Similarities and Differences Among the Three Major Religions Judaism Christianity and Islam

Judaism, Christianity, And Islam Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Similarities and Differences I am sure that most of you already have some pretty strong convictions about one or all of the three major world religions I will discuss today -- particularly, given the state of current events, considering Islam. However, if you strip away the political issues surrounding the faith, I am sure that you will be amazed to know just how many similarities Judaism, Christianity, and Islam actually share.

First, it is important to note that all major religions have millions of followers. As such, it is all but inevitable that many will distort the teachings of their respective religions in order to pursue their own personal goals and agendas.

For example, many Israeli settlers site their unique position as God's children as justification for violating United Nations and International laws against building illegal settlements on Palestinian Land, many Christians might use their faith to justify "inquisitions," crusades, or even murder (in the case of abortion doctors, for example), and many Muslims might use their faith to justify acts of violence against civilians in many places throughout the world.

The simple truth is, given the massive media coverage of the wrongs committed in the name of God in current times, the practice is neither confined to one particular religion, or even one time. However, if one takes the time to move past the misdeeds of individual followers of any faith, one can gain a real understanding of principles of the great religions of the world. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the three major "monotheistic" religions, meaning that they all worship the same single God.

Further, they are all based on the historical and religious precedents set by Abraham, and are thus known as "Abrahamic" religions (Fisher, 2002). However, aside from common "roots" there are other significant similarities between the three religions. Foremost among the many similarities between the faiths is the monotheistic nature of the belief in one God (Fisher). Perhaps one of the strongest veins that runs through all three religions is the universal abhorrence of all of them against polytheism and polytheistic practice.

Further, although it seems that of the three, Judaism and Islam weighs in most heavily on the side of true monotheism (due to the emphasis in Christian doctrine on the notion of the Trinity), it is commonly understood that Christianity also is monotheistic in that the three aspects referred to in the concept merely refers to the complexity of God, rather than three separate gods (Sherrill, 1999). In addition to being monotheistic religions, all three faiths are based on a kind of communication between "prophets" and God.

In Judaism, the prophet was Moses, Christianity, Jesus, and Islam, Muhammad. However, it is here that one sees the first large divisions emerge -- for Judaism does not acknowledge Jesus or Muhammad, Christianity does not acknowledge Muhammad, nor does it restrict the role of Jesus to simple "prophethood," while Islam accepts both Moses, and Jesus as prophets (and not in any way divine), as well as Muhammad as the final "seal" of revelation (Makari, 1998).

Interestingly, even the holy texts of the three religions hold striking similarities as well as difference -- for Judaism's holy book, the Torah is considered revealed scripture from God, Christianity's Old and New Testaments are considered "holy," and Islam's Qur'an is considered to be literally the unchanged and direct "word of God." (Wikipedia, 2004).

However, it is important here to note that whereas all of the "books" of the three faiths share similar origins as well as stories, Muslims consider the two previous revelations to be unreliable due to "tampering" that has occurred over the years (Massey, 2002) -- An assertion, of course, mainstream Jews and Christians take issue with, yet one that many historians of both faiths generally support. In issues of daily life, there are many similarities. For instance, all three faiths require their followers to give charity (Tzedakah: 10% of income.

Tithe: 10% of income. Zakat: 2.5% of total wealth each year. (Beliefnet, 2004)). Further, great emphasis is placed on the requirement of kindness and "good works." However, there are also differences, including strict dietary restrictions for Jews and Muslims (called Kosher and Halal laws), while there are virtually no restrictions for Christians.

Additionally, the final "outcome" of belief is also different between the faiths, with Judaism generally proposing a "life after death," Christianity asserting that there is a "life after death" following the coming of the Messiah that leads one to either Heaven or Hell, and Islam asserting that there is a life after death also resulting in Heaven or Hell depending upon belief and behavior. Finally, perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of similarity between the faiths is their position on war.

Although, again, as previously stated, all three religions have certainly had untold atrocities committed in the name of their God, this is far from the actual theological message conveyed in their scriptures. Instead, all three -- Judaism, Christianity, and yes -- even Islam, place strict limits on the justification, and methodology of war, conflict, and punishment. Further, all three assert that non-violence is the best path -- yet Judaism and Islam place a particular emphasis in the merit of taking up arms in self-defense (Beliefnet).

Although the fine points of difference and similarity between the three Abrahamic.