Death In Nigeria- Is There Really A Difference Between Christianity and Islam?

I consider myself to be non-religious, as I am one who refuses to let labels define who I am. I am Mz.Jonezy all day everyday- no labels, no restrictions, just me. In spite of my deliberate attempt to disassociate myself from all religious establishments, I know quite a bit about many of them. After saying this, I have to pose a question that has been on my mind lately- Is there really a difference between Christianity and Islam?

When I ask my question, I am not talking about the obvious differences such as language, holy books, or traditional dress. I am referring to the fundamentals of each religion. Is there really that much of a difference between the two?

Here is why I ask…

I just read a report on CNN.com about some 200 Nigerian Christians who were murdered at the hands of machete bearing Islamic Nigerians. As it seems, those who were murdered lost their lives simply because their holy book happens to be the Holy Bible and not the Holy Quran. I don't get it.

There is Christianity and then there is Islam. There is Allah and then there is God/Jesus. Why are such differences the determinants of life or death? When it comes down to the lives of your own people, religion should not matter. As cliché as this may sound, I have to definitely blame the 'pale man' for this one.

Recently, the news reports about Africa on various world news stations have depicted death- disgusting, disturbing, and senseless death. All over religious beliefs. I am Muslim and you are Christian so I have to kill you? No.

It's so terrible that such senselessness is occurring in Africa anyway, especially since this is not part of their true nature. Christianity and Islam were introduced to Africa, they were not born from her. Who introduced them? I am sure you could just about guess the answer to that one.

But I digress…

As I continue to ponder, I think about how religion plays such a major role in war. America is at war right now. We are in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting some random war for what? I don't care what my government says- I know that, among other things, religion has a lot to do with our war in Iraq and whatever we are doing in Afghanistan. It only makes sense. America is a Christian country and the last time I checked, Iraq an Afghanistan aren't.

So with the thought of death in Nigeria on my mind, I contemplate the foolishness of it all. Religion is not some static entity that we must all adhere to. It shouldn't define who we are. It should not determine if we live or die.  If anything, religion is nothing more than a state of mind.

While trying on a traditional Muslim garb, a sista-friend of mine was approached by a Muslim woman who asked, "Are you Muslim?" My sista-friend smiled and replied, "Sometimes."

That brief and simple exchange of words between two women in a Muslim owned oil and incense store displays the true idea of 'religion' (for a lack of a better word). It is not as real and tangible as many make it seem. It is conceptual and esoteric. Man created religion, as we know it to be today, as a tool to divide and conquer, but it doesn't have to be remain that way. It makes no sense to use religion as a determinate of life or death or as an entity to define who we are as people. I would still be a human being whether I called myself a Christian, a Muslim, or simply, Mz.Jonezy. So again I ask, is there really a difference between Christianity and Islam?

What do you think?