Abrahamic religions facts for kids
The Abrahamic religions are a group of faiths that believe in one God. They all respect or admire a very important religious figure named Abraham. The three largest Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This group also includes some smaller faiths. These religions have similar beliefs, histories, and come from the same part of the world. The term "Abrahamic religions" became popular in the 20th century. It helps us understand the connections between these faiths.
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What Does "Abrahamic" Mean?
The phrase "Abrahamic religions" helps describe the things that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common. People use this term a lot when different religious groups talk to each other. It also appears in school and university discussions. This term first started being used in the mid-1900s. While it mostly refers to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, some people think it should include other faiths too. For example, the Baháʼí Faith, which began in the late 1800s, is also seen as Abrahamic. This is because it believes in one God and sees Abraham as an important figure.
Abraham is a key figure that connects Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These religions share ideas about how the world was created and how God speaks to people. They also share beliefs about being saved or redeemed. Even with these shared ideas, the details can be different within each religion. Supporters of the term "Abrahamic religions" say that all three worship the same God that Abraham worshipped. A Catholic scholar named Louis Massignon said that "Abrahamic religion" means these faiths come from one spiritual beginning. The idea for the modern term comes from the Quran, which talks about the "religion of Ibrahim" (Abraham). In Christianity, Paul the Apostle called Abraham the "father of all" who have faith. This included people who followed religious practices and those who did not. From its start, Islam also saw itself as the "religion of Abraham." The Baháʼí Faith also teaches that its founder, Baháʼu'lláh, was a descendant of Abraham.
The Main Abrahamic Faiths
Judaism: The Oldest Faith
Jewish people believe they are descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac and grandson Jacob. Jacob's sons became the Israelites in a land called Canaan. The Islamic faith also believes that twelve Arab tribes, called Ishmaelites, came from Abraham through his son Ishmael.
In ancient times, the Israelite religion was similar to other faiths in the Bronze Age. But by the Iron Age, it became unique. It moved from worshipping many gods to focusing on one God, Yahweh. Jewish people understood their connection with Yahweh as a special promise, or covenant. They believed God promised Abraham a lasting homeland.
Over time, Jewish thinkers began to see Yahweh as the one universal God. After a period called the Babylonian captivity, Judaism became a strong religion based on believing in only one God. During this time, new ideas became part of Judaism. These included beliefs about a Messiah, free will, and life after death. They also included ideas about heaven, hell, angels, and demons.
Christianity: Following Jesus
Christianity began in the 1st century AD. Christians see their faith as a continuation of Judaism, led by Jesus. His followers believed he was the Messiah. After his death, they came to believe he was God in human form. They believe he was resurrected and will return to judge everyone and create God's eternal kingdom.
In the 1st century AD, Christianity spread widely through the work of Jesus's Apostles. Paul the Apostle had a special view of Abraham. He saw Abraham as a man who found faith in God before following religious laws. This was a different idea from some Jewish views at the time.
After the Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE), both Judaism and Christianity developed their beliefs more fully. They both claimed Abraham as part of their heritage. Christians could not ignore the Hebrew scriptures, as Jesus himself referred to them. The Christian idea of God also influenced Jewish and Islamic beliefs later on. Christians created their own identity, worshipping the God of Jesus.
Christianity faced times of hardship and peace under Roman rule. In 380 AD, it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. However, Christianity has been divided into different churches since its early days. A major split, called the East–West Schism, happened in 1054. Later, in the 16th century, the Reformation led to the rise of Protestantism. This created many different Christian groups. Christianity has played a very important role in shaping Western culture and civilization.
Islam: Submission to God
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Islam is based on the teachings found in the Quran. Muslims believe Muhammad was the last prophet. However, Islam teaches that all prophets preached "Islam," which means "submission" to God. Muslims believe the Quran is a direct message from God. They also believe God revealed other holy books before the Quran. These include the Tawrat (Torah) to the prophets of Israel, the Zabur (Psalms) to David, and the Injil (Gospel) to Jesus. The Quran also mentions the Scrolls of Abraham and Moses.
The Quran refers to stories from older scriptures but has its own unique message. It focuses on teaching belief in one God. Islam began in the 7th century AD with Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula. It spread quickly after his death. Islam sees its belief in one God as coming before Judaism and Christianity.
Muslims believe the Quran's teachings are the final words from God. Like Christianity, Islam is a universal religion, meaning anyone can join. Like Judaism, it has a very strong belief in one God, called tawhid. The Quran describes God as the creator of "heavens and earth." This shows that God is universal and not just a local deity.
Other Related Faiths
Some other religions are also considered Abrahamic. Samaritanism is an ancient faith that some believe separated from Judaism long ago. Modern evidence shows Samaritans are an independent Abrahamic people from the Middle East.
Druze is another religion that started from Islam in the 11th century. It is sometimes also called an Abrahamic religion.
Modern Era Faiths
The Baháʼí Faith, which began in the 19th century, is often included. It grew out of an Islamic background and shares beliefs like monotheism. It also recognizes Jewish, Christian, and Islamic figures as prophets.
Rastafari is an Afrocentric religion that started in Jamaica in the 1930s. It grew from Christianity and is sometimes called Abrahamic. This is because it believes in one God and uses the Bible as a holy book.
Abrahamic religions all agree that God created the universe. They believe God is eternal, all-powerful, and all-knowing. All three faiths identify the creator of the universe with the God revealed to Abraham. However, they have different ways of thinking about God.
Christianity suggests that God is very distant and that someone like Jesus is needed to connect God and humans. Islam teaches that God can be known through creation, stories of prophets in the Quran, and signs in nature. Christianity believes in God's presence in the form of a Son of God, as part of the Trinity. In contrast, God in Islam is seen as less personal than in Jewish and Christian traditions. God is more of a mysterious power behind everything in the universe.
Their religious texts share many of the same people, stories, and places. But they often show them with different roles and meanings. People who see these similarities often feel more positive towards other Abrahamic groups.
How They Are Different
Sharing Their Beliefs (Proselytism)
Judaism welcomes new members, but it has not had active missionaries for a long time. Judaism teaches that non-Jews can live righteously by following the Noahide Laws. These are a set of moral rules given by God for all humanity. Jewish scholars have traditionally said it is better to be a good non-Jew than a bad Jew. This means they do not strongly encourage conversion.
Christianity encourages evangelism, which means sharing their faith. Many Christian groups send missionaries around the world. Historically, there were some instances where people were pressured to change their faith to Catholicism. This happened during the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. However, major Christian churches now condemn forced conversions. They believe that faith must be a free choice. The Roman Catholic Church states that forced conversions are wrong and offend human dignity.
Islam encourages sharing its faith in different ways. This is called Dawah. Dawah means "inviting" people to understand Islam. A Muslim who practices Dawah is called a dā‘ī. A dā‘ī invites people to learn about Islam through conversation. They might be seen as similar to a missionary.
Dawah activities can take many forms. Some people study Islam specifically to do Dawah. Mosques and Islamic centers sometimes actively spread Dawah. Others simply answer questions about their faith. Helping Muslims deepen their knowledge is also considered Dawah.
In Islam, the goal of Dawah is to invite everyone to understand God's commands. These are found in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Dawah helps people convert to Islam, which grows the Muslim community, called the Ummah. While there were some historical cases of forced conversions to Islam, these were not common. Many Muslim rulers allowed different religions. The Quran clearly says there should be no compulsion in matters of faith. Most conversions to Islam happened gradually, through social and cultural influences.
How Many People Follow These Religions?
Worldwide percentage of adherents by Abrahamic religion, as of 2020[update] Christianity (28.8%) Islam (25.6%) Judaism (0.2%) Non-Abrahamic religions and religiously unaffiliated people (45.4%)
Christianity is the largest Abrahamic religion. It has about 2.5 billion followers, called Christians. This is about 31.1% of the world's population. Islam is the second largest Abrahamic religion. It is also the fastest-growing Abrahamic religion. It has about 1.9 billion followers, called Muslims, which is about 24.1% of the world's population.
The third largest Abrahamic religion is Judaism, with about 14.1 million followers, called Jews. The Baháʼí Faith has over 8 million followers. This makes it the fourth largest Abrahamic religion. It was the fastest-growing religion throughout the 20th century. The Druze Faith has between one million and nearly two million followers.
| Religion | Adherents |
|---|---|
| Baháʼí | 7–8 million |
| Druze | 1–2 million |
| Rastafari | 700,000–1 million |
| Mandaeism | 60,000–100,000 |
| Samaritanism | ~900 |
See also
In Spanish: Religiones abrahámicas para niños
- Abraham's family tree
- Abrahamic Family House, a complex in Abu Dhabi built in the spirit of Abrahamic unity
- Christianity and Islam
- Christianity and Judaism
- Interfaith dialogue
- Islamic–Jewish relations
- Jesus in Christianity
- Jesus in Islam
- Judaism's view of Jesus
- People of the Book
- Table of prophets of Abrahamic religions
