Introduction:

• The common core of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is faith or belief in one God (“monotheism”).
• But what is “faith” or “belief”? And do these three religions believe in the same God?
• How else are these three major religions similar to and different from each other?
• What other kinds of belief systems (“-theisms”) are there in our world?
• See also my Introduction to Religion and Religious Studies.

Basic Terms: Faith & Belief

• Nouns: “faith; belief, trust, confidence”
  • Confidence in someone or something: “She has faith in her doctor.”
  • Belief in a supernatural power: “Have faith!” or “He lost his faith.”
  • A religious system or institution: “The Jewish faith. The Christian faith. The Muslim faith ”
• Verbs: “to believe; to have faith, to trust” (transitive & intransitive)
  • To accept something as real or true: “I believe this story.”
  • To affirm a statement or assertion: “I believe (that) she will come soon.”
  • To grant someone veracity or trust: “I believe you; I believe in you.”
  • To assert the value of something: “I believe in democracy.”
  • To have spiritual or religious faith. “I believe.”
• Etymologies (word derivations):
  • Latin noun fides = “faith, faithfulness, firmness”; verb fidere = “to trust” (cf. English words: fidelity; infidel; confidence)
  • Latin verb credere = “to believe”; credo = “I believe” (cf. English words: credible, credence, incredulous, credit, etc.)
• See also my Introduction to Theology.

Scriptural Texts about Faith & Believing:

• Judaism (from the Hebrew Bible):
  • “He [God] brought him [Abraham] outside and said, 'Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' / And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5-6)
  • “Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. /Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
• Christianity (from the New Testament):
  • “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
  • “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
• Islam (from the Qur'an):
  • “And if your Lord had pleased, surely all those who are in the earth would have believed, all of them; will you then force men till they become believers? / And it is not for a soul to believe except by Allah's permission; and He casts uncleanness on those who will not understand.” (Qur'an 10:99-100)
  • “Those only are believers whose hearts become full of fear when Allah is mentioned, and when His communications are recited to them they increase them in faith, and in their Lord do they trust. / Those who keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them. / These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades and forgiveness and an honorable sustenance.” (Qur'an 8:2-4)

Types of Belief in God or gods (lots of -isms):

• Theism = Belief in the existence of a God or any gods (<Greek theos = “god”)
  • The broadest category; a generic term of which the other –isms are subcategories.
• Atheism = Belief that God and/or gods “do not exist” (prefix a- = “not”)
  • Atheists are people who have definitely decided that they do not believe in God/gods.
• Agnosticism = “Not knowing” whether God exists; “non-belief” in general
  • Agnostics are not sure or have not decided whether or not they believe in God/gods.
• Gnosticism = Belief that salvation comes by knowing divine secrets (Gk. gnosis = “knowledge”
  • A popular religious system during the first few Christian centuries (and again today?).
• Polytheism = Belief in the existence of “many” gods (Gk. poly = “much, many”)
  • Most ancient peoples (Egyptians, Mesopotamians, etc.) worshipped many gods, often in animal form.
  • Greeks & Romans believed in a large family of gods, who were thought to reside on Mount Olympus.
• Pantheism = Belief that divinity resides “everywhere” and “in everything” (Gk. pan = “all”)
  • The whole universe is considered divine; but there is no “god” separate from the world.
• Deism = Belief that God created the world, but no longer influences it (Latin deus = “god”)
  • Based on 18th-century rationalism (e.g. Thomas Jefferson).
• Paganism = All religions outside of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (from their perspective)
  • Popular connotation is negative: pagans, heathens, unbelievers, hedonists, etc.
  • Academic meaning is neutral: any non-monotheistic religions, esp. of ancient or medieval Europe.
• Henotheism = Allegiance to “one” god rather than any other gods (Gk. hen = “one”)
  • Presupposes that other “gods” exist, other nations/peoples having their own gods;
  • but maintains, “Our god is stronger/better than your gods!”
• Monotheism = Belief in the existence of “only one ” God (Gk. monos = “alone”)
  • Asserts that what others call “gods” are at best spirits, at worst idols, but certainly not divine.
  • Core belief of Judaism, Christianity, Islam; a.k.a. the “monotheistic religions”
• Trinitarianism or Trinitarian Monotheism = Christian belief that the one God is a “Trinity” of three divine persons
• There is only one divine “nature” but three divine “persons”: Father (Creator), Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.
• Tri-theism = belief in the existence of three separate gods (Gk. tria = “three”)
  • Some people erroneously think Christians are tri-theists (as if the Father, Son, and Spirit were three separate gods);
  • but Christians themselves believe that the Father, Son, and Spirit are inseparable, truly one (like a single triangle).
• NB: To learn these terms well, study them in pairs that might be easily confused:
  • Atheism vs. Agnosticism, Theism vs. Deism, Monotheism vs. Henotheism, Pantheism vs. Polytheism, etc.

Classifying the Major World Religions:

• How are the world's religions usually grouped and designated?
  • Major “Western” Religions: Judaism; Christianity; Islam (and their sub-branches)
  • Major “Eastern” Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, etc.
  • Local/Tribal Religions: many smaller groups, esp. among Africans, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders
  • Newer Religious Movements: many smaller cults, sects, groups, offshoots of other religions
• What is the best collective designation for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
  • “Western Religions”? “Religions of the Book”? “Major Monotheistic Religions”?
  • “Religions of Abrahamic Origin”? “Religions of Judaic Origin”? “Religions of Near Eastern Origin”?
  • Other possible terms? Or should one simply refer to them separately?
  • What are the major advantages and the main drawbacks of each of the above terms?

Common Elements of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam:

Here are some of the main similarities mentioned by my students in a recent course:

• Monotheism - believing/knowing/acknowledging that there is only one God.
• God is the Creator of the world and the ultimate Judge at the end of time.
• Belief (trusting/fearing/submitting to this one God) is fundamental for humans.
• Believers see themselves as “People of God” or God's “Chosen People” in some way.
• Consider themselves “Children of Abraham” (Abrahamic heritage), albeit in different ways.
• Shared biblical heritage, with other common figures like Adam, Noah, Moses, etc.
• Started in Middle East and spread throughout the world; missionary efforts.
• Consider Israel a “holy land” and esp. Jerusalem a “holy city” in some way.
• Weekly community worship in special/sacred buildings (synagogue, church, mosque).
• Major annual feasts on their respective religious calendars (although very different in details).
• Religious leaders are specially educated/trained and ordained/authorized (usually, but not always).
• Foundational role of sacred texts / scriptures (Bible or Qur'an).
• Central role of prophets (in conveying God's messages to people), esp. one key prophet.
• Emphasis on regular/daily prayer to God.
• Practice fasting at certain special times/seasons of the year.
• Expect God's future intervention in the world (Messiah; Judgment Day; Universal Redemption).
• Belief in the afterlife, and some prospect of reward/punishment, or heaven/hell.
• Belief in angels (and demons) and/or other spiritual beings.
• Belief in fundamental human dignity, social justice, care/almsgiving for the poor.
• Similar moral codes, ethical commandments, duties toward others, peace & love.
• Some religious/ritual restrictions (foods not to eat, special clothing to wear, times for sex, etc).
• None are monolithic blocks; all have various sub-groups, branches, cults, sects, denominations.

A Comparative Overview of the Three Main “Western” Religions:

Questions for Group Discussion and/or Personal Reflection:

• What connotations do the words “faith” and “belief” have for you? What do they mean in your use of contemporary English?
• What is the difference between Monotheism & Henotheism? Tri-theism & Trinitarianism? Polytheism & Pantheism? Theism & Deism?
• What is the core of Judaism? What do all Jews have in common? (consider beliefs, practices, ethics, prayers, etc.)
• What is the core of Christianity? What do all Christians have in common? (consider beliefs, practices, ethics, prayers, etc.)
• What is the core of Islam? What do all Muslims have in common? (consider beliefs, practices, ethics, prayers, etc.)
• What is common or similar between all three of these religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam?
• What are the main differences or disagreements between Judaism, Christianity, and/or Islam?
• What role does “faith/trust/belief” have in your life right now?
• What intrigues you most about each of these three religions?

Related Webpages:

• An Introduction to "Religion" and "Religious Studies"
• An Introduction to "Theology" and "Theological Studies"
• An Introduction to the Three Major "Western Religions"
• An Overview of Judaism
• An Overview of Christianity
• An Overview of Islam

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This page was last updated on June 12, 2017
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