Christianity, Judaism and Islam are three most powerful and prevalent world religions, which are often amenable to comparative characteristics. Their comparison helps understand the differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam, but also find some similarities and define which of the religions is more powerful and influential and what periods in history have shaped these views. Initially, the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, as well as Christianity and Islam was tense, which was determined historically. However, nowadays relations between the representatives of these religions are not loyal and tolerant, although each of them teaches tolerance for the neighbor. Therefore, one often hears the call of priests not to look for the difference between Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but to remember their religion and tolerate the beliefs of other people. The attitude of people to these religions has been shaped historically and now there are many fundamental differences between them, although many still consider that Christianity is a unique faith.
Formation of beliefs and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Since the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in 570 in Arabia, this territory was deeply involved in political, religious, economic strife and rivalry between the Byzantine and Persian-Sassanian Empires (Waardenburg 14). Arabia was an important trading route for caravans arriving from the countries of the Far East and Africa. It had strategic importance for the defense of the empire. In action to the people, representing religion of Islam, there were numerous Christian settlements throughout the southern and eastern part of Arabia, except Hejaz, the birthplace of Muhammad (Waardenburg 14). Hejaz was a large Jewish settlement, most of who lived there since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70. According to some scholars, Jews were present in the Hejaz since the time of Nabonidus (Waardenburg 15). Jews in these settlements were merchants, peasants, winemakers, smiths, so they had consideravle influence on formation and creation of religious views in the territory. This period in history is connected with the beginning of formation of these three major religions, marked with certain differences.
Differences between Christianity, Islam and Judaism
The holy book of Islam, the Quran, contains many references to biblical characters - Noah, Joseph, Abraham, and Jesus Himself. The Bible also calls Abraham the progenitor of all Arabs, most of whom are representatives of Islam today (Waardenburg 20). In the Quran, Jesus is referred to as a simple man, so his divine origin and miraculous acts are completely denied. Quran opposes Jesus and Muhammad, who was the warrior, born to save his people from salvation (Waardenburg 20). It should be noted that Islam also does not claim divine origin of its prophet Muhammad as well. As far as Judaism is concerned, the leader and major prophet of this religion is Abraham, First Patriarch, who was born in 1800 B.C (AANM Educational Series 3).
Judaism arose on the basis of the Old Testament, which has long been considered almost universal religion, but over time it turned into a national religion, thereby losing the opportunity to become a world religion (Peters 8). Christianity, which has emerged on the same ground, became a world religion. The focus of Judaism is a material religion, describing the kingdom that the Messiah will give to the Jews over the whole world (Peters 9). Christianity believes in a kingdom of Heavenly. The basic visions of Christianity are the spiritual world and victory over passions, which will eventually lead the person to the Kingdom of Heaven (Peters 10). In addition, the teaching of Judaism is based on the books of the Old Testament and the oral Torah (Cragg 7). In Christianity, absolute authority is the Holy Scripture (Old and New Testaments) and Holy Tradition. As far as Islam is concerned, Allah is the leading spiritual power, the God, who is able to punish everyone, who refuses to follow his orders and directions (Cragg 9). In Islam, Allah is deprived of the concept of spirituality, which is only an attribute of the human soul, but not applicable to God. God in the vision of Muslims, is endowed with human qualities (AANM Educational Series 3). The leading difference between Christianity and Islam is that the representatives of the former believe in paradise in heavens through good actions on the earth, while Islam insists on creating the paradise on the earth through devotion to Allah (Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism para 4).
Although all religions teach humanity, love and devotion, there are other considerable differences in religious holidays, rules and dogmas, which people are forced to follow. The main difference between Islam and Christianity, which entails intolerance and clashes between representatives of religions, is that Islam does not share the worldly life and God (Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism para 5). In other words, Islam assumes one power, while Christianity provides a clear distinction between secular and spiritual power (Smith para 7). This approach to understanding power allows Muslims to make their own wrong conclusions that their faith and power need to be spread through (Smith para 7). Hence, there are multiple armed conflicts between the representatives of Islam and Christianity, which it is not possible to overcome (El and Abu 16). The main tenet of Christianity is love, so Christians believe that God is love. Every word of the Gospel is imbued with it, so all people are equal before God. Judaism, in its turn, has a negative attitude to those who are not Jews (Campbell 55).
Based on the analysis of the three major monotheistic religions, it is possible to conclude that Christianity is a world religion, while Islam and Judaism are national faiths. Christianity underlines the equality of all people before God; meanwhile Islam and Judaism underline the superiority of these religions and propose their spread by means of violence.
Works cited
AANM Educational Series. Monotheistic Religions. Arab American national museum. 2009. Print
El Fadl and Khalid Abu. The Place of Tolerance in Islam. Boston: Boston Review, 2002.
Cragg, Kenneth, The Privilege of Man: a theme in Judaism, Islam and Christianity,
London, Athlone Press, 1968. Print
Campbell, William. “Christianity and Judaism: Continuity and Discontinuity”. International Bulletin of Missionary Research. 2004. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 54–58
“Compare Christianity, Islam and Judaism.” ReligionFacts.com. 10 Apr. 2017. Web. Accessed 6 May. 2018. www.religionfacts.com/charts/christianity-islam-judaism
Smith, Jane. “Muslim-Christian Relations: Historical and Contemporary Realities”. Religion. Apr. 2015. Web. Accessed 6 May. 2018 http://religion.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199340378.001.0001/acrefore-9780199340378-e-11
Peters, F. E., Children of Abraham: Judaism/Christianity/Islam. Princeton NJ, Princeton University Press,1982. Print
Waardenburg, Jacques. “Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Their Religions”. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 2004. Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 13–33,
