Abrahamic

Religions

Overview

Abrahamic religions

Who was he?

His significance in each
religion

The element of monotheism

The figure of Abraham

What are they?

What common bond is the
term derived from?

Regarding Jesus

A look at the common

stories and figures that
evolve from Judaisms
traditions to foundation of
Islam

The figure that alters

tradition of monotheism

Spiritual figures & prophets

Foundation & religious texts

One God for each, or One

God for all?

Spiritual beings below

deities and the revered
humans of religious text

Clergy & hierarchical

structure

From religious scholars to

spiritual guides

The Abrahamic religions

Worlds three major

monotheistic religions

Although each are distinct, a

number of parallels exist
amongst them

Judaism, Christianity, and

Islam

All three were founded in

the Middle East, similarities
seem to reflect this
closeness in proximity

Term Abrahamic derived

from the common
patriarchal figure of
Abraham

Abrahamic religions today

Purple indicative of areas where Abrahamic religions are

most prevalent. (Yellow areas adhere predominantly to
Eastern religions)

A look at Abraham

Born between 1900-1800

BCE (depending on
religious interpretation)
Originally from Sumerian
city of Ur (modern Iraq),
eventually migrated to
Canaan (modern Israel)
Original believer
identified with early
monotheistic struggle in
age of polytheism
Accounts of Abraham
appear in the holy books of
all three religions at hand

Abraham (cont.)

In Judaism & Christianity

Was known as Abram
(exalted father) in
Hebrew
Lineage: Father of Isaac,
grandfather of Jacob
leads to the Israelites, and
eventual branch-off of
Christians
Story of Abrahams nearsacrifice of Isaac appears
in the Torahs book of
Genesis (subsequently
included in the Old
Testament)

In Islam
Known as Ibrahim in
Arabic
Lineage: Father of Ishmael
- ancestor of the Arab
people and, more
specifically, of the prophet
Muhammad
Abraham is himself
regarded as a prophet in
the Quran
The Al-Baqara chapter of
the Quran claims that
Abraham and Ishmael built
the Kaaba in Mecca

Foundation of Judaism

Time period: 5th to 3nd

century BCE
Location: Jerusalem,
Palestine (modern Israel)
Jewish faith asserts that the
Israelites received the Torah
from God in 1313 BCE
After some 800-900 years,
and periods of exile from their
homeland, Israelites resettle
Jerusalem
Recognize the Tanakh as
scripture in 450 BCE
By 3rd century BCE, Judaism
spreads to Egypt and into
larger area of Roman Empire

Foundation of Christianity

Time period: 1st to 2nd

century CE
Location: Palestine (modern
Israel)
Jesus born approx. 4 BCE, in
Galilee (northern region of
Israel)
Expressed alternate views to
contemporary rabbis, inspired
Apostolic church, texts of
New Testament
Christianity spread beyond
Jewish community to become
predominantly Gentile
religion

Foundation of Islam

Time period: 7th century CE

Location: Mecca, modern
Saudi Arabia
Muhammad began to preach
Islam in Mecca, migrated to
Medina in 622 CE
There he was able to unify
Arabian tribes under Islam,
these Muslims overtook
Mecca in 630 CE
Quran was compiled by
Muhammads followers after
his death in 632 CE

Religious texts (Judaisms

Tanakh)

Often referred to as the

Hebrew Bible
Includes the texts

Torah: focuses on law and

beginnings of Judaism
Neviim: largely narratives
of prophets following the
death of Moses
Ketuvim: includes historical
acount following the events
of other two texts

Traditionally claimed that

Israelites recognized the
Tanakh as scripture in 450
BCE

Religious texts (Christian

Bible)

Old Testament: largely

composed of the Tanakh

Shows the influence of

Judaisms concepts in
Christianity

New Testament: collection

of writings spanning period
from mid-1st to mid-2nd
century CE

Generally includes 27
books - numerous writings
attributed to apostles
Final book of Revelation
introduces the apocalyptic
concepts that go on to
shape many Christian
sects

Religious texts (Islamic

Quran)

Final product of the angel

Gabriels revelations to
Muhammad
Compiled shortly after
Muhammads death in 7th
century CE
Includes number of elements
from Judaeo-Christian texts

Jesus, Moses, John the

Baptist, etc. regarded as
prophets

These earlier texts are seen

as having merit, but simply
being corrupted

The element of monotheism

Not only are each of these

religions monotheistic, but
figures from each have
asserted that they are
merely interpretations of
one truth (one God, and
one shared God)
Islams founding adhered
to clear separation of deity
and prophets, as seen
earlier in Judaism
Christian divinity of Jesus,
resulting Holy Trinity
diverges from this

Judaist and Islamic

principles lead many to be
critical of this concept

Regarding Jesus

In Judaism

In Christianity

Traditionally regarded as false prophet

Deny concept of virgin birth
Acknowledge death by crucifixion
Deny concepts of initial resurrection and the second coming
Son of god
Born of virgin birth
Believe he was crucified
Was resurrected, and will return in second coming

In Islam

A true prophet whose message was corrupted in earlier religious texts

Born of a virgin birth
Did not die during crucifixion, but instead ascended to Heaven
Thus was not resurrected, but concept of second coming is accepted

Appearance of spiritual
figures

Abrahamic religions all

endorse existence of
spiritual beings that are
not deities namely
angels and demons
Concept of prophets exists
in all three as well

Prophets of Judaism have

text attributed to their
stories in the Tanakh
Concept less prevalent in
Christianity outside of
Judaism-inspired writings
Notion of prophets is
central to Islam stretch
from Adam down to
Muhammad

Clergy & hierarchical

structure

All three religions embrace concept of religious

clergy connecting worshippers with God
Judaism: rabbis rooted in scholarly knowledge,
answer questions of congregation
Christianity: priests, pastors, etc. in charge of
congregation level of churches of Christian sects

Pontificate of Catholic Church epitomizes the existence

of hierarchical order in religious sects

Islam: imams religious leaders that also,

perhaps as a result of Islams lack of distinction
between church and state, have degree of
political power

The sense of communal worship is perhaps most

strong in Islam