First off, I just want to point out that I was raised in a Christian family therefore my beliefs are based off Christian beliefs. BUT at the same time I also believe that over a period of time humans and animals alike have had to adapt and evolve over a period of time to survive in their surroundings; kind of like natural selection. Like in Madagascar where there are different species similar to tose in Madagascar but because of them being separated from the mainland they had to adapt and change. But none of this we came from amoeba's crap. It wasn't something like spontanious combustion, or in other words *poof* we're here without any explaination or reason; we have a purpose. I just wanted to state that before I continued writing.
Have you ever noticed that most religions have something in common as the next one? For example, Christianity and Islam all have many stories and beliefs in common. Granted one calls their god Allah and the other calls theirs God (even though its the same person), but still you get what i mean. Even though each thinks their religion is the right one, they each believe in Heaven and Hell and people's actions can determine where they go once they die. (Christianity stemmed off of Jewdiasm so there really is no use for comparing those two)
In the Bible and the Qur'an they all talk about The Last Day, also known as the day of judgment, or the Resurrection. The Resurrection is the same basic concept in both religions, on The Last Day everyone will be judged for their actions. Those who believe in Jesus or Allah will be saved and will spend eternity in Heaven but those who dont will spend the rest of eternity being tortured in Hell. "On that day [the unbelievers] shall be sternly thrown into the fire of Hell . . . But in fair gardens the righteous shall dwell in bliss, rejoicing in what their Lord will give them. Their Lord will shield them from the scourge of Hell. He will say: Eat and drink to your hearts content. This is the reward of your labours." Quran 52:13-24, " He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:7-8. Although, the Bible does say one thing about not being completely commited, "'I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, even where Satan dwells... Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." Revelation 2:13 and16, Revelation 3:15 and 16. So in other words if you are "lukewarm" you will be punished as well. I'm not sure if the Quran says something like that.
In the Quran Hell is described as somewhere of torture and fire. "They are dragged Through boiling waters; then they are thrust into the Fire. (Quran 40:72)", "Garments of fire have been prepared for the unbelievers. Scalding water shall be poured upon their heads, melting their skins and that which is in their bellies. They shall be lashed with rods of iron. (Quran 22:19)", "The fire burneth their faces, and they are glum therein" (Quran 23:104)". You get the point. Meanwhile the Bible is a little bit more discriptive. It was discribed as a place of constant smoke and fire, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, a bottomless pit, and darkness that no light can penetrate. (Matthew 13:50, Revelation 14:10 and11). Plus there has been accounts of people who have been there becides the biblical ones, look up http://spiritlessons.com/mary_k_baxter_a_divine_revelation_of_hell.htm Its a testiment by a woman named Mary Baxter, she gives discriptions of what hell is like.
The Quran discribes Heaven as a place filled with beautiful gardens, the best food and drinks, comfortable rooms and houses, beautiful young women who are virgins forever, basically it satisfies an desire a person could have. "The righteous shall return to a blessed retreat: the gardens of Eden, whos gates are shall open wide to receive them. Reclining there with bashful virgins for companions, they will call for abundant fruit and drink"- Quran 38:51-52. Compared to the Christian Bible it's not very discriptive. In the Bible, Heaven is called "The New Jerusalem". It is a place where there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. There isn't a sun or a moon ( it's not needed "The glory of God gives it light and the lamb is its lamp" -Revelations), everything is built with precious stones and metals (just as a thought wouldn't that mean gold is worthless in Heaven?), and there is a river of life that flows out of the throne of God and on each side there is a tree of life that bears 12 crops of fruit each month. It even gives specific measurements on how big Heaven is. Revelations chapters 21and 22 are pretty much dedicated to what heaven is like.
Even though i didn't cover everything in the Quran and in the Bible, the same basic points of the religions are still similar. Perspectives of God, Heaven, Hell, creation, faith, prayer, history, they may not like each other's religions and even act like cats and dogs towards each other, but needless to say they have similar beliefs whether or not they want to believe it.
AsamiAmayaKasumi Community Member 
|
|
