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Abrahamic Religions

Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

An examination of the shared origins and distinct historical development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, from ancient Israelite religion to their diverse traditions in the modern world.

Wikimedia Commons · Berthold Werner · Public domain

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  1. Ancient Israel and the Origins of Judaism. Israelite religion evolved toward monotheism through the patriarchs, Moses, and the Davidic monarchy.
  2. From Exile to Rabbinic Judaism. Exile, the Second Temple sects, and rabbinic Judaism shaped Jewish law and thought after 70 CE.
  3. Jewish Mysticism, Diaspora, and Modern Practice. Kabbalah, diaspora communities, and modern denominations shape how Judaism is practiced today.
  4. Jesus, Paul, and the Early Christian Church. The life of Jesus, the missions of Paul, and Nicaea shaped Christianity before the 1054 schism.
  5. Christian Traditions: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and the Reformation. Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and the Reformation produced the major branches of Christian practice.
  6. Muhammad, the Quran, and Islamic Practice. Muhammad, the Quran, the Five Pillars, and the Sunni-Shia split define early Islamic practice.
  7. Islamic Law, Mysticism, and Civilization. Islamic law, Sufism, and a golden age of science and philosophy shaped Islamic civilization.
  8. Shared Roots and Divergent Paths. The three Abrahamic faiths share roots, sacred cities, and eschatology, yet diverge in practice.

This is the starting point of Abrahamic Religions: you don't need any prior knowledge of this subject to begin.

Key points

Visual module map

1Ancient Israel and the Origins of Judaism
2Jewish Mysticism, Diaspora, and Modern Practice
3Christian Traditions: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and the Reformation
4Muhammad, the Quran, and Islamic Practice
5Shared Roots and Divergent Paths

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Final test

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Chronological Order

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Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Armstrong, K. (1993). A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. New York: Ballantine Books.
  • Esposito, J. L. (2016). Islam: The Straight Path. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Neusner, J. (1991). An Introduction to Judaism: A Textbook and Reader. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press.
  • Ehrman, B. D. (2016). The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings. 6th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Peters, F. E. (2003). The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Judaism," "Christianity," and "Islam." https://www.britannica.com