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Religions
Part 1
The Abrahamic Faiths
Culture and Religion
Religion is often the biggest single factor
determining the culture of a people.
Religious people get their worldview, beliefs and
values largely from their religion.
Religions support behaviors of which they
approve
And suppress behavior of which they disapprove.
As a majority of people in the world are religious
therefore religion has a profound effect on culture.
Types of Religion
Religion can be divided by what they worship
Monotheism: One God
Three of the major religions are monotheistic:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Polytheism: Many gods
The major religion Hinduism is polytheistic.
Traditional or Pantheistic: Many gods everywhere.
Shinto, the official religion of Japan is one.
Religious Philosophies: are not centered on worship
Daoism and Buddhism are religious philosophies
The Abrahamic Faiths
According to the Jewish holy book, the Torah:
• Almost 4000 years ago a man called Abraham began to
worship the “One True God”
• To test his faith God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac,
At the last moment God spared Isaac, Abraham had passed
the test.
• God rewarded Abraham by making him “the father of many
nations”
– The Arabs trace themselves back to his son Ishmael
– The Jews trace themselves back to Isaac’s son Jacob
Judaism, Christianity & Islam all claim descent from
“Father Abraham’s” Faith
Judaism
Judaism is the first of the great monotheistic faiths.
It is based on a contract between God and the
Hebrew people found in their Holy Book the
Torah:
The Hebrew people Must obey God’s Law, which
is about:
• Worshiping only God, and nothing else
• Treating each other well.
In return God would:
• Bless, care for, and protect the Hebrew People
• Give them the land of Palestine to live in.
Christianity
Christianity is based on the life and teachings Jesus
Christ (ca. 0 AD) found in the Bible, their Holy Book
The Bible contains his and can be summed up:
•Love the Lord your God with all your heart
•Love you neighbor as yourself
Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and
that he died as a sacrifice to pay for their sins, and
was resurrected three days later.
They worship him as part of a three-part God. (3 in 1)
Christianity is the largest religion with 2 billion
believers.
Islam
Islam is based on the Teachings of Mohammed about
600 AD. It has over a billion believers.
According to the Koran, their Holy Book:
An angel came to Mohammed from God to tell him
that both the Jews and Christians have wondered
from the true faith, that they need correction .
For example: (Jews) It was Ishmael not Isaac that
was almost sacrificed.
(Christians) There is One God not 3 in 1.
Islam seeks to restore God’s Law Among men