A Comparison of
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Abrahamic Religions
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• TN SPI
– 6.1.3 Recognize the world’s major religions and
their founders (Judaism, Christianity, Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Moses, Jesus, and
Mohammad)
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Create a Chart on Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Wednesday 10/2/13
RAP
• How was the sub yesterday?
• What did you learn about a religion from yesterday
that you did not know?
Today
• Finish putting information into Venn diagram
• Skim Ch. 3.2: pages 105-112 and information to your
notes and Venn diagram
Wednesday 10/2/13
• Date and Place founded:
– Judaism – approximately 1300 B.C. in Palestine
• Some say the date is unknown
– Christianity – approximately 33 A.D. in Palestine
– Islam – 622 A.D. in Saudi Arabia
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• Founders and Early Leaders
– Judaism – Abraham and Moses
– Christianity – Jesus
– Islam - Muhammad
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• Followers Called:
– Judaism – Jews
– Christianity – Christians
– Islam – Muslims
• Clergy Called:
– Judaism – rabbis
– Christianity – bishop, pastor, ministers, priest
– Islam - imams
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• House of Worship
– Judaism – synagogue or temple
– Christianity – church, cathedral, chapel
– Islam – mosque
– Day of Worship
• Judaism – Saturday
• Christianity – Sunday
• Islam - Friday
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• Original Language
– Judaism – Hebrew
– Christianity – Aramaic and Greek
– Islam – Arabic
• Names of God
– Judaism – Yahweh and Elohim
– Christianity – God, the Trinity
– Islam - Allah
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• Major Locations TODAY
– Judaism – Europe, Israel, North America
– Christianity – Europe, North and South America
– Islam – Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia
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• Early Expansion
– Judaism – Little expansion mostly confined to
Israel
– Christianity – by the end of the 4th century
Christianity spread across the entire Roman
Empire
– Islam – Within 12 years, entire Arabian peninsula;
after 100 years stretched from Spain to Southeast
Asia
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• Current Worldwide Followers TODAY
– Judaism – 14 million (ranks 12th)
– Christianity – 2 billion (ranks 1st)
– Islam – 1.3 billion (ranks 2nd)
– In the USA
• Judaism – 5.6 million
• Christianity – 159 million
• Islam – 1.1 million
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• Sacred Texts
– Judaism – Hebrew Bible
– Christianity – Old Testament and New Testament
– Islam – Qur’an (Koran)
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• Ultimate Reality (Type of Theism)
– Judaism – One God
– Christianity – Trinity (God the father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit)
– Islam – One God
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• Divine Revelation
How do we know about God?
– Judaism – through prophets recorded in the
Hebrew Bible
– Christianity – through prophets and Jesus as
recorded in the Old and New Testament
– Islam – through God’s final prophet Muhammad
recorded in the Qur’an
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• Identity of Jesus
– Judaism – False prophet
– Christianity – Son of God, the Messiah, Savior
– Islam – prophet of God
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• Death of Jesus
– Judaism – death by Crucifixion
– Christianity – death by Crucifixion
– Islam – Did not die, but ascended into heaven (a
disciple took his place)
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• Resurrection of Jesus
– Judaism – Denied
– Christianity – Affirmed
– Islam – Denied; since he did not die
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• Means of Salvation
– Judaism – Belief in one God; good deeds
– Christianity – correct belief, good deeds; by faith
accept Christ as Savior (Protestants)
– Islam – Belief in one God; good deeds and follow
Five Pillars of Faith
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• Afterlife
– Judaism – eternal heaven, or no afterlife
– Christianity – eternal heaven
– Islam – eternal paradise (heaven)
– Judaism - eternal hell, or no afterlife
– Christianity – eternal hell
– Islam – eternal hell
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• Symbols
– Judaism – Star of David
– Christianity – cross
– Islam – crescent with name of Allah in Arabic
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• View of Fellow Abrahamic Religions
– Judaism – “Islam and Christianity are false
interpretations and extensions of Judaism.”
– Christianity – “Judaism is a true religion, but with
incomplete revelation. Islam is a false religion.”
– Islam – “Jews and Christians are respected as
fellow believers, but with wrong beliefs and only
partial revelation.”
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hvXgI_bQ
Open your textbook to page 105
• Skim Ch. 3.2: pages 105-112 and information
to your notes and Venn diagram
– Title your notes: Islamic Civilization
• Please define the vocabulary in context with the
reading
• Describe Muhammad
• Give examples of Middle East-Islamic innovations
Islamic Civilization Ch. 3.2: pages 105-112
• Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, born in Makkah around AD 570.
– AD 622 marks the beginning of the Islamic era and is the first year of the
Muslim calendar.
• Islamic Conquests
– Map on page 107 –answer the question below the map.
• Islamic Life
– Stressed the equality of all believers before God
• Gave men and women different roles
• Men are responsible for women
• Forbade the tribal custom of killing female infants
• Limited polygamy
• Women had complete control over her own property.
• Science and Art
– Mathematics – trigonometry; invented algebra; place value system
– Improved on the Greek Astrolabe —determine position of the stars-made
navigation easier.
• Measured the size and circumference of the earth with accuracy
unmatched until the 1900s.
– Classified chemicals- medical encyclopedia
– Calligraphy, or the art of elegant handwriting.
– Stories - “Aladdin and His Lamp” and “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”
Paragraph Writing Assignment
• Using your class notes, you will write a one
paragraph essay describing the origins, history
and beliefs of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
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