The attitudes toward angels vary greatly across religions, ranging from deep reverence and love to more neutral or even skeptical views. Here's a general overview of how major religions regard angels, roughly ordered from the most loving and involved relationships with angels to those with less emphasis or belief in them:
1. Christianity
Angels in Christianity are deeply loved and revered as messengers and servants of God. They play central roles throughout the Bible, acting as protectors, guides, and spiritual warriors. Archangels like Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are especially honored. Christians often see angels as personal protectors or guardians who intervene in human affairs, making angels central figures in Christian devotion and belief.
2. Islam
In Islam, angels (known as mala'ika) are highly respected and loved as obedient servants of Allah. They carry out divine duties such as delivering messages (e.g., the angel Jibril/Gabriel who conveyed the Quran to Muhammad), recording deeds, and guiding believers. Every Muslim is believed to have angels assigned to protect them and record their actions. Angels are regarded with deep reverence and are central to Islamic theology, but unlike in Christianity, they are not worshipped or invoked directly.
3. Judaism
Judaism holds angels (known as mal'akhim) in high esteem, viewing them as messengers of God. They are believed to carry out God’s will, protect individuals, and bring divine revelation. While angels are respected, their roles are more limited compared to Christianity and Islam, and they are less central in daily worship or practice. Certain mystical Jewish traditions, such as Kabbalah, give angels more prominent roles, but overall, Judaism focuses more on a direct relationship with God rather than angelic intermediaries.
4. Zoroastrianism
In Zoroastrianism, the concept of yazatas is similar to angels. They are divine beings created by Ahura Mazda to help protect the world and guide humanity toward righteousness. Some yazatas, like Sraosha and Mithra, function similarly to angels in other religions, overseeing cosmic and moral order. Though respected and seen as crucial agents of good, they are not as deeply loved or central as in the Abrahamic religions.
5. Hinduism
While Hinduism does not have an exact equivalent to angels, there are celestial beings like devas and apsaras who act as messengers or divine helpers. These beings are often seen as benevolent and protective but are part of a vast pantheon that includes gods, demigods, and spirits. Hindu cosmology gives them roles in maintaining cosmic order, but they are not as prominent or personal in everyday religious life as angels are in Christianity or Islam.
6. Sikhism
Sikhism acknowledges the existence of angels or spiritual beings but places a much stronger emphasis on a direct relationship with Waheguru (God). While angels may be mentioned, they do not hold a central role in Sikh theology or daily practice. The focus in Sikhism is on devotion, meditation, and living an ethical life without intermediary figures like angels.
7. Buddhism
Buddhism does not have a significant angelic tradition. While certain celestial beings such as devas or bodhisattvas exist, they are not regarded as angels in the traditional sense of messengers or protectors of humans. Devas are often seen as spiritually advanced but are still bound to the cycle of samsara (rebirth) and are not eternal beings like angels in other religions. They may have limited influence in the human realm but are not central to Buddhist practice.
8. Taoism
In Taoism, there are celestial beings, immortals, and deities, but angels as messengers or intermediaries between humans and a higher divine source are not a core concept. Taoism emphasizes harmony with the Tao, the natural order, and spiritual enlightenment, with less focus on divine beings like angels. There are protective spirits and ancestors, but their role differs significantly from the angelic traditions of the Abrahamic religions.
9. Atheism and Secularism
Atheism and secularism do not typically recognize angels or any supernatural beings. Angels, if acknowledged at all, are often regarded as mythological or symbolic figures rather than real, intervening entities. There is no love or hate toward angels, but rather a lack of belief in their existence
10. Skeptical or Non-Theistic Religions (e.g., Jainism, Confucianism)
Jainism and Confucianism do not focus on angels or divine beings in their teachings. Jainism is centered on personal spiritual purification and nonviolence, without the need for angelic beings, while Confucianism is more concerned with moral philosophy, social order, and ancestral worship, rather than supernatural entities like angels. Neither religion exhibits love or hate for angels, as they are not part of their belief system.
Summary
The Abrahamic religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—are the most angel-centric, with deep reverence and affection for these divine messengers. In other religions, angels or analogous beings may exist but are less central to worship and spiritual practice. Some Eastern religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, have celestial beings but don't emphasize angels in the same way, while non-theistic religions and atheism generally lack belief in angels altogether.
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