Lesson 7: Abrahamic Religions:

Comparative Analysis of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

At the end of this course, the learners will demonstrate

• Identify the uniqueness and similarities of Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
• Provide evidence that Judaism, Christianity and Islam share common roots from Patriarch
Abraham; and
• Justify that Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as monotheistic religions, have largely influenced the
world today.

The illustration above shows Abraham, the first of the three prophets and revered by the three
Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as a prophet of God. Both the Jews and Christians
believe that he was ordered by God to leave the land of Ur in Mesopotamia and establish a new nation
which was later called Canaan. He would eventually be considered as the "Father of Many Nations" both
by the Jews and Christians. Meanwhile, Muslims view Abraham as a prophet of God and patriarch of
many people, and father of Ishmael, known in Islam as a prophet and ancestor to Muhammad. Abraham is
also the father of Isaac, considered as the physical and spiritual ancestor of Judaism, together with his son
Jacob. The three monotheistic religions clearly trace their common roots from the Patriarch Abraham,
hence the label Abrahamic religions.
The three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-all originated from a region we
now call Southwest Asia. They are also called Semitic religions since they came from an area where
people speak the Semitic languages, particularly Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic. Judaism originated from a
land called Canaan; Christianity began in Palestine; while Islam developed in Arabia. Looking back at the
history of the three religions, we can see that they share commonalities in certain beliefs such as belief in
the same Patriarch and other prophets; angels as messenger of God; heaven and hell; and judgment day,
among others.
1. Origin
Judaism is the oldest among the three Abrahamic religions, beginning at around 3,500 B.C.E.
According to the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, the ancient Israelites trace the origin of their nation
and their religion as well to one family distinct from other groups of people in Southwest Asia by virtue
of belief in one God. The patriarch of this family was Abraham, a nomadic shepherd who entered into a
covenant with God-that being the "Father of All Nations" and heir to the Promised Land, which was
Canaan. (Patriarchy is a system of society wherein the father or eldest male is considered the head of
family and lineage is traced through the male line.) According to the narratives, Abraham and his wife
Sarah took a long time before having a child, who was Isaac. Meanwhile, before Isaac was born Abraham
had a son with Sarah's lady-in-waiting, Hagar. They named their child Ishmael. Isaac married Rebecca
and they had two children, Esau and Jacob, and from Jacob (who acquires the name Israel) came the 12
tribes of Israel. Ishmael, on the other hand, became the ancestor of the Arabs who later became Muslims.
The Hebrew Bible further narrates how the 12 tribes of Israel founded the nation of Israel and Jacob,
being the heir to the covenant, made a pact with God that they will be liberated from Egyptian
enslavement if they will continue to follow God's commandments.
The second oldest religion, Christianity, was formed around 33 C.E. in an area called Palestine.
Christians trace their origins to Jesus Christ, born around 4 B.C.E. while the area was under the Roman
Empire.
It was a time characterized by social disorder, political turmoil, uprisings, poverty, heavy taxation,
food shortage, and epidemics. To quell the rebellion and implement a semblance of order, those who
participated in armed uprisings were crucified, which incidentally was how Jesus Christ was punished as
well. In the midst of these sufferings, the Jewish people were secretly hoping and waiting for God to fulfil
His promise-that of sending His Son to redeem them from their oppressive state. It was in this context that
Jesus Christ was born and in His late twenties, started to preach about the coming of the Kingdom of God.
He was baptized by another prophet, John the Baptist, and had 12 men as His disciples. His public
ministry was considered a threat to Roman authority so He was arrested, whipped, and crucified as a
penalty for what He did. According to the New Testament, Jesus was resurrected after three days and He
ascended to the heavens but promised that He will come back in the same way that His disciples saw Him
go into heaven.
Islam, the world's second largest religion, started around 622 C.E., considered as the beginning of the
Islamic calendar. The word Islam is an Arabic word which means "submission" or "surrender" and is also
related to salaam, the Arabic word for "peace," It originated from Mecca, which is found in the Arabian
Peninsula, with Muhammad, considered the last prophet or "Seal of the Prophet." It was in Mecca where
Muhammed was born and raised by his uncle Abu Talib, worked as an assistant to a rich widow Khadija
whom he later married, and meditated on certain social issues such as unequal distribution of wealth,
leading to a great divide between the rich and the poor, as well as the possession of slaves. It was during
one of his visits to a cave that the angel Gabriel appeared before him, delivering the message of God
Allah that he was chosen to found a new religion and preach that Allah is the only God that should be
worshiped. At first he thought he was just having a hallucination, but later on he was convinced that he
was indeed chosen by God to spread his words so he began preaching in Mecca, where he won some
converts. But his teaching of equality and brotherhood threatened the power of the rich Quraysh tribe so
he was forced to escape to Medina to avoid persecution. This happened in 622 C.E. and was known as
Hegira. From then on Islam gained followers and became one of the dominant religions in the world.
If we compare the origins of Judaism, Christianity, and slam, we can see that they share more
commonalities than differences. For one, they all developed during a time of political turmoil and social
inequalities (Egyptian enslavement of the Jews, Roman colonization of Christians, and the economic
dominance of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca). The conditions in society were ripe for the birth of religions
which would serve as the liberating force that would provide the people with hope for a better life. It is
also noteworthy that all three religions developed belief in one God, or monotheism, with Judaism being
the first monotheistic religion in the world. The first two religions, Judaism and Christianity, also
emphasized the importance of having a covenant with God, and in a way we can say that it is also true
with Islam because in the Quran, even though Adam and his wife were banished from Paradise, Allah
promised that they will have no reason to feel fear or grief if they will just follow God's will, foremost of
which was to worship only one God, Allah. The role of angels as messengers of God was also evident
among the three religions, especially in Christianity when Angel Gabriel was sent to Virgin Mary to tell
her that she would bear the Messiah, and in Islam when Allah sent Angel Gabriel to tell Muhammad that
he was chosen to be God's last prophet. The story of creation was also shared by the three religions, with
the universe and the first man and woman being created by God, but then they were tempted by evil and
were banished from Paradise, hence the need to follow God's commandments to restore humanity's
relationship with God. Lastly, one of the most important commonalities is the belief in Abraham as the
patriarch of the three religions--the. "Father of Many Nations" for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He
was the ideal follower of God for the three religions, for he followed God's will unconditionally, even to
the extent of sacrificing his own son when God ordered him to do so. In short, Jews, Christians, and
Muslims trace their common ancestry to Abraham.
1. Morality

In Judaism, morality and ethics are based on the covenant between the Jews and God: that they are
God's chosen people and in return they should follow His commandments, specifically the Ten
Commandments found in the Torah. Although there are around 613 commandments (mitzvoth) in the
Torah, the Ten Commandments serve as a summary of all the laws found in the Torah.

Hence, based on the Ten Commandments, murder, adultery, and theft, are prohibited, which are also
forbidden in Christianity and Islam as well. Judaism also espouses retribution, or the philosophy "an eye
for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," which served as the guiding principle of the famous Code of Hammurabi
in ancient Babylon. This philosophy can be found in Exodus 21:2, but according to scholars, this should
not be confused with belief in vengeance but equal compensation for damage or loss, often in the form of
money and not physical harm. Treating others as you would have yourself treated by others also serves as
a basis for Jewish morality and ethics. This stems from the belief that people were created in the likeness
of God, therefore we all have goodness in ourselves that is why we should treat each other well. Lastly,
morality and ethics in Judaism are also based in the Halakhah, a religious law that provides prescribed
rules in everyday living, such as eating, praying, wedding and funeral rites, etc. Like the Ten
Commandments, its essence also came from the 613 commandments found in the Torah.
Christianity shares a lot in common with Judaism since both religions use the Hebrew Bible, where
the Ten Commandments were listed. Thus, in Christianity, murder, adultery, and theft are also considered
evil and should be avoided if one wants to live a moral life. Aside from the Ten Commandments,
Christianity also considers following Jesus Christ's footsteps as basis of morality. Since Jesus lived a life
for others and even died on the cross for the salvation of humanity, Christians are also expected to live a
life for others; for they were created in God's image therefore people have an intrinsic goodness in them.
Even in the Ten Commandments, what was emphasized was to love God above all else and to love your
neighbor as you love yourself. Hence, living an exemplary life means following how Jesus lived. When
one is led astray from God's teachings, the Sacraments will help in reconciling oneself to God. For
example, the Sacrament of Confession gives an opportunity for Christians to confess their sins to God
through the priest and perform the necessary atonement for the forgiveness of their sins. Certain
observances such as Lent also give Christians an opportunity to reflect on their lives and help them
become better Christians. Unlike Judaism, Christianity does not advocate for retribution since Christians
are advised to love their enemies.
Islamic concept of morality and ethics is based on having faith in one God, which is manifested in
exhibiting righteousness and piety. A strong relationship with God is the key to achieving virtue and right
conduct. Since Islam is considered not only as a religion but as a way of life as well, moral righteousness
is expected of Muslims in their everyday lives. The following passage from the Qur'an explains the
Islamic concept of morality:
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness-to believe in
Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spread of your substance,
out of love for Him, for your kin, for your orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and
for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in your prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts
which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (and suffering) and adversity, and throughout all
periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing (Al Quran 2:177).
Hence, Islam values holiness, humility, and accountability to God, who is all-knowing. Charity is
considered important, and this is reflected in one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the Zakat, in which Muslims
are obliged to give alms to the less fortunate. Vanity is also discouraged, for it is a trait that is not pleasant
to God, as well as attachment to material possessions on earth. Being accountable to God is also
important for nothing can be hidden from Him, and He will be the one to judge people of their sins when
the Judgement Day comes. Acts that contribute to the welfare of the individual in particular and of society
in general are considered morally good, while acts that harm the individual and society are immoral.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share a lot in terms of morality and ethics. First, emphasis on the
worship of one God as the basis of morality. Second, concern for others as a manifestation of one's love of
God. Judaism and Christianity shares the Ten Commandments as the written code of morality, with
emphasis on the avoidance of committing murder, adultery, and theft. Meanwhile, based on the Qur'an,
Islam emphasized the need to possess traits such as holiness and righteousness as guidelines in becoming
morally good. Adherence to religious laws is also important and may pave the way for the eternal
salvation or damnation of the soul, with emphasis on the Judgment Day as a way of ensuring that people
obey the will of God. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe that God is the only source of forgiveness
for humanity and only those who follow the righteous path will go to Heaven, while those who lived a life
away from God will go to Hell.
1. Purpose

Life's purpose for Judaism is also based on the covenant between God and the people, particularly
the Jewish people who were considered the "Chosen People of God." And because they were chosen by
God and created according to God's image, Jews should strive to become god-like and possess the
attributes and traits of God by being holy. Only when people achieve holiness, primarily by following the
Ten Commandments, can they perform acts emulating God such as helping the needy and the oppressed.
Thus, the ultimate purpose in life for the Jews was to praise God as the Creator of the universe and imitate
God or become God-like. As God-like creatures, they have certain purposes in the world, the community,
to themselves, to their families, and to God Himself. One's purpose to oneself is to realize one's full
potential and realize who one is meant to be. Living in the likeness of God will guide Jews on how to
treat themselves, their families, communities, and the world.
In Christianity, the purpose of life is to love and serve God, who created the universe purposefully so
it is basically good. Since the creation was purposeful, everything and everyone is naturally important.
Just like in Judaism, Christianity also advocates the belief that human beings were created in God's image
and this enables them to have some understanding of God and His divine plan. God granted human beings
with reason and free will, which they can use to have a glimpse of God's divine plan but can also be used
for selfish reasons. Since human beings are capable of committing sins, they can decide to follow God's
will or live a life of sins. But a persons' sin does not devalue a person from the eyes of God, for in
Christianity it is believed that everyone is capable of redemption, including sinners.
Like Judaism and Christianity, the purpose of life according to Islam is to love and serve God. In
fact, Islam means "surrender", and this means that a Muslim must submit to Allah and recognize that
Mohammed is His prophet. This concept of submission can be literally observed in the way the Muslims
worship: with their foreheads touching the ground in worship of Allah. God created the universe on
purpose so that everyone and everything on it will serve God. When God created the first human beings,
he gave them three divine gifts: intelligence, free will, and speech. The first is so human beings can
distinguish between good and evil; the second is to be able to choose between good and evil; and the third
is to have the capacity to worship God. But even though people are basically good, they can be tempted to
commit sins. But since God is merciful and compassionate, people can be forgiven. Living a life in
accordance to God's plan will help people assist God in achieving His divine plan. They become worthy
followers of God by doing good deeds, being honest, and obeying God's will contained in the Qur'an and
the law. Thus for Muslims, practicing Islam not only as a religion but as a way of life will bring a blissful
life on earth and eternal salvation in the afterlife.
As we can see, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have commonalities with regards the purpose of
life. All three religions believe that the main purpose of life is to worship and serve God, follow God's
will, and show this love of God by sharing with other people and helping the ones in need. Since we are
all created in God's image, our purpose is to live according to God's ways, and even though we cannot
imitate Him absolutely, we need not worry for He is always willing to forgive us of our sins. We should
all strive to become worthy caretakers of everything God created and assist in implementing God's divine
plan.

1. Destiny

Judaism believes in predetermination, which means that it is God who decides on a person's basic
lifespan, wealth, and opportunities, but it is humanity's free will that is the deciding factor in the end. A
person's duty is to overcome evil by choosing goodness in everything he or she does. To allow people to
choose goodness over evil, God allowed people into different stations in life. The main reason why God
puts people in certain stations in life is for them to serve God according to their destiny. In that sense,
God allows certain people to be rich and some to be poor, for this challenges the poor to rise above the
economic challenges to do good and to serve God, while this puts the rich in an easier situation to serve
God, and if they fail to serve God despite their advantageous circumstances, all the more they will be
punished. In short, God places each and everyone in different stations to challenge us to do our best in
serving Him no matter what our circumstances are. Similarly, one's lifespan is predetermined by God, but
one's lifestyle will be the deciding factor on whether God's plan will succeed or not. God may prolong a
wicked person's life to give him/her more time to repent, or He may take it away even before his/her
predestined time of death in order for him/her to stop doing wicked things. Similarly, a good person's time
on earth may be taken way earlier than God's plan so that he/she will no longer fight the evil in
himself/herself, or He may prolong his/her life so that he/she will continue to do good things for others. In
the Hebrew Bible, it is written that "There was the righteous man who perished in his righteousness, and
there was the wicked man who lived long in his evildoing" (Ecclesiastes 7:15).

Christianity has a similar concept of destiny. God wanted all of humanity to be saved, for God
created Hell not for humans but for Satan and his demons. (2 Peter 2:4). Therefore, it is humanity's
predestiny to be saved. (Predestiny refers to the belief that all events are determined in advance by divine
will or fate.) But since God also gave us free will, it is up to us to claim that salvation. For Roman
Catholics, doing good deeds will merit salvation, while for Protestants, faith in Jesus Christ and accepting
Him as our Savior will earn us eternal life. In the story of creation, Adam and Eve were predestined by
God to live in Paradise forever. But their free will made them choose the path of disobedience. Therefore,
in Christianity, God may have the best plans for us, but our actions and decisions determine whether
God's plans will materialize or not. Salvation lies in our own hands because of free will. It is like our
parents setting the rules for us, but it is our choice if we will follow them or not. And even if we are led
astray because of not following them, they are always willing to accept and forgive us until we make the
right choices in life. Similarly, God may have planned the best for us but even if we do not follow His
plan, He is always willing to forgive us and give us another chance to start anew, until we discover the
right path to righteousness and salvation.
In Islam, predestiny is more emphasized than in Judaism and Christianity. We have mentioned in the
previous subtopic that the three Abrahamic religions are unanimous in their belief that humanity was
created to serve and love God. In fact, this is the reason why Islam is considered not only as a religion but
as a way of life, and the life of a Muslim revolves around the worship of Allah. Just like in Judaism and
Christianity, Muslims believe they are given free will by God which allows them to live their lives as they
wish.But unlike Judaism and Christianity wherein free will might lead people to disobey God's plan, in
Islam even the decision we make out of free will is governed by God's will. Muslims believe that if
something is not meant by God to happen, it will not happen no matter how hard we try to make it
happen. And if something is willed by God to happen, it will happen no matter how hard we try to prevent
it from happening. Everything, even bad things such as massacre, torture, and disease, although not
created by God, are allowed by God to happen for a certain purpose which only He comprehends; it may
be to teach people a lesson, or to punish them for their wrongdoings, or to serve as a warning for other
people to repent. Belief in predestiny also encourages humility, which is one of the traits valued in Islam.
The notion that everything is attributed to God hinders one from bragging about one’s achievements in
life by attributing it to God’s divine plan for him/her.

1. Views On Women
It is equally important to look at how the Abrahamic religions view women. After all, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam all came from places where patriarchy or the rule of the father is the norm. In the
Hebrew Bible, there are passages which shows low regard for women, such as the passage wherein
women were viewed as unclean or impure for 40 days after giving birth to a baby boy, and 80 days for the
birth of a baby girl. Christianity, although it traces its roots to the patriarch Abraham, tends to have a
higher regard for women, as shown by Jesus' use of women as positive examples in most parables. Islam,
with its belief in Ummah or the community of believers that is supposed to promote equality among all
races, ethnicities, and genders, is supposed to have a high regard for women. Let us now take a look at
how these religions view women.
Judaism, originating from a patriarchal society, propagates an unequal view of men and women.
Because of the belief that men are superior to women, women were excluded from the priesthood and
from numerous religious duties. This is also because of the belief that women should be excluded from
priesthood and performance of important religious duties due to their "natural" child-rearing functions.
Aside from the impure state attributed to women when giving birth especially to a girl, women are
considered impure for about half of each month because of menstruation. Divorce is also allowed in
Judaism, with men easily divorcing their wives.
Christianity is supposed to have a more positive regard for women, if we are to analyze how
Jesus treated women. In fact, there are some who believe that Jesus was a feminist because of His high
regard for women. In the New Testament, Jesus spoke frequently to women and allowed them to be
included in His followers. He also preached that men and women have the equal capacity of eternal
salvation of the soul, and advised that everybody, regardless of sex, should not let domestic chores hinder
them from serving God. Historical developments after the death and resurrection of Jesus, however,
changed the course of Christianity's positive view of women, for after the conversion of the Roman
Emperor Constantine, it was the Roman Empire that became responsible for the formation of the
Christian Church, using the Roman political structures as its model, which was very hierarchical and
patriarchal.

Thus, the role of women in the Catholic Church was downplayed, to the extent of excluding
women from priesthood.
In theory, Islam treats men and women equally, for it is stated in the Qur'an that men and women
are equal in the eyes of God and are expected to fulfill the same duties, such as prayer, worship,
almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. It is also stated in Islamic law that women should be given
dowry or property given by the husband upon marriage, and that they have the right of inheritance and
property ownership. There were also women political leaders in the history of Muslim expansion in West
Asia and even in Europe. However, certain Islamic practices contradict the claim that Islam has a high
regard for women. Some of these practices are the limited access to education, seclusion, strict veiling,
polygyny (polygyny refers to a partner ship wherein a man has many wives. This Islamic practice
originated from Muhammad who decided that men should be allowed to have more than one wife to
accommodate the widows and orphans of those who died in the wars participated by the Muslims.),
slavery, and concubinage, or the practice of having mistresses. In Islam, men are allowed to have up to
four wives as long as they can support them financially and guarantee that they be treated equally.
Meanwhile, women are allowed only one husband and if they are caught with another man, in some
societies the punishment is public execution by stoning to death. It is also a practice in some Islamic
societies that when a woman is raped, she must produce four witnesses to prove that she was indeed
raped, and failure to do so would invalidate her case and penalize her by lashing in public. Strict veiling is
also an issue raised by feminists against Islam-some societies require only the hijab or head covering
worn in public by Muslim women; some require the burka, or a long, loose garment covering the whole
body from head to feet. The practice of purdah or strict veiling of women in Islam is symbolic of their
subordination and literally inhibits their social mobility.
In general, women are treated as subordinate to men in the three Abrahamic religions; they only
differ in the levels of women subordination.It is ironic that religions have claimed to liberate people from
oppression but fail to do so with their own women. Feminists have been critical of this low status
accorded to women in religions and there are clamors for the status of women in religions to be reformed.
Test I. Essay.

1What role did political structures play in the spread of Christianity and Islam in the world?

The majority of Muslim theologians would probably say that the people in question were not
really Muslims, even if they believe they are. The chief reason for this is that, long ago, belief in
Allah and the Qur’an was linked with belief in Muhammad’s authority as a Prophet, since the
Qur’an was revealed through him. It’s right there in the Shahadah, the Islamic profession of
faith.
Whether the Qur’an could be freely interpreted, as a “created” document rather than an eternal,
literal revelation was a major point of contention in medieval Islam. So was the exact status of
Muhammad as the Messenger of Allah. Did that make him infallible? And, if it didn’t, how were
Muslims supposed to discern statements of Muhammad’s that are authoritative, and those that are
not? In general, the ulema (Muslim jurists) came down on the side that too much speculation, in
such matters, isn’t a good idea.

Ordinary people often don’t base their religious views on theological teachings, do they? How
often do people hang out drinking coffee, after church, talking theology? In fact, the majority of
people who adhere to a religion, around the world, don’t seem to actually know much about the
theology they’re supposed to hold to. A lot of what they *think* they know is actually incorrect.
If anything, Muslims tend to be an exception to this rule - most of the Muslims I’ve spoken with
have been remarkably well-informed regarding the basic tenets of Islam. Partly this is because
Islamic theology is simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. Still, that doesn’t mean that
all Muslims “buy” the whole package, or that they practice everything that is preached.

I suspect what your Muslim neighbors are saying is that they are culturally Muslim - that it’s part
of their heritage because of where they’re from, or maybe their point is that they follow the
“spirit” of the Qur’an, without necessarily signing on to every detail of the scripture, and every
action attributed to Muhammad. In that case, they’re much like the Catholic who, contrary to
Church teachings, has a feeling that the community established by Jesus eventually went
“Paulist,” and ended up very distorted as a result.
Answer Key:

Test I. Answer may vary.

Reference:

Jose, M. & Ong, J., Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems: Vibal Group Inc, 1253
Gregorio Araneta Ave., Quezon City, 2016.

Name_______________________________________ Name of Teacher: ____________________

Grade and Section: _________________________Date: ____________________________________

General Instruction: Answer the following.

General Instruction:
Test I. Essay. Directions: Explain each questions in three or more sentences. (5pts each)

1. Why do the three Abrahamic religions trace their common roots to the Patriarch
Abraham?

Firstly, there is no such thing as “Abrahamic Religions”. The phrase is an Islamic term used in
their proselytizing tactics.

The goal is to make Abraham the “common ground” on whom Islam believes they are the final
product (Judaism and Christianity being the 1st and 2nd).

Islam doesn't trace its roots to neither Hebrew heritage nor did it branch out from Christianity.
Regardless of Jewish opinion of Christianity, it is still a fact that the early Christians did come
out of Judaism. Therefore, they have a valid 'connection', however most Christian theology
doesn't rebrand Abraham as a Christian. They view him as the Father of Israel, or as The Jewish
Patriarch.

Out of nowhere came Islam. It's early members weren't from church, nor were Christians waiting
for another Message or prophet.

As in the case of Christianity, despite Judaism not embracing the man who Christians accept as
their Messiah, Jewish Scriptures do speak of a coming Messiah. Judaism says Christians chose
the wrong guy, but the concept of a Messiah (regardless of who wasn't or who is) comes from
Judaism.

As stated earlier, neither religion was/is looking for someone else: Judaism awaits Moshiach, and
Christians believe he has arrived.

Jewish sages speak of dangerous manmade “messages from G-d" proclaimed by men for the
purpose of tricking you, they hide waiting for their opportunity to steal you with lies.

The ONLY “prophet” the Christian Bible says is coming, is written as a warning, “ensure you are
not deceived, enticing with fancy words crafted for the purpose of deception”, “watch and pray,
lest no man deceives you”, “if any man, or an angel from heaven comes to you and preaches any
other gospel than that which has already been delivered to you, do not believe him. Let him be
accursed”, “Mark the ones, and send warning, who present another gospel claiming to be sent by
God…”

Mohammed is generally viewed as the false prophet, of which the Bible warns of his false
message.

All of that said, Jews don't 'trace' heritage to Abraham- rather Jews are the “children of
Abraham”, spiritually and physically.

Mainline Christian theology is that Abraham is the Patriarch of Israel, and “the Father of Faith”.
He is viewed as a “hero” for being the Jewish role model, and his example inspires “all who
believe”( in the God of Israel).

Islam rebranded him as Muslim. Though some scholars don't accept that the Islamic Abraham is
the same Abraham in Torah and The Bible. The Muslim information of a man with to this name
is very different from the Biblical record. Their account of 'binding his son' is opposite to what
was known thousands of years.

I don't have a personal conclusion on if it's two different guys. I do, however, have a conclusion
of the guy we call Abraham- he was, remains and always will be The Patriarch of Israel, the
Father of Judaism.

1. How relevant are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in the world today, with Christianity
and Islam being the world’s most popular religions in terms of number of adherents?

Messages that Mohammed received from Allah comprise the Islamic scriptures, called the
Koran. (“Koran” derives from the Arabic term meaning “to recite.”) Because the prophet could
not write or read, he memorized Allah's words and later relayed them to his students. After
Mohammed's death, his followers wrote down these revelations. The Koran sets forth standards
of daily behavior and the Pillars of Islam.

Islam has grown to more than 600 million adherents throughout the world. Most Moslems live in
the Middle East, Pakistan, and parts of Africa.

RUBRIC FOR ESSAY

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION POINT POINTS OBTAINED
S
Content The content was well-thought of; guide 7
questions were thoroughly answered
Organization The paper was well-written with ideas easily 7
conveyed to readers.
Analysis Analysis was clear and concise based on the 6
data presented.
TOTAL 20
Points
Timeliness Additional 10pts: on time | 8pts: 1-2days late | 6pts : 3-4 days late | 4pts: 5-6 days
(Submission) late | 2pts: 1 week late | 0pt: more than a week or months late

Test II. Pick two religions group among Judaism, Christianity and Islam and complete the
Venn diagram below by writing down differences and similarities of make a brief
explanation of your work.