Interfaith Dialogue: Ethical Commonalties in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Abstract

Dialogue means conversation, encounter, sharing, and mutual respect between individuals and groups. Interfaith dialogue attempts to promote cultural and religious understanding. The purpose of interfaith dialogue is to bring people to understand each other better way and to gain insights from others' viewpoints. Morality is a key part of religion and culture. Ethical behavior is based on moral beliefs and values held in society. Ethical principles and values serve as a guide to developing strong moral society. These rules help to distinguish right from wrong. The study aims to discuss how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam view major virtues and sins in common. Moreover, it highlights how commonalities among these religions strengthen the interfaith dialogue. This is qualitative research and data is gathered from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources include the Qur’an, the Torah, and the Injeel whereas secondary sources include books, articles, and online sources. The main commonalities in Abrahamic religions are the unity of God, Abraham as their father, scriptures, and pilgrimage. Common sins in Abrahamic Religions are adultery, murder, badmouthing, consuming Riba (interest), dishonesty, eying on the property, wife and wealth of the neighbor, intoxication or liquor, disobedience or misbehaving with parents, misusing God’s name, worshiping someone other than God, theft or robbery, not being considerate towards the poor, the oppressed and the orphans, false allegations, false evidence, hiding the truth and working against justice, persecuting the innocent, idolatry, grabbing property and women of other people. Eating non-kosher or haram/forbidden foods and animals, idolatry, harming or damaging someone in any way other than justified self-defense, incest, immorality, Slander; badmouthing even when true, mockery, eating without saying a blessing, taking bribes, ignoring any of the festivals or fasts, Skipping one of the daily prayer services. Common virtues in Abrahamic Religions are: worshiping one God/Allah/Jehovah, respecting and obeying parents, caring for the poor/weak and the orphans, doing charity (zakat), and being truthful.