Abrahamic Religions: Comparing 3 Major World Religions (CHART)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

A recent conversation with a Muslim friend underscored the importance of studying and understanding the history and nature of the Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Together, we reflected on how these three faiths have profoundly shaped the world we live in.

With more than three billion people identifying with one of these traditions, the Abrahamic religions continue to play a central role in shaping societies, beliefs, and values globally. These faiths are deeply interwoven with significant historical and cultural phenomena.

For example, people can’t fully understand the Arab-Israeli conflict — a pivotal issue in global politics — without appreciating the religious histories and core beliefs underpinning Judaism and Islam. Similarly, the cultural legacies of Christianity, such as the sacred music of Johann Sebastian Bach, remain incomprehensible without reference to its theological foundations.

Religion, as a human phenomenon, transcends the boundaries of personal faith. It intersects with politics, art, ethics, and social structures, providing profound insights into the human condition. Exploring the beliefs and practices of the Abrahamic religions, therefore, opens windows into diverse worldviews. 

This article offers an accessible yet scholarly exploration of Abrahamic religions’ differences, highlighting the contrasting elements and similarities between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 

It will outline their shared roots, their sacred scriptures, and their distinctive beliefs and practices. By delving into these core aspects, we aim to shed light on the historical and theological threads that bind these traditions together while also accepting their rich diversity.

Understanding the Abrahamic religions, along with their beliefs, values, and historical significance, is an indispensable part of comprehending the world we inhabit. In the following sections, we’ll, therefore, embark on a journey to uncover the core beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 

However, before we proceed, consider diving deeper into one of the most intriguing figures in the Abrahamic religions by exploring Dr. Bart D. Ehrman’s online course, “Finding Moses: What Scholars Know About The Exodus and The Jewish Law.”

In this 8-lecture series, Dr. Ehrman offers a scholarly and fresh analysis of Moses as a historical figure, tackling questions like: Did Moses really exist? What can we reliably know about him? If you’re fascinated by the intersection of history, faith, and critical scholarship, this course is an excellent next step.

Abrahamic Religions: Timeline Table

First, I decided to dive straight into the broad similarities between the Abrahamic religions and discuss the fascinating comparative approach sociologists use to analyze them. But then, I paused and thought, why not do something slightly different?

Before plunging into the depths of these traditions, let’s take a quick detour with a timeline of key historical events that have shaped Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Think of it as a brief historical appetizer before the main course of our exploration!

An Overview: Key Similarities

In a scholarly essay, Niels Nielsen observed that most religions, including those within the Abrahamic tradition, rely on sacred scriptures to articulate a coherent worldview. These texts often contain narratives about the lives and teachings of key religious figures, illuminating the human condition and providing guidance toward a hopeful and meaningful future.

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In the Abrahamic religions, stories about Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad serve as profound sources of authority, reflecting their roles as leaders and reformers within their respective traditions. These scriptures — whether the Torah, the Bible, or the Quran — bind communities together with shared moral teachings and spiritual insights.

In What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, John Esposito explains the historical core tenets of Abrahamic religions:

The second dimension of similarity lies in the fundamental belief in monotheism. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each emphasize the worship of one God, a concept that serves as the cornerstone of their theological frameworks.

Judaism proclaims the oneness of God through the Shema, a central prayer that declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” While introducing the doctrine of the Trinity, Christianity upholds monotheism by affirming that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three persons in one divine essence.

Islam, too, emphasizes the absolute unity of God through the concept of “tawhid,” expressed unequivocally in the Quran. This shared monotheistic foundation highlights a profound commonality between these religions, even as they interpret and express the nature of God in distinctive ways.

Rituals form the third important dimension of similarity among the Abrahamic religions. If religion is seen as a key force in shaping social and group identity, then rituals emerge as central mechanisms for creating and maintaining that identity.

In his book Les rites de passage (The Rites of Passage), French anthropologist Arnold van Gennep describes the theory of lifecycle rituals, comprising the stages of separation, transition, and reincorporation. His theory offers a useful lens for understanding how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam use rituals to mark significant moments in the human lifecycle. 

Across these traditions, ceremonies surrounding birth, coming of age, marriage, and death reflect shared anthropological patterns, even as their specific forms differ. For instance, circumcision in Judaism, baptism in Christianity, and the “aqiqah” ceremony in Islam all highlight the importance of marking the beginning of life within the community of faith.

Beyond lifecycle rituals, other practices such as prayer, fasting, and acts of charity reveal further broad commonalities. Each tradition calls its adherents to regular acts of devotion: Jews observe daily prayers (tefillah), Christians partake in communal worship, and Muslims perform “salah” five times a day. 

Similarly, the emphasis on charitable giving — ”tzedakah” in Judaism, almsgiving in Christianity, and “zakat” in Islam demonstrates a shared commitment to social responsibility and compassion for the needy.

Through their sacred scriptures, monotheistic convictions, and ritual frameworks, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam provide their followers with a sense of purpose, identity, and connection that transcends individual and cultural differences.

However, a comparative examination of the Abrahamic religions reminds us that significant differences also distinguish these traditions. While they share broad commonalities, each religion preserves unique practices, beliefs, and values that reflect its distinct identity.

In his book The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction, Charles L. Cohen rightly points out:

Similarly, in Islam and the West, Bernard Lewis observes:

So, to better understand these distinctions and differences, we’ll continue our exploration by examining their scriptures, core beliefs, and practices through a focused, tripartite analysis.

Abrahamic Religions: Differences

To appreciate the differences among the Abrahamic religions, it’s crucial to adopt a mindset that allows us to “see with a native eye.” This approach helps us avoid the common pitfalls of interpreting religious traditions through the lens of our own cultural or personal assumptions.

Instead, we must ensure that the questions we ask are informed by the realities and worldviews of the people who practice these faiths, rather than by our preconceived notions. Let us begin this exploration by examining the sacred texts of the Abrahamic religions and the distinctive roles they play within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Sacred Scripture in Judaism

When Muhammad, Islam's central prophet, referred to Jews, along with Christians and Zoroastrians, as “people of the book,” he recognized the central role scripture plays in Judaism. For over two millennia, the Jewish Bible has been a cornerstone of religious life.

Jewish (or Hebrew) Bible is often referred to by the acronym Tanakh. This designation encapsulates its three primary components: the Torah (the Five Books of Moses, also known as the Pentateuch), the Nevi’im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings).

Together, these texts form the foundation of Jewish religious life, guiding both communal and individual practice. However, Jewish holy literature extends far beyond the Tanakh. As Jonathan Rosenbaum aptly observes in The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective:

Moreover, the order of the books in the Hebrew Bible doesn’t correspond to the order of the Christian Old Testament.

The latter, as Robert E. Van Voorst, notes in The Anthology of World Scriptures, is “based on the Greek translation made for Jews living in the Gentile world whose first language was Greek, not Hebrew. This translation was made before Christianity began. Known as the Septuagint, this version of the Jewish Bible was the main scripture of many Jews, and the only scripture of early Christianity until Christians recognized the New Testament as their scripture in the second and third centuries C.E.”

Sacred Scripture in Christianity

Christianity, being one of the Abrahamic religions, emerged from the Jewish matrix and shares the books of the Hebrew Bible as part of its sacred scripture. However, the Christian interpretation of these texts diverges significantly from that of Judaism.

As David Brakke and Mary Jo Weaver have noted, Christians interpret the Hebrew Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ. For them, the life and teachings of Jesus reframe the Hebrew Bible, presenting it as a prophetic precursor to his arrival. In this view, the events and narratives of the Hebrew Bible culminate in Jesus, who fulfills its promises.

For Jews, however, these same texts don’t point to Jesus at all. Instead, they anticipate a future Messiah, and their significance remains oriented toward events yet to come. This fundamental difference in interpretation reflects a profound theological divergence between the two traditions.

In other words, while the early Christian church adopted the Hebrew Bible as sacred scripture, it did so with a transformed understanding. The confession of Jesus as the Messiah became the interpretive lens through which these texts were read. Christians viewed the Hebrew Bible as a foreshadowing of Jesus, with its laws, prophecies, and narratives reinterpreted as prefigurations of his life and mission.

Another key difference lies in the Christian addition of the New Testament to its canon of scripture. The New Testament, a collection of 27 texts written during the first and second centuries C.E., is wholly absent from Jewish sacred literature.

These differences in scripture and interpretation highlight the distinct paths taken by Judaism and Christianity. Both traditions engage deeply with sacred texts, but the meanings and roles they ascribe to those texts are shaped by their unique theological frameworks.

Sacred Scripture in Islam

And just when you think the conversation about sacred texts couldn’t get more interesting, Islam enters the scene with its own profound and distinct contribution to the Abrahamic scriptural tradition — the Quran. Buckle up, because this story takes some fascinating turns!

In Islamic theology, the Quran is understood as the ultimate and uncorrupted revelation of God, sent to humanity through the Prophet Muhammad. It acknowledges the Torah and the Gospel as earlier divine revelations but asserts that these texts were distorted over time, necessitating the Quran as a corrective rather than an outright replacement.

Muslims, therefore, regard Islam not as something new but as the original and final monotheistic religion, restoring the pure worship of God practiced by Abraham.

As W. Montgomery Watt explains in The Cambridge History of Islam: 

Furthermore, Muslims believe the Quran to be the literal and perfect word of God, free from human alteration or corruption. Unlike the Bible in both Jewish and Christian traditions, which are considered to have been composed through human intervention (Catechism of the Catholic Church, for instance, notes that “God inspired the human authors of the sacred books”), the Quran is viewed as an unbroken transmission of divine will.

Additionally, the Quran’s role extends beyond the religious realm to encompass societal norms and legal principles. 

In Muslim countries today, the Quran shapes both private devotion and public life. In other words, the Quran’s verses are seen as comprehensive, offering ethical directives, legal injunctions, and spiritual teachings that transcend the boundaries of personal faith.

Islam’s intertwining of religion and governance is a defining characteristic that sets it apart from Christianity. Bernard Lewis, a renowned scholar of Islam, highlights this distinction in the following way:

The Quran, therefore, reflects this dual role, addressing not only matters of personal faith but also issues of governance, warfare, and social justice. Its verses provide the foundation for Islamic law, or “sharia,” which regulates both individual conduct and collective responsibilities.

Core Tenets and Beliefs in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Charles L. Cohen rightly points out:

While Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share a foundational belief in one God, their interpretations of monotheism diverge significantly, reflecting their unique theological frameworks and traditions.

Judaism’s View of Monotheism

In Judaism, as Joseph Teluskhin notes, monotheism is firmly grounded in the concept of ethical monotheism — belief in one God who isn’t only the creator of the universe but also the source of moral guidance. A notable illustration of this is the philosophical work of Maimonides, the renowned 12th-century Jewish thinker.

In his articulation of Judaism’s core beliefs, the first four directly affirm monotheism: the existence of one God, the incorporeal nature of God, and God’s eternal existence. Maimonides further emphasizes that God alone is worthy of worship, rejecting any intermediaries. This unwavering monotheism is central to Judaism’s identity.

Christianity’s View of Monotheism

Christianity, while rooted in Jewish monotheism, reinterprets it through the doctrine of the Trinity. Most Christians today believe in one God who exists in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

In his Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger explains the emergence of the Trinity as a theological notion:

This concept distinguishes Christianity from the other Abrahamic religions, as it frames Jesus not merely as a prophet but as the divine (incarnated) Son of God.

Monotheism in Islam

Islam, on the other hand, asserts an uncompromising form of monotheism known as “tawhid.” The Quran (2:163) declares: “And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” This is just one of the many instances where the sacred book of Islam explicitly affirms the religion’s strict monotheism.  

Unlike Christianity, Islam, therefore, rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, viewing it as a form of polytheism and a grave and unforgivable sin (“shirk”). Muslims respect Jesus as a prophet but deny his divinity or status as the Son of God. 

This strict monotheistic stance is reflected in Islamic art and culture, where concerns about idolatry have historically led to the avoidance of human depictions, favoring calligraphy and geometric designs to celebrate divine transcendence.

What about Islam’s relationship with Judaism? While the Arabic religion respects the prophets of the Old and New Testaments, including Moses and Jesus, Muhammad holds a uniquely exalted position within the Islamic tradition.

As the final prophet, or “Seal of the Prophets,” Muhammad is regarded as the ultimate messenger of God, entrusted with delivering the Quran to humanity. Esposito explains:

Moreover, out of the five pillars of Islam (core beliefs accepted by the majority of the Islamic world), the first one is the profession of faith in which Muhammad is explicitly mentioned. A Muslim is anyone who sincerely testifies that "there is no god but God [Allah] and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

This deep respect underscores Muhammad’s unparalleled status in Islam while reinforcing the Quran’s role as the definitive guide for faith and practice. Christians and Jews reject both of these notions, which are so fundamental within the Islamic tradition! 

Differences in Rituals and Practices Among the Abrahamic Religions

In Abrahamic religions, prayer holds a special place. However, even the prayers are different, emerging within specific historical and social circumstances. Let’s take a closer look!

Rituals and Practices in Judaism

With the cessation of temple sacrifices in Jerusalem in 70 C.E., prayer emerged as the primary way for Jews to connect with God. In the aftermath of this transformative event, Rabbinic Judaism established a formalized system of prayer. While individuals retained the freedom to pray spontaneously, the rabbis introduced a structured framework to guide communal worship.

This system determined when prayers should occur, the places suitable for prayer, and the essential components of liturgical practice. By the end of the 2nd century C.E., this framework became standardized, ensuring that, despite variations across different Jewish communities, the core principles of prayer remained remarkably consistent until modern times.

Another cornerstone of Jewish practice is the observance of the Sabbath, a weekly day of rest and spiritual reflection. The Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and concludes at nightfall on Saturday, commemorating God’s rest on the seventh day of creation. 

For many, the Sabbath is the pinnacle of the Jewish sacred calendar, distinguished as the only holy day explicitly referenced in the Ten Commandments — a day celebrated through the shared meal.

Nicholas de Lange observes the ritual importance of a meal in the Jewish tradition, noting:

Jewish festivals also play a significant role in the religious and cultural life of the community, marking sacred moments in history and the agricultural calendar. 

Among the most notable is Passover, which commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Central to this festival is the “seder,” a ritual meal that includes the retelling of the Exodus story.

Another major festival, the Day of Atonement (“Yom Kippur”), is a solemn occasion dedicated to fasting, prayer, and repentance, providing an opportunity for spiritual renewal. The joyous festival of Tabernacles (“Sukkot”) follows, celebrating the Israelites’ wilderness journey and God's provision.

Rituals and Practices in Christianity

The dimension of Christianity concerning rituals and practices is intrinsically tied to the person of Jesus who, for Christians, is the resurrected Son of God and the Messiah. This Christ-centered focus sets Christianity apart from other Abrahamic religions. 

One of the most significant Christian rituals is baptism, a sacrament that signifies the initiation of an individual into the faith. Rooted in the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, this ritual symbolizes purification, repentance, and rebirth.

Another central practice is the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. This sacrament commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, during which he broke bread and shared wine, instructing them to do so in remembrance of him.

In her book Christianity: A Very Short Introduction, Linda Woodhead explains:

Christian worship extends beyond sacraments to encompass various rituals and practices, including prayer, hymn singing, and scripture reading. Weekly worship services, typically held on Sunday to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, serve as a communal gathering for reflection, teaching, and praise.

As you can probably deduce, Christian practices are, essentially, all about the extraordinary figure of Jesus and the belief system that evolved around him. That’s not the case with Islam at all! Let’s take a look. 

Rituals and Practices in Islam

In contrast to the other two Abrahamic religions, Islamic practices and rituals are structured around the Five Pillars, which define the core acts of worship and ethical conduct for Muslims.

While the first pillar affirms the central tenet of Islamic monotheism and Muhammad’s special place as the last prophet, the remaining four pillars — prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage — are explicitly tied to religious practice.

That’s the reason why most scholars define Islam as the religion of “orthopraxy.” In his book Islam: What Non-Muslims Should Know, John Kaltner notes: 

Prayer (“Salah”) is the most visible expression of Islamic devotion, performed five times a day at prescribed times. These prayers are highly ritualized, involving specific physical postures, recitations in Arabic, and a direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca.

The third pillar, “Zakat” (almsgiving), reflects Islam’s emphasis on social responsibility. Muslims are obligated to give a portion of their wealth to support the less fortunate, fostering economic equity and communal solidarity.

“In Islam,” Esposito explains, “the true owner of things is not man but God. People are given their wealth as a trust from God. Therefore, zakat is not viewed as 'charity'; it is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from God to respond to the needs of less fortunate members of the community.”

Similarly, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan (“Sawm”), the fourth pillar underscores self-discipline and empathy for those in need. From dawn until sunset, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs, redirecting their focus toward prayer, reflection, and community.

Finally, the pilgrimage to Mecca (“Hajj”), the fifth pillar, is a profound demonstration of Islamic unity and devotion. Required of all Muslims who are physically and financially able, the Hajj involves a series of rituals performed in and around Mecca, commemorating key events in Islamic tradition.

“For Christians," Bernard Lewis notes, "pilgrimage to the holy places of their religion is, so to speak, an optional extra and may be performed at any time that is convenient. For Muslims, it is one of the five basic obligations of the faith and is incumbent on every Muslim who can afford it at least once in a lifetime.”

Abrahamic Religions: Chart

Before we conclude our exploration into the Abrahamic religions, below you can find a chart comparing their key beliefs. You can use it as a shortcut in your further discussions on the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam!

Conclusion

The Abrahamic religions are pillars of our cultural and religious history, closely intertwined through their common origins, but differing in their interpretations, practices, and theological frameworks. Their scriptures, beliefs, and rituals reflect both common roots and divergent paths, offering rich insights into the human search for meaning, moral direction, and connection to the divine.

These traditions have undoubtedly shaped the beliefs and values of billions, influencing societies across history and geography.

While their similarities provide a sense of unity, the differences among the Abrahamic religions underscore their unique identities and enduring individuality. Each tradition interprets its sacred texts and doctrines in ways that reflect specific historical contexts and theological emphases.

These variations, though they sometimes lead to tension, also enrich the broader discourse on faith, ethics, and cultural expression, highlighting the complexity and depth of these religious systems.

As Charles L. Cohen aptly concludes: