The Diptych
Christianity and Islam
Christianity stands as a Worldview; Islam stands as a Worldview. This comparison renders under slot registry version 1.0, in the registry's fixed order. The Diptych displays; it does not score, rank, or adjudicate.
Coverage: Christianity has 6 sections documented and 10 partial; its evaluative coverage is pending. Islam has 6 sections documented and 10 partial; its evaluative coverage is pending.
1. In its own words
The entity stated in its own words: its self-description, before any external description.
Christianity
Christianity began as a Jewish movement proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and grew, through the early councils, the great schisms, and the Reformations, into the largest of the world religions. Its internal divisions are not decorations on a single body; they are the substance of its history, and this tree models them as first-class entities, from the ancient branches to the denominations and movements of today.
Source: The New Testament.
Confidence: high
Islam
Islam began with the Prophet Muhammad's preaching in Mecca and Medina and divided within a generation over the succession to his leadership. That first division, and the schools of law and theology that grew from it, structure the tradition to this day, and this tree models them as first-class entities rather than as notes under a single heading.
Source: The Qur'an.
Confidence: high
2. Scale and spread
How large the entity is and where it is found: adherents, bodies, and geography, with sources.
Christianity
Christianity counts about 2.3 billion adherents, roughly a third of the world's people, and stands in every country. The largest populations are in the Americas, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, and Christians form the majority in about 157 countries.
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
Source: Pew Research Center, 'The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050' (2015).
Confidence: high
Islam
Islam counts about 1.9 billion adherents, roughly a quarter of the world's people, and is the majority faith in 49 countries. The largest national population is Indonesia's; the Asia-Pacific region holds the most Muslims, ahead of the Middle East and North Africa.
The range inside, as documented:
- Sunni Islam: The majority tradition of Islam, which holds that leadership after the Prophet passed by the community's choice and consensus, and orders its life by the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the schools of law.
- Shia Islam: The tradition that holds leadership of the community belonged by designation to Ali and the Prophet's household, carried by the doctrine of the Imamate.
- Ibadi Islam: The tradition descended from the moderate wing of the first secession, which elects its imam on merit and survives today chiefly in Oman.
Source: Pew Research Center, 'The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050' (2015).
Confidence: high
3. Historical timeline
The entity's timeline: the events of its history, drawn from the History of Worldviews timelines.
Christianity
- The christian timeline
- Birth of Jesus
- Crucifixion and Resurrection
- Paul's Missionary Journeys
- Council of Jerusalem
- Nero's Persecution
- Destruction of the Jerusalem Temple
Source: Matthew 1-2
Confidence: high
Islam
- The muslim timeline
- Birth of Muhammad
- First revelation
- Hijra to Medina
- Battle of Badr
- Conquest of Mecca
- Death of Muhammad
Source: Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah
Confidence: high
4. Sources of authority
What the entity treats as authoritative: its scriptures, creeds, councils, and reference works.
Christianity
Partial coverage
- Easton's Bible Dictionary
- Smith's Bible Dictionary
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
- Apostles' Creed
- Nicene Creed
- Athanasian Creed
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
5. Ultimate reality
What the entity holds to be ultimately real.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
6. The human person
What the entity holds a human person to be: nature, dignity, and destiny.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
7. Problem and solution
The entity's account of what is wrong and how it is set right.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
8. Ethics and hard cases
The entity's moral teaching and how it meets the hard cases.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
9. Practice and devotion
How the entity is practiced: worship, prayer, devotion, and the calendar.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
Islam
Partial coverage
- Ṣalāh; The Five Daily Prayers
- Jumuʿah; The Friday Prayer
- Dhikr; The Remembrance of God
- The Hajj
- The Ramadan Fast
- Salah, the Daily Prayers
- Shahada
- Al-Fatiha
Confidence: moderate
10. Community and governance
How the entity is organized: its bodies, offices, and the directory of its communities.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
Islam
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Sunni Islam: The majority tradition of Islam, which holds that leadership after the Prophet passed by the community's choice and consensus, and orders its life by the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the schools of law.
- Ibadi Islam: The tradition descended from the moderate wing of the first secession, which elects its imam on merit and survives today chiefly in Oman.
- Ahmadiyya: The movement founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the promised Mahdi and Messiah, a claim the wider Muslim world does not accept.
Confidence: moderate
11. Art and material culture
The entity's art and material culture, drawn from the Religious Art section.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
Confidence: moderate
Islam
Partial coverage
Confidence: moderate
12. Science and technology posture
The entity's posture toward science and technology.
Christianity
Partial coverage
- Patristic
- Medieval European
- Renaissance and Reformation
- Catholic
- Orthodox
- Mainline Protestant
- Heliocentric astronomy
- The telescope
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
Confidence: moderate
Islam
Partial coverage
- Islamic Golden Age
- Contemporary
- Islamic
- The telescope
- Evolution by natural selection
- Vaccination
- Gene editing and the germline
- Climate and creation
Confidence: moderate
13. Internal diversity
The range inside the entity: its branches, schools, and movements, each in its own terms.
Christianity
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: high
Islam
The range inside, as documented:
- Sunni Islam: The majority tradition of Islam, which holds that leadership after the Prophet passed by the community's choice and consensus, and orders its life by the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the schools of law.
- Shia Islam: The tradition that holds leadership of the community belonged by designation to Ali and the Prophet's household, carried by the doctrine of the Imamate.
Confidence: high
17. Contested history
The points of the entity's history that are contested, and by whom.
Christianity
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Catholic: The church in communion with the Bishop of Rome, holding the sacraments, the apostolic succession, and the councils of the undivided church and of its own later centuries.
- Eastern Orthodox: The communion of Chalcedonian churches in the Greek and Slavic worlds, holding the seven councils, the Divine Liturgy, and conciliarity without a single earthly head.
- Oriental Orthodox: The communion of churches that did not receive the Council of Chalcedon, holding the faith of the first three councils and the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria.
- Protestant: The churches and movements born of the sixteenth-century Reformations, holding Scripture as the final authority and justification by faith, in many polities and confessions.
- Restorationist: The movements that sought not to reform the church but to restore the New Testament church itself, from the Stone-Campbell movement to the Latter Day Saint restoration.
- Anglican: The churches in communion with the See of Canterbury, holding the historic episcopate, the Book of Common Prayer, and a formularies tradition between Reformation and catholic order.
Confidence: moderate
Islam
Partial coverage
The range inside, as documented:
- Sunni Islam: The majority tradition of Islam, which holds that leadership after the Prophet passed by the community's choice and consensus, and orders its life by the Qur'an, the Sunna, and the schools of law.
- Shia Islam: The tradition that holds leadership of the community belonged by designation to Ali and the Prophet's household, carried by the doctrine of the Imamate.
- Ibadi Islam: The tradition descended from the moderate wing of the first secession, which elects its imam on merit and survives today chiefly in Oman.
Confidence: moderate
20. Sources
Christianity
- The New Testament.
- Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity (2010).
Islam
- The Qur'an.
- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization (2003).
Citations resolve to the site's References register as that rebuild lands; exports of this comparison stand under the tools above.
| Section | Christianity | Islam |
|---|---|---|
| In its own words | populated: Christianity began as a Jewish movement proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and grew, through the early councils, the great schisms, and the Reformations, into the largest of the world religions. Its internal divisions are not decorations on a single body; they are the substance of its history, and this tree models them as first-class entities, from the ancient branches to the denominations and movements of today. | populated: Islam began with the Prophet Muhammad's preaching in Mecca and Medina and divided within a generation over the succession to his leadership. That first division, and the schools of law and theology that grew from it, structure the tradition to this day, and this tree models them as first-class entities rather than as notes under a single heading. |
| Scale and spread | populated: Christianity counts about 2.3 billion adherents, roughly a third of the world's people, and stands in every country. The largest populations are in the Americas, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa, and Christians form the majority in about 157 countries. | populated: Islam counts about 1.9 billion adherents, roughly a quarter of the world's people, and is the majority faith in 49 countries. The largest national population is Indonesia's; the Asia-Pacific region holds the most Muslims, ahead of the Middle East and North Africa. |
| Historical timeline | populated | populated |
| Sources of authority | partial | partial |
| Ultimate reality | partial | partial |
| The human person | partial | partial |
| Problem and solution | partial | partial |
| Ethics and hard cases | partial | partial |
| Practice and devotion | partial | partial |
| Community and governance | partial | partial |
| Art and material culture | partial | partial |
| Science and technology posture | partial | partial |
| Internal diversity | populated | populated |
| Contributions | not documented | not documented |
| Internal critique | not documented | not documented |
| External critique and reply | not documented | not documented |
| Contested history | partial | partial |
| What each says about the other | not documented | not documented |
| What this comparison cannot settle | populated: This comparison sets two self-descriptions side by side; it does not decide between them. A tradition is a living range of positions, and each panel renders the range this site has documented, which is not the whole of the tradition. Where a cell is marked not yet documented, the gap belongs to this site's documentation, not to the tradition. Questions of truth between the panels turn on premises the reader brings: what counts as evidence, what authority is recognized, and what a human life is for. The instrument does not score, rank, or adjudicate. | populated: This comparison sets two self-descriptions side by side; it does not decide between them. A tradition is a living range of positions, and each panel renders the range this site has documented, which is not the whole of the tradition. Where a cell is marked not yet documented, the gap belongs to this site's documentation, not to the tradition. Questions of truth between the panels turn on premises the reader brings: what counts as evidence, what authority is recognized, and what a human life is for. The instrument does not score, rank, or adjudicate. |
| Sources | populated | populated |