Comparing Judaism And Islam

Nachamada Roya Simon

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Religious studies 1023E Section 57

Comparison of the Rituals and practices in Christianity, Judaism and Islam

Christianity, Islam and Judaism three of the most influential religions in the world (cite) comprises of two of the world’s largest religions. Amongst the three religions Christianity is the largest religion with the largest amount of 2.3 followers of about followed by Islam with 2billion followers and twelfth, Judaism with approximately 14 million followers (Cite) . These religions have their similar and different believes and ways of practicising their beliefs but one thing they all have in common is the fact that they are all monotheistic religion, they serve and worship one God. Their

Christian practices and rituals are common to all forms of Christianity but various practices of Christianity depend on the denomination, an individual church and an individual Christian. In Christianity there are different denominations and they are catholic, protestants, Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Evangelical. Judaism has three forms the orthodox, reform, conservative, humanistic, re-constructionist, liberal. Islam on the other hand is not as divided as Christianity and Judaism. Islam is divided into two sects who are Sunni’s and the Shia’s but this division is not recognized as much as the divisions in the other two religions because most Muslims are Sunni’s

In the three religions prayer is one the core aspects and is crucial to true believers of the religions but among the three religions Islam takes prayers more seriously because it is obligatory. In Islam prayers is among the five pillars of Islam, which are the core practices of the religion. Every Muslim is expected to pray five times daily; at dawn, at noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and after dark. Every Muslim is expected to perform this religious duty. Before they perform this duty they have to perform ablution which is the cleansing of some specific parts of their body with water right before they pray. For Muslims this prayer is very important and it is obligatory, one is only exempted on certain grounds like sickness, travelling or if a girl is on her period. Meanwhile for Jews and Christians prayers are important to them to but it is not considered as a strict obligation like in Islam. For Christians there is no strict timing or procedures for prayers. They can pray whenever, wherever and however they want to pray. Also the catholic divisions of Christianity slightly have a different way of praying and who they pray to as well. The Catholics pray to God through Mary the mother of God while other denominations just pray straight to God. Meanwhile, observant Jews they are supposed to recite three prayers daily in the morning, afternoon and at