Discussion Topic

The similarities and differences between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity

Summary:

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity share similarities such as monotheism, Abrahamic roots, and ethical guidelines. Differences include their holy texts: the Torah for Judaism, the Quran for Islam, and the Bible for Christianity. Additionally, they have distinct beliefs about Jesus Christ: Christians view him as the Son of God, Muslims see him as a prophet, and Jews do not consider him a central figure.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are some similarities between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity?

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three of the world's major religions. The largest similarity between these three religions is that they are all monotheistic. This means that each of these religions believes that there is only one God. Another similarity is that each religion has a holy book from which they read. In Christianity, this book is the Holy Bible. In Judaism, it is the Hebrew Tanahk and in Islam it is the Koran. These religions also all believe in Jesus Christ, but the ways in which they view him are different. Only Christianity believes Jesus to be divine, but the other two religions do acknowledge his existence. Similarly, Christianity is the only religion that believes that Jesus was crucified for humanity's sins, whereas Judaism also believes he was crucified, but for claiming to be divine, and Islam does not believe he was crucified at all. Lastly, they all believe in some sort of hell for sinners. The beliefs vary, but there is an overall belief that people are punished in the afterlife for sins committed while alive.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial