Monotheistic Religion

The Islamic religion is a Middle Eastern, Arabic Peninsula, based religion that originated right around the 7th c. and is based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The definition of the word Islam means "submission" in Arabic, and connotes the notion of a total surrender of oneself to God, Allah in the Arabic language. Individuals who practice Islam are known as Muslims, which, again in Arabic, means "one who submits to God"

For example images of Saints and the lives they lived give us something to aspire towards almost acting as a manual of how we can live a fulfilled life in participation with God.Saint John also argues that the commandment given to Moses that worship of idols and graven images is forbidden ( Exodus 20:3-4) is not applicable anymore as we are living in a new era ushered in by Christ who supports images and to show this he gives ( Matthew 22:17) as evidence.

At the council, 338 members met to rule on the use of images to depict religious figures and ideas. This assembly, including Emperor Constantine and Leo, rules that “the unlawful art of painting living creatures blasphemed the fundamental doctrine of our salvation—namely, the Incarnation of Christ, and contradicted the six holy synods” (Iconoclastic Council, 1). The Iconoclastic Council bans the use of images and pictures to depict religious ideologies and figures because they feared that worshippers honored the image over the actual person, place, or thing represented. To support their argument, the council recalls the Holy Book in which God states, “Thou shall not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath…They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,…and served the creature more than the Creator” (2). Unlike John, this council uses stronger textual evidence from the Holy Book in order to validate their argument against icons. Furthermore, they argued that “folly” painter constructed the icons to undermine the icons. Council members aimed to demonstrate the icons as evil creations because religious affiliates did not construct them. Nevertheless, the council banned all images, relics, and other representations of

The three treatises by Damascus, are aimed “against those who rejected the use of icons.” Damascus argues that “the theological fact of the incarnation of Christ provides a solid formation for the use of icons in devotion.” Damascus explains many different physical items, such as icons, in worship and adoration. An example of one of the physical items he used as icons is, “Was not the triply blessed wood of the cross matter.”

“God is the sole deity worshipped in the monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam” (García, 2015). According to the Christian worldview, God is one being who exists eternally as three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ, who is fully man and fully God), and the Holy Spirit (Merrick 2014). God is the sovereign creator of all that there is. “Because God created and sustains all things, He alone is worthy of worship and praise” (Scripture and biblical passage support the history of the creation of the universe, in accordance to the Christian worldview. “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth” and all living things, including humans (Genesis 1:1). Mankind is His highest creation perfected in Him (“Lecture 2,” 2015). We as humans were made in the image of God, so that we may bear the attributes He has. God is indescribable, but at the same time

life” (Visual Arts Cork). The Roman Catholics were criticized for having false images of the bible in their artworks and worshipping idols as if they were holy. This decreased the amount of paintings of idol figures from the Protestants Luther stated that anything that one imagines of God apart from Christ is only useless thinking and vain idolatry. “You are not to have no other Gods” (Exodus 20:3).

Material expressions in relation to iconoclasm and religious imagery can be extremely crucial for an individual amongst the Christian church. Some may

The heart of Islam is The One True God. The concept of one God is the basis on which the entire religion of Islam revolves around. This concept is the foundation upon with the religion of Islam is built. In fact, the actual definition of Islam means submission; submission to their one true God. Islam followers are called Muslim and the definition of Muslim means one who surrenders or submits to the will of God. Based on these definitions alone, it is apparent that the heart of Islam is the One True God, also known by his Arabic name, Allah (Voorst, 2015).

Saint John of Damascus argues that iconography is not against the old testaments preachings; particularly, the Ten Commandments. He professes that it is his obligation to justify the necessity to venerate icons. These icons depicted Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints.

Vivid images, from visions, to detailed explanation and accounts of places and events, to symbolic imagery used to explain parables, or teach and encourage the first century churches are driving forces within the Biblical text. Metaphorical language, by virtue of the fact that it preserves the literal meaning of the symbol, while intending an analogical secondary meaning, is able to communicate profound truths about reality, mainly by creating an alternative, symbolic way of seeing and understanding the world. (Liubinskas, Susann. 404) Throughout the New Testament of the Bible the most commonly used images are the: body of Christ, and vine imagery. These images work together to create a powerful example of the necessity for unity among individual believers, and that unity tying them Christ.

Islam, now one of the major religions of the world, was found by a prophet, named Muhammad. The idea of Islam is the believer, called a Muslim, accepts surrender to the will of Allah, who is their God. Allah is viewed as the creator of the world. Islam is much like Christianity, as they are both monotheistic, potentially believing in the same God. Islam’s practices are written in the holy book, called the Qur’an, or Koran in English. Allah revealed the Koran to his messenger, Muhammad, who is considered the last of a series of prophets (Rahmin). Within the Islam religion, Muslims practice the Five Pillars of Islam, which is one of the most important practices. The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that every muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam (Five Pillars of Islam). Carrying out the Five Pillars demonstrates the Muslim is putting their faith first. The first pillar is called “Shahadah,” which focuses on reciting the Muslim profession of faith (Five Pillars of Islam).

The Islamic worldview was greatly influenced by the Christian and Jewish worldviews. In the Qur’an it states that there is a supreme God and his name is Allah. Furthermore, they believe that angles, fairies, and jinn all exist on Earth. Muhammad thought that there is only one God to whom all people must submit, and who was not to be worshipped with idols. This

Allah is the creator of everything and is held in the highest regard for Islamic people. Although there is one god, there are a multitude of prophets who bring the word of God to the Muslim people much like the multiple deities who come from Brahma. It is believed that God sent multiple prophets to tell of the last and most significant prophet, Muhammad. These prophets also preached the Oneness of God and would tell followers to avoid sin.

The Qur’an is believe to the ultimate source of God by many Muslim believers. It contains 114 suras for the believers as the core practices of the Islamic religion and Muslims throughout the world recites its verses (Chang, Lecture. 1/21/14). They believed the prophet of Allah was Muhammad, who received the words of Allah through Angel Gabriel, and was passed on with the Qur’an during Ramadan. Angel Gabriel one night came to Muhammad “in clear human form” (“Scripture and Tradition in Islam- The Qur’an and Hadith” 104), and gave the messages from Allah to him. From the establishment of the Qur’an, Muslims have viewed the book as the last revelation of their god Allah, and thus are the true words from God for their ways of life and in

I have come to learn more about my religion Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion and it is currently the second largest religion in the world. Islam means to acquiesce to the commandments of the one and only God who is referred to as Allah. Allah is a supreme being and is transcendent from human kind. He is the creator of the universe and he knows everything.” Islam confesses that ‘‘there is no God but God’’ and that ‘‘Muhammad is God’s prophet’’ who has come to teach and spread the way of submission and obedience to the one God” (