Compare and contrast Christianity with Islam and Judaism - Essay Example

All of them rely not so much on internal experience or mystical contact and leadership, as sacred rituals, faith and work, which lead man to God. Each of these religions believes that God has a special “agreement” (covenant) with his followers, although “terms and conditions of an agreement” are different. Jews, Christians and Muslims are united by faith in one God. All we pray to one God, compassionate and merciful Creator, but cognize him, at the same time, in totally different ways. St. Simeon, the New Theologian, who lived in Byzantium at the turn of the first and second millennia, gave the best, in my opinion, interpretation of God’s cognition - God is cognized by us so far forth as we can see a boundless sea, standing at night on a coast with a small candle in hands (cited in Neusner, Chilton, and Graham 122).

The oldest, out of the three, monotheistic religion of mankind is Judaism. It appeared 1000 BC approximately. The nomadic Hebrew tribes lived on the territory of ancient Egypt and around it. Their religious leaders, or prophets, partly borrowed their ideas from religious beliefs, which spread in the region by that time, but with one great difference – they practiced the religion in one Almighty God. Hebrews believe that God requires obedience to a strict moral code and claim that they have a monopoly on the truth, considering, thus, their religion as the only correct one.

Christianity inherited from Judaism many of the views, which subsequently became its integral part. “Both Christianity and Islam recognize Judaism as being a foundation for their beliefs. And Judaism, for its part, recognizes that there is a human history that precedes it.”(Golomb 18). Belief takes many different forms; these forms are called religions. The word “religion” is literally translated from Latin as “connection.” Connection with God. Connection with the Universe. Connection with people around.

A lot of different religions existed and exist now.The main concept of Christianity is a belief in Jesus Christ, the only God-Man, and Savior. Jesus was an orthodox Jew and Christianity emerged as a sect within Judaism. By the way, it is not clear still whether Jesus wanted to create his own religion. Another great truth of Christianity is the Trinity of God. Most Christians, and especially non-Christians, have a very poor understanding of the Tripersonality. Part of Jews and Muslims even believe that Christians are not monotheists, but tritheists.

(Muslims believe in one God, who is called God the Father in Christianity). The Christian church included into the Bible Hebrew Scriptures – the Old Testament, a common sacred text of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Islam, the second largest world religion, and Christianity have partly common origin. Islam comes from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who lived in the VII century BC and is based on The Five Pillars of Islam - five essential religious duties. Muslims believe that Allah has spoken through the previous prophets, including Moses and Jesus, who shared faith with Hebrews and Christians before the advent of Muhammad, whose doctrine is the most accurate expression of Allah’s will.