Orthodox Christianity VS Islam and Judaism - Core Beliefs Compared

Comparing Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Islam, and Judaism

When people think of the Abrahamic religions, they often focus on what we share: belief in one God, respect for sacred texts, and traditions that go back thousands of years. But the differences are deep - not just in theology, but in how we live, worship, and see salvation itself.

Key Differences and Common Points at a Glance

Teaching / Practice	Orthodox Christianity	Islam	Judaism
Belief in God	One God in Holy Trinity - Father, Son, Holy Spirit	Allah - no Trinity	YHWH - no Trinity
View of Christ	Son of God; fully God and fully man; the Messiah and Savior; crucified; risen	Prophet only, not divine; not crucified; not risen	Historical Jew; not the Messiah; not divine
Scriptures	Bible (Old & New Testament, Septuagint OT)	Qur’an, Hadith	Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, Writings), Talmud
Salvation	Through Christ, by grace, in the Church	Through submission to Allah’s will and good deeds	Through obedience to the Law (Torah) and repentance
Worship	Liturgy, sacraments, prayers, fasting, icons	Salah (5 daily prayers), fasting, mosque worship	Synagogue prayer, Torah reading, Sabbath observance
Clergy	Ordained priests and bishops	Imams (leaders, not priests)	Rabbis (teachers, not priests in temple sense)
Dietary Rules	Fasting seasons (no meat, dairy, sometimes fish/wine/oil)	Halal, Ramadan fasting	Kosher, various fasts
Veiling / Modesty Rules	Women cover head in church, modest dress for both genders	Women cover hair/body (hijab, niqab, burqa), men cover for prayer	Married women cover hair (tichel, sheitel), men wear kippah
Afterlife	Heaven, hell, resurrection, final judgment	Paradise, hell, resurrection, judgment	Varies - some expect resurrection, others focus on earthly life

Beyond the Table - The Heart of the Divide

It’s easy to look at a chart and think the differences are just about "customs" or "emphasis". They aren't. The divide runs deep because the foundation is different.

Orthodox Christianity begins with Christ - God in the flesh, not just as a teacher, but as the One who conquers death. Everything else we do flows from this truth: the sacraments, the Liturgy, our fasting, our prayers. The entire life of the Church is a participation in His victory.
Islam removes the Cross. Without the Cross, there is no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection, death still reigns. Islam’s moral code can look strict and disciplined, but without Christ as God and Savior, it becomes a law without the cure for death.
Judaism gave the world the Law and the Prophets, but it stops short of the One they foretold. The Old Testament is ours too - but it is incomplete without the New. Christ is the key that unlocks the meaning of the Law; without Him, it remains a locked door.

Conclusion

Christ is not one path among many: He is the only way. Islam and Judaism reject Him as God and Savior, and without Him there is no cure for sin or victory over death. We pray for them, but we cannot pretend our faiths are equal. Only in Christ, in His Body the Orthodox Church, is salvation found.