Download Early History, and beliefs of Judaism, and Christianity

Early History and Beliefs of
Judaism and Christianity
Pre Class

Explain the significance of Jerusalem
to:
 Jews
 Christians
 Muslims
Founders of Judaism
Abraham
 Abrahamic covenant;
God promised:




to make of Abraham a
great nation
The Promised Land
to make Abraham a father
of many nations
Unconditional (required
nothing of Abraham)
Founders of Judaism
Moses



Greatest prophet/teacher
Led the Exodus (escape
of Hebrews from slavery
in Egypt)
Mosaic covenant:
10 Commandments –
establish Hebrews’
relationship with Yahweh,
moral laws (self-restraint,
family and human life)
Return to Canaan (Promised
Land)


Founding of Israel

12 desert tribes unified by
Ark of the Covenant


Judges ruled, prophets
warned people
Hebrews overcame
Canaanites after 200
years; pushed Philistines
to coast
Kings of Israel


Saul – unified 12 tribes during
fighting
David



Established capital/religious center
at Jerusalem
Covenant between king and
people/God
Solomon



Wealth/power for Israel (trade with
Arabia)
Built relationships with other powers
in the region
Temple
The Kingdom of David and
Solomon - 1077 - 997 BCE
Israel Divided


Struggles for power weakened Israel after
Solomon’s death
Northern Kingdom (Israel – Samaria)


Conquered by Assyrians – captured, enslaved
Hebrews
Southern Kingdom (Judah – Jerusalem)


Conquered by Chaldeans -destroyed Jerusalem,
temple
Persians allowed Hebrews to return
Diaspora - the scattering of Jews from the land of
Israel



revolt against Roman rule (6670 CE)
Destruction of Jerusalem,
Temple
Judea destroyed; Jews
dispersed from Palestine


to Europe (faced restrictions of
Roman Empire), Middle East
Formed regional groups
 Preserved traditions, beliefs;
faced similar expulsions,
persecutions
Where did the name “Palestine” come
from??

Palestine – a name given to the Jewish
province of Judea by the Romans
(“Palaestina”), during Hadrian’s rule, to wipe
away the identity of the state of Judea
The Western Wall
Remains of Second Temple
 Place of prayer (mourning for
destruction of temple)
Disputed between Jews/Muslims


Judaism = teachings of the Hebrews


ethical monotheism
Torah – first 5 books of Old
Testament
 History
 Mosaic Law (10 Comm) –
“eye for an eye,” higher
value on human life, kinder
towards poor, slaves
 Ethics – from prophets’
messages
I. Thou shalt have no other
gods before me.
VI. Thou shalt not kill.
VII. Thou shalt not commit
II. Thou shalt not make unto adultery.
thee any graven image.
VIII. Thou shalt not steal.
III. Thou shalt not take the
name of the LORD thy God
in vain.
IV. Remember the sabbath
day, to keep it holy.
IX. Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy
neighbour.
X. Thou shalt not covet
any thing that is thy
V. Honour thy father and thy[ neighbour's.
mother.
Beliefs/Practices

Yahweh (God)

Fear – early Hebrews
 Freedom to choose between good
and evil
 Spiritual force, divine
Worship


synagogue
Every synagogue contains an Ark, which is
a cupboard where the Torah Scrolls, which
contain the text of the Hebrew Bible, are
kept, and a desk from which to read the
Torah. (BBC)
The Calendar



The Jewish calendar is a combined
moon and sun calendar, unlike the
conventional Western (or Gregorian)
calendar.
The result is that Jewish festivals
move about the Western calendar
from year to year. The Jewish
calendar also starts each day in the
evening.
This is because when God was
creating the world he started each day
in the evening. (BBC)
Holy Days

Days of Repentance (Days of Awe)


Rosh Hashanah


During the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur everyone gets a chance to repent.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival
and commemorates the creation of the world.
Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur, the most sacred and solemn day of
the Jewish year, brings the Days of Repentance to
a close.
Christianity



Began in Palestine (1st Century)
grew out of Judaism’s traditions
Jesus – founder; Gospels – stories of Jesus’ life
 Preacher – taught goodness, mercy; Parables –
stories about morality; miracles attributed to him
 Disciples
 Sentenced to die by Romans – “enemy of the
state”; crucified
 According to Christians – resurrected**, ascended
into heaven
When/why did the split happen?

After Jesus’ Death:
 Christians – believe Jesus is the
Messiah (one anointed by God)
 Jews – do NOT believe this; still
awaiting the Messiah
Teachings of Christianity (rooted in
Judaism)

Grounded in Jewish traditions



(Trinitarian) Monotheistic
10 Commandments
eternal life - reward for the
humble, merciful, and unselfish.

Sermon on the Mount (Golden
Rule, Beatitudes)
What do you remember about life in
the Roman Empire at its height?
Why do you think Christianity
appealed to many Romans?
Spread of Christianity



Christians – followers of Jesus
Disciples spread message through Jewish
communities in Palestine and beyond (Paul’s
letters)
spread quickly (Roman Empire)
 Hope of eternal life
 Control over destiny
 Equality in the eyes of God
Persecution



Romans persecuted
Christians
 Wouldn’t worship
Emperor as a god
 Wouldn’t worship
Roman gods
 PACIFISTS – wouldn’t
fight to defend the
Empire
Martyrs-people who suffer
or die for their beliefs.
# of Christians
INCREASED – why??
Development of the Church





Empire forced to accept religion
312- Constantine supported Christianity
391 - official religion of the Roman empire
Formal Church
 Pope – patriarch of Rome
Great Schism 1054
 Roman Catholic (Rome)
 Eastern Orthodox (Constantinople)