they formed societies called united societies. Through these small united groups they would restore people in the Anglican denomination. Methodism grew and spread and this came to be a fully fledged church. They however underwent divisions in the American history and later on the divided factions of the Methodist church came together to form a united church. In 1939, the three factions which are the American Methodism Protestant Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South agreed to reunite under the name The Methodist Church. This brought together a total of 7.7 million member church that gradually grew on its own. It later on came to combine with another Evangelical United Brethren Church(Mary, 2010).

The move by the bishops of the two churches to combine their churches into one led to the formation of the second largest Protestant denomination in America, The United Methodist Church.  The background features and worshiping in these two institutions or organizations was significantly had similarities and some peculiar differences. The two religions have had a stormy past and it took them time to grow. In the establishments and growth they have similar characteristics. Both of them command a great number of followers. They command a huge number of followers because of their teachings and concentration in the content of the holy book. For the Muslim they are taught according to the teachings in the Quran where as the Methodists rely on the Biblical scriptures. This makes the doctrines be strong and more viable to the respective gatherings(Mary, 2010).

Comparison and contrast of the two religions
The HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)United Methodist Church lays emphasis onHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) personal holiness. It is wholly evangelical and uses outreach to spread the Gospel.   The main objective of HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)United Methodist Church wasHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) to create disciples for Christ through outreach, evangelism, and through seeking holiness through the process of sanctification and baptism. The followers are taught like the Disciples of Christ and they undergo a process of learning salvation through which they are deemed fit to be accepted in sanctity.   By Worshiping in trinity, United Methodists seeks to bring followers near God by following the footsteps of Christ and his teachings. They seek to honour God In all their activities and investments. All this is laid in faith to God and in belief of the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is represented in the church logo by a Flame, and HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)is manifested in believers through spiritual gifts and their daily lives CITATION Chr10 l 2057 (Christopher, 2010).

The Holy Ghost flame is symbolic it has two parts and it represents the predecessors denomination.The flame is HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)united at the base to symbolizing the 1968 merger of the two denominations. The Church being the product of the Holy CatholicHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)universal Church it uses and recognizes theHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)ecumenical creeds, the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. These are prayers frequently used in HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)services of worship in the Catholic Universal Church.   The United Methodist church has a Book of Discipline. This contains the Doctrines and laws of the United Methodist Church. The doctrines and beliefs of the United Church believe in the concept of the visible and invisible Church. In the Invisible church is the existence of all who believe in the doctrines of the church although they may not be observers of all the rules of the church. All Christians must worship and attend all sacraments as administered in the church. The difference with the visible and invisible side we find that the invisible is the normal church attendance but one does not participate in keeping the Laws and doctrines of the Church. They can as well be referred to as unworthy members in the visible church CITATION Chr10 l 2057 (Christopher, 2010).
 
A summary of 
The HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) basic beliefs of the United Methodist Church include -Trinity God.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Belief in the Scripture. The Scripture writings in the Old and NewHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) testaments are the true and inspired word of God.  Understanding of the Human beings and their purpose of being created the reason why God created us in his own image, the belief of the church is that all humans are sinners. Committing of Sin separates us from God and corrupts human nature such that we cannot heal or save ourselves. The Church believes in Salvation through Jesus. Gods redeeming love is believed to be the only remedy to save sinners from eternal suffering. Through Jesus incarnation andHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)His atoning death, His resurrection is represented through the presence through history, and his promised return CITATION Chr10 l 2057 (Christopher, 2010).

HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Sacraments the United Methodist Church recognizes only two sacraments Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. The other rites such as Confirmation, Ordination, Holy Matrimony, Funerals, and Anointing of the Sick are offered but they are not considered to be the holy sacraments. The church believes that Holy Baptism is not only a sign of profession and HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized but it is also a sign of  or the new birth .It believes that Baptism is a sacrament in which God initiates a covenant with individuals, The United Methodist Church Baptizes byHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) sprinkling, pouring, or immersion and recognizes Trinitarian formula.  The United Methodist Church also HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) the real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, the Bread is an effectual sign of His body crucified on the cross and the Cup is an effectual sign of His humanity (Christopher, 2010). 
 
HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0) Islam Religion is by the HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)declaration of faith which states, HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness, HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)is His final messenger. 
The Muslim community welcomes individuals. To become a Muslim one must be ready to adhere with the Eight Schools of Islamic Legal Thought. Islam as a religion is the worlds second largest religion. In Islam the most important factor in Islam is the faith. For a Muslim an individuals faith is the important(Mary, 2010). The believer or Follower is called a Mumin. A Muslim Observes a Muslim observes Sunnah (practices and actions of Mohammed), the HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)cohesive community of Muslims who accept the Sunnah as defined within one of the traditional Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi or Hanbali madhabs are the classical Sunni Muslims. Muslims believeHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)only one God (Allah). The Quran HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)describes many Biblical prophets and messengers asHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Adam, Noah, and MosesHYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)Jesus.HYPERLINK javascriptvoid(0)the differences in the two religions, the two also share some common factors i.e. Monotheism (belief in one God.), belief in Prophets, belief in Judgment Day, in their Holy Books and in the Will of man to change and conform to Gods ways through faith, belief and repentance, in Angel (i.e. Angel Gabriel), in life after death, in HeavenParadise and the eternity of God(Rajab, 2010).

Conclusion
The features and characteristics in the Muslim religion are very similar. In Islam we realise it was also introduced by many prophets and the one messiah was long waited. The background of both religions is filled with problems where they are similar. As there was a split. The major difference is in the doctrine preached by the different religion. Where Muslims believe in one prophet who died and the United Methodist Church believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.The two religions   have many similarities and still have many differences. It is likely we cannot exhaust the similarities and the differences.

Prophet Mohammed Ibn Abdallah was the founder of Islamic religion whose life is outlined in the Quran. This is also the main source of knowledge for those who believe in Islam.  The believers of Islamic faith are known as Muslims.  The Quran is therefore the holy book of Muslims.  Mohammed is believed to be the last Prophet and that he was a messenger of God. During his life time he worked as a merchant and a Shepherd. Jesus on the other hand did not introduce the Christian religion but is said to have been foretold by the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, John is the one who started preparing the way for the messiah, and so he preached the word of God (Amstrong. 2002).   

Later on it was revealed that the Messiah was Jesus.  Jesus is said to be one of the components of the holy trinity God, God the son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the second trinity and so he is God the Son.  The people who believe in Jesus and his religion are known as Christians.  Jesus just like Mohammed is also believed to be the messenger of God and referred to as Jesus Christ.  Christians also believe that Jesus is incarnate.  The Muslims believe that Jesus is one of the Messiah but Mohammed is the last one, however, Christians do not believe in Mohammed (Sochottroff. 2002).

Mohammed was born in the year 570 in Mecca. He was born of Aminah and Abdullah.  He lost his parents when he was at a very tender age and so he was brought up by his uncle Abu Talib. He was from the Quraish tribe of the Banu Hashim Clan. Mohammad married at the Age of 25 to a wealthy and noble widow who was 40 years of age 15 years his senior.  Mohammed had the habit of retreating in the mountains for meditation. One day Angel Gabriel appeared to him during his meditation and revealed to him that he was the chosen one.  Three years after the Angels visit, Mohammed gained courage and started preaching Allah and that all should total surrender to him. Jesus on the other hand is said to have lived between the years 5BCE  30CE.  He was born of Mary and Joseph.  Unlike Mohammed, Jesus grew up with his parents.  But just like Mohammed, little is known of his life except that his parents lived a humble life (Amstrong. 2002).   

Christians believe that Jesus was born of his virgin mother Mary.  Contrary to Islam religion where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mohammed, in Christianity, the Angle Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary mother of Jesus and told her not to worry since she was pregnant with the son of God, despite the fact that at the time she had not consummated her relationship with Joseph her fianc. Therefore, Christians regard Mary as a holy mother since she was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus birth was received with hostility by King Herold, who had heard that the King of the Jews was born, and so he sent out his subjects to kill all the male children who were two years and below.  His family was compelled to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt (Sochottroff. 2002). 

Christians believe that the family was protected by God and so Jesus got to live until he was of age. Mohammed on the other hand was met with hostility particularly from his tribes men who were the custodian of the Kaaba (shrine of idols).  By this time he was in his 40s. Mohammed therefore fled to Medina to seek protection.  The Islam religion refers to Mohammeds fleeing for safety as Hijra which is very significant in the Islamic calendar.  His presence in Medina was very fruitful as he is said to have united the tribes who were in conflict and above all his number of followers grew.  As a result they unanimously conquered Mecca (Amstrong. 2002).

Mohammed died a few months after his pilgrimage.  He died from illness.  By the time of his death, he had united most of the Arabian Peninsula and also Islam religion had spread widely.  The Islamic faith is outlined in the Quran, commonly referred to as the word of God. Mohammed lived a virtuous life which made him earn the title the faithful one.  After his death the Islam lived according to his life and traditions which they refer to as sira and sunnah.  The literature that was written by those who knew him is referred to as Hadtih (Masqsood. 1995).  Jesus on the contrary died a very painful death as he was crucified to death by Pontius Pilate who accused Jesus of Blasphemy. For Christians, this death signifies forgiveness of the original sin.  Christians believe that the first man and woman ate the forbidden fruit and that this original sin was transferred to man.  The work of Jesus on earth was to take away this sin from man.  And so in order to do this he had to die for their sins (Amstrong. 2002). 

Jesus is also said to have lived a virtuous life.  His life is narrated in the Holy Bible, a book which outlines the history of Christianity as well as a guideline of how they should live.  In the Bible Jesus is described to have had a lot of wisdom and to have spoken in parables for purposes of effective communication (Dowley. 2006). 

Mohammeds name is mentioned in Quran only four times since he is referred to as the Prophet, he is also referred to as the messenger of Allah, the bearer of good tidings and other titles that indicate that he is indeed admirable.  The Quran also distinguishes Mohammed to have excelled above other prophets, while the Surah describes him as the Seal of the Prophets (Amstrong. 2002).

At the age of 12, Mohammed accompanied his uncle to a caravan trade journey to Syria where they met a Christian monk named Bahira who foretold Mohammed as the last prophet of God. Not much is said about Mohammeds youthful life, however, his uprightness was so distinct and it drew Khadija to him.  However, when Khadija died after 25 years of their blissful marriage, Mohammed is said to have married 13 wives by the time of his death.  Khadija bore Mohammed four daughters and two sons. Similarly at the age of 12, Jesus is said to have walked away from the parents and went to preach to adults. The parents panicked but after a long search they found him.  On cautioning him he asked them if they did not know he was supposed to be serving his father (Masqsood. 1995).

The Quran preaches that Islam is the total submission to Allah and thus urges Muslims to submit to Allah and respect Prophet Mohammed.  In the Quran Man is responsible for preserving creatures.  Muslims also believe in life after death and that there will come the Day of Judgment whereby those who did not live by the doctrine of the Quran will be sent to hell by Allah while the good will live eternally in heaven.  The Muslims are required by the word of Allah to believe in him, reject sin, and ask for forgiveness of sin, fast during Ramadan, and pray without seizing.  Christians believe that fasting and praying to God expedites Gods response to their needs.  They also believe in life after death and the judgment day, and that sinners will go to hell while good Christians will enjoy eternal life in heaven (Dowley. 2006).

Historians say that Mohammed experienced opponent of Islam religion when he attacked adoration of idols, polytheism most favorable religion of his forefathers at the time.  Mohammed was offered wealth and beautiful girls in exchange of his faith but he denied.  He was therefore mistreated alongside his followers some of whom lost their lives as a result.  There are no records where Jesus reckoned with idol worshipers, however, in the Old Testament, one of his ancestors Moses who was entrusted with the 10 commandments that Christians subscribe to is said to have been angered by idol worshipers.  The idol worshipers were destroyed by God.

Jesus private life is not effectively documented.  There are no authentic documents on Jesus private life, however, if he would have married, it would have been one wife since he preached monogamy.  However, Mohammed is said to have married a total of 13 wives during his life time on basis of giving favors or attaining favors.  Quite a number of his wives were widows, and so they needed a shoulder to lean on.  As a result Christians are monogamists while Muslims are Polygamists (Masqsood. 1995).

Today there have been controversies on both the Islamic religion and the Christian religion.  For Muslims, there have emerged various schools of thought that have resulted to two branches of Muslims the Shia and the Sunni.  Both Shia and Sunni believe in Mohammeds preaching and the Quran, however the Shia have expounded on Mohammeds traditions (Masqsood. 1995). The Sharia Law has particularly been the centre of controversy on the issue of taking away someones life as a punishment for sin as well as the holy war. Christians have equally had their share of conflict and as a result there has emerged so many denominations with diverse traditions.  But most importantly, they all subscribe to the teaching of the Holy Bible. The major controversy amongst the Christian is the belief in the Holy Eucharist and the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist as well as the vow of celibacy amongst the Roman Catholic among others (Amstrong. 2002).

JudaismChristianityIslamCountries of originThey are canonites from the land of Cannon. They believe they came from Israel.Come from many countries and many origins. Middle East and North Africa.Historical figures and eventsMoses, Saul, David and Solomon.  Freeing of the Israelites and Moses bringing them to the promised land. Moses and Miriam both died before reaching it. Jesus is the son of God and he arose from death to ascend to heaven after dying for his people. Moses brought the Israelites out of Canaan and parted the oceans, taking them to the promised land. God gave the 10 commandments to Moses who brought them down from the Mount. There were five prophets and they were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. These men brought the people the word of God. Central beliefsMan was created in the image of God and this does not mean that we look like God but are expected to be like God. There is one God who is the holy trinity or the Father, the Son, and the holy ghost. Jesus was the son of God and died for our sins. Adam and Eve made the faithful mistake that brought us all out of Eden. If you are sinful you will go to Hell and if you are faithful you will go to heaven. God created man from a clot of blood. Humans are the greatest creatures on earth.

God created man with free will to obey and serve him They believe in the 5 pillars of faith which are the confession of faith, ritual prayer, alms tax, fasting during Ramadon and pilgrimage to Mecca. There are also 8 ritual beliefs which include that God exists, he is a single entity, he created everything, he is neither male or female, he is omnipresent, he is just and merciful and he is holy and perfect.Nature of GodEach man has his own relationship with God. God is the power of all of the Universe and according to which religion you have, he is frightening or he is supportive but either way he is almighty. God wants you to submit to his will. He is the one true God and expects faithfulness. TextsTorah, Talmud and the MidrashThe Bible. There are two texts, one is the Koran and the other is the Hadith. Ritual and practiceThey have many rituals which include birth and naming ceremonies, circumcision, redemption of the first born, coming of age, and Jewish marriage traditions. Christening, and baptizing are important if you are going to heaven. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus birthday.

Church on Sunday and sometimes on Wed. Easter is the celebration of the rising of Jesus and his ascension to heaven.Prayer begins every morning at sunrise and every evening at sundown. They have fasting for a week at Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca every year and take those who would have trouble getting there themselves. Ethics and moralityThey believe in the Yetzer too and the Yezer ra. The Yetzer too is the impulse to satisfy ones desires and the ra is the drive so do good things like having a family and supporting them. Man is prone to sin which is proven by Adam and Eve. We have all sinned and we must prey and ask for forgiveness for those sins if we are to sit in heaven with Jesus. We were created in the image of God and when we are born we are essentially good  but have the predisposition to sin. They believe they were born of Mohammed and created in the image of God. Man is meant to obey and though man may sin, he must ask God for forgiveness.