# Can a Christian be a Muslim too? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651 "2003-04-01T06:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/1 "2003-04-01T06:05:43Z")
I actually have two questions 1. Is there anything preventing someone from being a Christian and Muslim at the same time? From what I know, a Muslim needs to do 5 essential things to be a good Muslim, (including the pilgrimage to Mecca) and none of the things conflict with Christianity. 1. To be a Muslim, I thought the main thing was to declare (and believe) that there “is one God and Muhammed is his prophet”. There is no formal “conversion” process. To embark on the pilgrimage to Mecca, you have to be Muslim. So how do you prove you’re a Muslim? While we’re at it, what prevents a Jew from being a Muslim too if he wants to be one? (for example, your mom is jewish, your dad is muslim, you decide you want to have both religions) They all believe in the same god. Jews have lots of prophets, what’s one more? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/2 "2003-04-01T06:41:11Z")
How can you be a Christian if you don’t believe in the divinity of Christ? How can you be a Muslim if you DO believe in the divinity of Christ (there is no God but God…). Seems contradictory to the point of not being possible. But with religion, you never know… ---
**Author:** ![Cillasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Cillasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cillasi)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/3 "2003-04-01T06:47:44Z")
No, you cannot. Muslims (There is no God but Allah) do not recognize the Holy Trinity - God in 3 persons - Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This is the primary schism between Islam and Christianity and cannot be resolved. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/4 "2003-04-01T09:13:35Z")
Gandhi certainly thought you could. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/5 "2003-04-01T11:10:06Z")
The question of divinity can be fudged with philosophy… but there is one sharp dividing line that definitively separates the two religions. It is an event, not a metaphysical concept. The Bible says Jesus was crucified, died on the cross. The Qur’an says Jesus was certainly not cruficied: “They thought they killed the Messiah, but they didn’t. It was made to look like that to them. They did not kill him; they did not crucify him.” You can’t sit on the fence on this question; you have to choose one or the other. There is no such event that separates Christianty from Judaism. That allows the existence of Messianic Jews who are sort of Jewish and sort of Christian at the same time. The Messianic Jews have blurred the boundary between the two. The boundary between Christianity and Islam cannot be blurred. Apart from that, yes, the two religions are not so far apart. They share a lot in common while differing in details. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/6 "2003-04-01T11:35:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > **The Qur’an says Jesus was certainly not cruficied: "They thought they killed the Messiah, but they didn’t. It was made to look like that to them. They did not kill him; they did not crucify him."** I’d never heard that before… is that a direct quote? Is there somewhere I can read that online in context? ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/7 "2003-04-01T11:56:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I’d never heard that before… is that a direct quote? Is there somewhere I can read that online in context? \*\* Here is an [islamic site’s page](http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-10.htm) that quotes it as follows: > [@](#): > > …They said, “We killed the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of God.” They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man)… (Quran, 4:157) [A Brief Guide to Understanding Islam](http://www.islam-guide.com/) ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/8 "2003-04-01T12:01:03Z")
Oh… and my own thoughts… The divinity and death/ressurection of Jesus would be the two major stumbling blocks for someone wanting to reconcile the two belief systems Is it possible? No doubt, people are able to rationalise the wierdest sorts of opposite beliefs (e.g. many people who are anti-abortion are also pro capital punishment and pro war). Grim ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/9 "2003-04-01T12:11:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Gandhi certainly thought you could. And Gandhi was neither Christian nor Muslim. Come to think of it, I’m not even sure he was a part of any particular sect of Hindu. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/10 "2003-04-01T12:15:28Z")
He wasn’t even a real Scotsman either. ---
**Author:** ![Zcrysis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zcrysis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zcrysis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/11 "2003-04-01T12:21:09Z")
Well i am a muslim, and my branch of Islam, certainly believes in the literal cruxifiction and the resurection in a manner quite similar to the bibles account.The essential dispute of Islam and Chritianity is the one thats been mentioned before, over the divinity of Jesus. Gandhi may have walked around with a Bhagwan Gita, a Talmud, a bible and a Qur’an,but he was definately a devout hindu. I cant remember what caste he was in, but Gandhi himself didnt take the caste system too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/12 "2003-04-01T12:22:03Z")
I haven’t seen anywhere in Gandhi’s teaching where he said to be both Christian and Muslim, or Hindu and Jewish, whatever, at the same time. Gandhi remained Hindu all his life, but showed respect and acceptance for all the other religions and included them in his ecumenical worship services. That isn’t the same as _being_ those religions. Ramakrishna, on the other hand, the 19th century Hindu saint, actually _became_ Muslim and Christian for some time. He lived fully, exclusively as a Muslim and then he lived fully, exclusively as a Christian before going back to being Hindu. He did these other religions sequentially, however, not simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/13 "2003-04-01T12:23:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zcrysis \* > \*\*Well i am a muslim, and my branch of Islam, certainly believes in the literal cruxifiction and the resurection in a manner quite similar to the bibles account. \*\* Tell me more… How would you (or your branch of Islam) respond/deal with the Qur’an quote above? Grim ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/14 "2003-04-01T12:33:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > **I haven’t seen anywhere in Gandhi’s teaching where he said to be both Christian and Muslim, or Hindu and Jewish, whatever, at the same time** I Was referring to [this](http://www.positiveatheism.org/india/lavconvr.htm) quote (which is attributed to him, but I’m not sure of its veracity): > [@](#): > > Gandhi was a Hindu who saw good in all religions. When he first met with Muslims he saw good in the religion of Islam and said, “I am a Hindu, but I am also a Muslim.” Then he met a Christian and said, “I am a Hindu, and I am a Muslim, and I am a Christian.” ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/15 "2003-04-01T14:04:10Z")
Yes but… There are Christians who believe all kinds of things, including some who question the literal interpretation of Jesus’ divinity. Not all Christians believe that the bible is completely and literally true, many believe it should be interpreted as allegory. Aren’t there Muslims who believe the same of the Quran? Come to think of it, why aren’t there liberal Muslim denominations? (i.e. something like “reform” Judaism) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Marko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@El\_Marko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Marko)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/16 "2003-04-01T14:38:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*… Apart from that, yes, the two religions are not so far apart. They share a lot in common while differing in details. \*\* I have to take issue with this assertion. There’s a lot more than just “details” that separate Islam from Christianity. I’ll try to stick to the big stuff: I: There is one God (Allah) and Mohammed is his prophet. C: The Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit I: Salvation by acts, no certainty of salvation C:Salvation by faith through Jesus Christ (see Romans 3:20-26 as one example), assurance of salvation I: Jesus was a minor prophet and a nice guy, and now he’s dead. C: Jesus is the only son of God, both fully human and fully divine. He was crucified as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity and was resurrected from the dead. I: God (Allah) is a distant, removed god who cannot be known by his people. C: God is a personal god who wants to have a personal relationship with his people and can be known intimately by those who follow him. I: Allah calls on his people to make war on the infidels and kill their enemies C: Matt 5:44 - “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matt 19:19 - “love your neighbor as yourself” I’ll stop now, but I could go on at length. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/17 "2003-04-01T14:56:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Marko \* > \*\*I have to take issue with this assertion. There’s a lot more than just “details” that separate Islam from Christianity. I’ll try to stick to the big stuff: > > I: There is one God (Allah) and Mohammed is his prophet. > C: The Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit > I: Allah calls on his people to make war on the infidels and kill their enemies > C: Matt 5:44 - “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” > Matt 19:19 - “love your neighbor as yourself” > \*\* I think the first statement may be less of a contradiction than you imagine; Christians who believe in the trinity do not consider it to be more than one God; they would tell you that it is a mystical entity consisting of three persons, but only one being, each person being wholly God (not one third of God). The last statement, I would like to ask for a cite on (the Muslim bit, not the Bible quotations). ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/18 "2003-04-01T15:03:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grimpixie \* > **No doubt, people are able to rationalise the wierdest sorts of opposite beliefs (e.g. many people who are anti-abortion are also pro capital punishment and pro war).** And vice-versa. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/19 "2003-04-01T15:09:49Z")
**El Marco** , I think there are a few people who will take you to task for your last example, but that is a huge debate in itself which has been covered many times already in GD… I believe the second one is also a little inaccurate as well. What do you mean by “distant and removed”? Muslims believe that god is omnipresent and omnicient. They believe in the power of prayer and that God listens and answers. They believe that his love and compassion are boundless, and that he will forgive your sins if your repentance is sincere and heartfelt. This all seems to contradict the notion of a “removed and impersonal” god. On another note, Muslims believe that good deeds alone are not enough, but that the intention behind them is equally important. Thus if someone gave generously to charity, but did so in order to be _seen_ as a generous and pious person, then their act will not be accepted in the eyes of God. The reverse is also true - if someone commits a sin (such as drinking alcohol), but does so in genuine error, then the sin will not count against him, as his intention was pure. Therefore Muslims believe that one’s faith is as important as one’s deeds when it comes to salvation, but I’m sure that a muslim will be along soon to correct me… Bib ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651/20 "2003-04-01T15:12:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rusalka \* > \*\*Yes but… There are Christians who believe all kinds of things, including some who question the literal interpretation of Jesus’ divinity. Not all Christians believe that the bible is completely and literally true, many believe it should be interpreted as allegory. > \*\* Then what makes one a Christian? Belief in Jesus as God Incarnate is certainly a necessary ingredient. See for instance, C. S. Lewis’ _Mere Christianity_. Not everyone who believes _something_ about Jesus is a Christian. If the term Christian is used to cover all those who believe that the Gospels tell a spiritually significant story, whether or not they are factually inerrant and that Jesus was a person of great spiritual significance , then you have by definition extended it to include all Muslims. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-christian-be-a-muslim-too/165651.md?page=2)