than they are different. They both were formed in the 7th century post Roman world, they both are big on religious participation, chanting, architecture, robes, authority, judgment, and alms. They both hold up God as this almighty far away in heaven all powerful figure; whom you are more likely to meet after you die than in the present life (born again experience). My wife was raised catholic and spent 12 years as a muslim wife and she said it was very much the same religion, your behavior and attitude expectations are very similar.

The history of Christianity has never ceased to be a history of persecution from the bigger religions. At least, that's my perspective. When it was first formed, Jesus and his followers were all jews and were persecuted by the jewish religion, but as the faith spread it came into conflict with the worldwide religion of Babylonish and Greek gods; which morphed into the catholic religion (catholic means worldwide) split between the west (roman) and east (byzantine) that gave ground to the prophet and his like appetite for Christian sects that were hunted or tolerated by these forces, but never really the same... yet, all these lands and times sought to worship the same God. Once you cross over into India, you get into a different civilization with different gods, and a different faith... but it still is faith; I've always noted the contrast between the act of believing (faith) and the practice of doctrinal forms and behavior (religion).

The reformation declared some independence from the Roman catholic church, but I think the major separation between them all has been the name of Jesus; this is ironic because it presupposes that the catholics and the reformed churches are closer related when in reality the older religions have more in common, as do the oldest religions... irregardless of the name of their deity(ies).

I'm not one to lump all religion together the way some like to do around here, although there are common threads of practice to be sure, I've always felt the content of the faith is the biggest concern; of course, if you don't believe any of it, you wouldn't care for the content... but, I'm a believer, so the content is important to me.