Download BIRTH OF 3 RELIGIONS

To truly understand Judaism
and Islam and many of the
conflicts today between the
two, you need to understand
the birth of two ethnic groups
… Jews and Arabs.
About 4000 years ago, in the city of Ur in Sumer there lived a man
named Abraham. He believed that God spoke to him, telling him
that his descendents would be God’s chosen people and that they
would out number the stars (A great nation). However, he and his
wife were getting old and they still had not had a child. So,
Abraham had a child with Hagar, an Egyptian woman who was not
his wife. This child was named Ishmael. Later, Sarah, Abraham’s
wife, did in fact have a son, whom they named Isaac. Jealous of
Hagar and Abraham’s oldest son, Ishmael, Sarah demanded that
Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, which he did.
Ishmael’s descendents came to be known as the Arabs – being
the descendents of Abraham’s oldest son, they believe they are
God’s chosen people.
Isaac’s descendents came to be known as Jews (or Hebrews or
Israelites) – they believe their bloodline is the true chosen of God.
Abraham
•Married to Sarah
•Had a son – Isaac
•Descendents –
Hebrews (later
known as Jews or
Israelites)
•Hagar
(Egyptian)
•Had a son –
Ishmael
•Descendents Arabs
Therefore, “bad blood” between the two groups
since the time of Abraham!
 Abraham
– lived in the city of Ur in Sumer
– more than 3000 years ago (Babylon area)
 God chose Abraham and his descendents
to be His people
 When Abraham was 100 years old, he had
a son he named Isaac
 Abraham and Isaac's descendents are the
Jewish people
 First monotheistic (belief in one God)
religion!
Birth place of Abraham
What present-day country is this today?
Jerusalem
is a holy city for
the Jews.
During Biblical
times, Jerusalem
was a political and
religious center of
Jewish people.
King David made it
the capital city and
later his son, King
Solomon built the
first Jewish temple
here (900’s BC).
This temple was built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times over
several hundred years as other people conquered Jerusalem.
The temple was destroyed for the last time in 70 AD by the
Romans. All that remains today is the Western Wall.
The Western Wall
When Rome burned the temple in 70 AD, they left the outer wall. This wall was
not part of the original temple, but rather surrounded the temple. However,
being the only remaining remnant of their most sacred temple, this wall soon
became a very holy place to the Jewish people.
Jews come to this wall to pray. Because of the heartfelt
prayers offered here, non-Jewish people refer to the wall as
the Wailing Wall. However, the Jewish people refer to the wall
as the Western Wall.
Holy book of the Jewish faith
Torah
•1st 5 books of the Bible
– written by Moses
•Recounts the history of the
Jewish people
•Believed to be the law as
given to Moses by God
…Synagogue
The Birth of
Christianity
Jesus was born to a
Jewish family about
2030 years ago in
the city of
Bethlehem. At 30
years old, he began
preaching and
teaching about God.
Soon his followers
grew, as well as his
enemies.
Three years later, his enemies crucified Him on the hill of
Calvary in Jerusalem. Three days later He rose from the
dead, appeared to His followers, and eventually went to
heaven. His followers continued his work and began the
religion of Christianity.
Therefore, Jerusalem
is also very holy to
Christians. The
Church of the Holy
Sepulcher is believed
to stand on the hill of
Calvary.
Christianity began to spread by the preaching and teachings of Christians.
www.worldreligions.psu.edu
The holy book for Christians is the
Holy Bible.
The Birth
of Islam
Muhammad (an
Arab) was born in
Mecca in 570 AD. At
age 40, he received
revelations from
God. He began
preaching about
these messages
from God as well as
against the
corruption of society.
He also gained
many followers as
well as enemies.
In 622 AD nobles of
Mecca were
threatening his life, so
he fled Mecca to
Medina. There he built
an army and eight
years later (630 AD),
he returned to Mecca.
He took the city of
Mecca and destroyed
the idols in the Kaaba.
He proclaimed that
only Allah (God) was to
be worshipped and
proclaimed Mecca a
holy city.
The Kaaba
The Qu’ran
(Islam’s holy
book) states that
the Kaaba was
built by Abraham
and his son
Ishmael. The
Kaaba had been
filled with over
300 idols, but
when Muhammad
took Mecca, he
destroyed the
idols and
proclaimed that
only Allah would
be worshipped
here.
Muslims (followers of Islam) consider the Kaaba so
sacred, they believe that at least once in their life
they must make a pilgrimage (or Haj) to the Kaaba.
Another sacred place
for Muslims
Dome of the
Rock
Muslims believe that
Muhammad rose to heaven
from this site and the rock
marks the site. Where is this
rock and dome located?
Jerusalem!
During the 7th and 8th centuries, Islam spread by conversion and military
conquest throughout the Middle East and North Africa. By 733, just 100 years
after the death of Muhammad, an Islamic state stretched from the Indus Valley
in the east to Spain in the west. (Caliphs – rulers of Islam)
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_07_156.gif
The holy book of Islam is the
Qu’ran.
Mosque in Brunei
Blue Mosque in Turkey
…MoSque
So…let’s sum
it up and
compare these
3 religions.
Basic Beliefs
Christianity
Islam
•One God
•Bible is written
word of God
•Jesus Christ God
manifested in
flesh
•Jesus died for
sinners
•Believe in life
after death
•Holy Book – the
•One God
•Belief in all
prophets
•Belief in Day of
Judgment and life
after death
•Holy Book –
Qu’ran or Koran
Judaism
•G-d exists
•G-d is one
•G-d is eternal
•Pray to G-d alone
•Words of
prophets are true
•G-d will reward
the good and
punish the evil
•Holy Book Jews believe the name of God is so holy that they do
Torahthey write G-d.
not spell out His name. Instead,
There
is only 1 God
Praying 5 times a day in the direction
of Mecca
Giving to the poor and needy
Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Making a pilgrimage, or haj, to Mecca
Just when you thought you were through!
We have one more aspect to discuss!
When have you ever known of a
people who get along 100%! Well,
people of the same religion have
differences too!
Let’s take a look!
Jews have differences of opinions…
•Orthodox Jews believe in strict
observance of the traditions and
principles of Judaism.
•Secular Jews do not follow all the laws
and traditions as strictly.
Christians have differences of
opinions…
Just to name a few, you have the …
•Methodists
•Baptists
•Lutherans
•Presbyterians
•Episcopalians
Likewise, Muslims have their differences of opinions
as well. This has caused a division among
Muslims, dividing them into two separate groups…
•Sunnis
•Shi’ites
The major reason for this division came in the 7th century
with the question of succession. The Shi’ites believed that
Mohammad’s successor should be a direct descent of
Mohammad while Sunnis believed that Mohammad’s
successor should be selected by religious leaders. This
sparked a civil war between the two groups, and the two
groups continue to be divided on major issues today.
Sunnis
•Successor should be
direct descent of
Mohammad
•Successor should be
elected by leaders
•Leaders - caliphs
•Do not believe in
“hiding” Imam
•Leaders - Imams
Believe in
•12 Imams – the last one
is still in hiding and will
return one day
•Take Qu’ran literally –
not interpretations
-One God
-5 Pillars
•Caliphs are guardians
of Qu’ran
•Interpret the Qu’ran
-Qu’ran
•Imams can reinterpret
Qu’ran’s meaning
•Very conservative
•Some willing to practice
jihad (holy war)
•Extremely conservative
•Most believe in jihad
Shi’ites
Muslim Distribution Today
Sunni
Shi’ite
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Monotheism
Polytheism
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Muslims
Sunni
Shi’ite
Haji
Torah
Qu’ran (Koran)
Jihad
People and places to
know…
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Muhammad
Abraham
Jesus
Caliph
Mosque
Synagogue
Dome of the Rock
Western Wall
 Why
is Jerusalem so important to all 3
religions?
 What is the origin of Judaism?
 What is the origin of Christianity?
 What is the origin of Islam?
 Why did Muslims divide into two
separate groups? What are these two
groups? What are the similarities and
differences of these two groups of
Muslims?