The three religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam readily fit the definition of monotheism, which is to worship one god while denying the existence of other gods. But, the relationship of the three religions is closer than that: They claim to worship the same god. While Judaism gave that god a name, “Yahweh,” both Christianity and Islam simply refer to him as “God” — in Arabic, Islam’s founding language, “Allah” means “The God.”
The three religions trace their origins back to Abraham, who, in Genesis, had humanity’s first relationship with God after the failures of Noah’s flood and the Tower of Babel. Judaism and Christianity trace their tie to Abraham through his son Isaac, and Islam traces it through his son Ishmael.
Monotheistic Unity and Historical Divergence: Unraveling the Shared Roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Abrahamism refers to the monotheistic religious traditions that trace their spiritual lineage back to the biblical figure Abraham. The three major Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These religions share common roots in the Middle East and worship the same God, although they have distinct beliefs, practices, and scriptures.
Judaism:
- Founding Figure: Abraham is considered the patriarch of the Jewish people.
- Sacred Texts: Mainly the Hebrew Bible, comprising the Torah (first five books) and other scriptures.
- Key Beliefs: Monotheism, covenant with God, adherence to commandments (Mitzvot).
Christianity:
- Founding Figure: Jesus Christ, believed by Christians to be the Messiah, is seen as the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
- Sacred Texts: The Bible, including the Old Testament (shared with Judaism) and the New Testament.
- Key Beliefs: Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, love and forgiveness.
Islam:
- Founding Figure: Abraham is recognized as a prophet in Islam, and his son Ishmael is considered an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Sacred Texts: The Quran, believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
- Key Beliefs: Monotheism (Allah), five pillars of Islam (declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca).
Commonalities:
- All three religions consider Jerusalem a sacred city.
- They acknowledge the existence of angels and recognize certain prophets, including Moses and others, as important figures.
- They share some moral and ethical principles, such as the Golden Rule.
Despite their shared heritage, the Abrahamic religions also exhibit differences in theological doctrines, rituals, and interpretations of sacred texts, leading to distinct religious practices and traditions.
If Abraham represents a point at which the religions diverge, they are unified up to that moment. That unity goes back to Adam, the first human being, and his creation by God. Each of the three religions reveres Adam and honors him as the first person, centering key theological elements on God’s creation of humanity through Adam. God is the father of humanity and the father of each religion.
Unfortunately, the mythology of being children of the same god as father does not lead to harmonious relationships among members of the three religions. They have become squabbling children rather than a harmonious family. The Middle East, and indeed the world, continues to be rocked by political controversy, forceful oppression and violent attacks stemming from members of these three religions, both against each other and against groups within their own religion.
Into this difficult moment comes an exhibition of nearly 50 paintings called “The Bridge.” The paintings are by artists of Middle East origins representing all three religions. They are on display during September at the University of Wyoming Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts, at the Lander Arts Center, at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs and at Northwest College in Powell.
The theme of “The Bridge” is to visualize how members of the rival religious communities can cross the divide between them, moving from conflict to peace. The artists have no illusions that by themselves they will end the violence, oppression and other difficulties of the Middle East, but they hope to inspire thought and action through their visual conceptions.
