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 | Polytheism |
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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:
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| 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 GodA religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanks-giving, adoration or confession directed at God |
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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 |
2. WORSHIP | Prayers to a ProphetA religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at a prophet |
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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. |
3. WORSHIP | Prayers to ProphetsA religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at various prophets |
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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.) |
4. WORSHIP | Prayers to Angels ('Veneration')A religious observance, either public or private supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession directed at angels |
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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
Archangel Michael, Gabriel, Raphael holy angels. Pray for us |
5. WORSHIP | Prayers to Religious Person, who is still aliveA 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 |
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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 |
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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 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 |
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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
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 PilgrimageA 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 |
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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 BuildingsHoly places, (Loca sancta) are sites that a religion considers to be of special religious significance. They are usually places visited by pilgrims |
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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 GivingThe 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 |
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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 drinkFasting is a willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time |
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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 |
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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.
This is a Polytheist practise as Eucharist involves the symbolic consumption of Jesus Christ, the Triune God Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 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 |
13. WORSHIP | Sacrifice an AnimalAnimal 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 |
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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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| Author: Guest • Updated: 06 Sep 2026 • 19,866 views | 1 day ago |
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What is Abrahamic Religion?The Abrahamic religions are a set of monotheistic religions that respect or admire the religious figure Abraham as a patriarch, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The term also often encompasses several smaller faiths. The religions of this set share doctrinal, historical, and geographic
overlap that contrasts them with Indian religions, Iranian religions, and East Asian religions. The term, introduced in the 20th century, replaced "Judeo-Christian" to include Islam as an Abrahamic religion and acknowledge differences between Judaism and Christianity. The term Abrahamic religions (and its variations) is a collective religious descriptor for elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It features prominently in interfaith dialogue and civil discourse, as well as academic discourse.
What is Monotheist?Monotheism has been defined as the belief in the existence of only one god. A god that created the world, is all-powerful and intervenes in the world. A broader definition of monotheism is the belief in one god. A distinction may be made between exclusive monotheism, and both inclusive monotheism
and pluriform (panentheistic) monotheism which, while recognising various distinct gods, postulate some underlying unity.
What is a Polytheist?Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one deity, a type of theism. Polytheism contrasts with monotheism, the belief in only one deity that is, in most cases, transcendent. Oftentimes, polytheistic religions reflect belief in a pantheon of deities that may themselves have religious
sects and rituals dedicated to them. Polytheism was common in the time and place of the Abrahamic religions, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Quran, central to Islam, quite explicitly denounces polytheism, though there is certainly evidence to suggest that the Hebrew Bible, which Judaism and Christianity are established upon, may have originally been polytheistic to some extent.
What are Religions?Religion is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, ethics, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements. There is no scholarly
consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion. It is an essentially contested concept. Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine, sacredness, faith, and a supernatural being or beings.
The origin of religious belief is an open question, with possible explanations including awareness of individual death, a sense of community, and dreams. Religions have sacred histories, narratives, and mythologies, preserved in oral traditions, sacred texts, symbols, and holy places, that may attempt to explain the origin of life, the universe, and other phenomena. Religious practice may include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration (of deities or saints), sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations, matrimonial and funerary services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, or public service.
There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide, though nearly all of them have regionally based, relatively small followings. Four religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism account for over 77% of the world's population, and 92% of the world either follows one of those four religions or identifies as non-religious, meaning that the vast majority of remaining religions account for only 8% of the population combined.
