1. Both the Islamic and Christian scriptures narrated the story of Adam committing the first act of disobedient against God. Yet out of the same tragedy of Adam both Islam and Christianity took the lessons from it differently and so end up in opposite theological dimensions.

2. Islam diagnosed the cause of Adam’s transgression in the light of the destiny of man as the vicegerent of Allah on Earth. Islam therefore questioned the very motive of the crime since Adam was adequately warned and forewarned.

3. It is worthy to note that in the Islamic version Adam did not immediately disobey God. Not until Adam and Eve was tempted by the evil Iblis or Satan. That is the most important clue from the case: ‘Adam only disobeyed Allah when he and Eve succumbed to temptation by Iblis or Satan.’ The real perpetrator who instigated the crime was Iblis or Satan. Temptation by the evil Iblis or Satan was the indisputable cause. This is the source of the problem that need to be addressed and neutralized.

4. Subsequently the shame that Allah brought upon them followed by His forgiveness also educate them the value of directives and responsibilities as well as manifesting the attributes of a just, compassion, merciful and forgiving Allah. Nobody else are made responsible for the act of disobedience by Adam. Almighty Allah who is the oft-forgiving and most merciful will forgive those who sincerely repented and seek His forgiveness except for the sin of denying His existence or associating Him with partners. Allah loves those who seek His favor, blessings, guidance and mercy. Allah does not need sacrifice nor an intermediary to seek forgiveness. Anyone who have faith and bear witness in Allah as the one true God and in His prophets are Muslims. All their past sins are instantly forgiven.

5. These lessons and attributes are beneficial for a vicegerent of Allah. Adam and his descendants must remain submissive to Allah and be ever vigilant against temptations by Iblis or Satan. The righteous in faith and deeds will enjoy eternal bliss while the sinful and unrepented will earn the wrath and punishment from Allah in the hereafter. The live of mankind on Earth is to thread this straight path in their return journey to Allah. Allah is the destination who shows the way through His revelations.

6. Christianity on the other hand diagnosed the effects of Adam’s transgression in the light of glorifying God through saving man. The faith of Christianity itself is founded on the consequences of sin rather than on the causes of sin. It’s like treating the symptoms rather than the roots of the malady. That accounts for the different remedies prescribed in Islam and Christianity.

7. Christianity began the moment Adam disobeyed God and was not forgiven by God. Even the descendants of Adam inherited the unforgiven disobedience of Adam. The story of Christianity is the story about the search for forgiveness for Adam and all his descendants. The search ends when a savior God named Jesus Christ redeemed all the unforgiven disobedience of all mankind. According to Christianity anyone who testified and believe in the saving works of Jesus Christ and in his resurrection will be declared righteous. They are called Christians. All their past, present and future sins are forgiven by God. They have achieved victory against sin. They are not binded by the laws before the crucifixion of Jesus. Future temptations and disobedience are mere fleeting reminders since Christ had prepaid their forgiveness on the crucifix with his life and blood. To them the cause of disobedience and sin are trivial since they have been saved and purified for the rest of their Christian life.

8. What matters in Christianity is that the symptoms have been treated although the roots of the syndrome are still diseased. That is the cause of the great divide between Christianity and Islam. But how do we bridge this theological divide?