Download Study Sheet on Western Religions

Study Sheet on Western Religions
Understanding Others
People are often mistreated for their beliefs.
In the last century as many as six million Jews were
murdered in the Holocaust. Religious conflicts persist
in Ireland, the Middle East, Darfur in the Sudan and
in many other parts of the world. The attacks on the
World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September
11, 2001 are likely the result of religious conflicts. By
understanding one another, we can hope to develop
tolerance and respect for all people.
We study different religious faiths in order to
understand other people. Many people have strong
religious convictions, and it would be impossible to
understand them without first understanding their
beliefs.
Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam are monotheistic faiths
practiced by about half of the
world’s population. Monotheism
Judaism
refers to the belief in one God.
The faiths are often called
Judaism is the oldest of the western religions
western religions to distinguish them
and it has influenced Christianity and Islam. There
from the eastern religions practiced primarily in Asia.
are approximately fifteen million Jews throughout the
Believers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are
world.
found on every populated continent, but tend to be
The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jewish
concentrated in North
people and they trace
and South America,
their ancestry to
The Star of David
Europe, Australia,
Abraham, who left his
The most recognized symbol of Judaism is the six
Western Asia and North
home in the
pointed Star of David. Jewish legend says that a Hebrew
Africa. Christianity and
Mesopotamian city of Ur
king named David went into battle with the hexagram on
Islam are growing
about 2200BC. The
his shield. Later, when Jews were minorities in Christian
influences in subHebrews were different
and Muslim nations, they were forced to wear the star on
Saharan Africa, often
from others of their time
their clothing to identify themselves.
replacing indigenous
because they were
Today you will see the hexagram used to identify
faiths.
synagogues and Jewish organizations. The symbol that was monotheistic; they
While western
believed in only one
once used to separate Jews from the rest of society is now
religions are centered on
God. The Hebrews
flown on the flag of Judaism’s homeland, Israel.
the belief in one God,
believed they had a
many believers of eastern religions seek to find
special relationship with their God and that they were
enlightenment by looking within themselves.
his chosen people.
Hinduism and Buddhism are popular faiths in India,
The Hebrews established a nation they called
Southeast Asia, and Japan. Shinto is the traditional
Israel on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
religion of many Japanese people, but the practice of
About 1300BCE, many Hebrews moved to Egypt to
Shintoism has declined since Japan’s defeat in World
escape a famine. A famine is a great hunger. At first,
War II. Since becoming a communist nation in 1949,
the Hebrews were treated well in Egypt, but in time
China has discouraged religion. Many people in
they were enslaved by the Egyptians. According to
China practice the teachings of Confucius. Confucius
Hebrew tradition, God sent ten deadly plagues to
was not a religious leader, but he was a wise man who
Egypt when the Egyptians would not release the
was concerned with how people treated one another.
Hebrew slaves. When the Hebrews did escape,
Taoism is another philosophy centered in China.
tradition states that Moses, the leader of the Hebrews,
Indigenous religions are practiced throughout
parted the Red Sea for just enough time
the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
to allow the Hebrews to pass.
Indigenous faiths are often animistic. Animism is the
Once the Hebrews reached the
belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the
other side, tradition states that the
universe itself possess souls or consciousness. This is
waters returned and the Egyptian
similar to the traditional beliefs of the Native
army drowned. After their escape
Americans in North and South America.
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across the Red Sea 1250BCE, God revealed Ten
Jesus taught his followers to "Do unto others as you
Commandments to Moses. The Ten Commandments
would have them do unto you."
formed the basis of Mosaic Law and are the model for
The followers of Jesus called him Christ.
both Jewish and Christian moral thought.
Christ is a Greek word that means, “chosen one.”
The Hebrews returned to Israel, but they were
They believe he was the son of God, and was
conquered by several other cultures. In time, most of
resurrected (rose from the dead) after his death. In
the Hebrews were forced to leave Israel, beginning a
time followers of Jesus became known as Christians.
period known as the Diaspora. The Hebrews were
Early Christians taught that the sins of the people
forced to live as minorities in many different lands
would be forgiven if they became Christian.
until the creation of the Jewish nation of Israel in
Some years after Jesus died, Christians
1948.
combined the stories of the life and wisdom of Jesus
Jewish people have often faced severe
into four books known as the Gospels. Gospel means
mistreatment. European Jews were ordered to leave
“good news.” The holy book of Christianity is known
Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and faced organized
as the Bible and has two parts. The Old Testament
massacres called pogroms in many nations,
consists of the sacred writings of the Jewish people,
particularly in Eastern Europe. Last century, as many
and was written mostly in Hebrew long before Jesus
as six million Jews were murdered in what we now
lived. The New Testament of the Bible includes the
call the Holocaust, where the Nazi party of Germany
Gospels, along with letters by Christian writers. The
attempted genocide, or the planned killing of a whole
Bible has been translated into more than 1,500
group of people because of their religion or
languages and has been read by more people than any
nationality.
other book.
Jews worship in synagogues led by a rabbi.
There are almost two billion Christians. They
Rabbi is a Hebrew word that means “master.” Their
are living on every continent. They
holiest period is the weekly Shabbat, which lasts from
comprise the majority of people living
sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Other important
in the United States and
Jewish holidays include Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish
Canada (86%), Latin America
New Year), Yom Kippur (a Day of Atonement or
(92%), Europe (76%) and Australia
confession), Simchat Torah (celebrating receiving the
(85%). Christianity is also the most
Torah on Mount Sinai), Chanukah (a celebration of a
prevalent faith in Africa (48%).
military victory), and Passover (a remembrance of the
Christianity is a dominant force on
time the Hebrews lived in Egypt).
every continent with the exception of
The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism.
Asia (9%). Most of the world’s
The Torah is also holy to Christians, who include it as
population is in Asia, so only one-third
the Old Testament of their Bible. The Talmud is
of the world's population is Christian.
another holy book in Judaism. The Talmud is a
Christianity is divided into many sects. About
collection of the laws and customs of the Jewish
half of the world’s Christian population is Roman
people.
Catholic. Pope Benedict XVI is the leader of the
Most Jews live in the
Roman Catholic Church.
Christians and the Cross
United States (5.8 million) and
Catholic is a Latin word that
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was means “universal,” and at one
Israel (4.8 million). Europe was
both a man and the son of God. They
once home to millions of Jewish
time it was the faith of almost all
believe God sent Jesus as a messiah, or
people, but most of the survivors
Christians. Roman refers to the
messenger. The Roman governor of
of the Holocaust immigrated to
fact that the Pope has lived in
Palestine
executed
Jesus
by
nailing
him
to
other nations. Today only 2.3
Rome for over five hundred
a cross.
million Jews remain in Europe.
years. Most Christians in Eastern
Today the cross is Christianity’s most
Europe belong to Eastern
important icon. Most Christians have
Christianity
Orthodox Churches. The
crosses in and on top of their churches.
Orthodox churches split with the
Christianity is based on
Some Christians wear a cross as a
Roman church in the Middle
the teachings of Jesus Christ, a
necklace. The cross symbolizes a
Ages. Many European leaders,
Jew who lived about 2000 years
Christian’s connection with Jesus.
including Martin Luther and John
ago in what we now call Israel.
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Calvin, protested against the Pope in
Muhammad repeated the words of
Icons of Islam
a period known as the Reformation.
the angel to others who learned them
The crescent, star, and the
The churches they started became
by heart. Eventually, Mohammad's
color green are symbols often
known as Protestant sects. Major
followers collected these messages
associated with Islam. The star
Protestant sects in America today are
represents knowledge and light, and and gathered them into a book
the Baptists (34 million), Methodists
known as the Quran (Koran). The
the crescent represents progress.
(13 million), Lutherans (8 million),
Quran is the holy book of Islam. It
You will find these symbols on the
Presbyterians (4 million),
has been translated into many
flags of many Muslim nations.
Episcopalians (2.5 million), and
languages, but many Muslims
Islamic art includes calligraphy,
Pentecostals (2.4 million).
believe that the only true version of
or decorative penmanship, but no
Christians worship in
the Quran is written in Arabic. This
images of people. The Quran
churches led by ministers and priests. forbids recreating any living thing
is why Arabic spread throughout the
Most Christians practice acts of
Middle East and North Africa.
because no one should copy what
religious significance called
Often Muslims will learn Arabic as
Allah has made. This is why you
sacraments. The sacraments include
a second language, as a Jew would
will not find a picture of
baptism, when a Christian joins the
learn Hebrew.
Muhammad in Islamic literature.
church; confirmation, when a
The Islamic house of
Christian confirms his or her faith; and matrimony.
worship is a mosque. Unlike Jews and Christians,
The Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion) is
Muslims do not have a holy day, but many Muslims
the holiest of Christian sacraments in many
gather in mosques on Friday afternoon for prayers.
Christian churches. During the service,
Muhammad taught that believers should pray five
members of a church will eat a small
times every day. Faithful Muslims will stop whatever
wafer of bread. Christian tradition
they are doing and bow down to pray.
states that at the Last Supper before his
Mecca is a holy city to Muslims because it is
execution, Jesus asked his followers to
the site of the Kaaba, a small shrine that Muslims
think of the meal as the body and blood he
believe to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslims
would soon sacrifice.
orient themselves toward the Kaaba during their daily
Christian holy days include Christmas (the
prayers. Every Muslim who makes the pilgrimage to
birth of Jesus), Easter (when Christians believe Jesus
Mecca walks around the Kaaba seven times. Islamic
rose from the dead and ascended to
tradition states that the stone was
How
Do
You
Spell
heaven), and Lent, a forty-day holy
originally white, but it had become
period of penitence and self-denial.
black by absorbing the sins of the
That?
millions of pilgrims who have kissed
The Quran is spelled
Islam
and touched it.
many different ways because it
Ramadan is a sacred month
Islam is an Arabic word that
is an Arabic word. Arabic is
to
Muslims,
and faithful Muslims
means “surrender to God.” Believers
written in a different script than
fast
between
dawn and dusk during
in Islam are called Muslims, or “those
English. The generally
Ramadan. To fast means to abstain
accepted spelling for the Quran
who surrender." Muslims believe that
from eating. Ramadan is sacred
Muhammad was the last of a series of
is with a 'Q' to represent the
because it is the month in which the
holy prophets that included Abraham,
glottal 'K' sound. You will
Quran was revealed to Muhammad.
Moses, and Jesus. A prophet is a
often see the holy book of Islam
Muslims use a lunar calendar, so
holy messenger. Christians believe
spelled Qur’ran or Koran.
Ramadan falls at different times
Many words associated
that Jesus is God, while Muslims
each year. Ramadan will begin
believe Allah is the only God and that
with Islam have more than one
September 2, 2008.
Muhammad was his messenger.
accepted spelling. Muslim is
There are more than one
Allah is an Arabic term that means
more common than Moslem,
billion Muslims, but only five
"the God" (al-El).
and Mohammad is more
million live in the United States.
Muhammad lived about 600
common than Muhammad.
Nations with large Muslim
years after Jesus in what we now call
populations include Indonesia (180
Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that
million), Pakistan (125 million), Bangladesh (109
Muhammad was visited in a cave by an angel.
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million), India (84 million), Iran (66 million), Egypt
(60 million), Turkey (60 million), Nigeria (52
million), Algeria (29 million), Morocco (29 million),
Ethiopia (24 million), Sudan (22 million), Afghanistan
The Ten Commandments
The following is from the Revised Standard
Version of the Christian Bible.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other Gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or
serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children to the third and the fourth generation of
those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to
thousands of those who love me and keep my
commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God
in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless
who takes his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six
days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the
seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it
you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or
your daughter, your manservant, or your
maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is
within your gates; for in six days the Lord made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord
blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days
may be long in the land which the Lord your God
gives you.
You shall not kill.
(22 million), Iraq (20 million) and Saudi Arabia (19
million). Russia also has a large Muslim population,
but estimates on its size vary.
The Teaching of the Quran
The following translations from the Quran help define Islam
for the non-Muslim. Many Muslims believe that the only true
version of the Quran is written in Arabic, and that the word of
Allah is lost when translated into another language.
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
Muhammad is only a messenger, and many messengers have
gone before him.
Pay homage to Allah and be good to your parents and
relatives, the orphans and the needy and the neighbors who are
your relatives, and the neighbors who are your strangers and
the friend by your side, the traveler and your servants.
Give in charity what is good of the things you have earned, and
of what you produce; do not choose to give what is bad as
donations, that is, things you would not accept yourself.
It is good to give donations openly, but it is better to give to
the poor in secret.
Be good to your parents. Look after them with kindness and
respect.
Give full measure when you are measuring, and weigh with a
balanced scale.
You may dislike something even if it is good for you, but other
things that please you may be bad for you.
Allah is with those who preserve themselves from evil and do
right.
The Five Pillars of Islam
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his
manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his
ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.
-Exodus 20: 2-17
Shahada – The expression of faith. “There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is his messenger.”
Salat – Muslims pray five times every day—dawn, midday, late
afternoon, sunset, and at night. Muslims always face toward
the holy city of Mecca.
Zakat – Muslims give a portion of their income to the poor and to
public charities.
Sawm – Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset during
Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month when the Quran was
revealed to Muhammad.
Hajj – If they are in good health and can afford it, Muslims are
expected to journey to Mecca once in their lifetime.
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