Download Comparative Religions

Comparative Religions
• The trouble in the Middle East is a
religious/political conflict.
• It began a long time ago.
• In order to understand the conflict we must
know what they believe.
• Let’s compare and contrast
• The Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic Faiths.
Comparative Religions
• Hebrews, Jews, & Semites are all
associated with the people of Israel.
• Islam refers to the religion while Muslim
refers to a person who practices the
Islamic faith.
Misuses of Islam and Muslim
Islam : grammatically speaking, Islam should
only refer to the religion or acts done in the
name of that religion, never a person who
practices that religion. Islamic community and
Islamic art are correct, Islamic man is not.
Muslim should be used to describe all people
of the Islamic faith but not the faith itself. You
may say that you are interested in the religion of
Muslims, but never in the Muslim religion.
Comparative Religions
Hebrews believe:
1. One Creator God
2. Abraham is the
“father of their
faith”.
3. God speaks to people
through Prophets
4. Prophets wrote the
word in a Book.
5. A “Messiah” will come
to rule forever.
6. People have a future
in heaven or hell
Christians believe:
1. One Creator God
2. Abraham is the
“father of their
faith”.
3. God speaks to people
through Prophets
4. Prophets wrote the
word in a Book.
5. A “Messiah” will come
to rule forever.
6. People have a future
in heaven or hell
Comparative Religions
Muslims people believe:
1. One Creator God
2. Abraham is the “father of their faith”.
3. God speaks to People through Prophets
4. Prophets wrote the word in a Book.
5. A “Messiah” will come to rule forever.
6. People have a future in paradise or hell.
Comparative Religions
Hebrews, Christians and Muslims believe:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
There is One Creator God
Abraham is the “father of their faith”.
God speaks to People through Prophets
The Prophets wrote God’s word in a Book.
A “Messiah” will come to rule forever.
Humans have an afterlife future where
they will live in heaven/paradise or hell.
Comparative Religions
How do they differ:
Hebrews believe “The Book” is the Torah.
Christians believe “The Book” is the Bible
which includes most of the Torah.
Muslims believe “The Book” is the Quran.
Comparative Religions
Hebrews believe their Rabbi’s/Teachers are
prophets and can still be found today.
Christians believe that the Hebrew Prophets
predicted Jesus as their Messiah. They
have a different role in the church today.
Muslims believe that Jesus was a Prophet
but that the final Prophet was Mohammad.
(tell us the story of the Imam from Dearborn)
Comparative Religions
• The Hebrews and the Muslims believe the
“Messiah” has not come to earth yet.
• Christians believe that Jesus is the
Messiah but that He went back to heaven
and that He will return again.
Comparative Religions
• Hebrews believe you can get into Heaven
by doing good works (10 Commands).
• Christians believe you get into Heaven by
believing in Jesus (that God came to Earth).
• Muslim believe that you might get into
Heaven by fulfilling the 5 Pillars of Faith
(or by works).
Comparative Religions
Here’s where it get’s interesting…
Muslims believe there is only one way to get
into Paradise for sure by dying in a “Holy
War” or Jihad. Otherwise it’s up to Allah and
Mohammad to determine whether or not you are
able to get into Paradise based on your works.
Only a top religious leader (Imam) can
declare a Holy War.
Islamic Extremist have used this belief of
getting into Paradise to promote suicide
attacks.
Comparative Religions
This explains why men would fly a plane
into a building or bomb innocent (to us)
people at a marathon.
The people represent the enemy where war
has been declared.
We label them “terrorists” while they call
themselves “freedom fighters”.
What in the world is really going on????
How It all Began!
4000 years ago
Abraham was
promised by God
that he and his
children would
own all the land
that he could see!
He was standing on
a hill overlooking
what is now
modern day Israel.
How It all Began!
Abe was childless & getting old and so was his
wife. She decided (as was the custom) that
her husband would sleep with her Egyptian
servant Hagar.
Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.
How It all Began!
According to the
Torah-God told
Abe he would
have another son
with his wife.
Sarah gave birth to
Isaac.
How It all Began!
Ishmael and his offspring are the
children of many
Muslim nations
today.
Isaac and his offspring are the
children of the
Hebrew or Israeli
nation.
How It all Began!
The 2 sides have been fighting
ever since--over (what is
called) Israel today. The
Palestinians say God
promised the land through
Ishmael while the Israelis
claim God promised the land
through Isaac.
God spoke to Abraham and said:
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:3 Hebrew/Christian Bible)
(That’s why Christian-American’s
support the Israeli’s today)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EDW88
CBo-8
Division in Islam
These 2 groups have been fighting each other since 700 a.d.!
Shia
• Shias believe that the
only real leadership of
their faith comes from a
direct descendent of
Mohammad.
• That their messiah will
come when the 12 Imam
returns after there is
world chaos!
Sunnis
• Sunnis believe that only a
learned-educated spiritual
leader who has studied
the Holy Quran may rule
the Muslim people.
(This issue is similar to the
difference between
Catholics & Protestants)
There are 1.62 billion Muslims around the world, and it
is estimated over 75–90% are Sunni.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KLvjs7Yrtw
Shi’ites
Sunnis