Comparison Chart Of Major World Religions
Islam, Judaism and Christianity
Islam, Judaism, and Christianity record their birth when God appeared to a man in the Iron Age named Abram and wrapped him in a covenant. This Abram is later known as Abraham, and is the founder of all beliefs and is the anchor of faith of the three major religions in the world. The theologies of these three communities of worshipers emerged from the same messiah, thus paving the way for monotheism.
Monotheism Of All Three Religions
The monotheists believe in only one God, whether Yahweh or Elohim in Judaism, Allah in Islam or God in Christianity. This God created the world and humans and set the covenant with Abraham. Though the names differ, all three major religions worship the same God as per the covenant. The differing names has led many to believe that they worship different Gods, and thus intolerance of each other's religion developing over the ages.
Jews, Muslims and Christians are all the consequences of the covenant that contracted faith in a "People of the Book." All the three religions agree that there is indeed a book, but opinions differ on whether the book is called the Koran, the New testament or the Bible. This is the point of separation of the three great faiths.
The Jews and Muslims believe that Moses noted down God's instructions in a book called The Law or Torah. The Torah still holds pride of place in Judaism. Jesus also believed in the scriptures, and never wrote a new book, though the Christians consider The Gospels as accounts of Jesus' deeds and words and consider that their holy book. The Christians consider Jesus as a message, and his life and death are sealed as a New Covenant on the promise of God.
The following table contains various facts on these three major religions of the world.
Comparative Chart Of The Three Religions
Islam
| Judaism
| Christianity
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Followers Called
| Muslims
| Jews
| Christians
|
Estimated Followers
| 1.4 Billion
| 12 Million
| 2Billion
|
Ranking based on size
| Second largest
| Twelfth largest
| Largest
|
Areas of largest followers
| Southeast and Middle East Asia
| Europe, Israel, USA
| Europe, Americas, Africa
|
Holy Book
| Koran
| The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)
| Bible
|
Other Scripture Authorities
| Hadith
| Midrash, Talmud
| Papal Decrees and Church Councils
|
Laws of Religion
| Sharia
| Halakhah
| Canon
|
Priests and Clergymen
| Imam
| Kohanim and Rabbis
| Bishops, Priests, Pastors and Ministers
|
Place of Worship
| Mosque
| Synagogue
| Cathedral, Chapel, Church
|
Holy Day
| Friday
| Saturday
| Sunday
|
Nation and Religion
| Same
| Different
| Different
|
Beginning of Religion
| 622 CE
| 3760 BCE
| 33 CE
|
Location of Beginning
| Saudi Arabia
| Ur of the Chaldes
| Palestine
|
Messiah
| Muhammad
| Many
| Jesus Christ
|
Language
| Arabic
| Hebrew
| Greek/Aramaic
|
Expansion
| Arab world in 12 years, China to Atlantic in 100 years
| 2% of World Population
| Entire Roman Empire by Fourth Century AD
|
Divisions
| Shia/Sunni
| Conservative, Orthodox, Reform
| Denomitaions of Christian Origin
|
Abrahamic Religion
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|
Abraham Known As
| Millat Ibrahim
| Abraham, Biological Ancestor, Husband of Sarah and Keturah
| Father Of Faith, Abraham
|
Why Intolerance and Wars?
If all three religions believe in the same God, though named differently, why is there war, hatred and intolerance? Is it that the followers are ignorant about the basics of their religion? Why the crusades, jihad and the like?
Religious leaders need to congregate, put their heads together, realize that they are worshiping the same God, explain to their followers the origins of their faith and ensure world harmony and peaceful coexistence as the basic tenets of toleration. Until such time, strife and wars will continue unabated, without realization dawning that it is only one God up there.
