Cassels (n.d.) stated "The youngest of the world's major religions, and the only one that seriously rivals Christianity in international missionary outreach, is the faith which the prophet Mohammed introduced among the Arabs in the seventh century. Its correct name is Islam, an Arabic word meaning "submission to the will of Cod." Its adherents are called Moslems (in Arabic, Muslim), which means "those who submit to the will of God." (What's the Difference? ö 1). Although many similarities exist among Christianity and Islam, essential differences also exist.
Jesus was born in Israel 2000 years ago. Modern civilization marks his birth by dividing time B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini - or the year of our Lord). For his first 30 years, Jesus lived a traditional Jewish life, working as a carpenter. During this time, all of Israel was under Caesar's Roman dictatorship, including Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, and Nazareth, where he was raised (Jesus Institute, 2006).
Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Ch...
English: A green version of http://commons.wikimed...
Miniature of Muhammad re-dedicating the Black Ston...In his thirties, Jesus began his public teaching and display of recorded miracles, yet still never traveled more than 200 miles from his birthplace. Over a three year period, despite his efforts to keep a low profile, Jesus' reputation spread nation wide. The Roman governors and rulers of Israel's provinces and the leaders of the Jewish people took note of him (Jesus Institute, 2006).
Jesus' most controversial act was that he repeatedly claimed to be God, which was a direct violation of the Jewish law. Therefore, the religious leaders asked the Roman government to execute him. In each of several official trials, the Romans found that he was not guilty of breaking any Roman law. Even the Jewish leaders recognized that other than Jesus' claim to be God, Jesus followed the Jewish law perfectly. Still the religious leaders, using the argument of...