Which of the two 'spin-off' religions retains more of the essential character of the Jewish religion? I've always thought that Islam held more in common, insofar as both religions place a much higher emphasis on asceticism and personal purity (rather than personal piety) than the more liturgical Christianity, but I don't really know enough about Judaism and Islam to say.
I've always been of the opinion that Judaism : Islam :: Christianity : Mormonism; that is to say, I've always thought that Islam is basically Judaism extrapolated for an Arabic audience, much as Mormonism was an attempt to 'Americanize' Christianity. In that sense, they'd be essentially the same faith. Is that at all accurate?
I have always thought that way to. Now granted if you leave the religous books out of it then Islam and Judaism seem exactly the same. But with the books I think Christianity is really trying to be like Judaism.
