Abraham is the uniting figure between the three religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. But while he is the common thread between them, there are major differences between the way he is portrayed in each of the religions. Different parts of his story are emphasized, left out, or added in depending on which religious texts you look at between the religions, and these lend insight into the way that each religion views Abraham, his purpose, and his relationship with God. In the Holy Quran, Abraham’s story has a huge emphasis on preaching and spreading his religion to pagans which is lacking in Christianity, but Abraham is still the perfect example of a devout and faithful follower in all of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Furthermore, …show more content…
The best example of this is when he is conversing with his father on the differences between their view on religion, “He said to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan…” [HQ 19:42-44]. Abraham is strong in his belief in the one Lord, and nothing can waver him, not even the fact that he is surrounded by people who’s beliefs are so different. In the face of being alone in his faith, Abraham in the Quran takes it as an opportunity to not only just try to convince his father of the validity of God, but also any other pagans around him, “He said to his people, ‘Serve God and be mindful of Him: that is better for you, if only you knew. What you worship instead of God are mere idols; what you invent is nothing but falsehood.” [HQ 29:16]. This aspect of Abraham’s story is absent from the Old Testament of the Holy Bible; there aren’t any instances of Abraham trying to convert …show more content…
A prime example of this is when God reveals himself to Abraham, “…the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, “I am the God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” [Genesis 17: 1-2 EXT]. The idea of God’s power over everything is also shown in Abraham’s story in the Holy Quran, “When Abraham’s Lord tested him with certain commandments, which he fulfilled, He said, ‘I will make you a leader of people.’” [HQ 2:124 EXT]. In both the Quranic version and the Old Testament’s version of the Abraham, God’s power to execute his will is exemplified clearly. In the Bible, God gives Sarah and Abraham a son, even though it seems like an impossible feat, “The LORD dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age.” [Genesis 21:1-2]. God’s ultimate power is again shown in the situation where Hagar and Ishmael are sent out from Abraham’s family and God saves them, “Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him." Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” [Genesis 21: 18-19]. And, the same
As previously mentioned, one of the most important similarities between these three texts is the perception of Abraham. Abraham’s commitment to God was tested, and as it was proved, he is the basis for all three of the Abrahamic faiths. In Genesis, God speaks directly to Abraham, saying, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall by blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) In the Tanakh, Abraham’s loyalty to God is tested throughout the Bible, and as Abraham’s devotion become apparent, God solidifies ...
Abraham obeyed God by preparing wood and loading his donkey and took away Isaac and two servants with him. On reaching the place ordered by God, Abraham built an Alter and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son and placed him on altar, on top of the wood and picked up the knife to kill him. Abraham was stopped by the Lord’s voice from heaven telling him, he was an obedient man who honored God. The angel of God confirmed to him how God would richly bless him and give him many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore.
Abraham would start to gather small groups around him who believed as he did. One day, Abram had a vision. In the vision, God tells Abram to leave his father’s house, which is today’s Iraq, and travel to a place that God will show him. God said that if Abram who becomes Abraham obeyed this command, his descendants would become a great nation, and that he would bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all the families of earth be blessed”.... ...
...did not die’. Islam belief in human nature is also different from Christianity; but the same in Judaism, that human nature has the equal ability to do good or evil. Means of salvation in Islam is closely the same to the other Abrahamic beliefs. In addition, good and bad afterlife beliefs are closely related as well. Interestingly, Christianity views Islam as a false religion and Islam views Judaism and Christianity as ultimately having wrong beliefs and ‘only partial revelation’. Ultimately, these Abrahamic religions are the most influential religions in the world. Their impact on the world is very deep and all trace their history to Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. The brief overview of the similarities and differences of the three monotheistic faiths enables people to enrich or at least receive a concrete vision of what can possibly come with death and the afterlife.
The book lays the foundation of Islamic basic beliefs and practices. Muslims believe in one God, and feel their religion continues the Judaic and Christian traditions. Arab peoples "trace their origins to the patriarch Abraham, who, according to the Koran was neither Jew nor Christian, but a kind of universal ancestor of monotheists" (5). Thus, Muslims believe in the same God as Jews and Christians.
Judaism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Abraham, his descendants, and Moses are believed to have been the founders. According to Jewish beliefs until Abraham man worshiped many Gods. The story begins with Abraham and his wife Sarah trying to conceive a child. When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 God came to Abraham and told him they would have a son. After the child was born God again came to Abraham and tested his beliefs by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Isaac willingly went with Abraham to be sacrificed. Before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac God sent an angel down to stop him. As a reward for his faith God made a covenant with Abraham that he and his descendants would be protected as long as they continued to show faith in him and live a life that was wholesome. Also from this it is said God blessed Abraham with many children. His son Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau, Jacob who changes his name to Israel had twelve sons. Israel’s had twelve sons they are the “12 tribes of Israel” and their descendants are later known as the Israelites also called Hebrews.
Every religion has its own goal, and their own path and believe to reach their goals, however there are also many similarities in believes. Although the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam may see things differently, they all fundamentally hold the same values and codes. To Islam, the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching is a complete and final revelation. On the other hand, according to the bible, Christianity believes that Jesus Christ is the true lord and savior will grant you the access to heaven in the afterlife. Judaism is founded by Abraham, and it is the base from which both of the other two religions sprung. Even though the three religions differ in many areas and on many aspects, they also agree on the monotheistic, the belief in ‘One True God.’ Those religions have many similarities and a number of significant differences about God, role of women, prayer, and salvation.
How this promise is fulfilled or who the current beneficiaries of that promise are, is a point of difference, but it is a similar belief that the promise is given. Also, all Abrahamic religions believe in the oneness of God. “Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic religions, namely they believe that there is only one God. Jews and Muslims greatly stress the oneness and unity of God”.(http://chinese-school.netfirms.com/Judaism-Christianity-Islam.html). They believe that the only God exists, but they have different names. For example, in Islam there are ninety names of Allah. In Jews, there are seven names of God, and one of the God’s names is YHWH.This name has no vowels in the Hebrew language making the pronunciation of it difficult.Among Christian the name of God has much seated meaning and significance. Christians have different namesfor the God which include Jehovah, God, and others, depending on the language. For instance Arab Christians call God Allah, the same name the Islam religion uses. Judaism, Christianity, and Islamreligions believe on the singularity of the God despite having different names. A slight difference exists when it comes to the idea of the trinity, a Christian belief that God has three forms in His
Although they were similar leaders, they did have a different relationship with God. Abraham from the onset did not question God at all. Anything that God told him to do, it was done. For example, God asked Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt ...
His obedience was highly regarded and recognized throughout these religions. Through the many passages throughout each sacred book, God refers to Abraham as a friend. Knowing this relationship, these religions have held Abraham in their religions as obedience to God through the many acts he carried out. All three of these religions have the common influence of Zoroastrianism. Although the Islamic faith may have had a greater impact, Judaism and Christianity were also impacted by this religion as well. "
All three faiths are what is call Abrahamic Faiths, which means all of them trace their traditions back to Abraham. They think that everyone is a child of Abraham. Abraham 's life is described most fully in the Hebrew Bible, used by both Christians and Jews, and there are somewhat different accounts of him in the Qur 'an, the sacred text of Islam. They believe that all humans are the highest creatures on earth,
Repetition is also the concept that the Hebrew Creator-God uses throughout the story of Genesis to educate Abram about God's purpose and His nature. God is aware of the doubtful and cynical nature of Abram. Over time, God uses Abram's own repeated mistakes to build a conceptual understanding of Himself for Abram. This model provides Abram with a relevance for God in Abram's own life. Though the classic view depicts the patriarch Abraham as blindly, obedient, there is significant evidence within the story of Abraham to show that he was not so naturally submissive. The text often depicts Abram as doubtful, indignant, and sarcastic to a fault. Taking this side of the text in context illustrates Abraham as the antagonist in a battle against God. In this struggle with God, Abraham achieves excellence by learning, through repetition of his own errors and the reinstatement of God's promise, that it is in his best interest not to fight against his own personal idea of God, but to recognize, respect, and accept the true will of God.
A similar belief that all three religions share is God. God means different things to each religion though. A similarity between the three Abraham religions is that God is recognized as “…[E]ternal, uncreated, all-knowing, and all-powerful, and it is God alone who created the universe and humankind”(Brodd, Little, Nystrom, Platzner, Shek & Stiles, 466). While Christian’s believe in God as the creator of the Earth, they also accept the trinity, otherwise known as God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. “Just as the Father represents God’s power in the creation of the world, and just as the Son both reveals the Father and redeems a sinful humanity, the Holy Spirit represents God’s continuing presence in the world” (Brodd et al., 412). This belief is not recognized within Muslim or Jewish beliefs because it goes against the emphasis of the oneness of God between the two religions. The importance of prayer is highly recognized for the communication with God but offers different meanings. Jewish people view types of prayers as “… [P]rayers of praise, confession, petition, and th...
“Most Christians would rather die than think; in fact they do” (White, 17). This quote from Bertrand Russel is thought provoking and a most appropriate way to start a book on using your mind for God. A Mind for God by James Emery White is a fantastic piece of literature that delves deep into what it means to truly follow God with your mind. In just under one hundred pages White explains why, how, and what we need to follow God with all of our mind. “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, ESV).
that exists and this can be read in the sacred texts, the Koran and the Bible. For all three monotheistic religions, God is the only one that can be considered as the Creator of the Universe, the All-Powerful and the venerable divine being that is gracious and merciful. They also accept the fact that this god is the same God that Abraham worships as stated in the Old Testament. This particular similarity between these three religions has given them the name “the Abrahamic religions” by some experts. Despite the varying names these three religions have for this particular god, in essence, they are one at the same. Abraham is also considered the father to the children of God, which are often referred to as the people of Israel. (Lin) What differs in the three religion’s concept of God is how they advocate them. One can see that Christianity and Judaism are close to their belief of God. They noted that Je...