The Three Major Abrahamic Religions in the Middle East - Coursework Example

Name Instructor Course Date The Origin of the Three Major Abrahamic Religions Introduction Religion has continued to be the dominant force of movement for man’s civilization. The origin of the world’s religions can easily be traced to around the year 2000 BC. During the period, man’s civilization was first established in a region named the ancient Near East. As a result, there was the development of the three faiths that started through a man of God named Abraham. According to various historical accounts, he was appointed a prophet since he would easily communicate with God and relay messages to the populations of the world. Abraham had a family, and his wife could not bear children. Consequently, he remarried. When his second wife got pregnant, his first wife also became heavy with child (Silverstein et al. 321). The continuation of Abraham’s first family resulted in the Jewish religion, which encompassed the descendants of Abraham. More narration of Abraham’s story shows that the descendants of the second family became automatic Muslims. Lastly, 40 generations after the first family, there came descendants who gave birth to Jesus Christ. Over the years, the three religious convictions have grown significantly to influence large populations of the world. This paper enlightens more on the origin of the three major Abrahamic Religions. Origin of the Islamic Religion The Islamic religion falls under the category of the Abrahamic faiths. According to many historical settings, the formulation of the Islamic religion started with the Prophet of Allah, also known as God in the Arabian Peninsula. The region was formally occupied by nomads who moved in search of water points for their animals. The desert climate forced the migrants to move to different places every dry season given the nature of the Arab establishments. In the 5th century BC, many of the nomads relocated to the west coast of the Saudi Arabian region. As a result of their actions, they settled in a town known as Mecca (Schulze 177). The decision to settle in this part of the Arab country was that it had a large cubical shrine that was highly adored by many nomads. Additionally, many of the worshipers of deities offered their religious sacrifices at the same place. It is important to note that the religion around Mecca was animistic polytheism since many of the desert dwellers believed in the existence of the fiery spirits, popularly referred to as the Jinn. As a result, Mecca developed as a city, where merchants conducted business for worshipers who traveled around the Saudi Arabian coast. Additionally, the pilgrimage that converged worshipers were significant to believers and traders every lunar year. In light of these realizations, the Abrahamic faith developed from Judeo-Christian tradition. Importantly, the Muslims were confined to the principles of theocracy and emphasis on the cultural values of their faith. In this view, Arabian polytheism acknowledged a God that was the ultimate determinant to humanity’s destiny. The sporadic monotheism nature and rampant immorality in Mecca triggered the establishment of a true God. His name was Allah and was worshiped by the Arab communities around Mecca (Schulze 278). Under such developments, the Islamic religion gained ground and developed immensely through desert communities. The death of the prophet resulted in a conquest for succession, where various tribes separated due to ideological differences. The Islamic religion has similarities with the other two Abrahamic religions in many aspects. For example, it believes in the existence of a supreme being known as Allah, and his worship is documented in a holy book called the Quran. According to Muslims, the Quran is defined as the final revelation path given to humanity by Allah. The life of humanity is also recorded in the Old Testament, which plays a primary role in directing Muslims to the Afterlife. Importantly, Hebrew Tanakh, also known as the Old Testament, documents the lives of the prophets in detail. Conversely, the Islamic religion differs from the other two religions in the sense that they acknowledge Jesus as a prophet. Additionally, Muslims believe that the Holy Bible, which is a sacred book for Christians, is blessed since it documents about many of their prophets. However, they do not support the reasoning provided in the other accounts of religion. In light of these developments, it is important to note that Islam is a simple religion that entails sacred pillars (Schulze 219. For example, it starts with the belief in the existence of one God, Allah, faith in the prophet-hood, followed by a complete understanding of Angels, the afterlife, and the judgment day. Importantly, the religion entails practicing the faith- fasting, prayers, pilgrimage, and charity work. This set of holy duties has specific periods and title, including Salah, Rakat, Ramadan, and Hajj. Simultaneously, evil ought to be repelled by goodwill translated into good deeds. History and Origin of Christianity Christianity is one of the major religions in the Middle East. Abraham is a very significant figure in Christianity because they believe he made a covenant with God that graduated them to be the chosen people. God rewarded Abraham because he demonstrated tremendous faith and obedience. God promised Abraham that his descendants would live in a promised land named Hebrew in the ancient times, which is the contemporary Israel. The Christian religion coined its name from Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe was the only son of God. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and brought up in the ways of the Jews. He started his mission at the age of 30 years through teaching the new meaning of the traditional beliefs of the Jewish people. Christians believe in God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit (Hale 254). Notably, even though Christianity, Islam, and Judaism differ, they all originated from the Middle East. Another similarity is that all the three religions believe in one God. All the religions denote Abraham as an important figure and value the covenant he made with God. Another good point to illustrate the similarity of the three religions is that they all believe in faith demonstration, praying, and fasting. All the three religions have a place of worship that they value and respect. Additionally, the three religions are monotheistic, meaning they believe in one God. Islam, Judaism and Christianity all stress the idea of judgment, rewards in the afterlife as well as punishment. Christians differ from Muslims majorly because they do not believe Mohammed was a prophet. Although Christianity emerged from Judaism, it does not follow the old ways as Jesus brought new meaning to them. Christianity was developed from the Judaic laws. However, they abandoned the Jewish laws and embraced universal gospel for the entire human race. The Bible was originally written from the Greek language, and Christians believe that the book was written by writers who were inspired by God. The Quran was written in Arabic, and the scripts were given to Prophet Mohammed after a period of 20 years (Hale 177). The Judaism holy book is known as Hebrew Tanakh, which is similar to the Christian Old Testament. All the three religions differ regarding the people who made a special covenant, in that, in Islam, they believe in Mohammad, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, and Judaism believes in Moses’ agreement. All the three religions experienced split groups; in Christianity, the split groups encompass Orthodox, Protestants as well as the Roman Catholic. The division in Islam includes the Sunni and Shia, while in Judaism, the split groups include Reform Judaism and Hasidic Conservatives. History and Origin of Judaism Judaism is one of the oldest religions of the world established in the history of the Jews. Historical records point out that Judaism was a religion that developed under the Hebrew teachings of the Old Testament. According to the Judaic religion, God, who is also the creator, chose his people to follow him. Moreover, the Jews believe that they were an example to the world and continued to change with the altering nature of God and His ways. In light of such realizations, Judaism would be considered as the oldest of all religions that have significantly changed over time (Abrahams 167). The history of the Jews is narrated in the first five books of the Holy Bible. The Bronze Age is associated with Judaism in the sense that it marked the beginning of the religion in the Middle East. In the Bible, Judaism developed through many phases and history. For instance, many of the Biblical writers state that God chose Abraham to be the father of faith and the leader of the Jewish people. Additionally, He sent them Moses, who issued a set of regulations that were to be followed to the latter. The Ten Commandments have to be defined as the fundamental pillars that have guided Jews throughout history. In this view, the Jewish canon provides that God had an established relationship with the Jews. For example, it is noted that He guided them through difficulties and delivered them from bondages. God’s guidance was a significant force of the revolution that gave birth to Judaism. According to the Holy Bible, the Jews were a strong nation and built mighty temples across the Middle East. Importantly, they had renowned kings such as Saul, David, and Solomon. A significant change that affected Judaism was the period in the 920 BCE, where there was the fall of the various kingdoms. As a result, the Jewish people had to split into several groups. During the same year, there was the rise of prophets who would forecast the future. 600BCE saw the destruction of various temples and the persecution of Jewish leaders. As a result, many Jews fled their land and went to seek asylum in Babylon. The escalation of the events resulted in Jews living in the areas away from the Israeli nation (Abrahams 218). Years later, the Jewish community regained their power and position in the society. For instance, the year 175 BCE saw the onset of the Jewish teachers in temples and scribes. During the same period, the Jews were allowed to practice their religion freely while in exile. Thus, their influence grew rapidly given their magnitude of influence. Additionally, Jews gained power in foreign lands such as Syria, when the King created rules with the intent to eliminate the religious traditions. However, the opposition was challenged, and the temple that was built in their favor was destroyed. In light of these events, the Jews celebrate the Hannukah Festival. Judaism has different aspects of their religion that differ from the other two Abrahamic faiths. For example, they are referred to as the covenanted people, given the case that they are more observant of God’s rules and demands. According to the biblical accounts, Judaism is a religion that observes the Ten Commandments issued at Torah. Additionally, they are associated with vacation and witness in their communities. Thus, believers of the Judaic religion are mandated to observe and practice their actions and faith. This ideology means that Jews must obey the law and remain faithful to it. Thus, a given person would not be easily redeemed through the adoption of the various religious beliefs. Instead, they have to prove their creed and deeds, owing to the fact that they are on the spiritual path. Subsequently, Judaism observes the teachings in the Mishnah written and recorded by Jewish scholars during the destruction of their temple. The Mishnah has valuable teachings and expectations of a real Jew, which include customs and laws, which formed the major component of discussions by the rabbinical scholars. Talmud also remains to be the commentary segment for religious leaders in the Jewish community. Some features of the Judaic religious life seem related in the sense that they share prayer sessions with the Muslims (Abrahams 321). Additionally, the Jews attend prayers in synagogues with other members of the society. During the prayer times, Jews are allowed to participate in an open discussion about the laws and canons. However, a member of the congregation can occasionally decide to lead in the prayers. Such similarity is easily associated with Christians who pray in churches with other believers. At the same time, Judaism relates to the Islamic ways of worship in the sense that they gather in synagogues like Islamic pilgrimages. On the other hand, Judaism is very strict with the days of worship as well as observe the Sabbath since, during such periods, believers are prohibited from working. Conclusion Religion is a dominant factor that defines humanity in the contemporary society. Over the years, religion has been the central pillar that has built humanity’s moral aspect, given the fact that it unites believers with their creators. Different religions have various ways of worshipping or exercising their spiritual duties. The comparison factor of the set of responsibilities is the fundamental aspect through which religions would be compared. For example, the Jews and Christians hold similar beliefs in God, the creator. Muslims, on the other hand, believe that Allah is the only true God, and Muhammad is the only true prophet. Even though these Abrahamic religions may differ in spiritual duties and creeds, they share the history and doctrines to the worship of the Supreme Being. Historically, the many religions of the world have shared a platform. For example, Muslims share a common existence with the Jews in the sense that each community of believers emerged from the Middle East. Emphatically, Islam and Judaism have strongholds in countries of the Middle East such as Syria, Palestine, and Israel. The long-lasting relationship that has existed between the two groups has also been a ground for conflict of interests given the dire need for supremacy. Christianity is a religion that has been thought to distance its teaching as compared to other faiths. Ideally, Christians tend to believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is also thought to be the only son of God. Works Cited Silverstein, Adam J, Guy G. Stroumsa, and Moshe Blidstein. The Oxford Handbook of Abrahamic Religions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015. Print. Kirby, Torrance, Rahim Acar, and Bilal Bas. Philosophy and the Abrahamic Religions: Scriptural Hermeneutics and Epistemology. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Pub, 2013. Internet resource. Schulze, Reinhard. A Modern History of the Islamic World. New York: New York University Press, 2012. Print. Meddeb, Abdelwahab, Benjamin Stora, Jane M. Todd, and Michael B. Smith. A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations: From the Origins to the Present Day. , 2013. Internet resource. Hale, Rosemary D. Christianity. New York: Rosen Pub, 2010. Print. Read More

It is important to note that the religion around Mecca was animistic polytheism since many of the desert dwellers believed in the existence of the fiery spirits, popularly referred to as the Jinn. As a result, Mecca developed as a city, where merchants conducted business for worshipers who traveled around the Saudi Arabian coast. Additionally, the pilgrimage that converged worshipers were significant to believers and traders every lunar year. In light of these realizations, the Abrahamic faith developed from Judeo-Christian tradition.

Importantly, the Muslims were confined to the principles of theocracy and emphasis on the cultural values of their faith. In this view, Arabian polytheism acknowledged a God that was the ultimate determinant to humanity’s destiny. The sporadic monotheism nature and rampant immorality in Mecca triggered the establishment of a true God. His name was Allah and was worshiped by the Arab communities around Mecca (Schulze 278). Under such developments, the Islamic religion gained ground and developed immensely through desert communities.

The death of the prophet resulted in a conquest for succession, where various tribes separated due to ideological differences. The Islamic religion has similarities with the other two Abrahamic religions in many aspects. For example, it believes in the existence of a supreme being known as Allah, and his worship is documented in a holy book called the Quran. According to Muslims, the Quran is defined as the final revelation path given to humanity by Allah. The life of humanity is also recorded in the Old Testament, which plays a primary role in directing Muslims to the Afterlife.

Importantly, Hebrew Tanakh, also known as the Old Testament, documents the lives of the prophets in detail. Conversely, the Islamic religion differs from the other two religions in the sense that they acknowledge Jesus as a prophet. Additionally, Muslims believe that the Holy Bible, which is a sacred book for Christians, is blessed since it documents about many of their prophets. However, they do not support the reasoning provided in the other accounts of religion. In light of these developments, it is important to note that Islam is a simple religion that entails sacred pillars (Schulze 219.

For example, it starts with the belief in the existence of one God, Allah, faith in the prophet-hood, followed by a complete understanding of Angels, the afterlife, and the judgment day. Importantly, the religion entails practicing the faith- fasting, prayers, pilgrimage, and charity work. This set of holy duties has specific periods and title, including Salah, Rakat, Ramadan, and Hajj. Simultaneously, evil ought to be repelled by goodwill translated into good deeds. History and Origin of Christianity Christianity is one of the major religions in the Middle East.

Abraham is a very significant figure in Christianity because they believe he made a covenant with God that graduated them to be the chosen people. God rewarded Abraham because he demonstrated tremendous faith and obedience. God promised Abraham that his descendants would live in a promised land named Hebrew in the ancient times, which is the contemporary Israel. The Christian religion coined its name from Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe was the only son of God. Jesus was born in Bethlehem and brought up in the ways of the Jews.

He started his mission at the age of 30 years through teaching the new meaning of the traditional beliefs of the Jewish people. Christians believe in God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit (Hale 254). Notably, even though Christianity, Islam, and Judaism differ, they all originated from the Middle East. Another similarity is that all the three religions believe in one God. All the religions denote Abraham as an important figure and value the covenant he made with God. Another good point to illustrate the similarity of the three religions is that they all believe in faith demonstration, praying, and fasting.

All the three religions have a place of worship that they value and respect.

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