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Judaism
There is only one G-d.
G-d is all powerful and created the entire universe all by himself.
G-d interacts with everyone personally.
G-d is incorporeal, and is completely incomparable with
mankind.
Worshipers may only pray to G-d, not to other religious figures.
All Jewish religious texts are not only holy, but unquestionably
true.
The beginnings of Judaism can be traced to the beliefs of Abraham who was the first
man to preach monotheism. He lived between 1812-1637 BCE.
Moses: Greatest of the prophets. led his people out of slavery in
Egypt and into the desert. God spoke directly to him and revealed
the 10 commandments.
G-d spoke directly to Moses. He didn’t use some sort of medium like He did
when He spoke to the other prophets.
Everyone’s soul is pure at birth. Their actions define their character.
Judaism features a system of divine reward and punishment, a little
like karma. If you are faithful to G-d, you will be rewarded, but if you
don’t obey His teachings, then you won’t be as lucky.
G-d chose the Jews for a purpose. They are to spread their
teachings and illuminate the world.
Tanakh: Most important Jewish text. Composed of the Torah, the Nevi’im
and the Ketuvim. Contains the stories that the faith is based around.
Talmud: Interprets the religious scriptures and tells how to apply their
laws to daily life.
.
Women and men have specific duties that are expected of them.
However, women are considered to be equal to men at the same
time.
G-d is not specifically male or female. However, He is referred to as
“He” or “Him” in modern translations of the scriptures.
Both genders were created in G-d’s image. However, men are said to
have “formed” while women were “built”.
As a result, women are said to have greater intuition, understanding,
and intelligence.
Respect for both parents is key in Judaism.
Category
Judaism
Date Founded
c. 1700 BCE
c. 30 CE
Palestine
Palestine
Location Founded
Christianity
Original Language
Hebrew
Aramaic, Greek
Location Today
Israel, North
America, Europe
Worldwide (esp. the
Americas and Europe)
Population (World)
15 million
2 billion
Population (USA)
5.6 million
159 million
Branches
Orthodox,
Conservative,
Reform
Catholic, Orthodox,
Protestant
The Teachings of Jesus
• Jesus born in
Bethlehem in
Judea
• He was both a Jew
and Roman citizen
• He was baptized
by John the
Baptist
Jesus’ Message
• By age 30, he began preaching publicly
and for 3 years he:
–Preached
–Taught
–Did good works
–Performed miracles
• Contained many ideas of
Judaism such as: Monotheism
and the 10 Commandments
• He emphasized God’s personal
relationship with each human being.
Jesus’ Message
• Stressed importance of love for God,
neighbors, enemies and even their own
selves. Criticized Jewish religious
establishment for focusing on letter of law
vs spirit of the law.
• He gathered 12 apostles or pupils =
disciples
• Main source of information about Jesus
comes from the Gospels – the first 4 books
of the New Testament of the Bible
• Gospels written by one or more of the
apostles (disciples).
Jesus’ Death
• The people called him
the Messiah which
means King.
• This worried the
Roman and Jewish
leaders, Pontius Pilate
a Roman governor
arrested Jesus.
• Sentenced to be
crucified or nailed to a
cross.
Resurrection
• According to
Gospels he rose
from the dead and
ascended to heaven
• One of the first
apostles, Peter,
spread the
teachings of Jesus
throughout
Palestine and Syria
Christianity Spreads
• Another apostle, Paul had
enormous influence of
the development of
Christianity
• Spread during the Pax
Romana where conditions
were safe for travel on the
Roman Roads.
• Paul stressed that Jesus
was the son of God who
died for people’s sins.
Jewish Rebellion
• The Jews eventually rebelled against
control of Romans
• About half million Jews died trying to
break free from Roman control.
• This caused a Diaspora – when mass
Jews were driven from their
homeland in Jerusalem into exile.
• Christians were viewed like Jews and
were dispersed as well. While being
persecuted this helped spread the
faith.
Persecution of the Christians
• Christians would not worship Roman Gods
= viewed as opposition to Roman rule
• Some Romans blamed bad economic
conditions on Christians
• When a disastrous fire occurred in Rome,
and Emperor Nero blamed the Christians
and ordered them to be persecuted.
• Thousands were exiled, imprisoned,
crucified, burned or killed by animals in
circus arenas
A World Religion
• Christianity still survived because
of widespread appeal:
–1. Embraced all people
–2. Gave hope to the powerless
–3. Appealed to people who
rejected the extravagances of
imperial Rome
–4. Offered a personal
relationship with a loving God
–5. Promised life after death.
Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes
• Mecca
– Pilgrims come to Mecca to worship at the Ka’aba,
and ancient shrine.
– Arabs associate shrine with Hebrew prophet
Abraham and monotheism.
– Some tribes worship many gods and spirits, and
bring idols to Ka’aba.
– Some Arabs believe in one God—Allah in Arabic
The Prophet Muhammad
• Early Life
– Around A.D. 570 Muhammad is born into a
powerful Meccan clan.
– He becomes a trader, and marries a wealthy
businesswoman, Khadijah.
The Prophet Muhammad
• Revelations
– By age 40, Muhammad spends much time in
prayer and meditation
– He claims to hear the angel Gabriel tell him he is a
messenger of Allah.
– Muhammad found the religion of Islam—meaning
“submission to the will of Allah”
– Many join him and become Muslim—meaning
“one who has submitted.”
The Prophet Muhammad
• The Hijrah
– Muhammad’s followers are attacked; together
they leave Mecca in 622.
– Hijrah was the Muslim migration from Mecca to
Yathrib (renamed Medina).
The Prophet Muhammad
• The Hijrah (continued)
– Muhammad attracts many more followers and
becomes a great leader.
• Political leader—joins Jews and Arabs of Medina in a
single community.
• Religious leader—draws more converts to Islam.
• Military leader—tackles growing hostilities between
Mecca and Medina
The Prophet Muhammad
• Returning to Mecca
– In 630, Muhammad and 10,000 followers return
to Mecca
– Meccan leaders surrender.
– Muhammad destroys idols in the Ka’aba.
– Meccans convert to Islam.
– Muhammad unifies Arabian Peninsula.
The Beliefs and Practices of Islam
• Islam
– The main teaching of Islam is that there is only one god,
Allah.
– People are responsible for their own actions; there is good
and evil.
– Islamic monument in Jerusalem—Dome of the Rock.
• It is the oldest existing Islamic building in the world.
• Muslims believe Muhammad rose to heaven here.
• Jews believe Abraham was prepared to sacrifice son Isaac at that
same site.
• Location of Jewish Temple and where arc of covenant was kept
The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Exterior detail
of the Dome of
the Rock
Dome of the Rock
viewed through the
Old City’s “Cotton
Gate”.
Panoramic view of Jerusalem with the
Dome of the Rock visible.
ISLAM
The Beliefs and Practices of Islam
• The Five Pillars: Muslims must carry out these five
duties.
– Statement of Faith to Allah and to Muhammad as his
prophet.
– Prayer five times a day. Muslims may use the mosque for
this (an Islamic house of worship).
– Giving alms, or money for the poor.
– Fasting between dawn and sunset during the holy month
of Ramadan.
– Performing the hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca—at least once
in a lifetime.
The Beliefs and Practices of Islam
• A Way of Life
– Customs and traditions of Islam guide Muslim’s
lives.
– A scholar class, ulama, are teachers who apply
religion to life. There are no priests.
The Beliefs and Practices of Islam
• Sources of Authority
– Original source of authority for Muslims is Allah.
– Qur’an (Koran)—holy book, contains revelations
Muhammad claims to have received from Allah.
– Muslims follow Sunna—Muhammad’s example for
proper living.
– Guidance of the Qur’an and Sunna are assembled
in a body of law called shari’a.
The first verses of the
first Sura Al-Fatiha
(meaning “The
Opener”) from the
Qur’an done in
beautiful calligraphy
and geometric art.
Beautifully decorated Qur’an cover.
Interlinear edition of the Qur’an with a Persian translation underneath.
The Beliefs and Practices of Islam
• Links to Judaism and Christianity
– Muslims believe Allah is the same God worshiped by
Christians and Jews.
– Muslims believe the Qur’an, Gospels, and Torah contain
God’s will as revealed through others.
– Muslims, Christians, and Jews trace their roots to
Abraham.
– All three religions believe in heaven, hell, and a day of
judgment.
– Shari’a law requires Muslim leaders to extend religious
tolerance.