Christianity, Islam and Judaism:A look at three of the world's largest religions
... the prophesies and teachings of a person or prophet, Mohammad. Mohammad lived from 570-632 CE. In 610 CE Mohammad received the revelation of the Qur’an from the angel Gabriel. Four years after receiving this revelation Mohammad began preaching publicly but was ridiculed and stoned by the Qurayshites in Mecca and was banished for three years (Fisher, 1999). Like Christianity, Muslims believe in only one God who alone is the creator of everything in the universe. Unlike Christianity however, Muslims do not believe that God had a son whom he sent dowm to earth to spread the gospel. The Qur’an is said to be the literal word of God. This document also mentions facts that have recently been proven by scientists, which is considered to be positive proof that the Qur’an is indeed the word of God and not the works of man (Abu-Harb, 1996). As we can find similarities and differences in all three of these religion’s origins, we can also find similarities and differences in the ways these religions were spread. Both Islam and Christianity have a long history of violence while Judaism has a long history of being persecuted. One of the most blatant examples of the spreading of religion through conquest is that of the Crusades. To the Christians of the middle ages, the Crusades were a symbol of their faith. The Christians sole purpose as they ventured toward the holy land was the killing of the infidels and ridding the holy land of all Islamic influence. Christianity was also spread into Latin America by the Spaniards through the murder of millions of Indians and the decimation of entire civilizations. All of this was done not only for religion, but also for gold. The main reason Christianity remains in Latin America is due to the fact that the Spaniards forced the conversion of their Indian slaves. Through out the Americas Christians came to dominate by using their superior technology to conquer, enslave and force conversion onto the inhabitants of the land. Islam is also a religion with a background of violence. Mohammad, the prophet of Islam, was a great warrior. Due the strong military powers of his religious predecessors and oppressors, the pagans of the Middle East, Mohammad was forced to both defend his city and to force submission. The word Islam itself means “submission”. After Mohammad was unable to attract more than a few converts during the years 610-622 CE while he preached peace, he was forced to use his military skills to force conversion through jihad or holy war. In contrast to Christianity, however, when Islamic solders conquered a territory, they did not force their religion upon the inhabitants by enslaving or slaughtering them but they did place taxes on the non-Muslim subjects which eventually led to conversion by choice rather than by force. Far in the contrast of spreading though conquest like Christianity and Islam is the history of Judaism. The home of Judaism is Jerusalem, also the home of Christian and Muslim religions as well. But unlike Christian and Muslims, Jerusalem is still the most sacred place on earth to the Jews. The first temple of the Jews was built here in 931 BCE. It was then destroyed in 586 BCE by the Babylonians and the Jews were exiled to Babylon. After fifty years of exile, the Jews returned to Jerusalem and another temple was built in 515 BCE. In 70 CE the temple was again destroyed, this time by the Romans after the Jewish defenders were slaughtered inside the walls of Jerusalem (Fisher, 1999). In 132-135 CE Jerusalem along with all Judean towns was destroyed after another revolt by the Jews against the Roman Empire. The remaining Jews that were not executed were forbidden to practice their faith in any way or t...