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Monotheistic Religions

Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism is the oldest and also the parent to both Christianity and Islam. At the heart of Judaism is the belief that there is one God who created and rules over the world. He sees and knows everything and has revealed his teachings to his people in the Torah. The Torah was written by Moses and follows the story of creation, the meeting Abraham had with God and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. According to the Torah, Abraham was told by God to go to the land of Canaan and settle his family there. Today this land is known as Palestine.

Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and is directly descended from the religion of the Jews. Most Christians believe God sent Jesus to the world as the Messiah prophesied to be the seal of a new covenant between God and all people.

Islam is based on the life and teaching of the prophet Muhammad, who lived in Arabia around 600’s AD. During Muhammad’s life the people of Mecca worshipped a different god for each day of the year. According to Islamic tradition Muhammad had the first of several visions in 610 AD. The vision occurred while Muhammad was meditating in a cave near his birthplace of Mecca. The vision commanded Muhammad to preach the message of Allah to the people of his country so he began preaching in Mecca that there was only one God. As Muhammad gained a number of followers, a tribe called the Quraysh who controlled Mecca began to oppose Muhammad. To avoid persecution by the Quraysh, Muhammad fled to the city of Medina. Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina is called the Hijra and is one of the central events in the founding of Islam. In 622 AD, Muhammad led an army from Medina to Mecca. He offered the people of the city generous peace terms. The people of Mecca were looking for someone to help them overcome their divisions. As a result, his army was able to take the city with little resistance. He made Mecca the sacred city and center of Islam.