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Comparing Western
Monotheistic Religions
Aim: To what extent were early monotheistic religions similar?
Vocabulary: Monotheism, ethics, Torah, Messiah, Bible, Golden Rule, Koran,
Five Pillars of Faith, sharia
Major beliefs of Judaism
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Originates: 1200 BCE in Near East
Kingdoms of Judah and Israel (1000 BCE-70 CE) located in crossroads of
Egypt and Mesopotamia
Major Beliefs: 1 God – Yahweh
Follow Yahweh’s laws
Books or Scripture: Torah (5 Books of Moses), Old Testament
10 Commandments are within the Torah
Since 576 BCE majority of Jews live in Diaspora (outside of Jewish
Kingdoms or state)
The Ten Commandments
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Exodus Chapter 20
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
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2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
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3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
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4 "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; 5 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, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
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7 "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.
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8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; 10 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; 11 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.
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12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
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13 "You shall not kill.
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14 "You shall not commit adultery.
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15 "You shall not steal.
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16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
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17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; 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."
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Judaism
14 million Jews today
Over 6 million in Israel
Over 5 million in USA
Over 2 million in New York City
(largest population for a city)
Reform
Traditions are
Heritage of the
Past – modern
Ethical code
Is key
Conservative
Traditional Laws
Are changed over
Time but are still the
Basis of Judaism
Orthodox
Strict followers of
Traditional Laws
Major beliefs of Christianity
• Jesus Christ is divine
• Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
• Scripture: The New Testament “updates” the Old
Testament (10 Commandments focused on)
• Spirit of Law (Ethical Code) is most important
• Forgiving, Understanding God
• Sacraments: Baptism, Communion, etc.
(performed by Church or the individual becomes
the debate)
• Salvation can be achieved for next world
Matthew 1:18
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The Birth of Jesus Christ
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was
pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her
husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public
disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had
considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,
because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give
birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will
save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call
him Immanuel"[d]—which means, "God with us."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union
with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
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Luke 6:29
“And to him that smiteth thee on the one
cheek, offer also the other; and him that
taketh away thy cloke, forbid not to take
thy coat also.”
Q: How does the quote allude to some important Christian values?
Christianity – main divisions
early Christianity persecuted by Romans until Emperor Constantine converts to
the religion (330s). Eventually by late 380s it becomes the official religion of
the Roman Empire
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Eastern Orthodox Christianity –
split 1066 officially from West
Practiced in Eastern Roman
Empire, then Byzantine Empire,
Today in Russia and Eastern
Europe
Western Christianity
Practiced in Western
Roman Empire
400+ million followers
Protestant
600 million followers
15th Century
Division begins
Faith = Salvation
No Church needed
Lutherans, Calvinists,
Anabaptists, etc.
Roman Catholic
900+ million
Followers
Believe in Pope
As leader of Church
Early Christianity
• Starts in Near East
• Paul (universalist – converts including “gentiles” – non-Jews vs
Peter (local missionary work) – Peter later changes his outlook to fit
with Paul’s
• By 100 CE minority communities arise throughout Roman Empire
• Orthodoxy (dominant “correct” way) vs heterodoxy (minority
opinions)
• Heterodoxies (heresies) include: What is the Trinity? What is Jesus
(son of God, Messiah, Prophet, etc.)
• Good vs Evil, Importance of Knowledge vs deeds
• Includes Arianism, Nestorianism, Manichaesim, Gnostics, etc.
• Orthodox way becomes clear under Emperor Constantine and
Council of Nicaea (330s-350s CE)
Compare Judaism and Christianity
• Judaism
• Christianity
Major beliefs of Islam
('Qur'an,' II, 166-75, 180-2, 186-93)
“0 believers, eat of the good things wherewith
We have provided you, and give thanks
to God, if it be Him that you serve.
These things only has He forbidden you;
carrion, blood, the flesh of swine,
what has been hallowed to other than God.
Yet whoso is constrained, not desiring,
nor transgressing, no sin shall be on him;
God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.
Those who conceal what of the Book God has sent down
on them, and sell it for a little price-they shall eat naught
but the Fire in their bellies; God shall not
speak to them on the Day of Resurrection
neither purify them; there awaits them
a painful chastisement.”
Q: How is a Muslim’s life centered around religion?
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Islam
Sunni
Q: Why did a split occur in Islam?
Shiite
Compare the three monotheistic
religions
Pillars of
Faith
When founded
and by whom
Number of
members
Where
popular
Main
beliefs
Holy Books
Judaism
Christianity Islam