Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 4

In the piece Who is the Liar? John the Baptist or Yahya (يحيى), and Occam's Razor, we attempt to use problem solving tools to arrive at the truth, specifically Occam's Razor. This piece is intended to be complementary.

Islam: you are born pure (fitra), then things go to hell

Christianity; you are born broken, then are purified

Thursday, January 08, 2026

Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 1
 

Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 2


Comparison Of Selected Passages In The Bible And the Quran Episode 3

Eternity

Islam: eternity means infinite time to enjoy earthly pleasures such as sex

Christianity Eternity means another dimension entirely, a timeless dimension, a vertical dimension, an absolute that judges all horizontal movements in time, by its own standard. For its standard is the true God.

 

These two views represent distinct eschatological frameworks, contrasting a "horizontal" continuation of perfected earthly experience with a "vertical" transcendence into the nature of God Himself.


Islamic View: Infinite Earthly Pleasure
In this perspective, eternity is often seen as the perfection and endless extension of human fulfillment.
• Physicality of Paradise: The Islamic Jannah is traditionally described with vivid, sensory detail—gardens, rivers of milk and honey, and fine silk.
• Continuation of Desires: Earthly pleasures such as eating, drinking, and sexual intimacy are not discarded but perfected, occurring without physical consequences like illness or fatigue.
• Relational Fulfillment: The inclusion of houris (pure companions) emphasizes the continuation of gendered, relational, and physical joy as a divine reward for earthly restraint.
• Spiritual Nuance: While many emphasize these literal rewards, some Islamic traditions (like Sufism) interpret them symbolically, viewing the ultimate pleasure as the "Vision of God".
Christian View: Timeless Dimension and Absolute Standard
This view, rooted in Classical Theism, treats eternity as a state of existence entirely separate from the linear flow of time.
• Timelessness: Eternity is not "a long time" but a "timeless now" (tota simul), where God exists outside the succession of moments.
• Vertical Dimension: Rather than moving forward horizontally (time), eternity is "vertical"—a transcendent reality that encompasses and judges all of history from a fixed, divine height.
• The Beatific Vision: The primary goal of eternity is not sensory gratification but "unity with God". Earthly metaphors (like a city or a feast) are viewed as symbols of a spiritual state where the soul is fulfilled by God’s presence alone.
Standard of Truth: Eternity acts as the absolute reference point. Every "horizontal" movement in time is measured against the unchanging character of the "True God

Summary of Contrast

Feature	Islamic Perspective (as described)	Christian Perspective (as described)
Nature of Time	Infinite extension of duration	A timeless, atemporal dimension
Focus of Reward	Perfected sensory and earthly joy	Spiritual union and the "Vision of God"
Role of the Body	Resurrected to enjoy physical delights	Resurrected to a spiritual/glorified state
Relation to God	God as the Provider of eternal bliss	God as the very Essence of eternity