Beliefs
Christianity, Judaism and Islam all share some similar religious beliefs. The three Abrahamic faiths have in common a belief in one almighty, omnipotent God; the Creator. Believers accept that the one God created the universe and the life within, and is the source of all that is and will be. They accept that God, who is eternal and omniscient, is the absolute and ultimate force of the universe.
Each faith has its own way of presenting God to its followers. For example, in Christianity God is said to be made up of three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – with each of these three persons having different roles within Christianity. In Judaism, God is thought of as a unified, singular being. As for Islam, the religion does not ask its followers to believe in a trinity, but simply and solely in the one God, Allah.
As these three religions share one same monotheistic belief, there is some overlap and agreement when it comes to ethics and morality. All three faiths share the same basic moral teachings and commandments, including prohibitions on murder, stealing and lying. Furthermore, each religion sees kindness, integrity and charity as being crucial virtues that believers must observe in order to gain the favour of God.
Practices
The Abrahamic religions all incorporate worship and rituals as a means of practising their faith. Christians turn to prayer and publications such as the Bible to foster their belief in God. Muslims perform Salat, which involves daily prayers, while Jews partake in Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath. In all three religions, prayer is seen as an essential part of the relationship between God and man.
Moreover, many agree on the importance of religious festivals and practices. Christianity, Judaism and Islam celebrate festivals of similar origin, such as Passover, Easter and Ramadan. The latter, which is celebrated by all Muslim believers, is marked as a time of fasting and spiritual reflection. All three religions recognise and celebrate key stages of life such as birth, marriage, resurrection and death.
Another similarity shared by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is commitment to pilgrimage and the visitation of holy sites. In the Bible, Abraham and his sons by Hagar and Sarah were believed to have visited major sanctuaries in the Middle East, such as the Kaaba in Mecca. It is common practice for both Christians and Jews to visit holy sites, often with monasteries and churches dating back centuries, while Muslims frequently make the trip to Mecca for the Hajj.
Texts
The texts which these religious groups utilise are also shared. Jews, Christians and Muslims all look to religious scriptures to gain insights into the nature of God and people’s relationship with him. The Old Testament is a collection of books that incorporates some of the earliest writings in the Pentateuch, while the New Testament traces the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Muslims look to the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as a foundation for their faith.
Scripture is used by all three religions as a guide to living an ethical and meaningful life. They share the same providence of advice on how to live according to one’s highest standards. All three faiths agree that life should be spent honouring the will of God and seeking his guidance.
In addition to scripted texts, many religions also share oral traditions. The basis of these stories is often the same, but they are adapted and expanded upon by each faith. Take, for example, the story of Adam and Eve, which is shared by Judaism, Christianity and Islam. While the three religious groups have different interpretations of it, the essential elements of the story remain consistent across the three different faiths.
Worship
The worship practices of Christianity, Judaism and Islam play an especially important role in their relationship. Worship is often seen as a means of uniting people of different faiths and promoting understanding of different beliefs and traditions. Christians, Jews and Muslims come together in prayer and worship services in order to strengthen ties of friendship and common understanding.
Christians often use liturgy and hymns as a form of worship, while Jews usually use chanting in order to express their devotion to God. Meanwhile, Muslims often practice calligraphy, in which verses from the Quran are written and recited. Despite the different practices, the main purpose is the same- to glorify God and express one’s faith and devotion.
A shared spirit of worship exists between these three major faiths, in which believers come together to honour the same God in different ways. Although animosity can exist between them, the basic principle of worshiping the same God leads to moments of friendship, love and understanding of others. This can be the basis on which greater personal and global understanding of different religions and cultures can be achieved.
Dietary Laws
Believers of all three religions follow certain dietary laws. Judaism lays down strict dietary regulations, known as kashrut, which forbids certain animals and food combinations. While it is important for Jewish believers to abide by these laws, for many, following kosher dietary requirements has come to symbolise an adherence to their religion and their strict beliefs about health and hygiene.
In Christianity, although not universally practiced, some believers observe certain dietary restrictions. As for Muslims, halal is the dietary code of Islam, and like kashrut, it prohibits certain types of food and animals. In addition, halal insists on the use of particular methods to slaughter animals, such as cutting the throat of the animal in order to drain as much blood as possible.
In all three cases, dietary laws are seen as a way of exhibiting one’s faith and demonstrating reverence and respect for the teachings of the religion. Abstaining from certain types of food, or following particular sets of instructions, is seen as a way of practising one’s faith. Furthermore, the dietary restrictions promote the sharing of communal meals, in which believers can come together to celebrate their faith and practice devotion and love for one another.
Ethics
Ethical teachings are also present within all three religions. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all promote values and codes of conduct for good human life. People of any of the three faiths try to practice justice, peace, honesty, compassion and respect for one another. For example, in Islam, Zakat is a compulsory practice for Muslims to donate 2.5% of their wealth to the poor and those in need.
Certain ethical principles are shared by all of the three monotheistic faiths. Honour killing and female circumcision – both of which are recognised only in particular cultures and regions now – have fallen out of favour in recent years among all three religions. In addition, all three have become increasingly accepting of homosexuals, an issue on which there was much disagreement in the past.
The ethical teachings of Christianity, Judaism and Islam are closely interwoven. They indicate a commitment to a set of expectations concerning our responsibilities and behaviour towards each other. This shared morality is evidence that humanity’s mandate to live in a compassionate and peaceful way is one which all three religions find essential and worthy of teaching.
Symbolism
Certain symbols also unite these three religions. For example, the Star of David is known as the symbol of Judaism, consisting of two interlocking triangles. It is said to represent the balance between the physical world of matter and the spiritual one of the soul. The cross, which first became widely associated with Christianity around the fourth century, is an important symbol that celebrates Christ’s resurrection and the sacrificed Jesus made for mankind.
In Islam, the crescent moon is widely used as a symbol to represent the presence of Allah. It has a variety of meanings in different Islamic contexts, including its use as part of a logo or design in mosques, as part of a a symbol of success and its use in costume design.
In a world torn by religious and cultural divisions, these shared symbols help to bring peace and understanding between the different faiths. The interlocking triangles of the Star of David, the cross of Christianity and the crescent moon of Islam acknowledge that, despite differences in belief, each of us on this planet are connected in some way.
Language
Finally, the Abrahamic faiths have a common language that they use to communicate with the faithful. Arabic, the language of the Quran, is spoken by over 500 million people and is the official language of many Islamic countries. Christian and Jewish Scriptures have also been translated into Arabic, and it is the language in which many partners during interfaith dialogue speak. The commonality of language enables followers of all three religions to come together in worship and dialogue.
In addition, the languages of Latin, Hebrew and Greek are used across all three religions. These three languages have been used since ancient times, with crucifixes and other religious symbols being carved into Latin script and ancient texts streaming the halls of Hebrew temples. Jews and Christians commonly used both Latin and Greek in scripture and ritual, and Muslims continue to use both Latin and Greek in their search for spiritual truth.
Latin, Hebrew and Greek are languages that have come to signify the shared values of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Hymns and prayers in Latin, recitations of the Torah in Hebrew and incantations of scripture in Greek serve as a reminder of the connection between the three great religions of the world.
