Monotheism vs Polytheism

All the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam claim to be Monothiest.

The table below compares Judiasm, Christianity and Islam on the themes on Monotheism and Polytheism.

Monotheism W Monotheism	Polytheism W Polytheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of only ONE GOD. Monotheism comes from the Greek μόνος (monos) meaning "single" and θεός (theos) meaning "god" Islam on Monotheism Any person believing in one God and living their life accordingly, will potentially enter Heaven after they die	Polytheism is the belief in and worship of more than ONE GOD or actions that lead to the worship of multiple Gods. Polytheism comes in many guises including: Substance Monotheism, Henotheism, Kathenotheism, Monolatrism, Pantheism, Panentheism, Tritheism etc. Polytheism comes from the Greek πολύ poly ("many") and θεός theos ("god") Islam on Polytheism All forms of Polytheism will be rejected by God. Polytheism is the one sin that God may never forgive. Any person holding any form of polytheist belief risks entering Hell for eternity They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the third of three (3)" And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment QURAN 5:73
Religions
All of the Abrahamic religions claim to be of the Monotheist belief. JUDAISM claims to be a Monotheist religion Secular/Reform Jews (50%) are majority Religious Jews (10%) are minority CHRISTIANITY claims to be a Monotheist religion Roman Catholics (53%) are majority ISLAM claims to be a Monotheist religion Sunni Muslim (90%) are majority Sufi Muslim (5%) are minority	Polytheistic religions include: Hinduism Mahayana Buddhism Confucianism Taoism Shintoism Tribal religions in the Americas and Africa Modern neopaganism
Intercession
All Prayers are directed TO God alone. For example, a man approaches a living religious teacher, scholar, priest etc. and asks him to pray TO God on his behalf. "Can you pray for me?"	Prayers are directed to God THROUGH an intermediary. For example, a man PRAYS TO a living or dead religious teacher, prophet, scholar, priest etc. in the hope his prayers are more likely to be received by God. "O Great Teacher I pray to you and ask you to ask God to help me with ... "
Worship
1. WORSHIP \| Prayers to God A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanks-giving, adoration or confession directed at God
JUDAISM teaches the worship of the one God, Yahweh ISLAM teaches the worship of one God, Allah	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) believe in the worship of one God, who manifests in Three seperate, distinct entities: the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit Tritheism Polytheism W Tritheism
2. WORSHIP \| Prayers to a Prophet A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at a prophet
JUDAISM Secular/Reform Jews (50%) do not pray to Moses. Religious Jews (10%) pray to Moses and seek his forgiveness ISLAM Muslims do not pray to Muhammad. But they can pray to God to allow for Muhammad to intercede on their behalf in the Hereafter.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) pray to Jesus, either as God, Son of God or an intermediary who will intercede. Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. catholic.org
3. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Prophets A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at various prophets
JUDAISM Secular/Reform Jews (50%) do not pray to prophets Religious Jews (10%) pray to the prophet Elijah and seek his intercession ISLAM Muslims reject prayers to any prophet, but praise their names in supplications.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) teaches prayers to God through many prophets. Pray for us (Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Joseph, Aaron, Moses, Joshua etc.) catholic.org
4. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Angels ('Veneration') A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at angels
JUDAISM Secular/Reform Jews (50%) reject prayers to angels. Religious Jews (10%) pray to the angels Metatron, Tartiel and Michael (Baruch Apoc. Ethiopic, ix. 5) ISLAM Muslims reject prayers to angels, but praise their names in supplications.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) allow for prayers to angels. Christian denomination are encouraged to pray to angels and seek their intercession including Guardian, Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel beliefnet Archangel Michael, Gabriel, Raphael holy angels. Pray for us catholic.org
5. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Religious Person, who is still alive A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at living religious person, persons regarded as inspired teachers, priests, rabbis, sages or proclaimers of the will of God
JUDAISM Secular/Reform Jews (50%) reject prayers to Saints as an intermediary between you and God. Religious Jews (10%) pray to various Saints including Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto etc. ISLAM Sunni Muslim (90%) reject prayers to religious persons as an 'intermediary' between you and God. Islam allows for Tawassul (or Waseelah) where a living, religious person can be asked to pray to God on behalf of another i.e. can you pray to God for me? Sufi Muslim (5%) seek intercession and 'favour' from living religious persons	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) allow prayers to living priests. Confession is the acknowledgment of one's sins (sinfulness) or wrongs before a priest. This is a Polytheist practise as confession is made to Jesus Christ, the Triune God through an intermediary ('the priest')
6. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Saints, who are dead ('Veneration') A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at saints, a person who has been identified as having a high degree of sanctity or holiness
JUDAISM Secular/Reform Jews (50%) reject making use of a mediator (melitz) or agent (sarsur) between oneself and the Almighty Religious Jews (10%) pray to dead Saints 'hasidim', such as Yeshu The High Priest, Saadia ed-Dati etc. ISLAM rejects all prayers to Saints. Sufi Muslim (5%) and Shia Muslim (10%) seek intercession and 'favour' from saints, especially in the Indian sub-continent	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) allows for prayers to Virgin Mary, Francis of Assisi etc. The belief is the dead in heaven are sinless and closer to God, whilst people alive on earth are fallible and prone to continue sinning catholic.com This is a Polytheist practise as worship is directed to Jesus Christ, the Triune God through an intermediary ('the dead saint')
7. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Statues or Idols ('Idolatory') A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at idols, statues or icons
JUDAISM rejects any worship to statues, idols and imagery ISLAM rejects any worship to statues, idols and imagery A small percentage of Muslims engage in grave worship, especially in the Indian sub-continent	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) allow for prayers to statues. It is acceptable to bow down before a statue of Mary, pray to Mary, believe that Mary delivers us from death and believe Mary atoned for us carm.org This is a Polytheist practise as worship is directed to Jesus Christ, the Triune God through an intermediary (the Mary statue 'Madonna' etc.)
8. WORSHIP \| Going on a Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith
JUDAISM Jews do pilgrimage to the Temple Mount and Jerusalem. It is is a traditional place of pilgrimage for Jewish people. The pilgrimage brings Jews closer to God. ISLAM Muslims are obliged to do pilgrimage to the Kabah/Black Stone in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during their lifetime. Muslims can also do a pilgrimage to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The pilgrimage brings Muslims closer to God.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, It is one of the most important holy places in Christianity. Christians can do pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem or even the birthplace of Catholicism, Vatican City in Rome, Italy. This is a Polytheist practise as reason for pilgrimage is to worship seek closeness with Jesus Christ, the Triune God.
9. WORSHIP \| Prayers to Holy Places or Buildings Holy places, (Loca sancta) are sites that a religion considers to be of special religious significance. They are usually places visited by pilgrims
JUDAISM Jews offer prayers to God at the Temple Mount ISLAM Muslims pray to God in the direction of the Kabah/Black Stone in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims do not offer prayers to the Kabah/Black Stone.	CHRISTIANITY* Christians Roman Catholics (53%) offer prayers at the Holy Sepulchre. This is a Polytheist practise as prayers are directed to Jesus Christ, the Triune God.
10. WORSHIP \| Giving Charity / Alms Giving The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need, as a humanitarian act. Charitable giving as a religious act or duty is referred to as almsgiving or alms
JUDAISM considers the virtue of giving charity in high regard. It is an act of worship done for God alone. ISLAM considers the virtue of giving charity (or Zakah) in high regard. Every Muslim is obliged to give a percentage of there wealth to the poor annually. It is an act of worship done for God alone.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) consider the virtue of giving charity in high regard. It is an act of worship done for God alone. This is a Polytheist practise as intention of giving charity is to seek the blessings, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, the Triune God
11. WORSHIP \| Fasting or abstaining from food and drink Fasting is a willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time
JUDAISM Jews fast on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the best-known fast day. The fasting serves as an atonement for sins and/or special requests to God. ISLAM Muslims fast in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar that commemorates the revelation of the Quran. Fasting is an act of worship to God.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) used to observe a 40-day fast during Lent, a spring period of penitence before Easter, and during Advent, a penitential period before Christmas Fasting teaches control of fleshly desires, penance for sins and solidarity with the poor. It is an act of worship to God. This is a Polytheist practise as fasting is intended as worship to Jesus Christ, the Triune God
12. WORSHIP \| Sacrifice (symbolic) Sacrifice is the offering of food, objects or the lives of animals to a higher purpose, in particular divine beings, as an act of propitiation or worship
JUDAISM Jews today do not offer any kind of animal sacrifice to God or anyone else ISLAM allows for animal sacrifice and giving of charity with your time, money and efforts. All sacrifice is for God alone.	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) celebrate the Eucharist, when Jesus' sacrificed himself on the cross, by consuming the flesh and blood of Jesus, the same flesh and blood which suffered and died on the cross, is offered, received and consumed. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him JOHN 6:53-56 This is a Polytheist practise as Eucharist involves the symbolic consumption of Jesus Christ, the Triune God
13. WORSHIP \| Sacrifice an Animal Animal sacrifice is the ritual killing and offering of an animal to appease or maintain favour with God. Such forms of sacrifice are practised within many religions around the world
JUDAISM Historically, the Jews would offer animal sacrifice at the Temple. But following the destruction of the Second Temple sacrifices were prohibited as the Temple was the only place allowed by halakha for sacrifice. ISLAM allows for animal sacrifice. This is practised at the annual Eid ul-Adha festival where a sheep, goat etc. is sacrificed to comemorate Gods command to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael (or Isaac)	CHRISTIANITY* Roman Catholics (53%) do not offer any kind of animal sacrifice to God or anyone else. Sin is atoned without the shedding of blood as Jesus was the ultimate and final 'sacrificial lamb' of God. The belief that Jesus was the 'sacrificial lamb' is a Polytheist belief as Jesus Christ is also the Triune God

CREDIT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritheism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_religious_movements
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations_by_number_of_members
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercession_of_saints
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism_in_Israel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islam
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/15/unlike-u-s-few-jews-in-israel-identify-as-reform-or-conservative
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/08/in-israel-jews-are-united-by-homeland-but-divided-into-very-different-groups
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/10/01/jewish-american-beliefs-attitudes-culture-survey/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-schwartz/how-many-sufis-in-world-i_b_902164.html

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Monotheism vs Polytheism

All the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam claim to be Monothiest.

1. WORSHIP | Prayers to God

2. WORSHIP | Prayers to a Prophet

3. WORSHIP | Prayers to Prophets

4. WORSHIP | Prayers to Angels ('Veneration')

5. WORSHIP | Prayers to Religious Person, who is still alive

6. WORSHIP | Prayers to Saints, who are dead ('Veneration')

7. WORSHIP | Prayers to Statues or Idols ('Idolatory')

8. WORSHIP | Going on a Pilgrimage

9. WORSHIP | Prayers to Holy Places or Buildings

10. WORSHIP | Giving Charity / Alms Giving

11. WORSHIP | Fasting or abstaining from food and drink

12. WORSHIP | Sacrifice (symbolic)

13. WORSHIP | Sacrifice an Animal

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