A Comparison of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Abrahamic Religions

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– COS 3 Recognize the world’s major religions and their founders (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammad)

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• Date and Place founded:– Judaism – approximately 1300 B.C. in Palestine• Some say the date is unknown

– Christianity – approximately 33 A.D. in Palestine– Islam – 622 A.D. in Saudi Arabia

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• Founders and Early Leaders– Judaism – Abraham and Moses– Christianity – Jesus– Islam - Muhammad

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• Followers Called:– Judaism – Jews– Christianity – Christians– Islam – Muslims

• Clergy Called:– Judaism – rabbis– Christianity – bishop, pastor, ministers, priest– Islam - imams

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• House of Worship– Judaism – synagogue or temple– Christianity – church, cathedral, chapel– Islam – mosque

– Day of Worship• Judaism – Saturday• Christianity – Sunday• Islam - Friday

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• Original Language– Judaism – Hebrew– Christianity – Aramaic and Greek– Islam – Arabic

• Names of God– Judaism – Yahweh and Elohim– Christianity – God, the Trinity– Islam - Allah

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• Major Locations TODAY– Judaism – Europe, Israel, North America– Christianity – Europe, North and South America– Islam – Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia

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• Early Expansion– Judaism – Little expansion mostly confined to

Israel– Christianity – by the end of the 4th century

Christianity spread across the entire Roman Empire

– Islam – Within 12 years, entire Arabian peninsula; after 100 years stretched from Spain to Southeast Asia

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• Current Worldwide Followers TODAY– Judaism – 14 million (ranks 12th)– Christianity – 2 billion (ranks 1st)– Islam – 1.3 billion (ranks 2nd)

– In the USA• Judaism – 5.6 million• Christianity – 159 million• Islam – 1.1 million

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• Sacred Texts– Judaism – Hebrew Bible– Christianity – Old Testament and New Testament– Islam – Qur’an (Koran)

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• Ultimate Reality (Type of Theism)– Judaism – One God– Christianity – Trinity (God the father, God the Son,

and God the Holy Spirit)– Islam – One God

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• Divine Revelation How do we know about God?– Judaism – through prophets recorded in the

Hebrew Bible– Christianity – through prophets and Jesus as

recorded in the Old and New Testament– Islam – through God’s final prophet Muhammad

recorded in the Qur’an

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• Identity of Jesus– Judaism – False prophet– Christianity – Son of God, the Messiah, Savior– Islam – prophet of God

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• Death of Jesus– Judaism – death by Crucifixion– Christianity – death by Crucifixion– Islam – Did not die, but ascended into heaven (a

disciple took his place)

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• Resurrection of Jesus– Judaism – Denied– Christianity – Affirmed– Islam – Denied; since he did not die

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• Means of Salvation– Judaism – Belief in one God; good deeds– Christianity – correct belief, good deeds; by faith

accept Christ as Savior (Protestants)– Islam – Belief in one God; good deeds and follow

Five Pillars of Faith

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• Afterlife– Judaism – eternal heaven, or no afterlife– Christianity – eternal heaven– Islam – eternal paradise (heaven)

– Judaism - eternal hell, or no afterlife– Christianity – eternal hell– Islam – eternal hell

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• Symbols– Judaism – Star of David– Christianity – cross– Islam – crescent with name of Allah in Arabic

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• View of Fellow Abrahamic Religions– Judaism – “Islam and Christianity are false

interpretations and extensions of Judaism.”

– Christianity – “Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation. Islam is a false religion.”

– Islam – “Jews and Christians are respected as fellow believers, but with wrong beliefs and only partial revelation.”

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Paragraph Writing Assignment

• Using your class notes, you will write a one page essay comparing and contrasting the origins, history and beliefs of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This is a test grade so make sure you do your best.

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