[Because the "two groups" are not specified in this question, it has been kept separate from the question: Why did Islam split into Sunnis and Shiites? which is a much better-written answer and for which a link is provided below.]

Answer 1

They divided into more then two groups. Like Christianity there are always differences of opinion about interpretation and disagreement about who wields power over the faithful. Over time rifts develop and you end up with different groups under the same religion all claiming to have it right and often committing acts of violence upon each other in order to get more power over those that are just not interested.

Answer 2

Because the Shiites and the Sunni had trouble picking a leader so they split into two groups.

Answer 3

It is not a real split. It is just two different schools that looking differently to some minor issues that not belonging to the main Islam principles. Refer to related question below.

Answer 4

Ali was a member of the Hashim Clan. Ali was Muhammad;s causin and his son-in-law. Mu'awaiya was upset because Uthman's death, which was caused by an angry group of Egyptians. Ali was elected caliph, but Mu'awaiya was pressuring him to charge the people who had killed Uthman. This caused a split between the Muslims. They became the Sunnis and the Shiites.

Answer 5

Sunnis- they feel that decout Muslims can be caliphs. They support the rolde of the first three caliphs, who were not blood-related to Muhammad.

Shiites- NEVER accepted caliphs who werent blood related decendents of Muhammad.

Answer 6

Muslims did not split into two groups. They split into many, many more than that.

According to Muhammad (peace be upon him) the Muslims would break up into many sects. He said "seventy-three", but in the classical Arabic language, the numbers seven, seventy, seven hundred, etc., simply means "a lot".

Then Muhammad said that ALL of those sects are headed for Hell - except ONE.

When he was asked, which one, he replied: The one that remains on what I and my Companions are on today. It is the Majority.

A solid 85% of all Muslims follow the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet. We are referred to as "Sunni" Muslims; but, in fact, we are the original, orthodox, pure Muslims.

In my understanding, ALL of the others have deviated from Islam.

Of course, a Shiite, a Sufi, a Zaydi, an Ahmadi, a Druze, an Alawi, woulddisagree with me. BUT . . . read the Qur'an, and the teachings of Muhammad, and you can see where they have gone astray. My opinion, of course.

Answer 7

The end of the Rightly Guided Caliphs

It was after the sorrowful death of the third Rightful Caliph Hazrat Usman RAU by the rebels that the Muslims split occured. The two groups are now known as Sunni (almost 85%) and Shias (10%).

The rebels killed the third Rightful Caliph and forced Hazrat Ali RAU to become the caliph. It was rumoured about that Hazrat Ali RAU didn't want to save Hazrat Usman RAU from the rebels. While the fact was that Hazrat Ali RAU had deputed two of his sons -Hazrat Hassan RAU and Hazrat Hussain RAU to watch the house of the Caligh and try to defend him. This misunderstanding resulted into bloodshed of thousands of Muslims fighting against one another. Those who favoured Ali were called Shiyan-i-Ali and those who opposed and demanded that the rebels and killers of the caliph should be brought to book were the other group. A third group-Khawarjis- also appeared out from this split.

Christianity means following the teachings of Jesus. Buddhism means following the teachings of the Buddha. These teachings are similar in many ways--showing compassion, performing acts of charity, doing missionary work, but specific practices and beliefs can differ.

One major difference if that the teaching of the Buddha points to a path or a way. Jesus says I am the way.

Buddha also does not claim to be God or a god. Jesus claims to be the almighty and eternal creator.

Buddha did not die for the salvation of people, they do it themselves by their own efforts. Jesus' death is specifically an atoning death since Christianity teaches we cannot save ourselves.

Christianity also teaches there is but one life and after that the judgment. Buddhism talks about a potentially endless cycle of death and rebirth.

Answer:

There are many differences that can be explored in variety of areas:

Means of salvation:

• Buddhism: To contemplate the truth of each moment, allowing practitioner to see the Four Noble Truths of life.
• Christianity:Salvation through faith, and a relationship with Jesus Christ and daily repentance of sins.

Holy days/Day of Worship:

• Buddhism: No one day is deemed holier then another. Worshipping is merely a cultural practice and has a socializing aspect.
• Christianity: Many special days, Sunday in general and Christmas, Easter, New Year, Pentecost, Saints' Feast Days \

Uniqueness of Belief:

• Buddhism: Buddhism is a Dharmic religion withs no contradiction in following more than one religion.
• Christianity: Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation and Islam is a false religion.

Religious Law:

• Buddhism: There is no religious rules. The Dhamma, however, describes nature or reality. For example, if there is an effect, there is a cause. .
• Christianity: The 10 Commandments are a base butf ollowing the whole Bible (except got the micromanagement of athe OT laws) is advocated.

Belief in a deity:

• Buddhism: Most believe in revering enlightened beings. No belief in a Supreme Creator. Zen Buddhists don't believe in deities.
• Christianity: A belief in the Trinity of God - The Father (God) - The Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

Regular Practices:

• Buddhism: Regularly visit temple to socialize and make offerings to the Buddha and to develop the mind and apprecuiate the need for proper behaviour and attitude.
• Christianity: Regularly church attendance (especially on Sundays) for Worship. Doing good works and spreading the wordis encouraged.

Clergy:

• Buddhism: No priestly hierarchy in Buddhism
• Christianity: Priests, monks, ministers, pastors, bishops, Elders, Deacons, Youth Ministers, Sunday School Teachers ave a special position in the community..

God's role in salvation:

• Buddhism: Each person is his own refuge.
• Christianity: Ultimate judgment bu God.

Human Nature:

• Buddhism: The internal Buddha nature leads ultimately towards enlightenment.
• Christianity: The base of human nature is "original sin" inherited from Adam. It exhibits itself as a tendency towards evil.

Literally, agnostic means "without knowledge". Agnostic usually refers to those that claim agnosticism.

Generally, agnosticism is the view in which it is unknown or unknowable whether supernatural forces, such as gods and other deities, are at work. Most agnostics will neither claim that God or gods exist nor will they claim that they do not exist.

Answer:

I agree with above, agnosticism is neither the refusal or belief in a God, but rather a belief that either or is a possibility.

Both religions believe in a place where good souls go after death. Judaism states that a few souls will immediately enter, while most souls must wait beforehand. In this waiting time, they feel guilt for their sins. After this, they enter into the eternal life. Virtuous gentiles can also have this process. Judaism also states that very, very evil leaders only will suffer eternally, while non-virtuous Gentiles will simply die.

Christianity's belief in life after death differs among Christian groups and individuals. It does not have a common belief. Catholics' beliefs are similar to Judaism. They believe in a waiting-place too, called purgatory, and a direct entrance into heaven by a small amount (e g Mary and Jesus). They also believe in salvation for some non-Catholics. The Catholic Church also believes in a place of eternal punishment, though it has no comment on whether anyone goes there or not. Protestants typically reject purgatory, and believe that those who accept Jesus as the Savior go to heaven while those that do not go to hell. John Calvin believed that some people were simply predestined to go to heaven while the rest were predestined to go to hell. Within both Christianity and Judaism, there is a large and rapidly growing number of people who believe that all people go to heaven, regardless of what they have done in life. This belief is called universalism.

• More on Judaism

One of the central beliefs of Judaism, as stated in the Talmud (Mishna, Sanhedrin 11:1) and codified by Maimonides (1135-1204), is that the soul continues to exist and is treated in accordance with the person's actions while he or she was alive. This applies to all people, whatever their religion.
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) doesn't dwell at length on the afterlife; and nor does Judaism spend a lot of time speculating on its details. However, that is not meant to diminish its importance. Rather, the Torah implies that we are to use the bulk of our energies in keeping God's ways in this world, with our feet firmly planted on Earth, while nonetheless not losing awareness of our beliefs.
Our ancient sages stated the importance of being aware of the next world: "This world is a mere entrance-hall before the afterlife" (Mishna, Avot ch.4).
All outstanding accounts are settled after this life. Some cases illustrate this point, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler. And while we're alive, knowledge of the future world serves as one of the motivations to keeping God's will.
The Tanakh does not delve into detail of the rewards of the righteous because religions could compete with more and more poetic promises. Also because belief in the afterlife was shared by all ancient societies and needed little reiteration. Besides, it would be like describing the colors of a sunrise to someone who was blind from birth.
It is, however, referred to briefly in Torah verses such as Genesis 15:15, which states that "You (Abraham) will come to your fathers in peace and will be buried in good old age." Coming to his fathers does not mean simply to be buried with them, since Abraham was not buried with his ancestors. Such verses are stated many times.
The prophets are more explicit with such references (see Isaiah 26:19 and 66:24, Daniel 12:13, Zechariah 3:7, 1 Kings 8:30, 2 Kings ch.2, Ecclesiastes 12:7). The afterlife is spoken of at length in the Talmud. More than 20 pages of Talmud (Sanhedrin 90-110, Rosh Hashanah 16-18, and other passages) are given to this subject.

1. christianity ,
2. islam,
3. judaism

Another Answer:

I'm afraid there are more than the three mentioned above and therefore cannot be clearly defined. There are also: Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, New Age, Atheism, Satanism - just to name some of the other man-made religions. Suggest you ask a specific question of a specific religion for an answer.

Answer:

There are very few similarities between all four of these religions. Here are some:

• They are all regarded as religions
• Being "good" is better for the followers than being "bad".
• They are all older than 1300 years.
• They are all younger than 4000 years, except for Judaism
• They all have a person who stands out as their first leader.

Here are similarities that include exceptions:

• They all worship a God - except for Buddhism
• They all believe in reincarnation - except for Islam, Christians (and many Jews)
• They all have defined visions of the afterlife - except Jews
• They don't revere Jesus as a divinity - except for Christians
• They all have creation myths - except for Buddhists

Islam and Christianity have many similarities and there are differences also.

Islam & Christianity are both monotheistic, although some have described Christianity as triunal.

Both believe in Jesus Christ, though he is a prophet in Islam and the son of God in Christianity.

Both are considered to be universal religions which can be accepted by anyone regardless of their race, culture & language.

Both encourage good behaviours and works, service to mankind and to God.

Both believe in the great prophets such as Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Noah, etc.

Essentially both discourage violence though both religions have had their history of fanaticism.

Christians don't accept Muhammad as a prophet.

Muslims don't consider St. Paul as a saint.

Muslims follow dietary laws similair to the Jews, but Christians don't necessarily.

Both are Semitic religions meaning they began in the Middle East by Middle Eastern peoples.

Both religions teach high ethical standards. Catholicism teaches that when each person dies, his or her soul goes to heaven, to purgatory for the temporary punishment of sins, or to hell. Taoism teaches that when each person dies, his or her soul is reincarnated until the soul gains perfect spiritual knowledge and righteousness, after which it ascends to heaven.

Catholicism teaches the veneration of saints and provides statues and pictures so that parishioners can pray to the saint of their choice. There are special feast days for individual saints. Taoism teaches that the immortals can be worshipped or venerated in a similar way, and provides statues and pictures so that people can pray to the immortal of their choice. There are special feast days for individual immortals.

Taoism is an inclusive religion and does not reject the gods of other religion. It therefore accepts the probable divinity of the Abrahamic God and of Jesus, although recognising that they have no relevance in Taoism.