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Three Monotheistic Religions of the Middle East Judaism Approx. Date of Origin Christianity Islam 2000 BCE 33 CE 622 CE Moses/Abraham Jesus Muhammad Torah Bible Quran Worship (places, times) Synogogue, Saturday Church, Sunday Mosque, Friday (pray 5x/day) Key Beliefs ( practices, core values) 613 laws, Jesus = false prophet, some people do not believe in afterlife, Abraham = father of the people, good deeds 10 Commandments, Jesus = God’s son, Divine creation, Jesus resurrected, good deeds Five Pillars, afterlife based on good deeds Holidays/ Celebration s Hanukkah, Yom Kippur, Passover Christmas, Good Friday & Easter Sunday Ramadan, Hajj, Al-Hijra (Muslim New Year), Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha Founder Symbol Sacred Text/ Law Judaism: the basics • Oldest monotheistic religion! • What is monotheism again?! • Central city is Jerusalem • Founded in 2,000 BC (approx.) • Founder = Moses/Abraham • God known as “Yahweh” • Trace origin to ancient Israelites, Kingdom of Israel. Eventually scattered • Mainly found in Israel, but is in diaspora (spread throughout the world) • Current number of Jews: 15-16 million worldwide Jewish Practices & Beliefs • Place of worship is the synagogue • Holy day = Saturday • Torah is the sacred text • Believed to be written by Moses, inspired by God • One of several books (Old Testament) record Jews’ history • 613 laws, first 10 are most important • Talmud (“oral law”): how to apply God’s law to everyday life through • • • • • Dietary rules (kosher) Dress & other symbols Prayer & devotion to one God Proper social relations Observance of holy days Synagogue in Jerusalem Torah Beliefs & Practices • Thoughts on Jesus • He was a good, wise (but ordinary) man who died thousands of years ago. Was NOT resurrected, but did die. • Still awaiting the messiah, or the political figure (not divine!) who would bring peace to earth. • What they’re concerned about: • “repairing this world” through justice & righteousness • Doing good deeds based on God’s commandments • Emphasis on family, home, responsibility, hard work & education • Through all of this, the world will be what it’s supposed to be: HOLY! Jewish Traditions & Celebrations: Bar/Bat Mitzvah • Coming of age ritual • Bar Mitzvah = 13-year-old boy • Bat Mitzvah = 12-year-old girl • Idea that boys & girls are responsible for their actions at this point; boys (and some girls) can lead prayer in family or community • Fun fact: can be legally married…..according to Jewish law • Must study a lot before the actual event • At the event: recites speech/reading for family & friends, receives gifts Jewish Traditions: Rosh Hashanah • Jewish New Year • Occurs around September (seventh month of the Jewish calendar), lasts two days usually • Seen as a time to look back on mistakes of the past year & make changes in the new one • No work permitted on Rosh Hashanah—most of the day spent in synogogue Yom Kippur • Day of Atonement • This year: September 22-23 (evening to evening) • Must practice self-denial prohibitions (can’t do certain things) • Includes no eating, drinking, bathing, etc. • Idea is to seek forgiveness for sins. Highest synagogue attendance rate of the year! Hanukkah • “Festival of Lights” commemorating the religious history of the Jews—rededication of the Holy Temple • In December, before Christmas • Is NOT the equivalent of the Christian Christmas! (doesn’t have as much religious significance) • Lasts 8 days • Light one candle per day, families exchange one small gift a day • Sing songs, play with dreidels, eat fried foods (latkes) Christianity • 2nd oldest Monotheistic religion (33AD) • Prophet: Jesus, who was God’s son and is the eternal savior • Most practiced religion in the world with 2 billion Christians worldwide • Also has holy city of Jerusalem • Found in Europe, North & South America, and Africa • Three divisions: Catholicism, Orthodoxy & Protestantism Practices • Attend church on their holy day, Sunday • Wednesday sometimes, too • Church led by preachers, priests • Sacred text: Bible • Jewish Old Testament + New Testament • 10 Commandments as a “how-to” guide for living a Christian life • “you shalt not murder…commit adultery..” Beliefs • Life & teachings of Jesus as basis for Christianity • Jesus, who was Jewish, preached renewal; was eventually executed and then resurrected • God encompasses three spirits: the father, the son,, and the Holy Spirit (aka: HOLY TRINITY) • Way to heaven is through faith in God, good deeds, sacrament • Sacrament: baptism, communion, Lord’s Supper, etc. • No coming-of-age ritual, as seen in Judaism Christian Traditions & Celebrations: Christmas • Comes from the word “Christes” (Old English) meaning “Christ’s mass” • December 25, every year • Attend Christmas Eve worship services, prayer in celebration of Jesus Christ’s virgin birth in Bethlehem • Christmas Day: typically presents! Good Friday • Good Friday • Friday before Easter Sunday • Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ • How it’s celebrated: • Day of rest (no work/school) • Fasting in the Catholic Church, reparations in Roman Catholicism (prayer) Easter Sunday • Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ • Marks the end of the 40-day period of fasting in some Christian religions (Lent) • How it’s celebrated: • Church services • Recitations of the Old Testament • Both Good Friday & Easter Sunday take place in either March or April Islam: The Basics • Founded around 610-620 AD • Currently the second-largest religion (1 .3 billion) • Prophet: Muhammad • Gabriel the Angel came to him & delivered a message from the one, true God monotheism in a polytheistic world • Sacred text: Qur’an • Major religion in Middle East & Southeast Asia • Two major sects: Sunni (majority) & Shi’a/Shi’ite Muslim Beliefs • Muhammad was the last of a great line of prophets • Idea that Islam has existed since the creation of the world • Other prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus • There will be a day in which people are judged for their deeds on earth (AKAJudgment Day) • Account begins at puberty • either be rewarded with heaven or punishment in Hell • Jesus IS a prophet and was born from the Virgin Mary, but was not God’s son • Jesus escaped death on the cross & was taken up to Paradise instead Two MAJOR sects • Big disagreement: who should take over leadership of Muslim nation when prophet Muhammad died? • Sunni: new leader should be elected from among those capable for the job • Shi’a: leadership should stay w/in prophets own family • Do not recognize authority of elected Muslim leaders Muslim Practices • Attend mosques, Friday = holy day • Leaders called “imams” • Call to prayer 5 times a day • Do not eat pork, gamble, do illegal drugs, etc. • Pronounce God’s name before eating & drinking, eat and drink with right hand • Five Pillars of Islam: how Muslims should live their lives Muslim Celebrations:Ramadan • Month of fasting • 2015: June 17-July 17 (evening to evening) • No eating, drinking between dawn & sunset • Purpose is to teach about patience, spirituality, humility & submissiveness to God • Encouraged to read the entire Qur’an Eid Al-Fitr • Marks the end of the fasting of Ramadan • What happens: • • • • • Food donated to the poor Everyone wears best (usually new) clothes Communal prayers Feasting & visiting with family & friends Gifts (money & clothes) given Eid Al-Adha • Celebration of sacrifice • Sacrifice animal (goat, sheep, ram, cow or camel), divide meat in 3 parts • One for poor & needy • One for relatives & friends • One for the family