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What Is Judaism?

• Judaism does not have a formal mandatory beliefs
• The most accepted summary of Jewish beliefs is Rambam's 13 principles of faith
• Even these basic principles have been debated
• Judaism focuses on the relationships between the Creator, mankind, and the land of Israel

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  1. G-d exists

  2. G-d is one and unique

  3. G-d is incorporeal (has no body)

  4. G-d is eternal

  5. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other

  6. The words of the prophets are true

  7. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets

  8. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses

  9. There will be no other Torah

  10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men

  11. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked

  12. The Messiah will come

  13. The dead will be resurrected

So, what are these actions that Judaism is so concerned about? According to Orthodox Judaism, these actions include 613 commandments given by G-d in the Torah as well as laws instituted by the rabbis and long-standing customs. These actions are discussed in depth on the page regarding Halakhah: Jewish Law and the pages following it.  Judaism has several large sects, such as Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Hasidic and Kabbalah.

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people (also known as Hebrews and/or Israelites). 

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The Book of Genesis traces the origins of the Nation of Israel, which is named after Jacob's name of faith he is given as an adult.  See Genesis 32 for details of Jacob becoming known as Israel.  Jacob was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham.  Abraham could trace his lineage back to Adam and Eve.

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Isaac had an older half-brother named Ishmael, who was the son of one of Abraham's female slaves.  Ishmael and his mother were sent off by Abraham and his wife Sarah to live in what is now Saudi Arabia.

What Is Islam?

The word "Islam" means "surrender" or "submission" and comes from the root word "salem" which means peace.

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The Arabic word for God is Allah. 

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Muslims believe that Allah is supreme, all-knowing, ever-present, the one and only True God.  They do not believe Jesus was the Son of God, nor do they believe in the Holy Spirit.

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The Muslim holy scripture is called the Qur'an, meaning "the reading".  The Qur'an is believed to have been delivered to Ishmael's decendant, Mohammad by the angel Gabriel over a 23-year period beginning in about 610 A.D. (about 575 years after Christ's Crucifixion). 

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The Five Pillars of Islam:

1)  The Testimony of Faith:  "There is no true god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.

2)  Prayer:  Muslims around the world perform five prayers each day.  There are no intermediaries between God the worshipper.  In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace and comfort, and that God is pleased with him or her.

3)  Giving Zakat (support of the needy):  Muslims hold that all things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by humans in trust.  Typically, giving 2.5% of one's income or cash per year to the needy is required.

4)  Fasting for the month of Ramadan:  Every year, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset for the month of Ramadan.

5)  Pilgrimage to Mecca:  All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, at least once.

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Muhammad is Allah's prophet, the last in a line of major prophets that include Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus.

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Islamic theology also teaches that angels were created from light; that jinn are another race of beings, created from fire, who are invisible yet all around us; that there is an eternal judgment to Paradise for the good and hell for the bad; and that drinking alcohol is forbidden as is gambling.  Muslims hold that Jews, Christians and Muslims are all "people of the book" and related through Abraham. 

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According to Islam, you are judged according to your efforts to do good and avoid sin.  A person must believe in God and follow His Commandments.

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Muslims hold that Jesus was put on the cross, but did not die on it, that God raised him directly to heaven.  He and his mother Mary are regarded as perfect and sinless.  Jesus was a perfect, sinless, highly revered Prophet and a messenger of God. Jesus was immaculately conceived through God, but is not God or the son of God. Jesus did not die but ascended to heaven. So there was no resurrection.  Some Muslims believe that Jesus will return at the end of the world, but as a sign of the end, not the cause of it.

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Belief in one God, who has sent messengers with revelation and guidance for humanity so they may be guided to good & who have came with both good news and a warning, the last & final messenger being Muhammad.  Only Allah, who is seen as being all-powerful. "They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah." —Surat Al-Ma'idah 5:73

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Most Muslims believe all other religions are false. "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day...until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued."—Surat At-Tawbah 9:29 Disbelievers will go to eternal hell.

What Is Christianity?

Christianity is the religion of followers of Jesus Christ.  Christians believe that Jesus is God made man, referred to as the "Son of God".  Christians also hold that the Holy Spirit is the third part of the "Holy Trinity", the Spirit of God, a "helper" who will come abide in each person's heart if they but answer God's call.  In the New Testament, Christians can trace the human lineage of Christ from Mary and Joseph through King David to Jacob, Isaac, Abraham and ultimately to Adam and Eve.

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Practices:

Prayer:  Christians have moved from having set times of prayer (three, five or seven times daily depending on which branch) to praying whenever and wherever the "Spirit moves them".

Worship in Church:  Most Christians attend church on a weekly basis, almost always on Sundays.

Reading the Bible:  Christians generally regard the Bible as the Holy Word of God, dictated to each of the dozens of authors through divine inspiration, perfect and infallible.  Many current Christians now regard the Bible as the Word of God, but not necessarily historically accurate.

Acts of Charity:  Christians, like Jews, are encouraged to tithe, giving 10% of their income every year.  Followers of Christ are encouraged not to limit themselves to simply "checking a box" but loving their neighbor as themselves - in other words, always looking for opportunities to help their fellow man.

Sacraments / Communion:  Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession of Sins, Marriage, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick are the seven sacraments of Catholicism.

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Many Christians believe all other religions are false.  Moderates may or may not believe this.

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More than following the hundreds of laws that made up the Old Testament (as Christians refer to God's promises with the Hebrews), Christians hold that there are essentially two "Great Commandments":  to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments rest all the law and the prophets."  Further, in the Sermon on the Mount, Christians are instructed to strive for a perfect life, beginning with emptying ourselves of all selfish desires and focusing on God's higher calling to go beyond merely following the letter of the law.

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Most Christians believe that Christ will return during the apocalypse, which will bring about the Kingdom of God on earth.

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