1
Jose Miranda-Muniz
Dr. Treyz
Comparative Religion
04 May 2022
Islam/Christian/Judaism
The three most popular monotheistic religions are Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The
common variable among the three religions is the fact that all three tie back to the promise the
God of Israel made to Abraham. Though as far as the one God, their belief systems differ greatly
among the three. For starters, believers of Judaism follow the ideology of there being one God
and the prophets that he called upon. Furthermore, they believe in the Torah, which in terms of
the Bible is the first five books of the old testament, and follow the 613 commandments given by
God in the Torah. In relation to Christianity, they hold the old testament to be sacred text, along
with the books that Jesus’ followers made making up the new testament. In terms of beliefs, they
believe that God reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through those dimensions,
Christans believe the Son died for the world and rose up to Heaven to create salvation for all.
Muslims believe that Allah gave Mohammed the Quran, to spread the word to worship one god
and explain how to treat one another. Thus, via these differences, the factor of rituals plays a
major role among each of these religions holding significant value.
In reference to Gary Kessler’s definition of a ritual, it “involves stylized, symbolic bodily
gestures and actions (including verbal actions) usually repeated in specified ways on occasions
of significance and in special contexts frequently involving what the participants take to be
2
sacred presences.” In terms of a visit, the rituals in church vary, and each hold different
meanings. For starters, two months ago, on a Sunday service, the church broke the bread and
drank their “wine” all in remembrance of their savior Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all.
The symbolism that communion carries is to remind the Christians of the sacrifice, and reason to
recruit as many people as they can, to the very person that loved all. Aside from communion,
during worship, it was common for them to shout a praise or raise hands in a gesture of worship
as it brings them closer to what they claim to be a divine presence with their God. Though not
covered by the visit, one of the other rituals, that is also practiced by muslims and Jew, is fasting.
It sets them apart from the secular world, and through prayer, (much like the parent religion and
sibling religion alike), draws themselves closer to the divine, hoping to reach a deeper level with
their God. Aside from Christianity, one of the ritualistic behaviors a muslim themselves practice,
are the five prayers a day which help the follower keep Allah in mind, in whatever they may do
relying on Allah for guidance.
The three faiths share similar rituals, and their differences among the themes as well. For
one, unlike Christianity and Judaism, Muslims have to have at least one time in their lives, taken
a pilgrimage to Mecca in symbolism of Mohammed’s conquest, making such a semblance their
own. Each entrance of the respective religions, initiation, requires a set ritual. For Christianity it
would hold to accepting Jesus as one's lord and savior. For the conversion to a Muslim, it would
be upholding the five pillars with witnesses in doing so. Judaism is talking to a rabbi and
studying Jewish law and agreeing to uphold it.