Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam

The Three Religions

1. Judaism, Jew

2. Christianity, Christian

3. Islam, Muslim

Star of David

The Cross

Crescent Moon and Star

Comparative ReligionsReligion Judaism Christianit

yIslam

Origins Canaan~2000 BCE

Palestine~30 CE

Saudi Arabia622 CE

Founders Moses Jesus Christ Mohammad

Adherents

Jews Christians Muslims

Population

14 millionIsrael, Euro, US

2.1 billionEuro, Americas,

Africa

1.5 billionMid East, SE

Asia

Comparative ReligionsReligion Judaism Christianity Islam

Diety GodYahweh, Elohim

God GodAllah

Holy Book“People of the

book”

Torah(Old Test.)

Bible(Old and New Test.)

Qur’an(Koran)

Religious Law Halakhah Canon Law Sharia

Place of Worship

Synagogue ChurchChapel

Cathedral

Mosque

Clergy Rabbis Priest, Minister, Pastor

Imam

Some Similarities

1. Monotheistic

2. Abrahamic – Recognize Abraham as Patriarch (father)

3. Consider city of Jerusalem to be Holy

4. All connected to parts of the Bible.

Origins and History of

Each Faith

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacob/IsraelJacob/Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

•Islam-Quran

•Other 10 tribes-(Israelites) (Hebrews)

•Judaism-Torah

Abraham’s Genealogy

•2 Tribes - (Jews) of Judah•Jesus Christ (son of God)•The Hebrew Bible - Old

Testament in the Christian Bible

Mecca(Muslims)

•Muhammad (the last prophet)

•Quran and the Five Pillars of

Islam

4000–550 BC

All 3 Religions are linked by Abraham—He is the patriarch of all 3

Ten Commandments

Origins of Each Faith

• 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

• Founders and Early Leaders• All three trace their origins originally to

Abraham as explained in the reading– Judaism – Abraham and Moses

–Christianity – Jesus

– Islam - Muhammad

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Brief History on Origins

• Judaism- The Hebrew leader Abraham founded Judaism around 2000 B.C.– Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic faiths

(religions with one God).

• Christianity - Founded by Jesus Christ, who was crucified around A.D. 30 in Jerusalem – After his death his followers came to believe in

him as the Christ, the Messiah.

• Islam - Founded in Arabia by Muhammad between A.D. 610 and A.D. 632

Spread of Each Faith

• 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

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Terms for Followers and Clergy

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

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

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More Detailed History on Each Religion

Judaism Timeline• 1800 BCE Hebrews flee Canaan,

migrate to Egypt (enslaved).– Lead by Moses to Sinai Peninsula.

Covenant w/God.– 1 God, 10 Commandments, Chosen

People

• 1025 BCE form kingdom of Israel in Fertile Crescent.– Kings David & Solomon help reach

greatest glory

• 500 BCE Persians take over, Return to Israel & rebuild temple in Jerusalem.

• 70 CE Romans expel Jews from Israel/Palestine – diaspora…– Won’t return until late 1800s

Christianity• Jesus born in Roman ruled Palestine

(Bethlehem)– Carpenter’s apprentice– Studied w/ rabbis - Preacher 30 yrs old

• Some believed he was the messiah – Savior from foreign rule, restore kingdom

• Roman’s, scared of popularity & refusal to

accept emperor as a god, crucified him in 33 CE.

• Followers, Christians, spread word– Everyone equal, salvation & eternal life– Persecuted by Romans, became martyrs– 313 CE, Emperor Constantine converts– 395 CE, official religion Roman Empire

Islam Timeline• 610 CE Angel Gabriel tells

Mohammed he is to be the messenger of God/Allah– Merchant in Mecca

• 622 flee to Medina, build 1st mosque– Hejira – Yr 1 of Muslim Calendar– Prophet

• Expansion of Islam– Uses war & political maneuvering

to spread ideas– 632 control Peninsula– 732 Atlantic to Indus

How They Worship

Where and When They Worship

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

Day of Worshipo Judaism: SaturdayoChristianity: Sundayo Islam: Friday

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Languages of Faiths

• Original Language– Judaism: Hebrew– Christianity: Aramaic and Greek, then Latin– Islam: Arabic

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

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Holy/Religious Texts

Sacred Texts of Each Faith• Sacred Texts• All three accept the Old Testament

as explained in the reading.– Judaism: Hebrew Bible is the Torah,

Talmud –Christianity: Old Testament and New

Testament– Islam: Qur’an (Koran)

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Beliefs

Monotheistic Beliefs

• 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---God’s Words 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/ eternal hell–Christianity: eternal heaven/

eternal hell–Islam: eternal paradise

(heaven)/ eternal hell

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Symbols of

Faiths

Symbols

– Judaism: Star of David

– Christianity: cross

– Islam: crescent with name of Allah in Arabic

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Followers

Where They Can Be Found

• 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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PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

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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