Major Sins Compared:
Three Faiths, One Truth?
Side-by-side comparison of how Christianity, Islam, and Judaism rank the worst sins. Which ones do all three faiths condemn? Where do they disagree? And what does it mean for your soul?
The fact that you're comparing sins means something is weighing on you.
Every major faith has a path back. These books show the way — one for each tradition. Don't wait for the guilt to grow.
The Universal Sins: All Three Faiths Agree
These sins are condemned across Christianity, Islam, and Judaism with near-universal agreement. If you're looking for moral clarity, start here.
| Sin | ✝️ Christianity | ☪️ Islam | ✡️ Judaism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling | Sin | Haram | Not a Sin |
| Drinking Alcohol | Not a Sin | Haram | Not a Sin |
| Getting a Tattoo | Not a Sin | Haram | Sin |
| Masturbation ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Sin | Sin |
| Pornography ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Grave Sin | Haram | Sin |
| Smoking and Vaping | Disputed | Haram | Not a Sin |
| Cursing and Swearing ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Haram | Sin |
| Premarital Sex ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Grave Sin | Haram | Sin |
| Suicide ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Disputed | Grave Sin | Grave Sin |
| Yoga | Not a Sin | Not a Sin | Not a Sin |
| Lying and Deceit ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Grave Sin | Sin |
| Stealing and Theft ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Grave Sin | Sin |
| Anger and Wrath ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Sin | Sin |
| Greed and Materialism ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Sin | Sin |
| Lust ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Sin | Sin |
| Divorce | Sin | Not a Sin | Not a Sin |
| Skipping Prayer and Worship ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Grave Sin | Sin |
| Gluttony and Overeating ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Sin | Sin |
| Pride and Arrogance ⚠️ ALL AGREE | Sin | Grave Sin | Sin |
| Abortion | Grave Sin | Sin | Not a Sin |
Where the Faiths Disagree
Not everything is unanimous. These topics show the most significant divergences between the three traditions.
✝️ Christianity: Unique Emphases
- • Lust in the heart is sin (Jesus equated thoughts with actions)
- • Seven Deadly Sins framework (not found in Islam/Judaism)
- • Divorce is much harder to justify than in Islam/Judaism
- • Gluttony elevated to a "deadly" sin
☪️ Islam: Unique Emphases
- • Skipping prayer is among the gravest possible sins
- • Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the unforgivable sin
- • Interest/Usury (Riba) is explicitly haram
- • Backbiting (gheebah) is treated as eating your brother's flesh
✡️ Judaism: Unique Emphases
- • Lashon Hara (evil speech/gossip) is treated as murder
- • Kiddush Hashem / Chillul Hashem — sanctifying/desecrating God's name
- • Between man and God vs. between man and man — distinct sin categories
- • Teshuvah is always possible, even moments before death
🤝 All Three Agree On
- • Murder is among the worst sins
- • Theft is universally condemned
- • Lying is a serious moral failing
- • Adultery is a grave sin
- • God is merciful and forgives the repentant
How Each Faith Forgives Sins
Confession & Grace
Catholics confess to a priest (Sacrament of Reconciliation). Protestants confess directly to God. All Christians rely on Jesus' sacrifice for forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us" (1 John 1:9).
Get the Book →Tawbah (Repentance)
Islam teaches that Allah forgives all sins for those who make sincere tawbah: stop the sin, regret it, resolve never to return, and (if the sin harmed another) make amends. "My mercy encompasses all things" (Quran 7:156).
Get the Book →Teshuvah (Return)
Judaism teaches that the gates of teshuvah are always open — even moments before death. The process: regret, confession, making amends to those harmed, and committing to change. Yom Kippur is the annual day of atonement.
Get the Book →Frequently Asked Questions
What sins do all three Abrahamic faiths agree on?
Murder, theft, lying, adultery, and idolatry are universally condemned across Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Our comparison table above shows exactly where each faith stands on 20 specific topics.
Which faith is the strictest about sin?
It depends on the specific sin. Islam is the strictest on prayer neglect and associating partners with God. Christianity uniquely treats lustful thoughts as sinful. Judaism has the most detailed system for restitution and repair. No faith is uniformly "stricter" — they emphasize different areas.
Can all sins be forgiven?
Nearly all. In Christianity, the only "unforgivable" sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (which theologians debate the meaning of). In Islam, shirk (associating partners with Allah) is unforgivable if you die without repenting, but forgivable if you repent. In Judaism, teshuvah is always possible — the Talmud says "the gates of tears are never closed."
Something on Your Conscience?
Take our Spiritual Burden Assessment — an honest look at where you stand and what your faith tradition says about finding your way back.
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