Abrahamic Religions
Prepared to Fulfill the Intercultural Communication Course Supporting Lecturer: Wildi Adila, S.Pd.I., M.A.
Created By:
1. Fita Aprilia K.D (226111116) 2. Muhammad Fikri Rafi (226111125) 3. Qirara Azamatul Aminah (226111136)
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF CULTURES AND LANGUAGES
UIN RADEN MAS SAID SURAKARTA 2023
PREFACE
Praise be to Allah SWT. for the blessings of His grace, and that we were given the opportunity to be able to compile a paper entitled "Abrahamic Religions". We would like to express our gratitude to all those who were involved in the writing and preparation of this paper. We also extend our thanks to the authors of books, journals, and articles whose works we have used as references.
The preparation of this paper is motivated by our desire to provide material and knowledge to readers through papers prepared to fulfill the requirements in understanding cultural differences in religion and as additional material for presentations in the Intercultural Communication course. We realize that there are still shortcomings in the preparation of this paper. Therefore, we welcome suggestions, criticism, and guidance from readers for future improvements. Hopefully this paper can be useful for the readers.
Sukoharjo, 18 October 2023
TABLE OF CONTENS
PREFACE... 2
CHAPTER 1... 4
A. Background...4
B. Research Problem...4
CHAPTER II... 5
A. Abrahamic religions... 5
B. Similarities and Differences... 8
C. The Influences of Abrahamic religions in society...12
CHAPTER III...13
A. Conclusion...13
B. Suggestion... 13
BIBLIOGRAPHY...14
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A. Background
Religions is a term used to refer to systems of beliefs, spiritual practices, and views of the world that involve human relationships with divine powers, supernatural entities, or metaphysical concepts. Religion is an integral part of human culture and has various forms, doctrines, and practices around the world. It includes various religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, and many others.
The Abrahamic religions are a group of religions, most notably Judaism, Christianity and Islam, centered around the worship of the God of Abraham. Abraham, a Hebrew patriarch, is extensively mentioned in the religious scriptures of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, and the Quran. Abrahamic religion means that all these religions come from one spiritual source. While there is a commonality among the religions, in large measure their shared ancestry is peripheral to their respective foundational beliefs and thus conceals crucial differences. We took the topic of Abrahamic religions to find out what are the similarities and differences between one another (Three Religions).
B. Research Problem
1. What is Abrahamic Religions?
2. What are the similarities and differences between the three Abrahamic Religions?
3. What is the influences of Abrahamic religion in society?
CHAPTER 11 DISCUSSION A. Abrahamic religions
The term "Abrahamic Religion", or Abrahamic religion, is a theoretical term for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, where Abraham (Abraham) is seen as the ancestor of the three religions. Therefore, the discussion on Abrahamic Religion will discuss the views of Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions regarding Abraham, as well as the views of the three religions regarding their "founders", namely Moses, Jesus (Isa), and Muhammad.
Abrahamic religion is one name for the 3 major religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity). The word Abrahamic is attributed to a prophet who was the originator or estuary of three major religions, namely Ibrahim As. He was born around 2166 BC in Ur- Kasdhim, in southern Iraq. The Jews called Ibrahim by the name Abraham. The word Abraham means "father of many nations". Prophet Ibrahim called Abraham because it was the custom of the people at that time. His real name is Abram, which means "noble or merciful father" Because it is attributed to Abraham, Abrahamic religion has a definition;
any religion that emerged from a common ancient semitic tradition and traced by its adherents to Abraham. In other words, every religion whose main source of teachings can be traced to the teachings of Abraham, then these religions are called Abrahamic religions.
a. Judaism
Judaism is one of the Abrahamic religions. Abrahamic religions are religions that have the same traces and common ground with the teachings of the Prophet Ibrahim As. Judaism or Judaism (Iranian: Yahadut; from Irani Yehuda) is the original religion of the Jewish people which includes all religious traditions and traditions of Jewish culture and law. In its development, Judaism has had many streams over time.
Judaism is the oldest religion among the five religions which adheres to the belief that the divine nature directly sent down revelation to the person who created it.
Four other religions: the Zarathusta religion, the Christian religion, the Islamic religion, and the Sikh religion. Judaism directly shows influence on two other
religions in the field of belief, namely Christianity and Islam. The last two religions immediately recognize and glorify the Messengers and Prophets in that environment.
Judaism is a religion known as a religion of absolute monotheism. The teaching of monotheism is the basis for belief in One God in the first place. If we trace its history, this religion is a continuation of the monotheism religion which was pioneered by Ibrahim/Abraham. There are three terms that are often used to name the Jewish people, namely: Jews, Hebrews, and Israelis. The term Jew comes from the Arabic hada which is translated: hadayahudu-hawdan which has the same meaning as taba- yatubu-taubantaubata, meaning repentance or people who repent. The word Jew is also associated with the name of the Prophet Jacob's 12 sons, namely the fourth son named Yahuda.
Jews themselves often describe that the history of their nation is identical to the history of mankind with civilization and culture spread throughout the world. They also describe their faith as the most correct and noble faith. The Jewish religion is actually a continuation of the divine teachings that were revealed by God to the prophet Abraham. Apart from Moses being seen as one of the Prophets who continued the Abrahamic religion, revealed religions everywhere always have the same characteristics in their teaching principles.
b. Islam
The history of Islam concerns the political, social, economic, military, and cultural developments of the Islamic civilization. Most historians believe that Islam originated in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE. Muslims regard Islam as a return to the original faith of the Abrahamic prophets, such as Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Daud, Sulaiman, and Isa, with the submission (Islām) to the will of God.
Page from the Sanaa manuscript. The "subtexts" revealed using UV light are very different from today's standard edition of the Quran. The German scholar of Quranic palaeography Gerd R. Puin affirms that these textual variants indicate an evolving text. A similar view has been expressed by the British historian of Near Eastern studies Lawrence Conrad regarding the early biographies of Muhammad;
according to him, Islamic views on the birth date of Muhammad until the 8th century CE had a diversity of 85 years span.
According to the traditional account, the Islamic prophet Muhammad began receiving what Muslims consider to be divine revelations in 610 CE, calling for submission to the one God, the expectation of the imminent Last Judgement, and caring for the poor and needy. Muhammad's message won over a handful of followers (the ṣaḥāba) and was met with increasing opposition from Meccan notables. In 622 CE, a few years after losing protection with the death of his influential uncle ʾAbū Ṭālib ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, Muhammad migrated to the city of Yathrib (now known as Medina). With the death of Muhammad in 632 CE, disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community during the Rāshidūn Caliphate.
The early Muslim conquests were responsible for the spread of Islam. By the 8th century CE, the Umayyad Caliphate extended from Muslim Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east. Polities such as those ruled by the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates (in the Middle East and later in Spain and Southern Italy), the Fatimids, Seljuks, Ayyubids, and Mamluks were among the most influential powers in the world. Highly Persianized empires built by the Samanids, Ghaznavids, and Ghurids significantly contributed to technological and administrative developments. The Islamic Golden Age gave rise to many centres of culture and science and produced notable polymaths, astronomers, mathematicians, physicians, and philosophers during the Middle Ages.
By the early 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate conquered the northern Indian subcontinent, while Turkic dynasties like the Sultanate of Rum and Artuqids conquered much of Anatolia from the Byzantine Empire throughout the 11th and 12th centuries. In the 13th and 14th centuries, destructive Mongol invasions and those of Tamerlane (Timur) from the east, along with the loss of population due to the Black Death, greatly weakened the traditional centers of the Muslim world, stretching from Persia to Egypt, but saw the emergence of the Timurid Renaissance and major global economic powers such as the Mali Empire in West Africa and the Bengal Sultanate in South Asia. Following the deportation and enslavement of the Muslim Moors from the Emirate of Sicily and other Italian territories, the Islamic Iberia was gradually conquered by Christian forces during the Reconquista. Nonetheless, in the early modern period, the states of the Age of the Islamic Gunpowders—Ottoman Turkey, Mughal India, and Safavid Iran—emerged as world powers.
c. Christian
The term "Christian" everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord and makes an effort to live according to His teachings is considered a Christian, regardless of gender or age. In Antioch, followers of Jesus were initially referred to as
"Christians." According to Acts 11:26, Barnabas and Saul taught a large number of people in the church for a full year. In Antioch, the disciples were initially referred to as Christians." They were referred to be "Christians" since they spoke and behaved like Jesus.
The significance of a person's intimate relationship with Jesus Christ is something that evangelicals emphasise greatly. Prayer, Bible study, fellowship with God's people, and service to others in the name of Jesus, in our opinion, are the ways in which this relationship is lived out. Christian faith must be articulated in a very significant way within the framework of a community of believers. Ultimately, though, it's a very private and personal decision rather than a matter of religious affiliation or doctrinal preference.
B. Similarities and Differences a. Similarities
All three religions believe in the same God, the God of Abraham/Ibrahim/Brahman.
The Abrahamic God is the conception of God that remains a common feature of all Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamic God is conceived of as eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and as the creator of the universe. God is further held to have the properties of holiness, justice, omnibenevolence, and omnipresence. Proponents of Abrahamic faiths believe that God is also transcendent, but at the same time personal and involved, listening to prayer and reacting to the actions of his creatures. God in Abrahamic religions is always referred to as masculine only.
These three religions have holy books that are considered sacred and used as a guide to life, namely the Torah, the Bible, and the Qur’an
All three religions have a belief in the Day of Judgment and life after death.
a. Differences
God
The Star of David (or Magen David) is a generally recognized symbol of modern Jewish identity and Judaism. Jewish theology is strictly monotheistic. God is an absolute one, indivisible and incomparable being who is the ultimate cause of all existence. Jewish tradition teaches that the true aspect of God is incomprehensible
and unknowable and that it is only God's revealed aspect that brought the universe into existence, and interacts with mankind and the world. In Judaism, the one God of Israel is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is the guide of the world, delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, and gave them the 613 Mitzvot at Mount Sinai as described in the Torah. The national god of the Israelites has a proper name, written Y-H-W-H (Hebrew: הוהי) in the Hebrew Bible. The etymology of the name is unknown. An explanation of the name is given to Moses when YHWH calls himself
"I Am that I Am", (Hebrew: היהא רשא היהא ’ehye ’ăšer ’ehye), seemingly connecting it to the verb hayah (ה[י [ה), meaning 'to be', but this is likely not a genuine etymology. Jewish tradition accords many names to God, including Elohim, Shaddai, and Sabaoth.
The Christian cross (or crux) is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity;
this version is known as a Latin Cross. In Christian theology, God is the eternal being who created and preserves the world. Christians believe God to be both transcendent and immanent (involved in the world). Early Christian views of God were expressed in the Pauline Epistles and the early creeds, which proclaimed one God and the divinity of Jesus.
The word God written in Arabic. In Islamic theology, God (Arabic: هللا Allāh) is the all-powerful and all-knowing creator, sustainer, ordainer and judge of everything in existence. Islam emphasizes that God is strictly singular (tawḥīd) unique (wāḥid) and inherently One (aḥad), all-merciful and omnipotent. According to Islamic teachings, God exists without place and according to the Quran, "No vision can grasp him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things."God, as referenced in the Quran, is the only God. Islamic tradition also describes the 99 names of God. These 99 names describe attributes of God, including Most Merciful, The Just, The Peace and Blessing, and the Guardian.
Islamic belief in God is distinct from Christianity in that God has no progeny. This belief is summed up in chapter 112 of the Quran titled Al-Ikhlas, which states "Say, he is Allah (who is) one, Allah is the Eternal, the Absolute. He does not beget nor was he begotten. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.
Scripture
The sacred scriptures of Judaism are the Tanakh, a Hebrew acronym standing for Torah (Law or Teachings), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). These are complemented by and supplemented with various (originally oral) traditions:
Midrash, the Mishnah, the Talmud and collected rabbinical writings. The Tanakh (or Hebrew Bible) was composed between 1,400 BCE, and 400 BCE by Jewish prophets, kings, and priests.
The sacred scriptures of most Christian groups are the Old Testament and the New Testament. Latin Bibles originally contained 73 books; however, 7 books, collectively called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanon depending on one's opinion of them, were removed by Martin Luther due to a lack of original Hebrew sources, and now vary on their inclusion between denominations. Greek Bibles contain additional materials. The New Testament comprises four accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus (the Four Gospels), as well as several other writings (the epistles) and the Book of Revelation. They are usually considered to be divinely inspired, and together comprise the Christian Bible.
Islam's holiest book is the Quran, comprising 114 Suras ("chapters of the Qur'an"). However, Muslims also believe in the religious texts of Judaism and Christianity in their original forms, albeit not the current versions. According to the Quran (and mainstream Muslim belief), the verses of the Quran were revealed by God through the Archangel Jibrail to Muhammad on separate occasions. These revelations were written down and also memorized by hundreds of companions of Muhammad. These multiple sources were collected into one official copy. After the death of Muhammad, Quran was copied on several copies and Caliph Uthman provided these copies to different cities of Islamic Empire. The Quran mentions and reveres several of the Israelite prophets, including Moses and Jesus, among others.
The stories of these prophets are very similar to those in the Bible. However, the detailed precepts of the Tanakh and the New Testament are not adopted outright; they are replaced by the new commandments accepted as revealed directly by God (through Jibril) to Muhammad and codified in the Quran.
Circumcition
Judaism and Samaritanism commands that males be circumcised when they are eight days old, as does the Sunnah in Islam. Despite its common practice in Muslim- majority nations, circumcision is considered to be sunnah (tradition) and not required for a life directed by Allah. Although there is some debate within Islam over whether it is a religious requirement or mere recommendation, circumcision (called khitan) is practiced nearly universally by Muslim males.
Today, many Christian denominations are neutral about ritual male circumcision, not requiring it for religious observance, but neither forbidding it for cultural or other reasons. Western Christianity replaced the custom of male circumcision with the ritual of baptism, a ceremony which varies according to the doctrine of the denomination, but it generally includes immersion, aspersion, or anointment with water.
Guidelines for eating
Judaism and Islam have strict food rules, with permitted food known as kosher in Judaism, and halal in Islam. These two religions prohibit the consumption of pork;
Islam prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages of any kind. Halal restrictions can be seen as a modification of the kashrut dietary laws, so many kosher foods are considered halal; especially in the case of meat, which Islam prescribes must be slaughtered in the name of God. Hence, in many places, Muslims used to consume kosher food. However, some foods not considered kosher are considered halal in Islam.
With rare exceptions, Christians do not consider the Old Testament's strict food laws as relevant for today's church; see also Biblical law in Christianity. Most Protestants have no set food laws, but there are minority exceptions.
Place of worship
A synagogue is the main place of worship in Judaism. It is the house of worship and center of the Jewish community where they gather to pray, read the Torah, and celebrate religious festivals. Synagogues can be found all over the world, and in various architectural forms.
A church is the main place of Christian worship. A Christian church is a building used for worship, holding mass or weekly services, and celebrating sacraments such as Holy Communion. There are various Christian denominations, and their churches can have different architectural styles and rites. A chapel is a small building used for Christian worship, especially in places like schools, hospitals, and factories. Chapels can also be additional places of worship outside of the main church.
The mosque is the main place of worship in Islam. It is a place where Muslims gather to pray (ritual worship in Islam), attend khutbah (Friday sermon), read the Quran, and perform other acts of worship. The mosque also serves as the center of the Muslim community. The Kaaba is a sacred building within the Grand Mosque in Mecca City, Saudi Arabia. The Kaaba is the Qibla (the direction to face during
prayer) for all Muslims around the world. Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and visit the Kaaba.
Time of worship
Prayer is a very important Jewish religious service, which they perform three times a day. First in the morning (Shaharit) around nine o'clock, second in the middle of the day at 11 o'clock (Minha), and third in the afternoon (Ma'ariv) around three o'clock. In prayer they face Baitul Muqaddas in Palestine, which is their Qibla.
Jewish worship is led by ‘’Cazzan’’.
Christian worship is at any time and any place, because Christianity is actually a lifestyle and not a religion. But usually on Saturday and Sunday.
Islamic prayer is performed five times a day. The obligation of prayer began when the Prophet Muhammad performed Mi'raj, when he was in Sidrarah al- Mumtaha, the prophet with the intermediary of the angel Gabriel received a revelation from God in the form of prayer which was originally said to be fifty times.
Muslim prayers are led by an Imam.
C. The Influences of Abrahamic religions in society
a. Values and Ethics: Abrahamic religions provide ethical and moral guidelines that influence the behavior of individuals and groups in society. Principles such as love, compassion, justice and peace are emphasized in the teachings of these religions and form the basis of moral values in society.
b. Law and Justice: Abrahamic religions have influenced the legal systems of many countries. Several legal principles derived from the Torah, Bible and Quran have been adopted in the legal system, including the prohibition of murder, theft and perjury.
c. Freedom of Religion: The concept of religious freedom is an important value promoted by Abrahamic religions. This has helped society to better understand the importance of tolerance and the right of individuals to worship according to their own beliefs.
d. Social Welfare: Abrahamic religions often encourage charity and social service. Many churches, mosques, and synagogues engage in social welfare activities such as giving food to the poor, assisting in education, and providing medical assistance.
e. Marriage and Family: Abrahamic religions play an important role in marriage ceremonies and in shaping values around the family, such as the importance of fidelity in marriage and the responsibilities of parents towards their children.
f. Art and Culture: Abrahamic religions have provided inspiration for art and culture around the world. Works of art, music and literature often reflect these religious themes.
g. Interfaith Relations: Abrahamic religions can play an important role in promoting interfaith dialog and interfaith cooperation. In many places, there are efforts to build understanding and cooperation between people of different faiths.
h. Social Change: Abrahamic religions have been drivers of social change in history.
Examples include the civil rights movement in the United States led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa supported by religious leaders.
i. Conflict and Stress: While Abrahamic religions promote peace and tolerance, they have also been used as an excuse in conflicts and political shifts. History records numerous conflicts involving religious differences in different regions.
j. Education: Abrahamic religions play an important role in the education system.
Religious schools, Sunday schools, and other religious educational institutions provide religious, ethical, and moral lessons to the younger generation.
CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION A. Conclusion
The Abrahamic religions are a collection of faiths that are oriented on worshiping the God of Abraham, most notably Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to the Abrahamic religion, all of these faiths have a common spiritual ancestor. While there are similarities across the various religions, in large part their shared ancestry is secondary to their unique fundamental beliefs, which hides significant disparities. The similarities and differences between Abrahamic religions affect the knowledge, interactions, and relationships of individuals and communities who follow these religions.
However, if not handled positively, discrepancies in beliefs and behaviors can also result in disputes, prejudice, and social divisions. To create a more cohesive and peaceful world that values and welcomes the richness of religious plurality, it is crucial for individuals and society to promote conversation, education, and respect for religious variety. It is essential for a peaceful coexistence amongst people of various faiths to strike a balance between the appreciation of shared values and the celebration of distinctive beliefs.
B. Suggestion
There is nothing wrong if we want to learn and understand many things about religions.
because, studying religion can increase our knowledge about other religions out there, and studying it can change our point of view on a religion. Although there are differences in religions with each other, we should not demonize the religion. As someone who is religious, we should respect those who have differences with us.
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