Download Monotheistic Religions

Essay questions count 5 (five) points each.
Explain the God of the Bible as revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Explain the Jewish Scriptures.
The problem and solution of humans in Christianity.
The pillars of Islam.
Explain the Protestant Reformation.
Explain the God of the Jews. The Jewish Scriptures describe an all-powerful spiritual being
who created the universe and who is all-wise, eternal, transcendent, immanent. The God of the
Jews has various names. He’s special name is YHWH. Jews do not pronounce the name
YHWH but they call him “Elohim” or “Adonai”. YHWH is a personal god who thinks, feels,
and acts. YHWH loves his special people Israel and relates to them through special covenants
(agreements, contracts). YHWH is holy, loving, and just.
Describe the Tanah. The Scriptures in Judaism are called the “Tanakh”. The Tanakh is not
really a single volume but actually is a collection of writings that have been gathered together
over hundreds of years and grouped into three divisions: the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets),
and Kethuvim (Writings), thus the acronym Tanakh. The Tanakh was written by various
prophets, poets, and holy men during a fifteen hundred year period. This collection of writings is
believed to be holy because the primary author is God who is holy.
The problem and solution of humans in Christianity. Man’s problem is sin. The Bible says
that all men have sinned. All people have disobeyed God. As a result of sin every person is
guilty and faces judgment. Because we are unable to atone for our sin, God sent Jesus to die on
the cross as a sacrifice for our sin. His death paid the price for our sin. Jesus’ sacrificial death
on the cross is called “the atonement” and “redemption”. Jesus’ work of redemption is applied
to the life of a sinner when he or she turns away from sin and puts his or her faith in Jesus as
Lord and Savior.
Explain God as revealed in the Bible (Old and New Testaments). The Bible describes God as
an all-powerful spiritual being who created the universe and who is all-wise, eternal,
transcendent, immanent. God is a personal god who thinks, feels, and acts. God is a heavenly
father to those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. God is holy, loving, and just. The
New Testament describes God as a tri-unity—one God who exists as three eternal, co-equal
persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Christians have arrived at this
Trinitarian formula because the New Testament teaches that Jesus as the Son of God is God-inthe-flesh, i.e. God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son, and yet
He too is divine.
Explain the role of Jesus’ disciples. The primary role of a disciple is to follow his or her rabbi
and learn his teachings. Disciples also cared for their rabbis and assisted them in their work.
Jesus had many disciples—men and women—who followed him during his three year ministry.
The memorized his teachings, followed his lifestyle, provided for his needs, and assisted him in
his ministry of teaching and preaching the Gospel (the message of salvation), and helped him
minister to the sick and poor.
Explain the Protestant Reformation. The Roman Catholic Church had become a hierarchical
organization that had lost touch with many of its members. Ungodly and unqualified men could
obtain a position in the Church through simony and nepotism. The presence of these ungodly
officials led to all kinds of corruption. Some priests tried to stop this corruption. They believed
that the Church needed to be reformed. One of the first of these reformers was John Wycliffe in
England. Wycliffe’s ideas were spread to other parts of Europe especially Bohemia where Jon
Hus attempted to reform the Catholic Church. Then in Germany, the reformer Martin Luther
was forced out of the Catholic Church but he successfully led many Germans toward a more
biblical faith. Luther’s example encouraged many other priests to break away from the Catholic
Church.
The pillars of Islam. 1) Shahada -- Confession of faith “There is no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is his prophet.” 2) Salat -- daily prayers five times a day in the direction of Mecca.
3) Zakat -- giving to the poor. 4) Sawm – fasting during the month of Ramadan. 5) Hajj -pilgrimage to Mecca.
Describe the Nation of Islam. Nation of Islam (NOI) is a black nationalist religious movement
started by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad. Under the leadership of Eliah Muhammad, the Nation of
Islam taught self-reliance and “knowledge of self”. Elijah Muhammad encouraged AfricanAmericans not to look for acceptance from whites, but to learn to accept themselves. Elijah
Muhammad encouraged African-Americans to start their own businesses and to form a separate
Black community within the United States. In 1976, Warith Deen Mohammad, son of Elijah
Muhammad, disbanded the Nation of Islam and led most of the followers into Sunni Islam. Today
the Nation of Islam is much smaller and is led by Louis Farrakhan, a disciple of Malcolm X.
What are the major kinds of Islam? Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims (mostly in Iran but also
found in Iraq, Pakistan, and India), and Ahmadi Muslims (mostly in Pakistan and Great Britain).