Islam and Christianity : a comparative study

Abstract

Quintus Aurelius Symmachus, a spokesman for the ancient Roman Senate, was an eloquent apologist for the moribund culture-religion of his ancestors. He is remembered today, and briefly mentioned in manuals of church history, for having exchanged theological debating' points with a better known contemporary of his, St Ambrose' of Milan. Well before his death, Christianity had become the official religion of the Roman Empire, with alll other religions being proscribed. Shortly thereafter non-Christians were excluded even from holding public office. But one of the points made by Symmaahus remains with us still. Concerning the mystery of the universe and of human destiny,he inscribed these words on a long-lasting parchment: '''It is impossible that so great a mystery should be approached by one road only". Christians, at any rate, have not yet considered deeply, extensively, positively, and in the light of their own faith, the significance of the religions that have always served the majority of human beings, and will evidently continue to serve an ever-increasing portion of humanity, possibly even until the eschaton or end of the world. The initial efforts and the major contributions in this field of study have been made more by social scientists than by theologians. But things are changing. Christianity is now more than ever facing the question raised more than fifteen centuries ago by the Roman senator: "God is one and the same for all: but there must be more than one road leading to Him"