Similarities Between Judaism, Christianity, And Islam

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Religion has always been tied to the humanities because of its all-encompassing nature. It dictates how a human should behave, the type of art or music -if any- to be enjoyed, and even the functions and appearance of its buildings. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all share the same basic ideas concerning art, music, and architecture but do vary greatly in some way between them.

Judaism introduced the idea of the discouragement of three-dimensional art for the concern that followed would view them as idols and the effort of their creation was considered an insult to the Supreme Creator. They did, however, have frescoes of major biblical events and decorative mosaics in their synagogues but those were still rare. Now the Christians completely …show more content…

Judaism’s style of music is what the other two drew inspiration from, the monophonic texture, the responsorial and antiphonal types of prayer, the way word rhythm dictated music rhythm, and the syllabic and melismatic settings. Christianity took this style a step further with their belief that instrumental music had unholy sensuous and emotional powers. So, they made it where individual expression was removed, with their landmark creation of the Gregorian Chant. It, like Hebrew chants, was monophonic, but it was performed a cappella, and only by the clergy and choirs of monks. It must have been hauntingly beautiful when combined with the high ceilings of the church. While Christian music took a step from Judaism’s style, the Muslim style took a leap. Music to the most devout was a forbidden pleasure so that the only things they allowed themselves to listen to was the chanted Qur’an and the muezzin’s call to prayer. However, they provided the landmark contribution to the development of solo songs, instrumentals meant for secular entertainment, and the theory and composition of music. It, too, was monophonic but their line moved and wandered like an aural version of their art instead of the steady lines of the Christians and Jews. Though their voice resembled that of the other

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