The God of Abraham’s Sons Comparison of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

The three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have many things in common Monotheism, the belief in a single God; Angels, Greek angelos, ”messenger” Moses as a prophet, the Ten Commandments, Satan and Abraham. The differences are, however very subtle, mostly due to the twists that Islam puts on conventional Christian and Jewish beliefs. Stories, such as those of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, are given in intricate detail and with slight revisions of the Christian biblical accounts. The political context must also be taken into account when trying to reconcile these three religions.

Islam recognizes the divine origins of the earlier Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and represents itself as both a restoration and a continuation of their traditions. Although Muslims believe that the original messages of Judaism and Christianity were given by God; they also believe that Jews and Christians eventually distorted them. The self-perceived mission of Islam, therefore, has been to restore what Muslims believe is the original monotheistic teaching and to supplant the older legal codes of the Hebrew and Christian traditions with a newer Islamic code of law that corresponds to the evolving conditions of human societies. As a result, Islamic traditions maintain that Jesus was a prophet whose revealed book was the Christian New Testament, and that later Christians distorted the original scripture and inserted into it the claim that Jesus was the son of God. (1) Or to take another example, Muslims maintain that the strict laws communicated by Moses in the Hebrew Bible were appropriate for their time. Later, however, Jesus introduced a code of behavior that stressed spirituality rather than ritual and law. Christians believe that Jesus introduced a code of behavior that stressed spirituality rather than ritual and law and did away with the Laws of Moses, but not the Ten Commandments. Those of the Jewish faith believe in the Laws of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Most Muslims believe in angels, the Day of Judgment, heaven or paradise, and hell.
They believe that Angels are immortal beings that are incapable of unbelief and commit no sins and serve as guardians (Protectors) and recorders of deeds, a link between God and humanity (Messengers). On the Day of Judgment, people will be held accountable for their actions. Pilgrimage is required to Mecca once in a person’s lifetime. Jihad "to struggle" or "to exhaust one's effort," in order to please God or redemption by Good Works. Five prescribed daily prayers, ritual cleansing or purification of the body, standing, bowing, and prostrating during prayers and facing towards Mecca, Almsgiving, 2.5%, among other required tithes as a means to Salvation.

Most Christians believe in angels, the Day of Judgment, heaven and hell.
Angels have free will and are guardians, recorders of deeds, and a link between God and humanity. On the Day of Judgment people will be held accountable for their actions, mediated by the Christ. Fasting is recommended but not required and pilgrimage is not required. Almsgiving and tithing to the Local Church for support of that church and its missions typically 10%, other giving above the tithe is strongly encouraged, this is not a means to salvation. Daily Prayer is not regimented but is expected. Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection Virgin birth and Divinity are integral to a Christian’s belief. Lowering the status of the Christ to a prophet would definitely cause conflict.
Most Jews believe in angels and heaven. No Day of Judgment or hell. Pilgrimage is recommended but not required. Justification comes by Good Works. Jews recite numerous benedictions throughout the day. Ritual cleansing or purification of the body is required. Almsgiving and tithing to the Local synagogue for support of that synagogue and its missions typically 10% as a means to Righteousness, there are many more required tithes on top of the weekly.

According to the Bible Old Testament or Torah, Ishmael was Abraham's first son, born when Abraham was 86 years old. Ishmael’s mother was Hagar, an Egyptian slave in Abraham's household. Isaac, born to Abraham by Sarah in his 100th year, was the first of his legitimate descendants. God demanded that Abraham sacrifice Isaac as a test of faith, but because of Abraham's obedient compliance, God permitted him to spare Isaac and rewarded Abraham with a formal renewal of his promise. After Sarah died, Abraham married Keturah and had six sons by her. He died at the biblical age of 175 and was buried beside Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah, in what is now Hebron, West Bank
According to Islamic tradition, Hagar was the true wife of Ibrahim and Ishmael the favored son and intended sacrificial victim. This would be a major cause of conflict between the three religions.

Jewish and Muslim dietary laws relate to the Temple cult. Ones table at home is deemed comparable to the table of the Lord. Certain animals, considered unclean, are not to be eaten (see Deuteronomy 14:3-21). Into this category fall pigs as well as fish without fins or scales. Edible animals, those that have split hooves and chew their cuds, must be properly slaughtered (kāshēr or “fit” and the blood fully drained before the meat can be eaten. Meat and milk products are not to be eaten together. This alone proves that Abraham was not kosher (see Genesis 18:7-8) Christians have no dietary restrictions believing that these Laws were supplanted by Christ. Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Eucharist, (Not universally observed among Christian denominations) or the Lord's Supper, in which Christians share in bread and wine and, through them, express and acknowledge the reality of the presence of Christ as they commemorate him in the communion of believers with one another. Most protestant denominations do not believe that the bread and wine actually turn into flesh and blood, Catholics say they do. Communion is taken in remembrance of the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus and not without cost. Cor. 11:25 - 27After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he comes. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Baptism (Not universal among Christian denominations) “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” or sometimes perhaps more simply “in the name of Christ,” was in the beginning the means of initiation into Christianity now it has taken on the same status it had in Judaism, a public display of faith and a changed life. At first it seems to have been administered chiefly to adults after they had professed their faith and promised to amend their lives, but this turned into a more inclusive practice with the baptism of infants called “christening” this also is not universal.

Allah, the supreme, all knowing, all-powerful, and above all, all-merciful God. The Arabic word Allah means “the God” and this God is understood to be the God who brought the world into being and sustains it to its end. By obeying God's commands, human beings express their recognition of and gratitude for the wisdom of creation, and live in harmony with the universe.

Christians and Jews teach that God is almighty in dominion over all that is in heaven and on earth, righteous in judgment over good and evil, beyond time and space and change; but above all they teach that “God is love.” The love of God and the love of neighbor are the two chief commandments in the ethical message of Jesus. The Bible forbids representations of God. It also forbids praying to an image or statue, in my opinion this puts the Catholic Church in danger of Idolatry. For the religious Jew, the entirety of life is a continuous act of divine worship. “I keep the Lord always before me” (Psalms 16:8), a verse inscribed on the front wall of many synagogues, aptly characterizes Judaic piety. Jehovah, name of the God of the Hebrew people as erroneously translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text. The word consists of the consonants JHVH or JHWH, with the vowels of a separate word, Adonai (Lord). What its original vowels were is a matter of speculation, for because of an interpretation of such texts as Exodus 20:7 and Leviticus 24:11, the name came to be regarded as too sacred for expression; the scribes, in reading aloud, substituted “Lord” and therefore wrote the vowel markings for “Lord” into the consonantal framework JHVH as a reminder to future readers aloud. The translators of the Hebrew, not realizing what the scribes had done, read the word as it was written down, taking the scribal vowel markings as intrinsic to the name of their God rather than as a mere reminder not to speak it. From this came the interpretation Jehovah. Translations in the Greek Orthodox church shows the forms Jabe and Jâo to be traditional, as well as the shortened Hebrew forms of the words Jah (see Psalms 68:4, for example) and Jahu (in proper names). It indicates that the name was originally spoken Jaweh or Yahwe (often spelled Yahweh in modern usage). Etymologically, it is a third person singular, imperfect, probably of the verb hawah (or hajah), signifying “to be.” The older interpreters explain the verb in a metaphysical and abstract sense; the “I am” of Scripture is “He who is,” the absolutely existent. (Exodus 3:14) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The Arabic name for God, Allah, refers to the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. Most Jews and Christians alike do not believe this statement. They believe that the Arabic word Allah comes from an older sect that had many gods and Allah was the name of one of the minor gods. Whether or not this is true only God knows for sure.

Muhammad as prophet is recognized only in Islam, and there are many stories about him, such as the one where he captures two Christian missionaries and requires them to write the Qur’an as he dictates it to them, or that he married a 9 year old girl and consummated that marriage (a reasonably common practice at that time), these stories are not proven but they do affect the way Christians and Jews perceive the Islamic religion. Historically the Jewish people were treated better under Muslim rule in Spain than at any time after, especially by the Christian churches which viewed the Jews as the murderers of Jesus when through a thorough reading will show that it was the chief priests, elders and the council. (Mat 26:59) in other words the religious leaders.

Christians and Jews have had problems in the past but they are moving closer as more and more Christians remember that Jesus was a Jew and that according to the Old Testament, God is a Zionist and the promises He made to the Israelites will be fulfilled.

Historically the Arab Governments around Israel have a real problem with the establishment of the country of Israel; the independent nation of Israel was created in 1948. Five Arab nations: Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq, immediately attacked Israel, and lost badly. These mostly Islamic countries have as their stated goal the total annihilation of the Israeli state.

The self-perceived mission of Islam has been to restore what Muslims believe is the original monotheistic teaching and to supplant the older legal codes of the Hebrew and Christian traditions with a newer Islamic code of law that corresponds to the evolving conditions of human societies. This statement would imply that Islam has no intention of playing nice.

As individual people all three of these religions can live in harmony, as proved here in the U. S. As world powers and “Governments” history shows that they have conflicting goals and desires for Jerusalem. On page 123 - 124 of Isis Unveiled H. P. Blavatsky states that Gautama based his moral ethics on three fundamental principals. 1.) That everything existing, exists from natural causes; 2.) That virtue brings its own reward, and vice and sin their own punishments; and 3.) The state of man in this world is probationary. She goes on to state that “on these three principles rested the universal foundation of every religious creed; God, and individual immortality for every man, if he could win it.” She asserts that this is the essence of every religious philosopher, Zoroaster, Pythagoras, Plato, Jesus and Moses.
Most consider Madam Blavatsky to be neither a scholar nor an unbiased documenter, but she is due some consideration as the founder of the Theosophical Society and as the first to bring the comparative study of religion to print in the U. S.
As Religions they all say that Love is the Law but none really practice it. Conversion seems to be the guiding principal for Christians and Muslims, Jews just want to be left alone to worship as prescribed in the Old Testament. Unlike the Christians and Muslims the Israelites never tried to conquer another people for the purpose of conversion.

There are Fundamentalists and Moderates in all three of these religions, the moderates usually can agree to disagree, at the very least. The fundamentalists in any religion do not consider anyone who does not agree with them on all points as a member of their religion. Fundamentalists and Moderates are needed to balance each other within any belief system. If the Fundamentalists become too strong then the results can be episodes like the Crusades or the Inquisition, when the Moderates become too strong then the whole belief system is in danger of being absorbed into another system of belief, similar to what happened with many Pagan or Nature Worship systems when some of their beliefs were adopted by the Catholic church. (Working on this subject for another thread)

As long as the Arab nations refuse the right of Israel to exist there will be conflict between Islam and Judaism and so long as the U.S. supports Israel there will be conflict between Christians and Muslims. In some cases Religion and Politics make good partners but in other situations they don’t, the Arab/Israeli situation is one in which they do not. With the combination of the conflicts in the beliefs and the political situation in the mid-east there will be, at minimum, a certain level of tension between these three religious systems.

(1) © 1993-2003 Microsoft Encarta. All rights reserved.
(2) Isis Unveiled, Unabridged Edition, Theosophical University Press, 1976, Originally published in 1877

reply to post by RedmoonMWC


Intersting. But the Talmud? You can't leave that out of Judaism. It discusses Jesus Christ.

I skimmed your post and wasn't sure if this was mentioned but one of the other major differences between the faiths is that the Jews saw Jesus as a trouble maker, an anarchist, and had Him tortured and killed. Furthermore, the Jews do not believe in the 2nd coming of Jesus.

The Muslims, however, do not view Jesus as God either but as one of God's prophets. Muslims also believe in the Virgin Birth and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.

Originally posted by RedmoonMWC
As long as the Arab nations refuse the right of Israel to exist there will be conflict between Islam and Judaism and so long as the U.S. supports Israel there will be conflict between Christians and Muslims. In some cases Religion and Politics make good partners but in other situations they don’t, the Arab/Israeli situation is one in which they do not. With the combination of the conflicts in the beliefs and the political situation in the mid-east there will be, at minimum, a certain level of tension between these three religious systems.

In fact it is the izraelis which do not recognize the Palestinians right to exist. I find it amazing that people defend the idea that a Jew born in Brooklyn has a right to live in izrael but that a Palestinian born in Jerusalem or Bethlehem, does not.

If you take a look at the maps, history illustrates this point quite clearly. I also do not agree that these began as religious based tensions. Arab Jews have been living in the Middle East for centuries and continue to live in Iraq, Iran Morocco etc. These tensions were the direct result of the land grab which resulted in the confiscation of Palestine by force, spear headed by the British Zionist Rothschilds specifically in the Balfour Declaration.



Its hardly just the Arabs which have an issue with the NWO land grab that became izrael:

reply to post by gladtobehere


Thank you for that.
I did mention (Mat 26:59)that the people were lead to choose Jesus by the Jewish Leaders ie the chief priests, elders and the council who called for the crucifixion of Jesus.

"the Jews do not believe in the 2nd coming of Jesus". The Jews do believe in the coming of the Messiah they do not believe that Jesus was this Messiah so they still look forward to his coming. There are also Mesianic Jews who do believe in the second coming.

I agree that some of These tensions were the result of the land grab which resulted in the confiscation of Palestine by force, spear headed by the British Zionist Rothschilds specifically in the Balfour Declaration.
But I stand by my statement that the Islamic Countries surrounding Israel have as their stated goal the total annihilation of the Israeli state.

sirjunlegun
The Talmud is the most significant collection of the Jewish oral tradition interpreting the Torah. the Torah is the first 5 books of the Old Testament.

reply to post by RedmoonMWC


I know what the Torah is thanks though. So what part of the Torah mentions things such as Jesus being a magician and being born to a prostitute? Or that the murder of a Gentile does not matter or count?

Text“...Jesus shares his place in the Netherworld (hell) with Titus and Balaam, the notorious arch enemies of the Jewish people. Whereas Titus is punished for the destruction of the Temple by being bur
ned to ashes, reassembled, and burned over and over again, and whereas Balaam is castigated by sitting in hot semen, Jesus’ fate consists of sitting forever in boiling excrement.” —Peter Schäfer, Jesus in the Talmud (Princeton University Press), p. 13. BT Gittin 57a.

Oral tradition of the first five books contains accounts of Jesus? Really? Hmmm...

Originally posted by sirjunlegun
reply to post by RedmoonMWC

 

I know what the Torah is thanks though. So what part of the Torah mentions things such as Jesus being a magician and being born to a prostitute? Or that the murder of a Gentile does not matter or count?

Text“...Jesus shares his place in the Netherworld (hell) with Titus and Balaam, the notorious arch enemies of the Jewish people. Whereas Titus is punished for the destruction of the Temple by being bur
ned to ashes, reassembled, and burned over and over again, and whereas Balaam is castigated by sitting in hot semen, Jesus’ fate consists of sitting forever in boiling excrement.” —Peter Schäfer, Jesus in the Talmud (Princeton University Press), p. 13. BT Gittin 57a.

Oral tradition of the first five books contains accounts of Jesus? Really? Hmmm...

Where did I say that?
The first 5 books of the Bible do not mention Jesus by name but they tell of the prophasies that the messiah must fullfill. By the way Jesus is not a Jewish name it is Greek, a more proper pronunciation would be Yahshua.

reply to post by RedmoonMWC

OKAY This something that kind of drives me batty. I know about names I live in America and when my Mexican friend says he is thankful for Hay-zeus I don't say well that is blah blah blah. I call him Jesus along with close to about a billion others speaking English. Interesting you knew who I was talking about. Communication effective. Also, this towes the line regarding numerology and other things esoteric. This puts us on the same page in a very spastic way. I read a thread the other day saying Jesus Christ was really Julius Caesar get it JC-JC and you see this alot and sometimes from other ATSerz who usually make ALOT of effing sense in other posts will pull this kind of stuff. Names are.different in different languages continents cultures whatever....it is pseudo-intellectualism to th and pull that card. Not saying you aren't intellectual that # is just fake and its ah-hah power really doesn't work. I digress. Okay so give me a source for Prophecy or whatever of Jesus in the Torah. I know about Isaiah, Psalms, books of re prophets but the Torah? Where? Deutoronomy? Jesus a prophet; Islam, correct then? Also my point is the Talmud says the Torah was not enough, God must ask permission of the Rabbis, it goes on and expounds interpretation and opinion which in its Pharasaic form degrades the Torah. There are so many factions with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam I know but the Talmud is significant and I believe if pros actually knew of The Talmud there would be a whole lot of questions followed by fear and denunciation. It is to me of the Synagogue of Satan. So you want to bring Judaism up? You wanna educate people? Speak of the Talmud. Don't down play it as an oral tradition of the Torah when its says little Gentile girls don't matter nor babies and gentiles are dogs, mary was a who're, jesus was a magician. Say it.

reply to post by RedmoonMWC

Originally posted by RedmoonMWC
The Jews do believe in the coming of the Messiah they do not believe that Jesus was this Messiah so they still look forward to his coming. There are also Mesianic Jews who do believe in the second coming.

The Jews believe in a Messiah, they do not view Jesus as that Messiah while Christians and Muslims do.

Originally posted by RedmoonMWC
I agree that some of These tensions were the result of the land grab which resulted in the confiscation of Palestine by force, spear headed by the British Zionist Rothschilds specifically in the Balfour Declaration. But I stand by my statement that the Islamic Countries surrounding Israel have as their stated goal the total annihilation of the Israeli state.

I see this rhetoric often, that the countries surrounding izrael have as their stated goal the "annihilation of izrael". Can you please provide some evidence or sources? I ask because the only country that has been annihilated is Palestine while izrael has almost doubled in size from its 1947 borders (please see the map above).

Furthermore, you said that you believe that "some" of the tensions are the result of the izraeli land grab. If there was no land grab, there could be no alleged desire to destroy that state, correct? In fact, the land grab is the primary reason for the tensions if not the only one. Had there been no confiscation of land and country, there would be no tensions.

And as I stated above, its hardly just the surrounding Muslim countries which take issue with izrael:

reply to post by gladtobehere
Amazing....I would love to go and study with these Jews in Williamsburg Brooklyn. It so heart filling to see these people stand up and admit these Atheist Zionist Kashnazis have disrupted the relationship of hundreds of years of peace. Thanks for the video.

reply to post by RedmoonMWC


Islam isn't an Abrahamic faith.

1) In Judaism and Christianity lieing is lieing. In Islam lieing is lieing unless it is for the benefit of Islam.

2) In Judaism and Christianity boy rape is considered a taboo punishable by eternal damnation. In Islam it is standard practice in some muslim communities.

3) Islam bases it's legitimacy on the grounds of how "beautiful" the Koran sounds when spoken aloud. It relies on temptation to prove it is of divine origin.

4) Muhammad failed all the other criteria to be listed as a Prophet and fall's into the category of being a false prophet.

5) The punishment for leaving Judaism and Christianity(as the Torah/Bible states) is exile from the community, Islam it is death.

reply to post by korathin

I don't generally like to talk about religion in a sense of a derogatory comparison with other religions, because it foments hate and divisions, but since you brought it up:

Originally posted by korathin
Islam isn't an Abrahamic faith.

By the very definition of "Abrahamic Faith", yes it is.

Originally posted by korathin
1) In Judaism and Christianity lieing is lieing. In Islam lieing is lieing unless it is for the benefit of Islam.

In Christianity (depending on your denomination) and Judaism and Islam, lying is allowed if it is done in a situation where not lying would result in mortal danger. I dunno about you, but when the Nazis come knocking at my door asking if I'm harbouring any jews, I'll be lying.

Originally posted by korathin
2) In Judaism and Christianity boy rape is considered a taboo punishable by eternal damnation. In Islam it is standard practice in some muslim communities.

"Boy rape" (in fact, any kind of rape) is prohibited in Islam.

Originally posted by korathin
3) Islam bases it's legitimacy on the grounds of how "beautiful" the Koran sounds when spoken aloud. It relies on temptation to prove it is of divine origin.

Islam bases it's legitimacy on several things.

Originally posted by korathin
4) Muhammad failed all the other criteria to be listed as a Prophet and fall's into the category of being a false prophet.

And according to Jews, Jesus failed at the criteria for being the Messiah, and (depending on the denomination) falls into the category of being a false prophet. In such cases, unfortunately, truth is in the eye of the beholder, so one should make sure to look at all sides before making accusations.

Originally posted by korathin
5) The punishment for leaving Judaism and Christianity(as the Torah/Bible states) is exile from the community, Islam it is death.

The punishment according to the Torah/Bible for leaving the religion is death. However, it is especially mentioned in the Quran that there is no worldly punishment for leaving Islam.


reply to post by RedmoonMWC

Originally posted by RedmoonMWC
The Arabic name for God, Allah, refers to the same God worshiped by Jews and Christians. Most Jews and Christians alike do not believe this statement. They believe that the Arabic word Allah comes from an older sect that had many gods and Allah was the name of one of the minor gods. Whether or not this is true only God knows for sure.

Actually, most (if not all serious) academics agree that the root of the word "Allah" shares it's etymological origins with "Elohim" (although this is the plural form) in Hebrew, "Elaha" (the word Jesus most likely used when referring to God not in the sense of "the Father") in Aramaic, and "Alaha" in Syriac (the language used by Syriac Christianity from it's inception around the 1st century after Christ to present day). Arabic Christians and Jews used the word "Allah" to refer to God before the advent of Muhammad, and they still do today.

reply to post by babloyi


Thank you for that, I was not aware of the root word connection.

reply to post by RedmoonMWC

Indeed, language is a very big connection between these 3 sons of Abraham. Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic share their origins so much so that aside from the script being almost identical, all root triconsonants are shared between these (and other semetic languages), and many, many words are shared almost exactly the same: Yom (day), shalom/salaam (peace), ahad (one, specifically and very importantly the oneness of God), sabt (seventh, also where sabbath comes from, supposedly).

For example, the term "Shalom aleychem", is the traditional jewish greeting, with the response being "aleychem shalom". In Islam it becomes "assalaam alaikum" with the response being "walaikum salaam". The Bible even records Jesus using this greeting, although I suppose in the Paulinisation of Christianity, this obviously jewishly originated custom was sidelined.


Etymologies and language origins are something of a hobby of mine, as well as comparative religion, hence my interest in your thread. I gotta say that your original post was a little hard to read all through, but kudos on the effort in collecting all this stuff!

reply to post by sirjunlegun


You're welcome. Here is another video that I think you'll find very enlightening. There are good people from every group, every Race and this is proof.