Download BIRTH OF 3 RELIGIONS 2015 REV

To truly understand Judaism
and Islam and many of the
conflicts today between the
two, you need to understand
the birth of two ethnic groups
… Jews and Arabs.
Abraham – Father of 2 Ethnic Groups
Abraham
•Married to Sarah
•Had a son – Isaac
•Descendents –
Hebrews (later
known as Jews or
Israelites)
•Hagar
(Egyptian)
•Had a son –
Ishmael
•Descendents Arabs
Therefore, “bad blood” between the two groups
since the time of Abraham!
Ishmael’s descendants came to be known as the Arabs – being
the descendants of Abraham’s oldest son, they believe they are
God’s chosen people.
Isaac’s descendants came to be known as Jews (or Hebrews or
Israelites) – they believe their bloodline is the true chosen of God.
The Birth of Judaism
• Abraham – lived in the city of Ur in
Sumer – more than 3000 years ago
• God chose Abraham and his
descendants to be His people
• When Abraham was 100 years old, he
had a son he named Isaac
• Abraham and Isaac's descendants are
the Jewish people
• First monotheistic (belief in one God)
religion!
• Of- 5 major religions – Judaism claims the
fewest followers – 13 million people of the
Jewish faith, Christianity over 2 billion,
Islam 1.3 billion, Hinduism 786 million, and
Buddhism has 362 million
• Yet, it was from Judaism that the world’s 2
largest religions (Christianity and Islam)
sprang.
Jerusalem is
a holy city for the
Jews.
During Biblical
times, Jerusalem
was a political and
religious center of
Jewish people.
King David made it
the capital city and
later his son, King
Solomon built the
first Jewish temple
here (900’s BC).
This temple was built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times
over several hundred years as other people conquered
Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed for the last time in 70
AD by the Romans. All that remains today is the Western
Wall.
The Western Wall
When Rome burned the temple in 70 AD, they left the outer wall. This wall
was not part of the original temple, but rather surrounded the temple. However,
being the only remaining remnant of their most sacred temple, this wall soon
became a very holy place to the Jewish people.
Jews come to this wall to pray. Because of the heartfelt
prayers offered here, non-Jewish people refer to the wall as
the Wailing Wall. However, the Jewish people refer to the
wall as the Western Wall.
Holy book of the Jewish faith
Torah
•1st 5 books of the Bible
– written by Moses
(Old Testament)
•Recounts the history of the
Jewish people
•Believed to be the law as given
to Moses by God
Place of worshiP …
…Synagogue
Different sects (denominations)
•Orthodox Jews believe in strict
observance of the traditions and
principles of Judaism.
•Secular Jews do not follow all the laws
and traditions as strictly.
Overview of Christianity
• Christianity claims the largest following of any
religion in the world
• About a third of the world’s population of some
6 billion people are Christian.
• Christianity is one of 3 religions that recognizes
the existence of one all-powerful god.
• But unlike the others (Judaism and Islam), only
Christianity sees God in 3 different ways
• Holy Trinity – father, son, and holy spirit
The Birth of
Christianity
Jesus was born to a
Jewish family about
2030 years ago in
the city of
Bethlehem. At 30
years old, he began
preaching and
teaching about
God. Soon his
followers grew, as
well as his enemies.
Three years later, his enemies crucified Him on the hill
of Calvary in Jerusalem. Three days later He rose from
the dead, appeared to His followers, and went to
heaven. His followers continued his work and began
the religion of Christianity.
Therefore,
Jerusalem is also
very holy to
Christians. The
Church of the Holy
Sepulcher is
believed to stand on
the hill of Calvary.
Different views of Jesus
• The central belief of Christians is that Jesus is
the son of God.
• Only Christians believe this
• Jews believe Jesus was a wise person and a
great storyteller, but they do not believe he
was the son of God.
• Jews do not believe the Messiah has come yet.
• Muslims view Jesus as a great prophet.
• But to most Christians, Jesus is the true
Messiah through which a person attains eternal
life in heaven.
Christianity began to spread by the preaching and teachings of Christians.
www.worldreligions.psu.edu
The holy book for Christians is the
Holy Bible.
Old and New Testament
Place of Worship….
• Church
Christians have differences of
opinions…
Just to name a few, you have the …
•Methodists
•Baptists
•Lutherans
•Presbyterians
•Episcopalians
Islam = surrender to Allah (God)
Muslim = one who surrenders to Allah
Began in 622 C.E.
Overview of Islam
• Today Islam is the second largest and fastest
growing religion in the world. (1.3 billion)
• Between 4-7 million Muslims are US citizens.
• Islam provides guidelines for the moral,
spiritual, and political organization of society.
• Muslims believe all actions must be guided by
God’s will.
• God requires both moral behavior and devotion
from Muslims.
• Believe they were created to worship and
serve God and humanity.
The Birth
of Islam
•Muhammad (an
Arab) was born in
Mecca in 570 AD. At
age 40, he received
revelations from
God.
•He began preaching
about these
messages from God
as well as against the
corruption of society.
•He also gained
many followers as
well as enemies.
•In 622 AD nobles of
Mecca were
threatening his life, so
he fled Mecca to
Medina.
•There he built an army
and eight years later
(630 AD), he returned to
Mecca.
•He took the city of
Mecca and destroyed
the idols in the Kaaba.
•He proclaimed that only
Allah (God) was to be
worshipped and
proclaimed Mecca a
holy city.
The Kaaba
The Qu’ran
(Islam’s holy
book) states that
the Kaaba was
built by Abraham
and his son
Ishmael. The
Kaaba had been
filled with over
300 idols, but
when Muhammad
took Mecca, he
destroyed the
idols and
proclaimed that
only Allah would
be worshipped
here.
Muslims (followers of Islam) consider the Kaaba so
sacred, they believe that at least once in their life
they must make a pilgrimage (or Haj) to the Kaaba.
Another sacred place
for Muslims
Dome of the
Rock
Muslims believe that
Muhammad rose to heaven
from this site and the rock
marks the site. Where is this
rock and dome located?
Jerusalem!
5 pillars of Islam
• There is only 1 God
• Praying 5 times a day in the direction
of Mecca
• Giving to the poor and needy
• Fasting during the month of Ramadan
• Making a pilgrimage, or haj, to Mecca
During the 7th and 8th centuries, Islam spread by conversion and military
conquest throughout the Middle East and North Africa. By 733, just 100 years
after the death of Muhammad, an Islamic state stretched from the Indus Valley
in the east to Spain in the west. (Caliphs – rulers of Islam)
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_07_156.gif
2 major different sects (denominations) of Islam
are:
•Sunnis
•Shi’ites
The major reason for this division came in the 7th century
with the question of succession. The Shi’ites believed that
Mohammad’s successor should be a direct descent of
Mohammad while Sunnis believed that Mohammad’s
successor should be selected by religious leaders. This
sparked a civil war between the two groups, and the two
groups continue to be divided on major issues today.
Schools within
Islam: Sunni
• Sunni Muslims:
• They constitute a 90% majority of the believers, and
are considered to be main stream traditionalists.
• Believe the leader of the Islamic world does not have
to descend directly from Muhammad. It is whoever is
most qualified!
• Because they are comfortable pursuing their faith
within secular societies, they have been able to adapt
to a variety of national cultures.
Schools within
Islam: Shi’ite
• Shi'ite Muslims:
• constitute a small minority of Islam.
• They split from the Sunnis over a dispute about the
successor to Muhammad.
• They believe the leader of the Islamic world has to
descend from the blood line of Muhammad
• Their leaders promote a strict interpretation of the Qur'an
and close adherence to its teachings.
Muslim Distribution Today
Sunni
Shi’ite
Basic Beliefs
Christianity
•One God
•Bible is written
word of God
•Jesus Christ God
manifested in flesh
•Jesus died for
sinners
•Believe in life after
death
•Holy Book – the
Bible
Islam
•One God (Allah)
•Belief in all
prophets
•Belief in Day of
Judgment and life
after death
•Holy Book –
Qu’ran or Koran
Judaism
•G-d exists
•G-d is one
•G-d is eternal
•Pray to G-d alone
•Words of prophets
are true
•G-d will reward
the good and
punish the evil
•Holy Book - Torah
Jews believe the name of God is so holy that they do
not spell out His name. Instead, they write G-d.
Essential Questions to know…
• Why is Jerusalem so important to all 3
religions?
• What is the origin of Judaism?
• What is the origin of Christianity?
• What is the origin of Islam?
• Why did Muslims divide into two separate
groups? What are these two groups?
What are the similarities and differences of
these two groups of Muslims?