Compare and contrast Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

I teach comparative religions and so see what a huge question this is. How do we begin, when even within themselves, these important religions carry so many contradictions and iterations?  But to speak in broad strokes, as noted above, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can be categorized together because they share a common root in Judaism. All three revere Abraham and Moses and trust the Hebrew Bible as the word of God. Christians believe Jesus is the fulfillment of messianic prophecy in the Hebrew Bible, while Muslims believe that Muhammed is God's final prophet and bearer of the ultimate word of truth.

Buddha was Indian and Buddhism roots in Hindu concepts, such as trying to achieve nirvana. Both faiths emphasize that a person with the most developed spiritual consciousness  cares about the wider world and the rest of humanity to the largest extent and tries to serve humanity. Hindus believe that all religions are different paths up the same mountain, and even within Hinduism, they believe that different people are born to pursue different paths. If your path means you can't move beyond seeking personal pleasure, that is OK, because pleasure is legitimate and worthy, if not the highest goal in life.  If you can only get the second level, caring about your family and career, that is fine as well: you can still make important contributions to society and find personal growth, and satisfaction. Buddhism, in contrast, emphasizes ridding oneself of all desire, as desire is the source of unhappiness. 

Many debate whether Confucianism is a religion or philosophy. It is highly rooted in how we live in this world. It believes that right relationships between people, such as rulers and subjects, husband and wives, and older and younger siblings, will lead to a peaceful, prosperous and creative society in line with a larger moral universe.

In contrast to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, the Abrahamic religions are exclusivist, meaning they don't tolerate religious diversity. Christianity and Islam, in particular, emphasize that their faith is the only path to God. In contrast to the Asian religions, as well, the Abrahamic religions all share a linear view of time. The earth had a definitive starting point and is progressing toward a definitive end point in which God's reign will be established. Because of their linearity, they are called teleological: time, as we understand it, will come to an end. The Asian religions in contrast, see time as a circle. Ages end, a new cycle begins, and this repeats without end.