The subject from different points of view:  limits of treatment

The nature of the subject:  the historical points of connection between Christianity and Islam

  A. Christianity and the rise of Islam: 

     1.  Muhammed and his contemporaries

     2.  The influence of Christianity upon the development of Muhammed

     3.  Muhammed’s knowledge of Christianity

     4.  The position of Christians under Muhammedanism

  B. The similarity of Christian and Muhammedan metaphysics during the
     middle ages: 

     1.  The means and direction by which Christian influence affected
        Islam

     2.  The penetration of daily life by the spirit of religion;
        asceticism, contradictions and influences affecting the
        development of a clerical class and the theory of
        marriage

     3.  The theory of life in general with reference to the doctrine
        of immortality

     4.  The attitude of religion towards the State, economic life,
        society, etc.

     5.  The permanent importance to Islam of these influences:  the
        doctrine of duties

     6.  Ritual

     7.  Mysticism and the worship of saints

     8.  Dogma and the development of scholasticism

  C. The influence of Islam upon Christianity: 

     The manner in which this influence operated, and the explanation
     of the superiority of Islam

     The influence of Muhammedan philosophy

     The new world of European Christendom and the modern East

  Conclusion.  The historical growth of religion

Bibliography

CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM

A comparison of Christianity with Muhammedanism or with any other religion must be preceded by a statement of the objects with which such comparison is undertaken, for the possibilities which lie in this direction are numerous.  The missionary, for instance, may consider that a knowledge of the similarities of these religions would increase the efficacy of his proselytising work:  his purpose would thus be wholly practical.  The ecclesiastically minded Christian, already convinced of the superiority of his own religion, will be chiefly anxious to secure scientific proof of the fact:  the study of comparative religion from this point of view was once a popular branch of apologetics and is by no means out of favour at the present day.  Again, the inquirer whose historical perspective is undisturbed by ecclesiastical considerations, will approach the subject with somewhat different interests.  He will expect the comparison to provide him with a clear view of the influence which Christianity has exerted upon other religions or has itself received from them:  or he may hope by comparing the general development of special religious systems to gain a clearer insight into the growth of Christianity.  Hence the object of such comparisons is to trace the course of analogous developments and the interaction of influence and so to increase the knowledge of religion in general or of our own religion in particular.