Today, many people are inclined to pay attention to the differences in religious traditions when the accentuation of the similarities in the spiritual beliefs is more significant for understanding the roots and principles of this or that religion. The Judeo-Christian tradition and Islam are based on the same spiritual ground that is why it is possible to determine the features which can be discussed as characteristic ones for these religious traditions.
It is important to note that Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions are Abrahamic in their nature because their roots lead to Abraham. Thus, Christians and Muslims believe in one God, in God’s prophets, in the concepts of revelation and resurrection of dead people (Bowker, 2006). To understand the association between the world religions, it is necessary to focus on similarities in interpreting the creation story, in approaching eschatology and afterlife, in discussing the norms of the moral code and duties.
The Judeo-Christian tradition and Islam are usually discussed as monotheistic religions where the stories of the Universe creation by God play the important role. The similarities can be observed not only in the general approach to cosmogony but also in depicting the details of the process. Thus, God is described as creating the World during six days in both traditions. The man was made from the dust or dirt, and he became alive after God’s breathing a life into him. Moreover, Adam and Eve are depicted as the first people in the Koran as well as in the Bible (Molloy, 2009).
While having similar features in the story of creation, the Judeo-Christian tradition and Islam also share the similar elements in the approach to eschatology and the idea of afterlife. According to these traditions, the final days of the World are associated with the second coming, with the Judgment Day, and with the division of people into two categories of those ones who will go to the paradise and to the hell.
According to the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, Christians and Muslims will go to the heavens and their position will be judged in relation to their morality and actions (Matthews, 2012). Thus, the concept of the afterlife depends on being a believer because during the last days of the world, the evil will be defeated, and the believers will go to the heavens when the other people will be punished.
The idea of the afterlife is closely associated with moral codes and moral behaviors which should be followed in order to please the Supreme Being. The basic elements of the moral codes for both the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions are the prohibition of idolatry, murder, suicide, adultery, and lying.
Much attention is paid to the significance of the family relationships. Thus, any inhumane acts are forbidden and punished (Molloy, 2009). The accents are made on following the moral principles strictly and living the virtuous life (Matthews, 2012). In spite of the fact definite rules can be different for the Judeo-Christian tradition and Islam, the basics are the same.
The discussed core elements of two major religious traditions have a lot of similarities because they are based on the same spiritual roots. The similarities in interpreting the basics of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions are important because this fact stresses the single vision of the role of morality and faith in the people’s life without references to following the Judeo-Christian tradition or Islam.
References
Bowker, J. (2006). World religions: The great faiths explored and explained. USA: DK ADULT.
Matthews, W. (2012). World religions. USA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Molloy, M. (2009). Experiencing the world’s religions. USA: McGraw-Hill.