Introduction to Western Religion - Essay Example

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three main monotheistic religions in the world today. They are also very interesting in that they have belief systems and approaches that evolved from the same historical patriarchal line. Abraham is seen as the “father” of all three religions and while Jesus Christ is not elevated to godhead in all three he is also recognized by all three as at the very least a good man and prophet of God. Given the very similar backgrounds and approach too many things (one God) it seems that it is possible all three worship the same God but with a different name based on linguistic and minor theological differences.

Judaism for instance worships YHWH or Yahweh which means the “Existent one” which by default shows that all other gods is less because theirs is the only one that exists. According to their faith YHWH created the Earth and everything in it in six days. They also believe that their God is omnipotent and capable of everything. One major difference in Judaism and Christianity is that in Judaism they feel God is different than man and does not have a physical being. The texts used by Judaism, are filled with various laws and approaches that are very important for practicing Jews.

Christianity worships God and with some divisions of the theology they see this God as three separate but equal and indivisible entities. Christianity believes that their God created the world in six days as well. A large part of the Christians faith believes in the three separate features or parts of God, namely God the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ who came to earth and died for our sins. Where the Judaist approach places God far above man, the Christian approach brings one part of God to earth in the form of Jesus Christ the “son.

” Additionally God is the template for all man, for we are made in the image of God according to their Holy Bible. The bible also contains an old and a new section the old being filled with laws similar to that of the Judaism, and the new section showing a different way to be “saved” by God. Christians believe that their God is the only one. Islam is the third member of this family, and they believe that Allah is their God. Again a different name however, Allah means the “sole deity” which is quite similar to the definition of YHWH in that there is no equivocation in whether or not their god is the only God.

In this respect all three religions are the same, as they all believe relatively similar stories, and in all three only their God is the true God. Islam believes that the earth was created in six long periods of time; they do not specifically say days however, the number six is introduced and used. Allah as a God figure both created the earth and rules over it as judge as well. In this respect all three religions are very similar.