Part 1
The beliefs, history and characteristics of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Judaism
Judaism is said to have begun from the covenant between Abraham and God around 2000BC. Moses, who was their next leader led them out of Egypt and later received the Ten Commandments. His successor, Joshua led them into Canaan (the Promised Land) (Peters, 2008). Samuel established the Kingdom of Israel and Saul became their first King and later succeeded by King David who established Jerusalem. King Solomon constructed the first temple in Jerusalem, which was later destroyed in 70 CE (Om Sakthi, 2010). After the destruction of the Temple, the Jews became scattered worldwide and their nation formed in 1948.
Jews have a belief in one creator who is the ruler of all his creation and punishes the evil doers. The prophets act as a link between God and His people. God revealed Torah to Moses, and no one has the authority to change (Om Sakthi, 2010). Jews believe that there is no original sin and thus Humankind does not require a redeemer to save them. They believe that they are God’s chosen Nation, and they are expecting a messiah in the future during which the dead will be resurrected, and the destroyed temple will be rebuilt (Om Sakthi, 2010).
Christianity
The origin of Christianity dates back to 2000 years ago (Om Sakthi, 2010). According to Christianity beliefs, the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus who is the son of Joseph and Virgin Mary. At the start of His ministry, twelve disciples who later helped him in his preaching and journeys joined him. Christians believe that he was the son of God sent by his father to save the humankind from sins (Om Sakthi, 2010). He did so by being crucified and resurrected on the third day.
Christianity and Judaism share the same core beliefs however, they have two main differences. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save the world from sin, and they believe in original sin (Peters, 2008). The other difference is that Jesus Christ was fully God, and fully Man and he is part of the holy trinity. Christians believe that there is heaven and hell. Those who repent their sins and follow the teaching of Christ will have their souls saved and hence join Him in heaven. The belief in Hell varies from one group of Christianity to the other (Om Sakthi, 2010). There are several forms of Christianity that developed through either personal taste, differing cultures and disagreements on doctrines.
Islam
Prophet Muhammad in 622 CE in Mecca (also spelled Makkah) founded Islam religion (Om Sakthi, 2010). Islam is the youngest of the key faiths worldwide however, Muslims themselves does not view it as anew religion. They have a belief that Islam is the same religion taught by Jesus, Moses, David, Abraham, and the prophets. The role of Prophet Muhammad was to clarify and formalize the faith and purify it through the removal of erroneous ideas. The two sacred books in Islam are the Hadith (Collection of Muhammad sayings) and Qur’an (words of the one true God ‘Allah’). Islam religion has five pillars, which act as duties of all Muslims worldwide (Om Sakthi, 2010).
1. At least one recitation of Shahadah.
2. Performing the salat prayer, facing Mecca (five times a day).
3. Donating charity regularly
4. Fasting during Ramadan.
5. Making a pilgrimage to Mecca
Muslims also believe that there is Satan who makes people sin and that he will be cast into hell together with his believers (Peters, 2008). After death, sincere Muslims who repent their sins and submit to God will go to paradise. Islam religion is also against Racism, gambling, alcohol and drugs. They believe in the earlier prophets including Jesus but they are disregard the concept about the divinity of Christ and that he was crucified (Om Sakthi, 2010).
Commonalities between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism
Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have a little common roots and myriad common elements. The three religions are also known as the Abraham religious heritage. The common beliefs, which the three religions have in common, include;
Monotheism
Judaism, Islam, and Christianity believe that there exists only one God that is, they are monotheistic. Both Muslims and Jews have a great emphasis on the unity and oneness of God. The assertion of the oneness of God by the Christians is subject to misunderstanding because Christians believe in the Holy Trinity (triune). Nevertheless, this acts as an assertion of the Divine being complexity rather than a denunciation of monotheism (Daniel, 2007).
All the three religions have a belief that the same God is the genesis and the foundation of all that exists on earth. God takes care of all His creations and has a desire for the welfare of all. God has shown justice towards His creations. Moreover, He Has provided fundamental rules for everyone’ guidance so that everyone becomes righteous and good, according to His intentions (Daniel, 2007). God is also merciful, and by His grace, every human being given strength thus being more like what they ought to be.
Children of Abraham
All the three religions believe that man is the highest creature on earth and everyone is a descendant of Abraham. God created man with full mystery thus having a potential for nonstop growth both as individuals and as a species (Daniel, 2007). Human being has the capability of good and evil. When one grows in love, righteousness, and goodness, he or she becomes more like what God’s intention of Human goodness (Peters, 2008). Human beings become evil doers, go against God’s plans if they abuse their freedom, and harm themselves, others, or the environment (Daniel, 2007). With God’s help, everyone has the capability of repenting, turning away from evil, and doing good. Every human being owes God obedience, glorification, and devotion.
The Future
Despite the past and the present difficulties, the three religions have a hope for the future and evil and suffering will not ultimately prevail. God has made a provision of a state of being for which all the three religions have different names but all have an agreement on the term paradise. The future brings uncontested rule; unreserved happiness for those who believe in one God (Daniel, 2007).
Part 2
Conflicts between These religions
The conflicts between the Christians, Jews, and the Muslims have been motivated by beliefs, theologies and the historical conditions under which these religions were found. Religious identities have been conflated with the ethnic identities. For example, Islam religion has been associated with Arabs thus ruling out the existence of Jewish and the Christian Arabs (Newby, 2006). During the crusades, Christians with Arabic origin were frequently charged with being identical to Muslims. Prophet Muhammad made frequent contacts with the Christians in Ethiopia and Southern Najran, and this portrayed that there existed little differences between Christianity and Islam (Newby, 2006). However, the death of Prophet Muhammad marked the expulsion of Christians and Jews from Arabia.
During the medieval period, the crusaders attacks on Muslims changed the attitudes of Muslims towards the Christians and Jews. In 1492 CE, Jews, and Muslims were expelled from Spain, and Jews opted to settle in the Islamic land, the Ottoman Empire. Under the Ottomans rule, Christians and Jews received autonomy and some of them were converted to Islam and given high positions (Newby, 2006).
The twentieth and the twenty-first centuries have seen both better and worse relationships between the three religions. Leaders from all the three religions have worked alongside each other. However, the same leaders find themselves in fights in nationalistic and territorial wars, which have taken on religious and sectarian overtones (Newby, 2006).
Christians, Jews, and the Muslims have all been victims of these conflicts pit, and there have been attempts to reconcile these religions in the recent past. This has led to positive calls for cooperation and mutual respect (Newby, 2006). The council of churches worldwide has made calls for a positive dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The Catholic Church through the Vatican II council has called on the members of the church to esteem Muslims. In America, there have been groups, which are acting on an expansion to foster dialogue between the Jews and the Muslims (Newby, 2006). As these reconciliatory treaties are being negotiated, the members of the three religions are in a position to rebuild the traditions of common experience and heritage.
Reference
Daniel, R. (2007). What do religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common? CBS
Interactive Inc. Retrieved from http://help.com/post/20863-what-do-religions-of-
judaismchrist
Newby, G. (2006). “Muslims, Jews, and Christians”. London: The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Om Sakthi. (2010, September 6). The Major World Religions, Retrieved from
http://www.omsakthi.org/religions.html
Peters, F.E. (2008). The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam: A New Edition.
New York: Princeton University Press.
