ORIGIN MORALITY PURPOSE DESTINY
JUDAISM Judaism is the oldest In Judaism, morality as The ultimate purpose Judaism believes in
among the three ethics are based on the in life for the Jewish predetermination,
Abrahamic religions, covenant between the people was to praise which means that it
beginning at around 3,500 Jewish people and God: God as the Creator of is God who decides
B.C.E. According to the Old that they are God’s the universe and on a person’s basic
Testament or the Hebrew chosen people and in imitate God or lifespan, wealth,
Bible, the ancient Israelites return they should follow become God-like. and opportunities,
trace the origin of their His commandments, As God-like creatures, but it is still
nation and their religion as specifically the Ten they have certain humanity’s free will
well to one family distinct Commandments found in purposes in the world, that is the deciding
from other groups of the Torah. the community, to factor.
people in Southwest Asia There are 613 themselves to their God places each
by virtue of belief in one commandments in the families, and to God and every one in
God. The patriarch of this Torah, called mitzvoth, Himself. different situations
family was Abraham, a and the Ten One’s purpose is to to challenge us to
nomadic shepherd who Commandments serve as realize one’s full do our best in
entered into a covenant a summary of all laws potential and realize serving Him no
with God—that being the found in the Torah. who one is meant to matter what our
“Father of All Nations” and Judaism also espouses be. Living in the circumstances are.
heir to the Promised Land, retribution, or the likeness of God will Similarly, one’s
which was Canaan. His philosophy “an eye for an guide Jewish people lifespan is
lineage continued through eye, a tooth for a tooth”, on how to treat predetermined by
his sons, Jacob and Esau. which served s the guiding themselves, their God, but one’s
From Jacob (Israel) came principle of the famous families, communities, lifestyle will be the
the 12 tribes of Israel that Code of Hammurabi in and the world. deciding factor on
founded the nation of ancients Babylon. whether God’s plan
Israel. Treating others as you will succeed or not.
would have yourself
treated by others also
serves as a basis for
Hewish morality and
ethics.
Lastly, morality and ethics
in Judaism are also based
in the Halakhah, a
religious law that provides
prescribed rules in
everyday living, such as
eating, praying, wedding
and funeral rites, etc. It’s
essence also came from
the mitzvoth found in the
Torah.
CHRISTIANIT The second oldest religion, Christians follow the Ten The purpose of life is Christianity has a
Y Christianity, was formed Commandments, similar to love and serve God, similar concept of
around 33 C.E. in an area to the Jewish people. who created the destiny. God
called Palestine. Christians Christianity also considers universe purposefully wanted all of
trace their origins to Jesus following in Jesus Christ’s so it is basically good. humanity to be
Christ, born around 4 B.C.E. footsteps as basis of Christianity also saved, for God
while the area was under morality. Christians are advocates the belief created hell not for
the Roman Empire. During expected to live a life for that human being humans but for
these times social disorder, others, just like what Jesus were created in God’s Satan and his
political turmoil, uprisings, did. image and this enables demons (2 Peter
poverty, heavy taxation, It was emphasized to love them to have some 2:4). Therefore, it is
food shortage, and God above else and to understanding of God humanity’s pre-
epidemics were love your neighbor as you and His divine plan. destiny to be saved.
widespread. In the midst of love yourself. In Christianity, it is But since God also
these sufferings, the Jewish And when one is led believed that gave us free will, it
people were secretly astray from God’s everyone us capable if is up to us to claim
hoping and waiting for God teachings, the Sacraments redemption, including that salvation.
to fulfil His promise—that will help in reconciling sinners. God may have
of sending His Son to oneself to God. planned the best
redeem them from their Christianity does not for us but even if
oppressive state. It was in advocate for retribution we do not follow
this context that Jesus since Christians are His plan, He is
Christ was born and in his advised to love their always willing to
late twenties, started to enemies. forgive us and give
preach about the coming of us another chance
the Kingdom of God. He to start anew, until
was baptized by the we discover the
prophet John the Baptist, right path to right
and had 12 disciples. His to righteousness
public ministry was and salvation.
considered a threat to
Roman authority so he was
arrested, whipped and
crucified as a penalty for
what he did. According to
the New Testament, Jesus
was resurrected after
three days and he
ascended to the heavens
but promised that he will
come back in the same way
that his disciples saw him
go into heaven.
ISLAM Islam, the youngest of the Islamic concept of The purpose of life In Islam,
three Abrahamic religions, morality and ethics is according to Islam is predestination is
started around 622 C.E., based on having faith in to love and serve God. more emphasized
considered as the youngest one God, which is For Muslims, than in Judaism and
of the Islamic calendar. It manifested in exhibiting practicing Islam not Christianity.
originated from Mecca, righteousness and piety. A only as a religion but Just like Judaism
which is found in the strong relationship with as a way of life will and Christianity,
Arabian Peninsula, with God is the key to bring a blissful life on Muslims believe
Muhammad, considered achieving virtue and right earth and eternal they are given free
the last prophet or “Seal of conduct. salvation in the will by God which
the Prophet”. Muhammad Islam values holiness, afterlife. allows them to live
was a descendant of humility, and their lives as they
Ishmael, which was accountability to Allah, wish. But unlike the
Abraham’s son to Sarah’s who is all-knowing. former two
lay-in-waiting, Hagar. He Charity is considered religions wherein
meditated on certain social important, and this is free will might lead
issues such as unequal reflected in one of the people to disobey
distribution of wealth, Five Pillars of Islam, the God’s plan, in Islam
leading to a great divide zakat, in which Muslims even the decision
between the rich and the are obliged to give alms to they make out of
poor, as well as the the less fortunate. free will is
possession of slaves. It was Acts that contribute to the governed by God’s
during of his visits to a cave welfare of the individual will.
that the angel Gabriel in particular and of society Belief in pre-destiny
appeared before him, in general are considered also encourages
delivering the message of morally good, while acts humility, which is
Allah that he was chosen to that harm, the individual one of the traits
found a new religion and and society are immoral. valued in Islam.
preach that Allah is the
only God that should be
worshipped. At first he
thought he was just having
hallucinations, but later in
he was convinced that he
was indeed chosen by God
to spread his word so he
began preaching in Mecca,
where he won some
converts. But his teaching
of equality and
brotherhood threatened
the power of the rich
Quraysh tribe so he was
forced to escape to Medina
to avoid persecution. This
happened in 622 C.E. and
was known as Hegira. From
then on Islam gained
followers and became one
of the dominant religions
of the world.
