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Religious Studies
World Religions
Introduction
Religious Studies
World Religions - an Introduction
There are over 40 organised religions in the world today.
Of these 40, 6 are recognised as major world religions.
Religious Studies
World Religions - an Introduction
During this block of lessons you will find out
about the six major world religions, including:
• where they started
• who started them
• basic facts about them
• an idea of the links between them
• the reasons for some of the conflicts between
them
We need to know this so we can understand,
discuss and debate religious issues properly
Religious Studies
Religions - an Introduction
The World’s major six religions split into two broad
groups:
Western – Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Eastern – Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism
We will look at all the Western religions first and then
we will look at the Eastern religions.
Religious Studies
World Religions
Lesson 8 – Western Religions
Religious Studies
Lesson 1 - Western Religions
Today you will:
• find out about the basics of the western
religions and links between them
• complete a comprehension task
• watch a visual source
• discuss one area of conflict
Religious Studies
Western Religion Links
Map of the Middle east showing where the Western Religions began
Religious Studies
Western Religion Links
Judaism ________________________________
Christianity ________________
Islam ___
All the Western religions trace their relationship
with God back to Adam and Eve and the Garden
of Eden.
They all believe that God created the world and
that he still has a relationship with humans.
Religious Studies
Western religions – Judaism
Judaism began about 4000 years ago in a land called
Canaan (now called Israel). With a man called Abraham.
Jews believe that they are descendants of Abraham.
Abraham did not follow the ideas of his time, worshiping
many gods, he worshipped one god. God promised
Abraham land and that he would become the father of a
great nation. He was led to Canaan.
Some 500 years later Moses received the Jewish laws
from God on Mount Sinai. Jews have tried to follow these
laws through history. Their holy book is called the Torah.
Religious Studies
Western religions - Christianity
Christianity also began in Israel (then called Palestine)
after the death of Jesus of Nazareth about 2000 years
ago.
Jesus was a Jewish teacher who was put to death by
being nailed to a cross. Christians believe that he rose
from the dead and was the Son of God (or God in
human form), sent to save people from their sins.
Christianity was spread quickly by Jesus’s followers,
including St Paul. It came to Rome in it’s first 100
years. The New Testament was later put together with
Jewish teachings to become the Bible.
Religious Studies
Western religions - Islam
Islam began in the country we now call Saudi Arabia when
the prophet Muhammad started preaching in about 1400
years ago.
Muslims believe in one God, Allah, and that Muhammad
was his last prophet. However, they believe that Abraham
(Ibrahim), Moses (Musa) and Jesus (‘Isa) were Allah’s
prophets too.
Muhammad had a vision of the Angel Gabriel (Jibril) on
Mount Hira who asked him to recite the words of Allah
which later became the Qur’an (the Muslim’s holy book).
Through Muhammad’s preaching the religion spread
quickly throughout the Middle East.
Religious Studies
Western religions Links – Task
Match the heads and tails:
Judaism, Christianity & Islam began …
… the words given to him from Allah
All three religions believe …
… in the Middle East
God promised Abraham that …
… in one God so they are monotheists
Christians believe that Jesus …
… was the Son of God
Muhammad’s preaching was based on …
… he would be the father of a great nation
When you are finished check your answers with a friend
Religious Studies
Western religions – The People
As all three religions trace their history back to
God through Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses,
Jesus and Muhammad we are going to focus our
attention on these people.
We start today with Abraham.
Abraham (Testament)
Religious Studies
Western religions Links – The conflict
So Abraham was promised the land of Canaan, later
known as Palestine and now called Israel. But Abraham
had two sons, who should inherit from him?
Should it be Ishmael (first born child of Abraham) or
should it be Isaac (the son of Abraham and his wife
Sarah)?
What has this got to do with religion and conflict today?
Over the next couple of lessons we will explore the issue
of God’s promises and his expectations some more.
Religious Studies
Lesson 1 - Western Religions
Today have you:
• found out about the basics of the western
religions and links between them?
• completed a comprehension task?
• watched a visual source?
• discussed one area of conflict?
Religious Studies
Lesson 1 - Western Religions