World Religions
Christina M. Epps
Strayer University

World Religions
Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are three world religions. It is a common misperception that these three religions have nothing in common. While Christianity, Islam, and Judaism do have many differences, thay also have some of the same ideals. One similarity that the three religions share is there belief in one God, the God of Abraham (The Origins of Islam, 2012). All three religions also believe in angels and demons (ReligionFacts, 2012). Two of the most common angels spoke of in Christianity, Islam, and Judaisn are archangels, Michael and Gabriel; the most common demon for the three is Satan. Another common factor they share is that all of there teaching come from a Holy book (ReligionFacts, 2012). While their books may be different and have different teachings, they are all sacred to each religion. Also, Jerusalem is the center of all three religions, and each holds Jerusalem as its Holy city. Eventhough there are similarities in these religions, the differences definitely outweigh the similaries.
Christianity is the world’s largest religion. Christianity has many differences from Islam and Judaism. Christians, those who follow Christianity, read their teaching from the bible, their holy book. Christians also believe that God has three parts, also know as the trinity. They believe there is God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit (Judaism, Islam, Christianity-Comparison, n.d.). Neither Judaism nor Islam believe in this trinity, they believe in the only one God. Also, Christians believe that Jesus is a part of God, as he is the son of God, and that he died on the cross during his crucifixion (ReligionFacts 2012). Christians believe that salvation is gained by following the teachings of Jesus. Christianity is also the only one of the three religions that does not have a sacred language.

World Religions
Christians hold their day of worship on Sundays in their Holy buildings, churches (ReligionFacts, 2012).
Islam, which is practiced by Muslims, is the second largest religion in the world, and diffs from Christianity and Judaism. Muslims read their teachings from the Qur’an, their holy book. The Qur’an came from the Prophet Muhammad, who is the founder of Islam, and who all Muslims aspire to be as The Origins of Islam, 2012). Muslims believe in only one God, and of God as only one being. There are many names for God, but the most common called by Muslims is Allah. Like Christians, Muslims believe that Jesus’s birth was a virgin birth; contrary to Christians, Muslims do not believe that Jesus was a Messiah, but that he was a Prophet (The Origins of Islam, 2012). Muslims also believe that when Jesus was crucified, he did not die, but ascended into heaven during crucifixtion. Muslims have the sacred language of Arabic, in which the Qur’an is written and read from. There are translated versions, but for most read the Qur’am in Arabic so that nothing is lost in translation. Another important difference in Islam is their dietary laws. Muslims are not supposed to have pork or alcohol as they are forbidden; Judaism also has dietary restrictions, however Christianity does not. Islam and Judaism also share another common factor that Christians do not, and that is fasting, Ramadan and Yom Kippur. Islam is practiced in the holy building of a Mosque, and their day of worship is held on Fridays (The Origins of Islam, 2012).
Finally there is Judaism, which is less popular in the world than Christianity and Islam, it is ranked the twelfth largest religion in the world (ReligionFacts, 2012). Individuals who practice this religion are