Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?

The question in the headline above might sound like a matter of abstract theology rather than current events. It turned out to be quite a newsy matter, however, with a recent decision taken by the administration of Wheaton College, a small Christian university in Illinois.

Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor who teaches at Wheaton, wrote on her Facebook page, "We worship the same god." She, as a Christian, was referring to Muslims, and was expressing solidarity with Muslim women by donning a headscarf. But the theological basis she offered for this ecumenism did not go down well with her institution. Soon, Wheaton College informed her that she no longer was welcome to teach there. 

In support of its decision, the Wheaton College noted that Dr. Hawkins' "theological statements seem inconsistent with Wheaton's doctrinal convictions." This, of course, first raises a question of academic freedom. Should religious colleges only employ professors with the "right doctrine?" Wouldn't they, and their students, benefit from different views that can enlarge their scope? Of course every institution has the right to opt for a narrower scope, but then others have the right to question the wisdom of that approach.

For me, as someone who is theologically inclined, the only issue here is not just academic freedom, though. It is also the presupposition that Christians and Muslims do NOT worship the same God. I actually know many Christians and Muslim who would agree with that verdict readily, if not enthusiastically. But both sides might benefit from taking a step back and thinking a bit more carefully.

First, for Muslims, the statement that Muslims and Christians worship the same God must not be news - if they are aware of what...