Judaism, Christianity and Islam
The similarities between these three Abrahamic religions are stronger than their differences, though historically it is the differences that have been stressed. They each believe in a single life, followed by heaven or hell. They agree that God is opposed by evil, by Satan, who tempts and destroys sinners by causing disobedience to God’s law. They are all prophet-oriented, though Christianity is the only one to make the prophet divine. They believe in their religion as the one and only true religion, and that nonbelievers are condemned, though Judaism is somewhat more tolerant or universal, believing God judges all men of all religions by their actions. These three Biblical religions are strongly monotheistic and dualistic, believing man is eternally separate from God and that man’s highest destiny is in heaven. Together they rely not so much on inner experience or mystical contact and guidance, as on sacred rites, on faith and belief, and on good works to guide man Godward. Each believes that God has a special covenant with its members, though the terms differ. They each bury their dead, anticipating that the physical body will one day be resurrected on the Earth, rising from the grave on Judgment Day.§
JUDAISM: There is but one true religion, Judaism, and one revealed scripture, the Torah, which includes the Old Testament and the Talmud.§
CHRISTIANITY: There is but one true religion, Christianity, and one scripture—the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments.§
ISLAM: The one true faith is Islam, and the Koran is the highest revealed scripture, but other books are honored as revealed too, including the Bible and certain Hindu scriptures.§
JUDAISM: Example of Adam, his temptation and fall from grace, and in original sin. Some early and more of modern religious thinks tend to interpret this narrative as an allegory of human condition.§
CHRISTIANITY: The same, but taking Adam’s story literally.§
ISLAM: Same, but Allah forgave Adam. Therefore, there is no original sin.§
JUDAISM: Such proof can be seen in the historic Exodus.§
CHRISTIANITY: Proof of God’s power lies in Christ’s resurrection.§
ISLAM: Proof of God’s power is in the Koran itself.§
JUDAISM: Jews are obligated exclusively to Yahweh, since He delivered them out of Egypt. §
CHRISTIANITY: Man is obligated to God since He sacrificed His Son for man’s sins.§
ISLAM: There exists no special obligation; avoidance of hell is man’s motivation.§
JUDAISM: Salvation is through strict adherence to the Law as stated in the Torah.§
CHRISTIANITY: Salvation is through acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior.§
ISLAM: Salvation is through total submission to Allah.§