Monotheistic Religions

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The famous boxer Muhammad Ali once said, “Rivers, ponds, lakes,and streams-they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do-they all contain truths.” This is especially true of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Although they have many differences, they have much in common. There are four common themes that can be found in these three religions: basic teachings, history, ethics, and rituals. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share many teachings, including their monotheistic beliefs, recognizing one God. Even though they all believe in one God, their ideas vary. The Jewish people think of God as being so holy that He can't be named. Muslims also believe that the eternal God, whom they call Allah, has always …show more content…
The oldest of these religions is Judaism. Two important figures in the development of Jewish religion were Abraham and Moses. Abraham, who was considered the founding father, migrated from what is now Iraq to Canaan. Later his descendants moved to Egypt due to famine. Moses, their leader, led them back to Canaan. Moses also received the tablets of God's law, beginning a special relationship between God and the Jewish people, the chosen ones. The second oldest of these three religions is Christianity. More than two thousand years ago, Jesus preached with a small group of twelve, his disciples. Originally, they were considered a small group within Judaism. Before Jesus died, he gathered his followers for the Last Supper. He told the men that the bread and wine were his body and blood. This began the Eucharist. From that moment on, Christianity became its own religion. The newest of the three monotheistic religions is Islam. Muslims believe that the early prophets, such as Moses and Jesus, were important but not as significant as Muhammad himself because he was chosen to receive the Qur’an. Muhammad, who lived in the seventh century, was a member of a powerful Arab tribe. He lived in Mecca and went to Mount Hira to meditate. It was there that God’s messenger gave him the words of the Qur’an. Muhammad shared his vision with the people, starting the religion of …show more content…
Many Jews pray three times a day- once in the morning, afternoon, and night. Male Jews wear a small cap called the kippa or yarmulka. They also put on prayer shawls. On the Sabbath, which begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday, they attend services at the synagogue or light candles at home and pray. One of the most important rituals for a young man is the bar mitzvah when a boy reaches the age of thirteen, and he can be counted as a part of the synagogue. Girls who are twelve celebrate a bat mitzvah. Two important holy days are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. During Rosh Hashanah, the Jews celebrate God’s covenant with Israel. Yom Kippur is a time when the Jews ask for forgiveness of their sins. Passover, which celebrates the time that Moses led the Jews out of captivity in Egypt, is another important event in Judaism. Jews celebrate with a meal and the story of the Exodus. Finally, Hanukkah, which is called the Festival of Lights, celebrates the Jewish victory over the rulers of Syria in 170 BCE. During this time, Jews sing special songs and light one candle on the menorah for each night of the festival. In Christianity, prayers are also an important part of the service, as well as singing hymns in many churches. One of the most important rituals is holy communion, especially in the Catholic Church. Baptism is key to Christian belief, but it varies from
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