WI/AHC: Christian/Muslim Syncretic Religion?

What is the possibility that a combination of Islam and Christianity could become popular- at least as popular as, say, Mormonism? By a "combination" I mean that they believe that the Old and New Testaments as well as the Koran are Holy Books, that Jesus was the son of God, and that Mohammed was the Seal of the Prophets. They'd probably think of themselves as both Christian and Muslim, though the orthodoxies of both religions would condemn them as a heresy. The main two ideas I think might work is that in the early days of Islam, local beliefs might get assimilated in certain places- I don't really know where hotbeds for heresy might be, though. The second idea is that from the 18th century onwards an African syncretic religion might evolve. I know that "Chrislam" is a thing in Nigeria OTL, but perhaps it could get more successful?
 
What is the possibility that a combination of Islam and Christianity could become popular- at least as popular as, say, Mormonism? By a "combination" I mean that they believe that the Old and New Testaments as well as the Koran are Holy Books, that Jesus was the son of God, and that Mohammed was the Seal of the Prophets. They'd probably think of themselves as both Christian and Muslim, though the orthodoxies of both religions would condemn them as a heresy. The main two ideas I think might work is that in the early days of Islam, local beliefs might get assimilated in certain places- I don't really know where hotbeds for heresy might be, though. The second idea is that from the 18th century onwards an African syncretic religion might evolve. I know that "Chrislam" is a thing in Nigeria OTL, but perhaps it could get more successful?

Not really possible. The Koran contradicts certain accounts in the Bible, and is viewed as the "pure" text sent to correct previous errors. Plus believing Jesus as the Son of God means that he is the source of salvation. Why would God send another prophet if Jesus said he was it? Then of course, Islam finds the notion of God becoming Man as absurd.

I'm not really certain how such contradictions could be resolved.
 
Not really possible. The Koran contradicts certain accounts in the Bible, and is viewed as the "pure" text sent to correct previous errors. Plus believing Jesus as the Son of God means that he is the source of salvation. Why would God send another prophet if Jesus said he was it? Then of course, Islam finds the notion of God becoming Man as absurd.

I'm not really certain how such contradictions could be resolved.

Mormonism had a Prophet and an additional holy book, yet they still believe themselves to be Christians. I'm sure "Chrislamic" apologists could find a way to reconcile the Koran and Bible the same way Christian apologists reconcile the contradictions in the Bible itself.
 
I would argue this exists OTL. The Baha'i faith is a syncretic fusion of many religious principles, including Islam and Christianity. It considers Mohammed and Jesus as prophets, and holds the unity of mankind and that God nature's has revealed itself multiple times. While not exactly Mormonism, it has many parallels with them regarding Islam.

And it has 5 million followers and strong missionary activity, so with the right PODs, they could rival the Mormons.
 

jahenders

Banned
I'm not sure it could easily grow quite that large, but some combination theology could certainly be derived. Perhaps, in some ways it might be like (and/or viewed like) Messianic Judaism.
 
Many of the examples and ideas people are posting do not work at all. Islam already considers Jesus (Isa) to be a prophet and that the Torah (Torat), Psalms (Zabur) and Gospel (Injil) are holy books, albeit corrupted (especially the Injil and Torat, the Zabur is not necessarily corrupted in the Sunni view). The problem is that the Quran explicitly says that "Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases, and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin". (Surah an-Nisa 4:48). Therefore it would take an extraordinary heterodox sect to believe Isa was Allah and accept the Quran as the unwritten word of Allah.

I however can see this coming about in Morocco in the 800s AD. Similar heterodox groups arose in the region amongst the Berber who were far outside the Caliphates domain. If this groups creates a strong state and spreads their version first to West Africa, we could see this sect thriving in imperial courts. However it will be considered as evil as it comes and will have to fend of larger and fiercer Sunni states, who will not tolerate such beliefs in their immediate area, especially a competing state.
 
The Alawites are a Shia sect that believes in a divine triad (Muhammad, Ali Ibn Talib and Salman the Persian) that appear and reappear throughout history. Not Allah in a trinity.
 
The problem is that the fundamentalist orthodoxy of both faiths claim that the revelations described in their respective holy books are the "last word". However, I do think some sort of synchretism between the two faiths could become possible. Mainstream Protestant Christianity and western Catholicism has already reached the point where the Old and New Testiments can be very liberally interpreted to he extent that it is acknowledged that God may speak to people within other religious traditions and that specifically professing certain Christian belief statements (the Nicene Creed) is less important than simply following Christ's example. I certainly know some Moslems who take a similarly liberal interpretation of the Koran (ie: it is not the literal dictation of God's Word and that it too can be interpreted as the product of a human interpreter - Mohammed - who like all humans could not help but interpret his revelations in light of his times and culture). Eliminate fundamentalists on both sides and I think a synchretic faith combining elements of Christianity and Islam is not impossible.
 
I however can see this coming about in Morocco in the 800s AD. Similar heterodox groups arose in the region amongst the Berber who were far outside the Caliphates domain. If this groups creates a strong state and spreads their version first to West Africa, we could see this sect thriving in imperial courts. However it will be considered as evil as it comes and will have to fend of larger and fiercer Sunni states, who will not tolerate such beliefs in their immediate area, especially a competing state.

I could see that happening. I suspect such groups could find some justification for saying that there could be another prophet in Christianity (the Mormons certainly did). Perhaps they could consider Muhammad Jesus' younger brother. This would be incredibly heterodox, but stranger things have happened.
 
I could see that happening. I suspect such groups could find some justification for saying that there could be another prophet in Christianity (the Mormons certainly did). Perhaps they could consider Muhammad Jesus' younger brother. This would be incredibly heterodox, but stranger things have happened.

Didn't that very same scenario happen in China? Except the younger brother wasn't Muhammad, but the cult leader.
 
The problem is that the fundamentalist orthodoxy of both faiths claim that the revelations described in their respective holy books are the "last word". However, I do think some sort of synchretism between the two faiths could become possible. Mainstream Protestant Christianity and western Catholicism has already reached the point where the Old and New Testiments can be very liberally interpreted to he extent that it is acknowledged that God may speak to people within other religious traditions and that specifically professing certain Christian belief statements (the Nicene Creed) is less important than simply following Christ's example. I certainly know some Moslems who take a similarly liberal interpretation of the Koran (ie: it is not the literal dictation of God's Word and that it too can be interpreted as the product of a human interpreter - Mohammed - who like all humans could not help but interpret his revelations in light of his times and culture). Eliminate fundamentalists on both sides and I think a synchretic faith combining elements of Christianity and Islam is not impossible.



There is always liberal interpretations, but in a historical setting are these interpretations on the whole population plausible? As well, you are right that there are liberal interpretations of Christianity, but is this the most common form across the world? As far as I know, the more liberal christianity is found in the western world (primararly the Germanic speaking world + France). I personally, would say that it is impossible to remove fundamentalism from religion, for one thing every book is read with an interpretation and this interpretation can only be made by the reader, so it is inevitable for a person to read and take a literal view or see things with a religious zeal. In Islam they have combated liberalism in scripture and religion (Mu'tazalism) and have labelled such as Bidaa (innovation).
 
The problem is that the fundamentalist orthodoxy of both faiths claim that the revelations described in their respective holy books are the "last word".

Well, syncretic/heretic cults for each religion have added far less compatible things to the "base" faith in the past.
 
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