There isn’t a person dead or alive, real or fiction that has had more influence on the world, past and present; than Jesus and Mohammed. With traditions and beliefs that date back as far as the first century for Christians and the seventh century for Islam, the followers of these two prominent men in world and religious history are more than four billion strong. Both inherited from Judaism a belief in one God who created the world and cares about the behavior and beliefs of human beings. These two major religions have been the reason behind war and distrust which has served to further divide them. Prime examples of this are seen in history when the Muslim Empire quickly conquered much of the Judeo-Christian Holy Land and the Christian Byzantine Empire and then the Christian Crusades of the 11th through 13th centuries, waged in large part against Muslims. This paper will trace the lives of theses great men, and explain their deaths and teachings and the effects they had on the world. It will describe the ways in which each is worshiped and give an overview of how each of their messages is being carried out in the world today.
JESUS
Born Jesus of Nazareth, to a virgin mother (Mary) and father named Joseph. His life and death have been the topic of debate for some time; most Christians have come to accept his birth and death on set dates regardless of their historical accuracy. Many argue the exact date of Jesus’ birth; some put it as late as 1 B.C. With others place his birth as early as 8 B.C. The true date and year too are up for discussion, however; what is not in doubt is whether or not he actually existed. In Christianity, Jesus is believed to be the son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity. Christian doctrine holds that by his crucifixion and resurrection he paid for the sins of all mankind. His life and ministry are recounted in the four Gospels of the New Testament. He was born a Jew in Bethlehem before the death of Herod the Great...