Misconceptions

In Christian-Muslim relation quite a few misconceptions and misinformation abound on both sides. Here are some.

(a) Of Christians about Muslims 

• Misconception#1: All Muslims think, believe, and act the same.  
  Fact: No, that’s absolutely false. Muslims are as diverse as human nature itself. They differ in their thinking, beliefs and actions. Which is why there are innumerous sects, just like in Christianity, among Muslims that oppose each other mildly to violently.  

• Misconception#2: All Muslims are violent.  
  Fact: Wrong. Only a minority of Muslims i.e. less than 10%, are radical Muslims who are prone to be violent. 
  
• Misconception#3: Muslims worship black stone.
  Fact: No! No Muslim thinks that the black stone in Kaaba is Allah or an expression of Allah. They only show veneration to it simply following the example of their prophet Muhammad.

• Misconception#4: All Muslims are resistant or closed to the Biblical truth.  
  Fact: Many Muslim are, but not all. 

• Misconception#5: All Muslims are religious.  
  Fact: False. Majority Muslims are nominal in their religiosity. However, in comparison to Christianity it is fair to say that there is less nominalism among Muslims.  

• Misconception#6: All Muslims promote the extreme version of ‘sharia,’ the Islamic law, everywhere.  
  Fact: Incorrect. Majority Muslims do not promote the extreme version of ‘sharia’ although the numbers are increasing every year.  

(b) Of Muslims about Christians 

• Misconception#1: Christians believe in three gods.  
  Fact: This is a lie. The Bible says ‘God is one’ in more than a dozen places. This is what Christians believe (Eg.1Tim.2:5). 
  
• Misconception#2: Christians worship cross symbols
  Fact: No! That’s not true. Cross is only a symbol that remind Christians of the cross of Christ on which Jesus died for the sins of mankind.
  
• Misconception#3: Christians believe that Jesus is the ‘Son of God’ in the physical sense. 
  Fact: This is the result of misinformation. According to the Bible, Jesus is God’s Son even before his birth to Mary. Christians believe Jesus is God’s Son in a spiritual sense, but not in a physical sense. 

• Misconception#4: Christians believe that by trusting Jesus their sins are forgiven so that they can commit all manner of sins afterward.  
  Fact: This is also a lie and sometimes results from poor understanding of true Christianity. According to the Bible, Christians believe by trusting Jesus our sins are forgiven us so that we can grow in holy-life living victoriously against sin and become like Jesus in the end. 

• Misconception#5: Christians made Jesus a god.  
  Fact: This is due to pure ignorance. As the Bible testifies, it’s God’s word (which is an internal reality of God) that became Jesus Christ (Eg. Jn.1:1-2,14, 8:58; Phil.2:5-8). In other words, Jesus Christ is God’s own extension in human form and nature, but not an addition to God.   

• Misconception#6: The West is wild, immoral, and godless. The West is Christian. Therefore, Christianity is wild, immoral and godless.  
  Fact: This is a confused categories fallacy. The West and Christianity are two different groups. In fact, the West is becoming more and more un-Christian and the East, particularly the Global South, is becoming more and more Christian. On the other hand, to say all of the West is immoral and godless is hasty generalization. It’s like saying ‘ISIS is violent and evil. ISIS is comprised of Muslims and therefore all Muslims are violent and evil.’