Download From Polytheism to Monotheism

From Polytheism to Monotheism
A look at two Monotheistic
Religions: Judaism and
Zoroastrianism
The Children of Israel
• Their religion- known today as Judaismflourished as a world religion and later
influenced the religions of Christianity and
Islam.
• Much of the history and religious beliefs of
the Israelites were eventually recorded in
written form in the Hebrew Bible, parts of
which are known to Christians as the Old
Testament
The Israelites
• Migrated from Mesopotamia to Palestine, which
they called Canaan.
• Lifestyle based on grazing flocks and herds
rather than farming.
• Migrated to Egypt because of drought, where
they were enslaved until Moses led them out of
Egypt.
• Between 1200 and 1000 BC, the Israelites
emerged as a distinct group of people who
established a united kingdom.
Spiritual Dimensions of Israel
• According to Jewish beliefs, there is one
God, called Yahweh, the Creator of the
world and everything in it.
• God ruled the world.
• He created nature but was not in nature.
• The stars, moons, rivers, wind and other
natural phenomena were not gods, as other
ancient peoples believed, but God’s
handiwork.
The Israelites and Judaism
• God was just and good and he expected
goodness from his people.
• If they did not obey his will, they would be
punished.
• Jews were monotheistic; they believed in
one God.
• The Covenant, law, and prophets were 3
aspects of the Jewish religious tradition.
The Israelites and Judaism
• 10 commandments were given to Moses on
Mt. Sinai
• Religious teachers, called prophets, were
sent by God to serve as his voice to his
people.
• The Age of Prophets was from the eleventh
through the fifth centuries BC, during the
time when the people faced threats or
endured conquests by powerful neighbors.
The Prophets
• From the prophets came new concepts
which enriched Jewish tradition.
• They cried out against social injustice.
• Condemned the rich for causing the poor to
suffer
• The prophets said God’s command was to
live justly, share with one’s neighbors, care
for the poor and the unfortunate, and act
with compassion.
A Unique Religion
• The most dramatic difference was their belief in
one God- monotheism.
• In all other religions, only priests and some rulers
had access to the gods.
• In Judaism, God’s will was open to anyone who
could read the Torah.
• The demands of Judaism encouraged a separation
between Jews and their non Jewish neighbors.
• Unlike most other peoples Jews would not accept
the gods of their conquerors or neighbors.
The Persian ReligionZoroastrianism
• Of all the cultural contributions of the
Persians, the most original was their
religion.
• Zoroaster was born in 660 BCE according
to Persian tradition.
• After a period of wandering and solitude, he
had visions that caused him to be revered as
a prophet of the true religion.
Zoroastrianism
• The sacred book is the Zend Avesta
• Followers of Zoroaster were monotheistic.
• Ahuramazda “Wise Lord” was the supreme god who
brought all things into being.
• He was supreme, but he was not unopposed.
• Evil spirit known as Ahriman.
• All humans have the freedom to choose between right
and wrong.
• An end to the struggle between good and evil.
• Ahuramazda would eventually triumph. (Good)