[Old_Mil]

Actually, 'Allah' is the Arabic word for God.

Nope. From a historical perspective, Allah is what amounts to a contraction of the phrase Al Illah, refering to "THE [moon] god", supreme diety of the pre-Islamic Arabs. Sort of their version of Zeus, if you will.

Even if you accept a modern Muslim's conception of Allah as a monotheistic being instead of chief of a polytheistic religion, the character of the diety circumscribed by the term "Allah" and the term "Jehovah" are radically different.

[Campion]

Nope.

Yep. Sorry, but Arabic-speaking Christians address their prayers to "Allah". NYer can probably confirm that for us.

The word simply means "God" or "the God".

Even if you accept a modern Muslim's conception of Allah as a monotheistic being instead of chief of a polytheistic religion, the character of the diety circumscribed by the term "Allah" and the term "Jehovah" are radically different.

That is quite true. Catholic theologian Scott Hahn was once debating (in public) with a Muslim. Dr. Hahn kept referring to "God the Father" this and "God the Father" that. Finally, the Muslim angrily interjected "Allah is not "Father". Allah is master!"

And that about sums up the central difference between Islam and Christianity.