Introduction
Understanding the meaning of life is often a contentious philosophical issue. Indeed, throughout history, theology, philosophy, and science (among other disciplines) have struggled to explain the meaning of life. However, their views have varied across different cultural and ideological backgrounds. Nonetheless, many scholars say religious and ideological conceptions of human happiness and social ties may describe this issue well.
Others believe that human consciousness and religious conceptions of existence provide the proper direction for understanding the meaning of life. Philosophically, many other issues, such as the symbolic meaning of life and God’s existence, also influence this debate. Comparatively, science has tried to explain the meaning of life by using empirical facts about the world.
It has also strived to explore the scope and context about why life is how it is. Through this framework, science has provided many pieces of evidence about human well-being and the ethical guidelines that influence human actions and beliefs.
This paper explores the meaning of life from a religious perspective. It focuses on how Christianity and Islam explain the concept. Based on the teachings of the two religions, this paper argues that, to the extent that the two religions attribute the meaning of life to God’s service, Islam and Christianity are similar. Although the two religions have methodological differences regarding how their followers should meet their purpose in life, they do not overshadow the overwhelming similarities between the two religions.
Consequently, the overriding argument of this paper is that the Christian and Islamic teachings of life are more similar than they are different. The structure of this paper analyzes the service to God and the perception of the afterlife, as highlights of the differences and similarities about the Christian and Islamic perceptions of life.
Service to God
Christianity and Islam seem to have different religious practices. However, this section of the paper argues that both religions teach their followers to serve God, as the true meaning of life. Christians believe the central point of power is God, while Muslims believe Allah is the creator of all heaven and earth. Islam requires all worshippers to live by the guiding principles of the Quran and follow the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed. It teaches that God created people for a purpose.
The Quran says, “I have only created Jinns and men, so that they may serve me.” Here, it is crucial to pay close attention to the word, “serve” because it stems from the Arabic word, “Ibadah,” which means “worship.” Based on this analysis, the Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry says the true meaning of life in Islam is the complete obedience to the teachings of Allah. Therefore, Islam teaches that the true meaning of life is serving Allah by obeying his commandments.
Comparatively, Christians believe the true meaning of life lies in seeking divine salvation from God. Indeed, the bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This statement stems from biblical teachings that highlight the need for God to have a relationship with his people. However, Christians believe that this relationship cannot exist when God has not forgiven their sins.
Biblical scriptures suggest that all people were born perfect but, because of sin, God doomed man to suffer. Although some Christian groups may hold slightly different views about this issue, all Christians believe in the power of resurrection through Jesus Christ (he is at the center of the Christian meaning of life). Therefore, like Islam, Christianity teaches that the true meaning of life is glorifying and “enjoying” God. Several biblical excerpts support this claim.
For example, Isaiah 43:7 says, “… everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Similarly, Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Based on these verses, Christianity and Islam agree that the meaning of life is obeying God. Moreover, both religions acknowledge that by doing so, people find glory. Although the Christian and Islam meanings of life agree on the need to obey God, Islam does not demand “fellowship” to God, as a meaning of life.
Furthermore, unlike Christianity, which gives choices to it’s faithful (to believe in God, or not), Islam requires all its followers to believe in God. The religion requires all believers to show strength, commitment, and obedience to God because they can testify to his “oneness” this way.
Islam acknowledges that different religions of the world have the same message – worshipping God, but some of them have deviated from this purpose. Malaika attributes the existing differences in the meanings of life among different religions to the lack of writing materials. He says, because of the scarcity of writing materials (in the past) many generations passed on religious teachings to new generations, orally.
Over time, people distorted the messages. Malaika also contemplates that the different meanings between Islam and Christianity stem from the creation of new religious doctrines in both religions. For example, the Christian Trinity Creed developed as a new doctrine in 386 AD. Similarly, some subsets of Islam believe in slightly different meanings of life. For example, Sufi Muslims believe understanding the nature of God is the true purpose of life.
The IRC says the Christian meaning of life has serious conceptual problems because it fails to teach the same meaning of life in all countries. Similarly, it says Christianity fails to answer how some people can fulfill the meaning of life if they have never heard of its teachings in the first place. Since the Christian meaning of life is firmly rooted in Jesus Christ (as the savior) some critics also question why its teachings do not explain if the people who lived before him had a different meaning of life, compared to those who lived after him.
Based on these questions, the IRC says the Christian meaning of life is narrow and fails to concur with the principles of natural justice. Nonetheless, both religions believe the purpose of all creation is to show the true nature of God. Overall, this analysis shows that the service to God is a significant part of Islamic and Christian teachings about the true meaning of life.
Afterlife
Islam and Christianity acknowledge two “destinations” for humanity – “paradise” and “hell.” For example, Islam recognizes hell, as Jahannam, and heaven, as Jannah, because they are the main rewards and punishments for human actions on earth. Both religions also recognize that the human will defines where people “end up.” Similarly, like Christianity, Islam considers the pursuit of worldly possessions as a “test.”
It falls short of saying that its faithful should not pursue their “worldly” desires because they would be doomed to have “failed the test.” Christianity also adopts the same principle because it explains why it is important to live a modest life (as Jesus did). Similarly, it discourages its believers from pursuing their “worldly” desires because the true meaning of happiness exists in God, and not the world.
Although Christianity and Islam both believe in “paradise” and “hell,” as human “destinations,” both religions have contrasting views about it. For example, Christians view paradise as a place that does not have any human suffering. This view shows that Christianity perceives heaven as a sacred place, filled with spiritual attributes. Comparatively, Islam conceives “paradise” as a place that flows with material wealth.
For example, referring to paradise, an excerpt from the Quran reads, “They will recline on Carpets, whose inner linings will be of rich brocade. The Fruit of the Gardens will be near (and easy of reach).” Similarly, the Quran says, “In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched.”
The material perception of paradise presents an interesting dynamic to the Islamic meaning of life because many people already have the material wealth, as promised in the Quran. However, many wealthy people are unsatisfied. Relative to this observation, the Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry quotes the words of the world’s richest man when he said he was not satisfied with what he had because he wanted more.
Based on the above observations, I am inclined to agree with the Christian view of life because it is more consistent with people’s greatest need – to live deeply fulfilling lives. People do not only meet such needs through sensual delights and materialism. In fact, people treasure non-monetary things, like family and marriage, because they are important to their lives. Nonetheless, since people are naturally selfish, their needs are often met in an unbalanced way.
The above view does not mean that Islamic teachings about the meaning of life are wrong. In fact, the Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry says that more than 70% of its teachings stem from biblical teachings. This view shows that although both religions may have slightly different views about the purpose of life, they are largely similar.
Conclusion
This paper argues that the meanings of life in Christianity and Islam are largely similar. The two religions say the meaning of life stems from the teachings of a central power – God. However, all the religions differ in the “how.” For example, Christianity teaches that its faithful can only see the kingdom of God (live an eternal life) if they are “reborn” (saved).
Islam teaches all its believers to follow the teachings of Allah and live according to his ways if they want to live in paradise (Jannah). Therefore, Islam converges with Christianity by recognizing the need for people to draw closer to God and enjoy their afterlife. Comprehensively, this paper shows that the Christian and Islamic teachings of life are more similar than they are different.
References
Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry. “Christianity or Islam, Where Is the Truth?” Arabic Bible. 2014. Web.
IRC. “The Purpose of Life (part 1 of 3): Reason and Revelation.” Islam Religion. Web.
Klemke, Elmer, and Cahn Steven. The Meaning of Life A Reader (3rd Edition). London: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Malaekah, Mostafa. “What is the Purpose of Life?” Islam Guide. Web.
Stefon, Matt. Islamic Beliefs and Practices. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2009.
Young, Julian. The Death of God and the Meaning of Life. London: Routledge, 2004.