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Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?
Are Islam and Christianity essentially the same? Should we seek to overcome divisions by seeing Muslims and Christians as part of one family of Abrahamic faith?Andy Bannister shares his journey from the multicultural streets of inner-city London to being a Christian with a PhD in Qur'anic Studies. Along the way, he came to understand that far from being the same, Islam and Christianity are profoundly different.Get to the heart of what the world's two largest religions say about life's biggest questions-and discover the uniqueness of Christianity's answer to the question of who God really is.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2021
29 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Andy Bannister
7 books161 followersAndy Bannister is the Director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity, speaking and teaching regularly throughout the UK, Europe, Canada, the USA, and the wider world. From universities to churches, business forums to TV and radio, Andy regularly addresses audiences of both Christians and those of all faiths and none on issues relating to faith, culture, politics and society.
Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at The Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam at Melbourne School of Theology and also Adjunct Faculty at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.
Among Andy's various books and publications are:
* Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? — a popular, witty, and engaging look at this vital question
* The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Dreadful Consequences of Really Bad Arguments) — a very funny (but also quite serious) engagement with the New Atheism
* Healthy Faith and the Coronavirus Crisis — I wrote a chapter in this multi-author volume looking at how we can engage in evangelism even in an age of lockdown
* Heroes: Five Lessons From Whose Lives We Can Learn — an exciting and fast-moving looking at the lives of five incredible giants of the Christian faith
* An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur’an — a groundbreaking and innovative study that reveals many of the ways the Qur’an was first composed
* Burning Questions — a Canadian TV documentary exploring six big questions about God, faith, and Christianity
When not travelling, speaking, or writing, Andy is a keen hiker, mountain climber and photographer. Andy is married to Astrid and they have two children, Caitriona and Christopher.
Andy holds a PhD in Islamic studies and has taught extensively at universities across Canada, the USA, the UK and further afield on both Islam and philosophy. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at The Arthur Jeffery Centre for the Study of Islam at Melbourne School of Theology and also Adjunct Faculty at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.
Among Andy's various books and publications are:
* Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? — a popular, witty, and engaging look at this vital question
* The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist (or: The Dreadful Consequences of Really Bad Arguments) — a very funny (but also quite serious) engagement with the New Atheism
* Healthy Faith and the Coronavirus Crisis — I wrote a chapter in this multi-author volume looking at how we can engage in evangelism even in an age of lockdown
* Heroes: Five Lessons From Whose Lives We Can Learn — an exciting and fast-moving looking at the lives of five incredible giants of the Christian faith
* An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur’an — a groundbreaking and innovative study that reveals many of the ways the Qur’an was first composed
* Burning Questions — a Canadian TV documentary exploring six big questions about God, faith, and Christianity
When not travelling, speaking, or writing, Andy is a keen hiker, mountain climber and photographer. Andy is married to Astrid and they have two children, Caitriona and Christopher.
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April 14, 2021
If anyone has been involved in Christian-Muslim debate long enough, the question is inevitably asked: “Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?” Among Christians, there are different ways of answering this question, depending on what angle one takes and what one’s prior commitments are (for example, if one is Catholic, then one is obligated to answer “yes,” because that is what Vatican II proclaims). There are few books that are written specifically to answer this question. One classic work on the topic was the Protestant theologian Miroslav Volf’s “Allah: A Christian Response,” which focuses on the societal implications of the question, and answers it in the affirmative, arguing that to say otherwise is to promote further conflict in an already divided world.
More recently, we have Andy Bannister’s book, “Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?,” where he presents a more theological and apologetic-oriented answer to this topic. He begins by relating his personal experiences with this question, as well as how others have answered it over the past several decades (ch. 1). He then tackles the issue of religious pluralism and indifferentism, showing that why we cannot simply brush aside the issue of religious difference. More importantly, he argues that despite these differences, there is such a thing as objective truth, even if we fail to recognize what it is (ch. 2)
The next several chapters focus on key elements of the Christian and Muslim worldviews, and how the two faiths are similar or different in how they analyze key issues. Bannister begins by posing four questions that every worldview has to answer, which are: 1) Is there a god (and what is god like)?, 2) Who and what are human beings?, 3( What is wrong with the world?, and 4) What’s the solution? (ch. 3)
He then proceeds to answer each question in the next several chapters. He begins with the identity of God, and shows that one of the key differences between the Biblical and Qur’anic pictures is that the former focuses on relationships, which are established via covenants. This focus barely appears in the Qur’an, which focuses more on presenting humans as God’s servants and worshippers (ch. 4). Next, he deals with the question of humanity, where he points to the Biblical concept of the Imago Dei as the key distinctive, which gives human beings inherent dignity and worth. The Qur’an mentions no such concept, and when the hadiths pick up on it, it relates the idea of “God’s image” to Adam’s tall stature, rather than any real likeness towards God, or any relation to man’s dignity (ch. 5).
Next, he looks at the question of what is wrong with the world. The Biblical portrait is of man is being broken by original sin, and unable to overcome that condition through moral effort. By contrast, the Qur’anic portrait is of man being forgetful and needing constant reminder of the good, although otherwise upright and capable of self-improvement. Although the fall of Adam and Eve does appear in the Qur’an, it appears to have no lasting effect on human nature (ch. 6). After this, he looks at the prescribed solution of the two faiths. Islam teaches that we need the guidance of revelation to know what is good and achieve moral righteousness for ourselves. By contrast, Christianity teaches that we are in need of a Saviour, apart from whom all of our good deeds are totally useless (ch. 7).
This dovetails into the next chapter, which presents Jesus’ role in the two faiths. Jesus is the Saviour in Christianity, of course, whereas in Islam he is just another prophet. Bannister keenly points out, however, that even in Islam, he seems larger than life. Titles such as “Messiah” and “Word of God” are used, which imply a much more exalted status than what Islam gives him, and Bannister argues that the Qur’an borrows these terms without recognizing the full implications of what they mean. To use his analogy, it would be as if one had taken Gandalf the wizard and placed him into the storyline of Pride and Prejudice (ch. 8).
Finally, all of the disparate threads are brought together in the final chapter. Bannister concludes that the Biblical and Qur’anic pictures of God are so different that they could not be referring to the same entity. Nevertheless, he makes a key distinction here, which is between what the Qur’an presents as God, and what individual Muslims worship as God. He argues that Muslims as individuals may worship the true God, and may sometimes even perceive truths about God that go beyond what Islam teaches. Especially poignant is the connection he makes to how the Athenians worshipped the “unknown God” in Acts 17. Scripture affirms that the Athenians worshipped the one true God, even if they were ignorant of whom they were worshipping. Christians can thus affirm that Muslims worship God in the same sense that the Athenians in Mars Hill did (ch. 9).
For most of the book, Bannister establishes two things for the audience: 1) That the differences between Christianity and Islam are not trivial, but go to some of the very foundational beliefs of the respective faiths, and 2) these differences are not matters of indifference that we can simply shrug off or pretend don’t exist. After all, both Christianity and Islam are traditionally exclusive faiths (in the sense of believing that they provide the only way to God), so a pluralistic approach really fails to do justice to either.
As for the question posed by the title of the book, the final chapter of the book is especially important for establishing a properly Christian way of thinking about this issue. Bannister rightly distinguishes between the question of whether Islam presents a picture of God that is compatible with Christianity, and whether the acts of worship of individual Muslims are directed towards God. It is possible to answer the former in the negative, and the latter in the positive, and the reason for that has to do with God’s grace. Whatever truths exist in other religions (including Islam), exist by grace, and are there to prepare them for the Gospel. In addition, sometimes adherents of these religions grasp truths that go beyond what their respective faiths teach. However, there is a difference between worshipping God and having a personal relationship with God. The Bible is clear that the only way to have a real personal relationship with God is through Christ, which precludes the possibility of such a relationship in any other religion, even if their adherents worship the true God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, etc.).
That being said, there are a couple of things that I would critique the book over. One would be the lack of focus on how Christians have historically approached this topic. The sources Bannister cites are almost exclusively from the past 100 years, and skips over most of the previous 1,300 years of Christian-Muslim relations. I have previously written an article surveying Christian attitudes towards this question in the early centuries after the rise of Islam, and found that with a few exceptions, Christian writers across different traditions overwhelmingly affirmed that Muslims worshipped the God of Abraham. Without accepting Muhammad’s claim to prophethood, they nevertheless credit him with leading the Arabs out of paganism and idolatry. This is an important piece of data that should be taken into consideration when treating the question of this book, since it shows that the answer is not a modern one, but has an established pedigree in Christian history.
Another area of critique would be the blanket statement that Muslims only relate to God as a slave does to their master. While this might be true of many permutations of Islam, the claim would be untrue if taken as a universal statement. One omission from the book is any mention of the mystical tradition within Islam. After all, Sufism has been a strong current within Islam for most of its history. Many Sufis have believed they could attain intimacy with God, and based their spirituality on that. One could argue that there is a disconnect between such spirituality and other Islamic sources, but it is still something that ought to be addressed.
Overall, I appreciate Bannister’s thought-provoking and entertaining take on the question. Hopefully, it will lead to more vigorous discussion of the issues, as well as give readers an idea of where to go if they want more information.
More recently, we have Andy Bannister’s book, “Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?,” where he presents a more theological and apologetic-oriented answer to this topic. He begins by relating his personal experiences with this question, as well as how others have answered it over the past several decades (ch. 1). He then tackles the issue of religious pluralism and indifferentism, showing that why we cannot simply brush aside the issue of religious difference. More importantly, he argues that despite these differences, there is such a thing as objective truth, even if we fail to recognize what it is (ch. 2)
The next several chapters focus on key elements of the Christian and Muslim worldviews, and how the two faiths are similar or different in how they analyze key issues. Bannister begins by posing four questions that every worldview has to answer, which are: 1) Is there a god (and what is god like)?, 2) Who and what are human beings?, 3( What is wrong with the world?, and 4) What’s the solution? (ch. 3)
He then proceeds to answer each question in the next several chapters. He begins with the identity of God, and shows that one of the key differences between the Biblical and Qur’anic pictures is that the former focuses on relationships, which are established via covenants. This focus barely appears in the Qur’an, which focuses more on presenting humans as God’s servants and worshippers (ch. 4). Next, he deals with the question of humanity, where he points to the Biblical concept of the Imago Dei as the key distinctive, which gives human beings inherent dignity and worth. The Qur’an mentions no such concept, and when the hadiths pick up on it, it relates the idea of “God’s image” to Adam’s tall stature, rather than any real likeness towards God, or any relation to man’s dignity (ch. 5).
Next, he looks at the question of what is wrong with the world. The Biblical portrait is of man is being broken by original sin, and unable to overcome that condition through moral effort. By contrast, the Qur’anic portrait is of man being forgetful and needing constant reminder of the good, although otherwise upright and capable of self-improvement. Although the fall of Adam and Eve does appear in the Qur’an, it appears to have no lasting effect on human nature (ch. 6). After this, he looks at the prescribed solution of the two faiths. Islam teaches that we need the guidance of revelation to know what is good and achieve moral righteousness for ourselves. By contrast, Christianity teaches that we are in need of a Saviour, apart from whom all of our good deeds are totally useless (ch. 7).
This dovetails into the next chapter, which presents Jesus’ role in the two faiths. Jesus is the Saviour in Christianity, of course, whereas in Islam he is just another prophet. Bannister keenly points out, however, that even in Islam, he seems larger than life. Titles such as “Messiah” and “Word of God” are used, which imply a much more exalted status than what Islam gives him, and Bannister argues that the Qur’an borrows these terms without recognizing the full implications of what they mean. To use his analogy, it would be as if one had taken Gandalf the wizard and placed him into the storyline of Pride and Prejudice (ch. 8).
Finally, all of the disparate threads are brought together in the final chapter. Bannister concludes that the Biblical and Qur’anic pictures of God are so different that they could not be referring to the same entity. Nevertheless, he makes a key distinction here, which is between what the Qur’an presents as God, and what individual Muslims worship as God. He argues that Muslims as individuals may worship the true God, and may sometimes even perceive truths about God that go beyond what Islam teaches. Especially poignant is the connection he makes to how the Athenians worshipped the “unknown God” in Acts 17. Scripture affirms that the Athenians worshipped the one true God, even if they were ignorant of whom they were worshipping. Christians can thus affirm that Muslims worship God in the same sense that the Athenians in Mars Hill did (ch. 9).
For most of the book, Bannister establishes two things for the audience: 1) That the differences between Christianity and Islam are not trivial, but go to some of the very foundational beliefs of the respective faiths, and 2) these differences are not matters of indifference that we can simply shrug off or pretend don’t exist. After all, both Christianity and Islam are traditionally exclusive faiths (in the sense of believing that they provide the only way to God), so a pluralistic approach really fails to do justice to either.
As for the question posed by the title of the book, the final chapter of the book is especially important for establishing a properly Christian way of thinking about this issue. Bannister rightly distinguishes between the question of whether Islam presents a picture of God that is compatible with Christianity, and whether the acts of worship of individual Muslims are directed towards God. It is possible to answer the former in the negative, and the latter in the positive, and the reason for that has to do with God’s grace. Whatever truths exist in other religions (including Islam), exist by grace, and are there to prepare them for the Gospel. In addition, sometimes adherents of these religions grasp truths that go beyond what their respective faiths teach. However, there is a difference between worshipping God and having a personal relationship with God. The Bible is clear that the only way to have a real personal relationship with God is through Christ, which precludes the possibility of such a relationship in any other religion, even if their adherents worship the true God (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, etc.).
That being said, there are a couple of things that I would critique the book over. One would be the lack of focus on how Christians have historically approached this topic. The sources Bannister cites are almost exclusively from the past 100 years, and skips over most of the previous 1,300 years of Christian-Muslim relations. I have previously written an article surveying Christian attitudes towards this question in the early centuries after the rise of Islam, and found that with a few exceptions, Christian writers across different traditions overwhelmingly affirmed that Muslims worshipped the God of Abraham. Without accepting Muhammad’s claim to prophethood, they nevertheless credit him with leading the Arabs out of paganism and idolatry. This is an important piece of data that should be taken into consideration when treating the question of this book, since it shows that the answer is not a modern one, but has an established pedigree in Christian history.
Another area of critique would be the blanket statement that Muslims only relate to God as a slave does to their master. While this might be true of many permutations of Islam, the claim would be untrue if taken as a universal statement. One omission from the book is any mention of the mystical tradition within Islam. After all, Sufism has been a strong current within Islam for most of its history. Many Sufis have believed they could attain intimacy with God, and based their spirituality on that. One could argue that there is a disconnect between such spirituality and other Islamic sources, but it is still something that ought to be addressed.
Overall, I appreciate Bannister’s thought-provoking and entertaining take on the question. Hopefully, it will lead to more vigorous discussion of the issues, as well as give readers an idea of where to go if they want more information.
April 12, 2022
Summary: A comparative study of the worldviews of Christianity and Islam that concludes that the two do not worship the same God.
Years ago, a very thoughtful student, from a country where Christians were a minority in a largely Muslim country, asked me whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. After all, Allah is the Arabic term for God and Islam traces its roots back to Abraham, one of the three Abrahamic faiths. And in fact, many commentators, promoting good will between the faiths, have proposed this idea. Miroslav Volf, for example, in Allah (Goodreads review) contends that he would say “yes, with different understandings of the God we worship.”
Andy Bannister first began wrestling with this question when he got involved speaking about his faith at the Speakers Corner in Hyde Park in London as he was engaged by a number of Muslim questioners. He eventually pursued a Ph.D in Qur’anic Studies. His careful analysis of the Qur’an and a comparison of the worldviews of Christianity and Islam led him to conclude “no.” He concluded that the differences were so great that the affirmative failed to do justice to either set of beliefs.
First of all, he deals with the obstacle of asserting that is arrogance to assert that one’s faith is true to the exclusion of others. He observes how we want to be reasonably certain of truth in many other areas of life, for example medical treatment, and we don’t consider it arrogant when a doctor prescribes a course of treatment. We want this. We don’t want a tolerant, inclusive doctor who says, “whatever.” The real issue is how we treat those with whom we disagree. Are we gracious and humble in stating our convictions or cocky? Arrogance is a behavior that need not be associated with a belief that something is true.
Bannister then outlines his approach, which is to consider the answers to four basic worldview questions:
Is there a god, and, if so, what is god like? He states that the God of the Bible is relational, knowable, holy, love, and has suffered. He contends that the Qur’an rejects, ignores, or overwrites each of these with a different portrayal of Allah.
Who and what are human beings? Whereas Christianity understands Christians as made in the image of God and made to enjoy relationship with God and to reflect God’s character to all creation, Islam would hold that while humans are elevated, one relates to Allah as servant to master rather than child to father.
What is wrong with the world? Christians believe that our nature is deeply affected by sin, which separates us from relationship with God and each other and the rest of creation. Islam sees us as made, not for relationship, but for obedience to Allah, but we are weak and fallible and often disobey his commands.
What is the solution? The idea of salvation is alien to Islam. Allah guides one in the right way and the obedient are rewarded with a pleasure-filled paradise, although one where Allah’s presence is not mentioned. Christians believe that our situation as alienated rebels is so desperate that self-help or even God-guided self-improvement is not adequate. We need saving or rescuing. God’s rescue plan is the sacrifice that dies in one’s places–sacrifices in the Old Testament that point to the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s once-for-all, perfect sacrifice, restoring us to a relationship with God.
He goes on to discuss Jesus, who is referenced in 90 verses in the Qur’an. He observes the unusual character of Jesus compared to other prophets that makes him something of a misfit in the Qur’an, but not in the Bible, where he is more than a prophet, revealing the character of God as God-with-us.
He concludes by describing Christianity as the most inclusive exclusive faith in the world–an open exclusivism where all who repent and believe are welcome, and only those who refuse are on the outside. He explores the nature of forgiveness–costly for the one who forgives but free to the forgiven, something that cannot be repaid, bought or earned. Bannister proposes that many of the longings for God which Muslims pursue may only be met in Christ–the longing for intimate love and compassion and forgiveness and relationship. His invitation is to come home.
Bannister combines extensive knowledge of the Qur’an, which is quoted in translation throughout with a clear analysis of fundamental differences that is not belligerent but matter of fact, and proven out in many personal interactions with Muslims. He also has a delightfully cheeky sense of humor, illustrated when he talks about playing Cluedo, known in the U.S. as Clue. He writes:
“For example, if you announce, “The killer was Miss Scarlet, using the dagger, in the conservatory’, and I disagree stating it was ‘Professor Putin, with a nerve agent, in the potting shed’, then we can immediately notice a few things. First, we cannot both be correct: our two theories disagree on every key detail and cannot both be right. Second, despite our fundamental differences, we are still both trying to answer the same basic questions; we agree about the questions–we just disagree about the answers. (And third, with theories like mine, I should probably avoid holidaying in Moscow.) (p. 35).
Throughout, we find this combination of careful, reasoned argument leavened with wit and warmth that makes this an enjoyable read. It is helpful as a resource if you’ve asked or been asked the title question, and particularly if this is in the context of friendships with those who embrace Islam. Bannister sees fundamental differences between Christianity and Islam but does so without demonizing Muslims but rather shows the utmost respect. Such an approach, I believe leads to dialogue that moves beyond the superficial to the substantive, allowing the exploration of each faith on its own terms, rather than those superimposed by the patronizing “let’s all just get along because we really are all on the same journey up the mountain.”
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Years ago, a very thoughtful student, from a country where Christians were a minority in a largely Muslim country, asked me whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. After all, Allah is the Arabic term for God and Islam traces its roots back to Abraham, one of the three Abrahamic faiths. And in fact, many commentators, promoting good will between the faiths, have proposed this idea. Miroslav Volf, for example, in Allah (Goodreads review) contends that he would say “yes, with different understandings of the God we worship.”
Andy Bannister first began wrestling with this question when he got involved speaking about his faith at the Speakers Corner in Hyde Park in London as he was engaged by a number of Muslim questioners. He eventually pursued a Ph.D in Qur’anic Studies. His careful analysis of the Qur’an and a comparison of the worldviews of Christianity and Islam led him to conclude “no.” He concluded that the differences were so great that the affirmative failed to do justice to either set of beliefs.
First of all, he deals with the obstacle of asserting that is arrogance to assert that one’s faith is true to the exclusion of others. He observes how we want to be reasonably certain of truth in many other areas of life, for example medical treatment, and we don’t consider it arrogant when a doctor prescribes a course of treatment. We want this. We don’t want a tolerant, inclusive doctor who says, “whatever.” The real issue is how we treat those with whom we disagree. Are we gracious and humble in stating our convictions or cocky? Arrogance is a behavior that need not be associated with a belief that something is true.
Bannister then outlines his approach, which is to consider the answers to four basic worldview questions:
Is there a god, and, if so, what is god like? He states that the God of the Bible is relational, knowable, holy, love, and has suffered. He contends that the Qur’an rejects, ignores, or overwrites each of these with a different portrayal of Allah.
Who and what are human beings? Whereas Christianity understands Christians as made in the image of God and made to enjoy relationship with God and to reflect God’s character to all creation, Islam would hold that while humans are elevated, one relates to Allah as servant to master rather than child to father.
What is wrong with the world? Christians believe that our nature is deeply affected by sin, which separates us from relationship with God and each other and the rest of creation. Islam sees us as made, not for relationship, but for obedience to Allah, but we are weak and fallible and often disobey his commands.
What is the solution? The idea of salvation is alien to Islam. Allah guides one in the right way and the obedient are rewarded with a pleasure-filled paradise, although one where Allah’s presence is not mentioned. Christians believe that our situation as alienated rebels is so desperate that self-help or even God-guided self-improvement is not adequate. We need saving or rescuing. God’s rescue plan is the sacrifice that dies in one’s places–sacrifices in the Old Testament that point to the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s once-for-all, perfect sacrifice, restoring us to a relationship with God.
He goes on to discuss Jesus, who is referenced in 90 verses in the Qur’an. He observes the unusual character of Jesus compared to other prophets that makes him something of a misfit in the Qur’an, but not in the Bible, where he is more than a prophet, revealing the character of God as God-with-us.
He concludes by describing Christianity as the most inclusive exclusive faith in the world–an open exclusivism where all who repent and believe are welcome, and only those who refuse are on the outside. He explores the nature of forgiveness–costly for the one who forgives but free to the forgiven, something that cannot be repaid, bought or earned. Bannister proposes that many of the longings for God which Muslims pursue may only be met in Christ–the longing for intimate love and compassion and forgiveness and relationship. His invitation is to come home.
Bannister combines extensive knowledge of the Qur’an, which is quoted in translation throughout with a clear analysis of fundamental differences that is not belligerent but matter of fact, and proven out in many personal interactions with Muslims. He also has a delightfully cheeky sense of humor, illustrated when he talks about playing Cluedo, known in the U.S. as Clue. He writes:
“For example, if you announce, “The killer was Miss Scarlet, using the dagger, in the conservatory’, and I disagree stating it was ‘Professor Putin, with a nerve agent, in the potting shed’, then we can immediately notice a few things. First, we cannot both be correct: our two theories disagree on every key detail and cannot both be right. Second, despite our fundamental differences, we are still both trying to answer the same basic questions; we agree about the questions–we just disagree about the answers. (And third, with theories like mine, I should probably avoid holidaying in Moscow.) (p. 35).
Throughout, we find this combination of careful, reasoned argument leavened with wit and warmth that makes this an enjoyable read. It is helpful as a resource if you’ve asked or been asked the title question, and particularly if this is in the context of friendships with those who embrace Islam. Bannister sees fundamental differences between Christianity and Islam but does so without demonizing Muslims but rather shows the utmost respect. Such an approach, I believe leads to dialogue that moves beyond the superficial to the substantive, allowing the exploration of each faith on its own terms, rather than those superimposed by the patronizing “let’s all just get along because we really are all on the same journey up the mountain.”
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 9, 2021
Andy Bannister has a unique background and skill set to take on the question in this book's title. He is both a skilled apologist for the Christian faith and an academic whose scholarship investigated the text of the Qur'an in great detail.
He also brings a sense of humor to a serious question in ways that only Andy Bannister can (see also, "The Atheist Who Didn't Exist"): a reader would never come to a book like this expecting to find reference to the film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" yet this author pulls it off.
After an introductory chapter laying out the problem, he starts with the "elephant in the room" question: "Isn't it arrogant to say one religion is true and others are not?", a necessary question for our time and culture.
Having answered this question, Bannister examines how to compare religions and world views, suggesting four main questions: 1) What is god like? (He uses and explains the "small g" god in some cases throughout the book); 2) Who and what are human beings; 3) What is wrong with the world? and finally, 4) What's the solution?
These four questions become the heart of the book. For each, the author dedicates a chapter to exploring how Christianity and Islam answer each question, using their respective holy texts--the Bible and the Qur'an--supported by comment from respective scholars of each religion. A chapter added to these four explores how each religion views Jesus. Throughout each of these five chapters, Bannister answers the question from the book's title: No, they do not.
A final chapter is a call from the apologist (subtitled "Why Christianity is the most inclusive exclusive faith in the world"), from a heart that cares for his readers, to come home to the God who loves them and has suffered for them.
The book is organized to walk a reader carefully first through how to answer its question and then to what that answer is. Its arguments are well supported by specific data from each religion, that lead to the author's sound conclusion. Many readers will disagree with his method, his conclusion, or both. But those skeptics will be forced to wrestle with the powerful logic and evidence from an important thinker.
How does he use "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" in his argument? Well, curious readers will need to get the book and discover that for themselves. (Full disclosure, I am a friend and colleague of this one-of-a-kind author.)
He also brings a sense of humor to a serious question in ways that only Andy Bannister can (see also, "The Atheist Who Didn't Exist"): a reader would never come to a book like this expecting to find reference to the film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" yet this author pulls it off.
After an introductory chapter laying out the problem, he starts with the "elephant in the room" question: "Isn't it arrogant to say one religion is true and others are not?", a necessary question for our time and culture.
Having answered this question, Bannister examines how to compare religions and world views, suggesting four main questions: 1) What is god like? (He uses and explains the "small g" god in some cases throughout the book); 2) Who and what are human beings; 3) What is wrong with the world? and finally, 4) What's the solution?
These four questions become the heart of the book. For each, the author dedicates a chapter to exploring how Christianity and Islam answer each question, using their respective holy texts--the Bible and the Qur'an--supported by comment from respective scholars of each religion. A chapter added to these four explores how each religion views Jesus. Throughout each of these five chapters, Bannister answers the question from the book's title: No, they do not.
A final chapter is a call from the apologist (subtitled "Why Christianity is the most inclusive exclusive faith in the world"), from a heart that cares for his readers, to come home to the God who loves them and has suffered for them.
The book is organized to walk a reader carefully first through how to answer its question and then to what that answer is. Its arguments are well supported by specific data from each religion, that lead to the author's sound conclusion. Many readers will disagree with his method, his conclusion, or both. But those skeptics will be forced to wrestle with the powerful logic and evidence from an important thinker.
How does he use "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" in his argument? Well, curious readers will need to get the book and discover that for themselves. (Full disclosure, I am a friend and colleague of this one-of-a-kind author.)
April 9, 2024
I found this short book to deeply important, especially in the current geopolitical moment. This is an important for the Christian-Muslim dialogue, however, much of Bannister’s argument for Christianity extends into other conversations concerning Christianity and other religions. Outside of White’s “What Every Christ Needs Know About the Quran,” this may be the most helpful book I have read on evangelism to Muslims. It may even be more readily applicable than White’s book and is most definitely more practical.
March 19, 2021
Successfully debunks the view that Christians and Muslims worship the same God and does so in a book that is just long enough to cover the necessary ground yet short enough to appeal to those who don't have time to read a bigger textbook. Humorous and serious, it is both biblically grounded yet displays an obviously comprehensive knowledge of the Koran. While written by a knowledgeable scholar it pulls off the challenge of being written in what I'd term a 'scholarly-lite' style, it's accessible! It's one that both religious sceptics and those coming from within a religious environment and worldview will benefit from. If anyone asks the differences between Islam and Christianity this is definitely a book to give them. Recommended.
Review via NetGalley/SPCK ARC.
Review via NetGalley/SPCK ARC.
December 26, 2021
In a world where we are in dire need of unity, comes a book that widens the gap between Muslims and Christians.
I picked this book up hoping that I would get more insight into how much similar the Abrahamic religions are, or at least a book that offers new deeper insight into Islam (one that is very needed) instead it turned out to be a book repeating the same old shallow opinions and understandings about Islam.
It is very evident that the writer doesn't understand Islam. When the writer talks about Muslims relationship with God, he doesn't specify which faction of Muslims he is talking about, and most importantly he ignores a very important part of Islamic teachings: Hadith and prayers.
I couldn't finish the book, but from what I read, here are some questions the writer talked about with my own answers:
1- When the book talks about how in Christianity god is relational, that he related to his people and that he took the form of Jesus to be close to his people, and in Islam the Quran focuses on how god is distant from his subjects.
The Quran it clearly states that god is closer to us that we are close to ourselves. That god hears our deepest prayers and is with us all the time. "We verily created a man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein." Surah Qaf 16.
God created us with love, and god is guiding us towards him with love. God is everywhere and is in everything around us. God is in nature, the sky, and even in ourselves.
When we were created God blew within us a holy soul "and breathed into him my soul" a soul that is guiding us back towards God.
2- When the book talks about how the relationship between Jesus and his people is so much deeper that Jesus tells his people that he will be with them in paradise in comparison to how in the Quran it doesn’t state that.
To us Muslims God does not have a body, because God is existence itself, God is beyond matter. Humans need a body to function due to our weakness, while God an all-powerful being, doesn't need that.
However, in the Quran's description of heaven it clearly states that Prophet Mohammed's followers will see him in heaven.
Moreover, we learn more about God and about our relationship with God from the prayers left to us by Imam Ali, and in one of them it says:
“ So if Thou takest me to the punishments with Thy enemies, gatherest me with the people of Thy tribulation and separatest me from Thy friends and saints. then suppose, My God, my Master, my Protector and my Lord that I am able to endure Thy chastisement. How can I endure separation from Thee? And suppose that I am able to endure the heat of Thy fire, how can I endure not gazing upon Thy generosity? Or how can I dwell in the Fire while my hope is Thy pardon? I will weep to Thee with the weeping of the bereft;And I will call to Thee, Where art Thou, O Sponsor of the believers. O Friend of the hearts of the sincere and O Allah of all the world's“
Du’a Kumil
3- When the book talks about how in Islam we don’t really know god.
There are a lot of verses in Quran in which God teaches us on how to learn about the world and that learning and observing the world is how we know God. There are different philosophies and explanations about whether god’s traits are part of him or that the traits are him, but that’s beside the point. When we look at how the world is perfectly created, when we observe the tiniest details, we know that who created the world is a beautiful, detailed, all knowing and capable god.
There is a saying by a muslim philosopher that goes “You are a drop of the ocean, you are the ocean in a drop”
And there is a saying by Imam Ali (prophet Mohammed’s son in law” that translates as “And you think that you are a small mass (body) and within you in the whole world laying”
وتحسب أنك جرم صغير وفيك انطوى العالم الأكبر
And we have a prayer that says “God lead me to yourself, for if I lost you I would lose everything”
And in the Quran it talks a lot about the importance of knowledge and meditation because that is one way towards god.
In my conversation with my Christian friend, he mentions that the main issue why he cannot accept Islam as a holy religion, one that is a continuum of Christianity, is the Quran's denial of Jesus's Crucifixion (the Quran mentions that a look-alike was crucified in place of Jesus). According to my friend, Jesus's broken body and his shed blood are the core of Christianity. However, what I see in Christianity is so much more. To me Christianity is more about love, forgiveness and a beautiful spiritual relationship with God.
I read a book years ago, and in it was a description of the history of the three religions. How when Moses brought his message to his people, it focused more about the societal structure because at that time the society was very chaotic and in disarray. However, when Jesus came, the society was already structured and so he focused more on the spiritual side. When Prophet Mohammed came, he combined the two.
I urge people to read more about Islam, to see how in both religions the relationship with God is similar in its depth, and how both religions are about love and how to lose yourself in God.
- Read Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak: The Forty Rules of Love
I picked this book up hoping that I would get more insight into how much similar the Abrahamic religions are, or at least a book that offers new deeper insight into Islam (one that is very needed) instead it turned out to be a book repeating the same old shallow opinions and understandings about Islam.
It is very evident that the writer doesn't understand Islam. When the writer talks about Muslims relationship with God, he doesn't specify which faction of Muslims he is talking about, and most importantly he ignores a very important part of Islamic teachings: Hadith and prayers.
I couldn't finish the book, but from what I read, here are some questions the writer talked about with my own answers:
1- When the book talks about how in Christianity god is relational, that he related to his people and that he took the form of Jesus to be close to his people, and in Islam the Quran focuses on how god is distant from his subjects.
The Quran it clearly states that god is closer to us that we are close to ourselves. That god hears our deepest prayers and is with us all the time. "We verily created a man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein." Surah Qaf 16.
God created us with love, and god is guiding us towards him with love. God is everywhere and is in everything around us. God is in nature, the sky, and even in ourselves.
When we were created God blew within us a holy soul "and breathed into him my soul" a soul that is guiding us back towards God.
2- When the book talks about how the relationship between Jesus and his people is so much deeper that Jesus tells his people that he will be with them in paradise in comparison to how in the Quran it doesn’t state that.
To us Muslims God does not have a body, because God is existence itself, God is beyond matter. Humans need a body to function due to our weakness, while God an all-powerful being, doesn't need that.
However, in the Quran's description of heaven it clearly states that Prophet Mohammed's followers will see him in heaven.
Moreover, we learn more about God and about our relationship with God from the prayers left to us by Imam Ali, and in one of them it says:
“ So if Thou takest me to the punishments with Thy enemies, gatherest me with the people of Thy tribulation and separatest me from Thy friends and saints. then suppose, My God, my Master, my Protector and my Lord that I am able to endure Thy chastisement. How can I endure separation from Thee? And suppose that I am able to endure the heat of Thy fire, how can I endure not gazing upon Thy generosity? Or how can I dwell in the Fire while my hope is Thy pardon? I will weep to Thee with the weeping of the bereft;And I will call to Thee, Where art Thou, O Sponsor of the believers. O Friend of the hearts of the sincere and O Allah of all the world's“
Du’a Kumil
3- When the book talks about how in Islam we don’t really know god.
There are a lot of verses in Quran in which God teaches us on how to learn about the world and that learning and observing the world is how we know God. There are different philosophies and explanations about whether god’s traits are part of him or that the traits are him, but that’s beside the point. When we look at how the world is perfectly created, when we observe the tiniest details, we know that who created the world is a beautiful, detailed, all knowing and capable god.
There is a saying by a muslim philosopher that goes “You are a drop of the ocean, you are the ocean in a drop”
And there is a saying by Imam Ali (prophet Mohammed’s son in law” that translates as “And you think that you are a small mass (body) and within you in the whole world laying”
وتحسب أنك جرم صغير وفيك انطوى العالم الأكبر
And we have a prayer that says “God lead me to yourself, for if I lost you I would lose everything”
And in the Quran it talks a lot about the importance of knowledge and meditation because that is one way towards god.
In my conversation with my Christian friend, he mentions that the main issue why he cannot accept Islam as a holy religion, one that is a continuum of Christianity, is the Quran's denial of Jesus's Crucifixion (the Quran mentions that a look-alike was crucified in place of Jesus). According to my friend, Jesus's broken body and his shed blood are the core of Christianity. However, what I see in Christianity is so much more. To me Christianity is more about love, forgiveness and a beautiful spiritual relationship with God.
I read a book years ago, and in it was a description of the history of the three religions. How when Moses brought his message to his people, it focused more about the societal structure because at that time the society was very chaotic and in disarray. However, when Jesus came, the society was already structured and so he focused more on the spiritual side. When Prophet Mohammed came, he combined the two.
I urge people to read more about Islam, to see how in both religions the relationship with God is similar in its depth, and how both religions are about love and how to lose yourself in God.
- Read Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak: The Forty Rules of Love
Want to read
March 30, 2021gift from author
August 1, 2024
The most engaging and accessible of the resources I read on the topic. Bannister does an excellent job of keeping the most important things at the forefront: the incredible love of God as seen in the person of Jesus. If you want a surprisingly fun read with compelling points, this is your resource. Other similar books may have more nuance and complexity, or dive more deeply into the various parts of the question, but this one covers a lot of ground in a short book.
May 5, 2021
Answers a classic apologetics question in a fresh and humorous way. Very enjoyable and easy to read.
April 8, 2023
It should be illegal to be this funny
November 6, 2022
A warm hearted but honest look at the differences between Islam and Christianity. In a world that says all religions are the same, Bannister pulls that thesis apart and shows how the claims of Christ make it thoroughly different to Islam.
April 27, 2021
This is a good book for a careful overview of Christianity and Islam and how they differ in their conceptions of God, life, death and the nature of salvation. I think it is meant primarily to be an apology (by that I mean defense) for Christianity.
Dr Bannister using many witty stories and analogies carefully contrasts how both the Christian Bible and the Qur'an speak of God, life, death and the nature of salvation.
It should be noted that Dr Bannister portrays a Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures which is to be expected but in so doing fails to mention how Judaism speak of God, life, death and the nature of salvation from the same Scriptures. I mention this because Dr Bannister seeks to create a chasm between Christianity and Islam based upon their Scriptures when Judaism would sit somewhere in the middle and uses the same Scriptures.
I think Dr Bannister does this in order to define God from the Bible’s perspective through the lens of Jesus Christ, which is fine, but obviously any God defined not according to the Trinity and Incarnation will look very different from the Christian God.
As an aside by “Christian” I think Dr Bannister means Western Christian and more specifically Protestant Christianity, I say this because he focuses a lot on Jesus Christ as substitute as an answer to the problem of sin but does not focus on slavery to death or Christ’s victory over death and the powers of darkness that characterise Eastern forms of Christianity.
Maimonides (1138—1204) one of the most influential Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages considered Islam as “Not Idolatry” whilst he considered Christianity as “Idolatry” because of the Trinity and Incarnation. Maimonides thought of Islam as untrue because only Judaism in his eyes was true, but he did not consider it idolatrous. I know many Jews dislike the term Judeo-Christian because in their eyes Islam has more in common with Judaism than Christianity does.
The question this book also raises is “What do you mean by god?” if as Psalms 96:5 says the “gods of the nations are demons” or as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:20 “the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God” then Christians should accept that there are many real entities out there who are worshipped as ‘gods’. At the same time people can worship the God of Abraham but have a wrong understanding of Him. Jews worship the God of Abraham yet like Muslims do not have a doctrine of the Trinity or Incarnation and so would again have a different understanding of the God of the Bible.
Traditionally Christianity has put Islam in the “Christological heresy” box as evidenced by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Islam in that understanding would therefore be a form of Unitarianism. Dr Bannister does not interact with how Christians over the last 1,500 years have understood Islam but is seeking for his apologetic purpose to highlight the differences in order to point out the uniqueness of Jesus.
I raise these points because Dr Bannister does not raise them and as such I think the book is poorer for it. I would have preferred to see some more discussion around Judaism as well. I know the title says Muslims and Christians and I think that is deliberate because without Judaism it is easier to make sharp contrasts. I am left with the feeling that if Dr Bannister was asked the question “Do Jews and Christians worship the same God?” he would also answer in the negative. He is right however that Jesus Christ is for Christians the self-revelation of God, and that is what matters.
Dr Bannister using many witty stories and analogies carefully contrasts how both the Christian Bible and the Qur'an speak of God, life, death and the nature of salvation.
It should be noted that Dr Bannister portrays a Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures which is to be expected but in so doing fails to mention how Judaism speak of God, life, death and the nature of salvation from the same Scriptures. I mention this because Dr Bannister seeks to create a chasm between Christianity and Islam based upon their Scriptures when Judaism would sit somewhere in the middle and uses the same Scriptures.
I think Dr Bannister does this in order to define God from the Bible’s perspective through the lens of Jesus Christ, which is fine, but obviously any God defined not according to the Trinity and Incarnation will look very different from the Christian God.
As an aside by “Christian” I think Dr Bannister means Western Christian and more specifically Protestant Christianity, I say this because he focuses a lot on Jesus Christ as substitute as an answer to the problem of sin but does not focus on slavery to death or Christ’s victory over death and the powers of darkness that characterise Eastern forms of Christianity.
Maimonides (1138—1204) one of the most influential Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages considered Islam as “Not Idolatry” whilst he considered Christianity as “Idolatry” because of the Trinity and Incarnation. Maimonides thought of Islam as untrue because only Judaism in his eyes was true, but he did not consider it idolatrous. I know many Jews dislike the term Judeo-Christian because in their eyes Islam has more in common with Judaism than Christianity does.
The question this book also raises is “What do you mean by god?” if as Psalms 96:5 says the “gods of the nations are demons” or as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:20 “the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God” then Christians should accept that there are many real entities out there who are worshipped as ‘gods’. At the same time people can worship the God of Abraham but have a wrong understanding of Him. Jews worship the God of Abraham yet like Muslims do not have a doctrine of the Trinity or Incarnation and so would again have a different understanding of the God of the Bible.
Traditionally Christianity has put Islam in the “Christological heresy” box as evidenced by Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. Islam in that understanding would therefore be a form of Unitarianism. Dr Bannister does not interact with how Christians over the last 1,500 years have understood Islam but is seeking for his apologetic purpose to highlight the differences in order to point out the uniqueness of Jesus.
I raise these points because Dr Bannister does not raise them and as such I think the book is poorer for it. I would have preferred to see some more discussion around Judaism as well. I know the title says Muslims and Christians and I think that is deliberate because without Judaism it is easier to make sharp contrasts. I am left with the feeling that if Dr Bannister was asked the question “Do Jews and Christians worship the same God?” he would also answer in the negative. He is right however that Jesus Christ is for Christians the self-revelation of God, and that is what matters.
Read
June 20, 2022A simple outlook on comparing Christianity and Islam. Sometimes it felt like the author was mis-portraying Islam in order to make his point. Some very insightful points though that have helped me to understand more the differences but must be read with a pinch of salt.
May 2, 2021
The question of whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God is a big one, and this book could easily have been heavy, dull and intimidatingly academic. But instead, Andy Bannister managed to weave together personal stories, illustrations and humour to create one of the most accessible Christian Non-Fiction books I've read.
This book compares the Qur'an and the Bible to see how they answer four questions: Is there a god and what is god like?, who and what are human beings?, what's wrong with the world?, and what is the solution? Through these questions, we see the differences between the God of the Bible and the God of the Qur'an.
This is a really interesting book that brings this discussion to life and I feel like I learnt a lot. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapters exploring why this question is important and why it isn't wrong to be confident that your own faith is correct. This book is clearly written from a Christian perspective, although cites a number of Muslim scholars, so I would be really interested to see a Muslim response to some of the points in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and SPCK for letting me read this book.
This book compares the Qur'an and the Bible to see how they answer four questions: Is there a god and what is god like?, who and what are human beings?, what's wrong with the world?, and what is the solution? Through these questions, we see the differences between the God of the Bible and the God of the Qur'an.
This is a really interesting book that brings this discussion to life and I feel like I learnt a lot. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapters exploring why this question is important and why it isn't wrong to be confident that your own faith is correct. This book is clearly written from a Christian perspective, although cites a number of Muslim scholars, so I would be really interested to see a Muslim response to some of the points in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and SPCK for letting me read this book.
August 20, 2021
Nope. They don't.
The author gives many useful examples. For instance, Islam offers guidance, but the Bible offers rescue. The saving gospel good news is missing from the Quran. You cannot have an assurance of salvation. But perhaps the most striking difference to me is the missing relationship between God and his people. Muslims cannot call God "father". Heaven is not a restoration to be adopted into God's family and presence. In Islam, a heaven is just a place with more worldly experiences like good sex and prosperity. In the Christian heaven, there is no procreation. Our possessions we lay down at Christ's feet. God's presence and worship is our reward and eternal enjoyment. I really enjoyed the gentleness of the author's writing style, but not the humor. I understand this is a serious topic and could use some lightheartedness to break the tension, but it was just too much. And many many references to British culture I did not understand. I would recommend this book if you are finding any similarities between the two faiths and are wondering why they share these.
The author gives many useful examples. For instance, Islam offers guidance, but the Bible offers rescue. The saving gospel good news is missing from the Quran. You cannot have an assurance of salvation. But perhaps the most striking difference to me is the missing relationship between God and his people. Muslims cannot call God "father". Heaven is not a restoration to be adopted into God's family and presence. In Islam, a heaven is just a place with more worldly experiences like good sex and prosperity. In the Christian heaven, there is no procreation. Our possessions we lay down at Christ's feet. God's presence and worship is our reward and eternal enjoyment. I really enjoyed the gentleness of the author's writing style, but not the humor. I understand this is a serious topic and could use some lightheartedness to break the tension, but it was just too much. And many many references to British culture I did not understand. I would recommend this book if you are finding any similarities between the two faiths and are wondering why they share these.
October 24, 2024
Having heard Andy Bannister speak, I figured his books would be just as educational and entertaining and they were. He takes you through this topic in a clear and logical way while still having off hand comments to break up the deep discussions as well.
As a Christian, I fully believe in a loving God, and this has just confirmed it. My God loves and cares enough for me to send his only Son to die for me, this self-sacrificial love is not mentioned in The Qur'an, along with other key characteristics and themes that come up again and again in the Bible.
If someone is investigating this topic or wants to delve into it, I would recommend this book. Andy has the knowledge, degree and experience to speak on this topic as well as the skill of making it understandable for someone who doesn't have the prior knowledge.
To end, it lost one star due to multiple spellings and grammar issues. As the Bible says, none of us are perfect!
As a Christian, I fully believe in a loving God, and this has just confirmed it. My God loves and cares enough for me to send his only Son to die for me, this self-sacrificial love is not mentioned in The Qur'an, along with other key characteristics and themes that come up again and again in the Bible.
If someone is investigating this topic or wants to delve into it, I would recommend this book. Andy has the knowledge, degree and experience to speak on this topic as well as the skill of making it understandable for someone who doesn't have the prior knowledge.
To end, it lost one star due to multiple spellings and grammar issues. As the Bible says, none of us are perfect!
Read
August 1, 2023Since Andy is a good friend of mine I won't give this book a rating, but I will say that I learnt much from it. I recognise quite a few of the arguments from when we studied together (and also the style and humour), but Andy has done well to put it in such an accessible form. One thing that I found particularly interesting is the distinction Andy makes between mercy and love and how the Quran does not state that Allah is love. There are even scholars in Sweden (where I work) that fail to make that distinction and therefore misses that there is a difference in theology about the character of God in Islam and Christianity. I also nicked a few things from this book when writing on this question for children myself, but Andy knows that :)
December 16, 2025
A great write up comparing the God of the Bible and the Quran.
I've learnt that the God of the Bible is one who is relational, can be known, is holy, is love and has suffered. The Quran describes God without ascribing the above attributes to God.
Most importantly of all, the author stresses that we need to have a view of not putting other people's views down and have respectful conversations on these topics.
A great read for anyone wanting to find out more about the differences in terms of the God described by both the Bible and the Quran.
I've learnt that the God of the Bible is one who is relational, can be known, is holy, is love and has suffered. The Quran describes God without ascribing the above attributes to God.
Most importantly of all, the author stresses that we need to have a view of not putting other people's views down and have respectful conversations on these topics.
A great read for anyone wanting to find out more about the differences in terms of the God described by both the Bible and the Quran.
September 12, 2021
This is an excellent book, by an outstanding speaker. The author is respectful while making a very strong case that the God described in the Bible and the Qur’an are not the same. He demonstrates this by examining fundamental worldview questions and how they are answered by both the Bible and the Qur’an. From my perspective the main drawback of the book are too many (good) attempts at humour, which would be brilliant in a talk, but often do not seem to fit with the book.
May 2, 2023
A great book that deals with the differences between the God of Christianity and Allah from the Qu’ran. Not such a huge fan of all the jokes and colloquialism. The analogies made the book easier to understand in parts. Worthwhile read as I wondered this myself for a time, the author has a deep knowledge of both texts so I didn’t find it too bias.
June 22, 2021
Excellent book which points out the differences between the Christian concept of God and that of Muslim theology.
Bannister shows that these differ so much that the much touted idea that Yahweh and Allah are to be identified is untenable.
Bannister shows that these differ so much that the much touted idea that Yahweh and Allah are to be identified is untenable.
January 9, 2023
Andy Bannister compares the difference between Islam and Christianity, and help us to answer the question, if we serve the same God.
The author also has a very good sense of humour. Laugh out loud footnotes which makes it a great read.
The author also has a very good sense of humour. Laugh out loud footnotes which makes it a great read.
April 3, 2022
An excellent treatment of a difficult topic: clear, rational, funny, and sensitive.
September 8, 2024
I don’t even know where to start.
Just because two people agree there IS a god, does not mean they agree on WHO god is. YHWH and Allah are not the same.
Just because two people agree there IS a god, does not mean they agree on WHO god is. YHWH and Allah are not the same.
November 29, 2024
Brought up some compelling points, but I was left wondering if the book was created in a way to promote Christianity. A good read for anyone exploring their faith or teaching Islam and Christianity.
December 26, 2025
Really helpful book for understanding key differences between Allah and Yahweh. Makes you fall in love with Yahweh even more. Good for some laughs as well!
February 18, 2022
Exceptional! Tells the truth about the difference between Christianity vs Islam.
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