Are Christianity and Islam Idolatrous Religions?
In the post‑talmudic period, there was no longer any threat to Judaism from the pagan religions, and a certain relaxation was granted of some of the stricter rules against relations with idolaters. The discussion among the Jewish teachers then centered on whether Islam and Christianity, the two daughter religions of Judaism (as they were called) and the new rivals to the Jewish religion, were to be treated as idolatrous religions. [According to most authorities] Islam was seen as a purely monotheistic religion, but opinions differed with regard to Christianity. Eventually, the consensus emerged that while Christianity did not constitute idolatry “for them,” that is, a Gentile Christian did not offend against the Noahide laws, it did constitute idolatry “for us.” Many Jews suffered martyrdom rather than embrace the Christian faith. To worship the gods of the Far Eastern religions is, of course, held to be idolatrous by all Jewish authorities.
