A Comparison of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Abrahamic Religions

1. A Comparison of Judaism, Christianity, and IslamAbrahamic Religions

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

3. 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

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

5. Followers Called: • Judaism – Jews • Christianity – Christians • Islam – Muslims • Clergy Called: • Judaism – rabbis • Christianity – bishop, pastor, ministers, priest • Islam - imams

6. House of Worship • Judaism – synagogue or temple • Christianity – church, cathedral, chapel • Islam – mosque • Day of Worship • Judaism – Saturday • Christianity – Sunday • Islam - Friday

7. Original Language • Judaism – Hebrew • Christianity – Aramaic and Greek • Islam – Arabic • Names of God • Judaism – Yahweh and Elohim • Christianity – God, the Trinity • Islam - Allah

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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. Ultimate Reality (Type of Theism) • Judaism – One God • Christianity – Trinity (God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) • Islam – One God

13. 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

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

15. Death of Jesus • Judaism – death by Crucifixion • Christianity – death by Crucifixion • Islam – Did not die, but ascended into heaven (a disciple took his place)

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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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.”

21. 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.