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RELI 205 Comparative Religion Monotheistic Religions Quick Facts Ranks #10th or 11th in the world with less than 20 million adherents (15,600,000) As a faith, it arose in Mesopotamia in about 1800 B.C.E. Has no single founder The sacred text is the Tanakh Critical in the later development of Christianity and Islam 2 Abraham – the first patriarch father of the Jewish people, born in Ur, now Iraq held as an example of obedience to God’s commands tested by God by demanding sacrifice of son, Isaac Lisa Ramjattan 3 Abraham – the first patriarch (video) saw an apparition of God who challenged him to immigrate from Harran, north Mesopotamia to the land surrounding the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea (Palestine) http://religi3.securesites.net/jesusm/maps.htm 4 Abraham – the first patriarch (video) Chief places Abraham Lived http://www.jesuswalk.com/abraham/0_intro.htm 5 Abraham Entered into a covenant with God on behalf of the Jewish people – that God would protect Abraham and his descendents On this basis, Judaism is considered a convenantal religion, where the people are expected to be obedient, and God protects and grants special favours to followers. 6 Abraham The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as the LORD had told him. Genesis 12:1-4 7 Moses A leader of the Hebrews Born to Hebrew slaves and hidden by his mother to escape annihilation Grew up in the Pharaoh’s court Outlawed for killing an Egyptian 8 Moses (video) Chosen by God to deliver the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt A series of ten plagues convinced the Pharaoh to free the Hebrews, and Moses led them to cross the parted Red Sea Passover marks the last of the ten plagues 9 Moses Received the ten commandments of God on the top of Mt. Sinai – the covenant between God and his people renewed If Hebrews serve God exclusively, he would give them a promised land and make them a great nation. Obligations: moral, ceremonial and cultural, living life under the command of God (a theocracy). 10 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ3ff-ifk-8 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqpiANlMzlw&N R=1 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXCCqhHyiwM&f eature=related 11 Sacred Writing Tanakh, a collection of scriptures organized under three major headings, a different version of which Christians call the ‘Old Testament The most important heading is the Torah (means divine instruction and guidance) (video) 12 Sacred Writing The Jewish Bible is considered the foundation upon which a Jewish life is built. It traces God’s activities in beginning the world, and tells the story of the covenant between God and his people. 13 Its books are: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy 14 The Pentateuch This is the five books of Moses, considered the most sacred portion of the Tanakh. Believed to be divinely revealed to Moses and are spiritually significant for both Judaism and Christianity. 15 The Pentateuch Stories found in the Pentateuch include the Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Great Flood, and the Tower of Babel. Gives group identity and sense of God’s active role in Jewish history. 16 P 266 Matthews; teachings of the Torah p271 Fisher 17 Central Beliefs The worldview of Judaism today, reflects about four millennia of God’s interaction with the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 18 Central Beliefs Jewish teachings are known as the Torah. In its narrowest sense, the Torah refers to the Five Books of Moses. On the next level, it means the entire Hebrew Bible and the Talmud (written and oral law), and for some, it refers to all sacred Jewish literature and observance. At the highest level, Torah is God’s will, God’s wisdom. 19 Central Beliefs The central Jewish belief is monotheism. In traditional Judaism, God is often perceived as a loving Father who is nonetheless infinitely majestic. 20 Central Beliefs The essential commandment to humans is to love God. This love of God should compel humans to study the Torah and fulfill the commandments. 21 Central Beliefs Human life is sacred since humans are made in the image of God. This is interpreted in an ethical sense, that humans can mirror God’s qualities such as justice, wisdom, righteousness and love. 22 Central Beliefs The written and oral Torah provides laws by which humans can remain faithful and fulfill the purposes of Creation – they may live responsibly because of the laws given by God. 23 Central Beliefs Suffering is a part of being chosen by God. In the parable of Job, a blameless God-fearing and wealthy man, he is tested by Satan who destroys all that he has, including his children and his health. After cursing his life, and questioning God’s justice, Job comes to acknowledge God’s wisdom and power. God then rewards him with long life and greater riches than he had before. 24 25 Sacred Practices Daily scriptural study Boys were traditionally taught how to read and write ancient Hebrew and how to interpret scripture. This required extensive knowledge of the scriptures and concentrated intellectual effort. 26 Sacred Practices Ritual Circumcision Boys are ritually circumcised at eight days old to honor the seal of God’s commandment to Abraham. 27 Sacred Practices Mikva Orthodox Jews consider women ritually impure during their menstrual periods and for seven blood-free days afterwards. At the end of this forbidden period, women must undertake complete immersion in a mikva, a special deep bath structure, symbolizing their altered state. 28 29 Sacred Practices Marital sex is sacred The Sabbath night is the holiest time for making love. Adultery is strictly forbidden as one of the worst sins against God – maintaining pure lines of descent is extremely important for Jewish tradition. 30 Sacred Practices What one eats must be KOSHER What one eats is of cosmic significance – the Torah instructs with regard to ritually acceptable foods, and unclean foods. E.g. kosher meats are those from warm blooded animals with cloven hoofs which chew their cuds, and butchered in particular ways. Care is taken to avoid eating blood. 31 Sacred Practices Prayer Traditional observant Jews begin the morning with a prayer before they open their eyes to thank God for restoring the soul. For weekday morning prayers, men also put t’fillin, small leather boxes containing Biblical verses about the covenant with God, on the forehead, and the upper arm, held against the heart. 32 Sacred Practices Prayer Three prayer services are chanted daily in a synagogue by men if there is a minyan (quorum of ten). Women can say them also, but they are excused from rigid schedules partly because of household responsibilities, and partly because of the belief that women have a more intuitive sense of spirituality. 33 Sacred Practices Sabbath Observed as an eternal sign of the covenant between the Jews and God. It runs from sunset Friday night to sunset Saturday night, because the Jewish “day” begins with nightfall. Just as God is said to have created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, all work is to cease when the Sabbath begins. (video) 34 Sacred Practices Bar Mitzvah (“son of the commandment”) Recognition of coming of age at 13 for Jewish boys. He will have undertaken some religious instruction and is called upon to read a portion of the Torah scroll, recite a passage from one of the books of the Prophets in Hebrew, and perhaps to give a short teaching from the reading. 35 Sacred Practices Bar Mitzvah (“son of the commandment”) Following the readings, there may be a simple kiddush – a celebration with blessing of wine and sweet bread or cake, but a big party is more likely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZgSx acJBr4 36 Sacred Practices Bat Mitzvah (“daughter of the commandment”) The custom of welcoming the boy to adult responsibilities has been extended to girls in nonOrthodox congregations. 37 Sacred Practices Passover (Pesach) The most important holiday in the Jewish year, the meal is a constant repetition of the meal that Hebrews ate when the angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the Hebrews and killed the firstborn of the Egyptian who had enslaved them (10th plague). It marks the beginning of their pilgrimage to freedom under the leadership of the Lord and Moses. 38 Sacred Practices Passover (Pesach) Celebrates the liberation from bondage in Egypt and the spring-time advent of new life. Israelites were warned to slaughter a lamb for each family and mark their doors with its blood so that the angel of the Lord would pass over them. They were to roast the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 39 Sacred Practices Passover (Pesach) The beginning of Pesach is still marked by a Seder dinner with the eating of unleavened bread (matzah) to remember the urgency of the departure, and bitter herbs as a reminder of slavery, so that they would never impose it on other peoples. 40 Sacred Practices Passover (Pesach) Also on the table for the Seder dinner, are charoset (a sweet fruit and nut mixture, a reminder of the mortar that the enslaved Israelites molded into bricks) and salt water (a reminder of the tears of the slaves) into which parsley or some other plant (a reminder of spring life) are dipped and eaten. (video) 41 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2ePd43aon8&feat ure=related 42 Hanukkah Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. It starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfChLAADS8&fe ature=related 43 Major Branches of Judaism Today (p 258 Fisher) 44 Major Branches of Judaism Today (Fisher, 2008, p258) 45 Major Branches of Judaism Today Modern Orthodoxy This branch values secular knowledge and integration with non-Jewish society so that its members can be enriched by interaction with the modern world and also help to uplift it. 46 Major Branches of Judaism Today Modern Orthodoxy It also is dedicated to the national and religious significance of Israel and to Jewish law as divinely given. 47 Major Branches of Judaism Today Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Generally in favour of a degree of detachment from non-Jewish culture, so that the community can focus on the study of the Torah. 48 Major Branches of Judaism Today Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Some groups completely withdraw from the secular world and the rest of the Jewish community, while others are devoted to extending their message to as many Jews as possible. 49 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reform / Liberal Movement Began in 19th c. Germany as an attempt to help modern Jews appreciate their religion, rather than regarding it as antiquated, meaningless or repugnant. 50 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reform / Liberal Movement Synagogues were redefined as places for spiritual elevation, with choirs added, and Sabbath service shortened and translated into the vernacular. 51 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reform / Liberal Movement Men and women were allowed to sit together in contrast to traditional separation. 52 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reform / Liberal Movement Has been at the forefront of establishment of interfaith dialogue and faith-based social activism in cooperation with non-Jewish groups. 53 Major Branches of Judaism Today Conservative Sought to maintain (‘conserve’) traditional Jewish laws and practices, while also using modern means of historical scholarship 54 Major Branches of Judaism Today Conservative An intermediate position with regard to the liberalization processes. 55 Major Branches of Judaism Today Conservative Believe that Jews have always searched and added to laws, liturgy, and beliefs to keep them relevant and meaningful in changing times. 56 Major Branches of Judaism Today Conservative Conservative women have been ordained as rabbis since 1985. 57 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reconstructionism Founded by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, an influential American thinker who died in 1983. Branched off from Conservatism. 58 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reconstructionism Kaplan held that the Enlightenment changed everything, and that strong measures were needed to preserve Judaism in the face of rationalism. 59 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reconstructionism Kaplan denied that the Jewish people were specially chosen by God – rather they had chosen to try to become a people of God. 60 Major Branches of Judaism Today Reconstructionism Kaplan created a new prayer book, deleting traditional portions he and others found offensive, such as derogatory references to women -the physical resurrection of the body, and passages describing God as rewarding or punishing Israel by manipulating natural phenomena. 61 The end!!!! 62