Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are monotheistic faiths that were established in the Middle East. Because Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all identify Abraham as their first prophet, they are often grouped together as the “Abrahamic religions." These religions share common values and history, a reverence to the Bible, a belief that there is one God, among other things. However, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also disagree on matters of practice and belief, from their perception of God to who they consider to be prophets, Jesus, and the importance of Jerusalem.

Judaism is known as the oldest monotheistic religion developing in the Middle East in the second millennium. One of Judaism's main writings is the Tanakh, a narrative of the Israelites' relationship with God from their earliest account until the building of the Second Temple (c. 535 BCE). Abraham is thought to be the first Jew and the father of the Jews. In Judaism, God is one, inseparable and unique being who created all being. Judaism teaches that the true aspect of God is inconceivable and unknowing, and that it is only God's revealed aspect that brought all existence. Jews believe in God and his prophets, with reverence to Moses. He is believed to have been given the law directly from God. Judaism is embodied in the Torah and the Talmud. Jews do not believe in any prophets other than Abraham and Moses. Judaism is non-hierarchical in the sense that it ascribes equal devotion to all of the prophets and recognizes no other temporal human authorities.

Christianity began in the first century as a division within Judaism. Christianity similarly pulls its beliefs from the Bible, which contains writings about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christianity is created on the principle that Jesus is the Messiah who delivered the word of God, though some Christians do acknowledge religious systems, such as the Roman Church in Catholicism. Christians believe that God is revealed through three dimensions: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Given that important events in the life of Jesus occurred in Jerusalem, this city is considered a holy site for Christians, Muslims and Jews.

Christianity and Judaism have similar principles about the life of Abraham, while Islam offers an alternative account. Muslims suggest Abraham and his son Ishmael traveled to the Arabian Peninsula, where they built a structure, called the Kabba, in honor of their one true God. The Kabba is in Islam's holiest city, Mecca, and is a place where Muslims visit on a journey called the Hajj. Muslims recognize the same prophets as Christians, including Jesus, however, they believe Allah's (God) word was given to the prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Muhammed then created the Quran, which consist of scriptures in Arabic that instructs Muslims to worship one god and how to treat each other. Muslims have also acknowledged Jews and Christians as related divisions of the Abrahamic religions giving them a protected "dhimmi" status, giving them free will of religious worship.