Catholics and muslims do not worship the same god

Published: October 26, 2016

By Lisa D Larey

Recently in Arkansas Catholic, it has been stated several times in different articles that Catholics and Muslims worship the same god. In the Sept. 17 issue in the editorial, "Know the Truth: What Islam Really Teaches" it was stated that "only 32 percent of Catholics correctly believe that Catholics and Muslims worship the same god." The Sept. 24 issue article "Catholic, Muslims Discuss Shared Values" included statements that Muslims and Catholics worship the same god.

The God of Holy Scripture worshiped by Catholics is not the Allah of the Koran worshiped by Muslims. There are many differences between the two gods. One major difference is that Catholics worship a triune god, consisting of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, which are inseparable. Islam teaches that Allah is the one and absolute god and belief in a triune god is blasphemous. Islam denies the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, a core Catholic belief, stating instead that Jesus was a prophet, not the Son of God. Our Catholic catechism teaches that belief in God cannot be separated from belief in Jesus. Holy Scripture says that the Father and the Son are one.

According to Islam, it is blasphemous to call God our Father, but Holy Scripture tells us that God is our Father and Jesus taught us to pray to God saying "Our Father who art in heaven..."

In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." How can Muslims know God without knowing and accepting Jesus? John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

So why do some say that Catholics and Muslims worship the same god? Is it because Muslims say we do? Is it because the Koran says we do? Is it because the Koran says Allah is the god of the Bible and the god of the prophets? None of this dictates Catholic beliefs. In befriending and supporting Muslims, or people of any other faith, Catholics must always follow the teachings of the Catholic faith and holy Scripture, never supporting false beliefs.