Judaism, Christianity and Islam are very similar religions. It’s impossible not to be when they built directly on top of each other’s religious views and texts in the same place. Judaism was the original, Christianity came along triumphing the savior of the Jewish people, Jesus, however, the Jews did not accept him as the messiah, because the Jews who did became the Christians, if they hadn’t this blog would only be about the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. Then after Jesus and Christianity comes Islam with, who they consider to be the last prophet of Allah, Muhammad. That’s something else they all have in common, they all believe in the “one true god.” Each may advertize a slightly different supporting cast with slightly differing opinions on the characters importance in the whole production. Moses is recognized by all faiths as is Noah but Jesus is only a player in Christianity as the son of god and the Messiah and by Muslims as merely a prophet, albeit a very important one. But essentially, be big star, the one who steals they show is the same. All hail the spirit in the sky.
The human condition present in these religions seems to that of sin. Eve, a character in the common creation story, ate of the tree of life, gave it to her mate, Adam, and both were then able to see as god sees. This was the one act forbidden by god so they were cast out of the beautiful lush all providing garden he had provided for them and forced to populate the planet with their sinful spawn. Each of these religions holds the same solution to our sinful nature, respectively of course. Christians believe you must accept their lord and savior Jesus Christ, because he is the way, the truth, and the light, and the only way to the father is through him. Simple as that open up you heart to Jesus and you’re in. Judaism doesn’t ascribe to the jesus-as-the-messiah notion so for them you must live by the word of God. Do your best to live a good life as his chosen people. Islam takes on a similar idea of Christianity except they believe Allah is the one true god and Muhammad is his prophet. Now this was the problem/solution cut and dry, moving from problem to solution involves more legwork. The goal is to act like God, love like god, provide like god. Giving tithing to the church to help out with problems seems to be a reoccurring theme. Just as reaching out to those less fortunate than you either spiritually, financially, or without them even asking. God wants his children to spread his name so that more may come to know him and spread his name even further. The Bible, the Torah, and the Quran are the blueprints set out by these faiths to help people live better lives, to do better by their neighbors and families. However, this “us” mentality is pretty sweeping and brings to light another universal and that is the “us and them” idea. “We” are going to heaven and “you” are not because you don’t believe in “my” god!”
I think the best way to execute the solution in our lives is to remember that at the heart of everything is being a good person. Personally I do not consider myself religious. I renounced church and the biblical version of god a long time ago. But one thing that stuck with his heretic is that being good is intrinsic. True there are bad people in the world, but I couldn’t accept that religions just offer them a prayer and bing bang boom, no questions asked, all sins forgiven one way ticket to the land of milk and honey. Then I started to question whether there even was a heaven and hell. The more I thought about it the more it becomes clear to me that they are concepts, tools, simply put in place to keep people operating efficiently without disruption and with as much love as possible. So that’s what I think is most important. And I don’t think religion is needed for the moral basis of society. I think the golden rule; treat people the way you want to be treated has been around as long as homo has lived in bands, beyond sapiens and Neanderthal. I have read about indigenous tribes who worshiped nature entities essentially and they have moral compasses. True their society is much more relaxed and egalitarian than the large metropolises of ancient Middle East, but if someone killed someone they were shunned and cast out of the group for the trouble they caused. Do unto others. Don’t kick children or puppies; don’t take things that aren’t yours, help your fellow human being out.
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