This is a great thread. Now here's my two cents.

As nomadic Arab herdsmen began to settle, a moral authority developed and the religion was called Judaism. Many were unhappy with Judaism because they thought it had become corrupt. Christians were the rebels.

While civilization developed, there remained nomadic tribes of Arabs in the wilderness. Mohammed brought religion and a moral code to these people which was no small task. Therefore we have 3 very similar religions. They all have the same roots and the people also share a common heritage.

btw - Somebody mentioned that the Jews were freed from their captivity in Babylon. Yes, after Cyrus (a Zoroastrian), liberated Babylon he told the Jews to go to their promised land and build their temples and worship their God.

From Oznet (but you can google Cyrus and learn more about him):

As Prof. Richard Frye of Harvard said (in The Heritage of Persia, p10-151):

"In the victories of the Persians... what was different was the new policy of reconciliation and together with this was the prime aim of Cyrus to establish a pax Achaemenica..... If one were to assess the achievements of the Achaemenid Persians, surely the concept of One World, .... the fusion of peoples and cultures in one 'Oecumen' was one of their important legacies"

The victory over Babylonia expressed all the facets of the policy of conciliation which Cyrus had followed until then. He presented himself not as a conqueror, but a liberator and the legitimate successor to the crown. He took the title of "King of Babylon_ King of the Land". Cyrus had no thought of forcing conquered people into a single mould, and had the wisdom to leave unchanged the institution of each kingdom he attached to the Persian Crown. In 537 BC he allowed more than 40,000 Jews to leave Babylon and return to Palestine. This step was in line with his policy to bring peace to Mankind. A new wind was blowing from the east, carrying away the cries and humility of defeated and murdered victims, extinguishing the fires of sacked cities, and liberating nations from slavery.

Cyrus was upright, a great leader of men, generous and benelovent. The Hellenes, whom he conquered regarded him as 'Law-giver' and the Jews as 'the annointed of the Lord'.

Where is Cyrus when we need him?