Download Study Sheet on Western Religions

Study Sheet on Western Religions
Understanding Others
Name:____________
People are often mistreated for their beliefs.
In the last century as many as six million Jews were
murdered in the Holocaust. Religious conflicts persist
in Ireland, the Middle East and in many other parts of
the world. The attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 are likely the
result of religious conflicts. By understanding one
another, we can hope to develop tolerance and respect
for all people.
We study different religious faiths in order to
understand other people. Many people have strong
religious convictions, and it would be impossible to
understand them without first understanding their
beliefs.
Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam are monotheistic faiths
practiced by about half of the
world’s population. Monotheism
Judaism
refers to the belief in one God.
The faiths are often called
Judaism is the oldest religion of the western
western religions to distinguish them
world and has influenced Christianity and Islam.
from the eastern religions practiced primarily in Asia.
There are approximately fifteen million Jews
Believers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are
throughout the world.
found on every populated continent, but tend to be
The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jewish
concentrated in North and South America, Europe,
people and trace their ancestry to Abraham, who left
Australia, Western Asia
his home in the
and North Africa.
Mesopotamian city of Ur
The Star of David
Christianity and Islam
about 2200BC. The
The most recognized symbol of Judaism is the six
are growing influences in pointed Star of David. Jewish legend says that a Hebrew
Hebrews were different
sub-Saharan Africa,
from others of their time
king named David went into battle with the hexagram on
often replacing
because they were
his shield. Later, when Jews were minorities in Christian
indigenous faiths.
monotheistic; they
and Muslim nations, they were forced to wear the star on
While western
believed in only one
their clothing to identify themselves.
religions are centered on
God. The Hebrews
Today you will see the hexagram used to identify
the belief in one God,
synagogues and Jewish organizations. The symbol that was believed they had a
many believers of
special relationship with
once used to separate Jews from the rest of society is now
eastern religions seek to
their God and that they
flown on the flag of Judaism’s homeland, Israel.
find enlightenment by
were his chosen people.
looking within themselves. Hinduism and Buddhism
The Hebrews established a nation they called
are popular faiths in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan.
Israel on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Shinto is the traditional religion of many Japanese
About 1300BCE, many Hebrews moved to Egypt to
people, but the practice of Shintoism has declined
escape a famine. A famine is a great hunger. At first,
since Japan’s defeat in World War II. Since becoming
the Hebrews were treated well in Egypt, but in time
a communist nation in 1949, China has discouraged
they were enslaved by the Egyptians. According to
religion. Many people in China practice the teachings
Hebrew tradition, God sent ten deadly plagues to
of Confucius. Confucius was not a religious leader,
Egypt when the Egyptians would not release the
but he was a wise man who was concerned with how
Hebrew slaves. When the Hebrews did escape,
people treated one another. Taoism is another
tradition states that Moses, the leader of the Hebrews,
philosophy centered in China.
parted the Red Sea for just enough time
Indigenous religions are practiced throughout
to allow the Hebrews to pass.
the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Once the Hebrews reached the
Indigenous faiths are often animistic. Animism is the
other side, tradition states that the
belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the
waters returned and the Egyptian
universe itself possess souls or consciousness. This is
army drowned. After their escape
similar to the traditional beliefs of the Native
across the Red Sea 1250BCE, God revealed Ten
Americans in North and South America.
Commandments to Moses. The Ten Commandments
1997-2001 Mike Dowling, www.mrdowling.com. All rights reserved.
Page 1 of 4
formed the basis of Mosaic Law and are the model for
called him Christ. Christ is a Greek word that means,
both Jewish and Christian moral thought.
“chosen one.” They believed he was the son of God.
The Hebrews returned to Israel, but they were
In time followers of Jesus became known as
conquered by several other cultures. In time, most of
Christians. Early Christians taught that the sins of the
the Hebrews were forced to leave Israel, beginning a
people would be forgiven if they became Christian.
period known as the Diaspora. The Hebrews were
Some years after Jesus died, Christians
forced to live as minorities in many different lands
combined the stories of the life and wisdom of Jesus
until the creation of the Jewish nation of Israel in
into four books known as the Gospels. Gospel means
1948.
“good news.” The holy book of Christianity is known
Jewish people have often faced severe
as the Bible and has two parts. The Old Testament
mistreatment. European Jews were ordered to leave
consists of the sacred writings of the Jewish people,
Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and faced organized
and was written mostly in Hebrew long before Jesus.
massacres called pogroms in many nations,
The New Testament of the Bible includes the Gospels,
particularly in Eastern Europe. In this century, as
along with letters by Christian writers. The Bible has
many as six million Jews were murdered in what we
been translated into more than 1,500 languages and
now call the Holocaust, where the Nazi party in
has been read by more people than any other book.
Germany attempted genocide, or the planned killing
Almost two billion Christians live on every
of a whole group of people because of their religion or
continent. They comprise the majority
nationality.
of people living in the United States
Jews worship in synagogues led by a rabbi.
and Canada (86%), Latin
Rabbi is a Hebrew word that means “master.” Their
America (92%), Europe (76%)
holiest period is the weekly Shabbat, which lasts from
and Australia (85%). Christianity is
sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Other important
also the most prevalent faith in Africa
Jewish holidays include Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish
(48%). Christianity is a dominant
New Year), Yom Kippur (a Day of Atonement or
force on every continent but Asia (9%).
confession), Simchat Torah (celebrating receiving the
Most of the world’s population is in
Torah on Mount Sinai), Chanukah (a celebration of a
Asia, so only one-third of the world's
military victory), and Passover (a remembrance of the
population is Christian.
time the Hebrews lived in Egypt).
Christianity is divided into many sects. About
The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism.
half of the world’s Christian population is Roman
The Torah is also holy to Christians, who include it as
Catholic. Pope John Paul II is the leader of the
the Old Testament of their Bible. The Talmud is
Roman Catholic Church. Catholic is a Latin word that
another holy book in Judaism. The Talmud is a
means “universal,” and at one time it was the faith of
collection of the laws and customs of the Jewish
almost all Christians. Roman refers to the fact that the
people.
Pope has lived in Rome for over five hundred years.
Most Jews live in the United States (5.8
Most Christians in Eastern Europe belong to Eastern
million) and Israel (4.8 million). Europe was once
Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox churches split
home to millions of Jewish people, but most of the
with the Roman church in the Middle Ages. Many
survivors of the Holocaust
European leaders, including
Christians and the Cross
immigrated to other nations.
Martin Luther and John Calvin,
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was protested against the Pope in a
Today only 2.3 million Jews
both a man and the son of God. They
remain in Europe.
period known as the Reformation.
believe God sent Jesus as a messiah, or
The churches they started became
messenger. The Roman governor of
Christianity
known as Protestant sects. Major
Palestine executed Jesus by nailing him to
Protestant sects in America today
Christianity is based of
a cross.
are the Baptists (34 million),
the teachings of Jesus Christ, a
Today the cross is Christianity’s most
Methodists (13 million),
Jew who lived about 2000 years
important icon. Most Christians have
Lutherans (8 million),
ago in what we now call Israel.
crosses in and on top of their churches.
Presbyterians (4 million),
Jesus taught his followers to "Do
Some Christians wear a cross as a
Episcopalians (2.5 million), and
unto others as you would have
necklace. The cross symbolizes a
Pentecostals (2.4 million).
them do unto you."
Christian’s connection with Jesus.
Christians worship in
The followers of Jesus
1997-2001 Mike Dowling, www.mrdowling.com. All rights reserved.
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churches led by ministers and priests.
why Arabic spread throughout the
Most Christians practice acts of
Middle East and North Africa.
Icons of Islam
religious significance called
Often Muslims will learn Arabic as
The crescent, star, and the
sacraments. The sacraments include
a second language, as a Jew would
color green are symbols often
baptism, when a Christian joins the
learn Hebrew.
associated with Islam. The star
church; confirmation, when a
The Islamic house of
represents knowledge and light, and
Christian confirms his or her faith;
worship is a mosque. Unlike Jews
the crescent represents progress.
and matrimony. The Eucharist is the
and Christians, Muslims do not have
You will find these symbols on the
holiest of Christian sacraments in
a holy day, but many Muslims
flags of many Muslim nations.
many Christian churches. During the
gather in mosques on Friday
Islamic art includes calligraphy,
service, members of a church will eat or decorative penmanship, but no
afternoon for prayers. Muhammad
a small wafer of bread. Christian
taught that believers should pray
images of people. The Quran
tradition states that at the Last Supper forbids recreating any living thing
five times every day. Faithful
before his execution, Jesus asked his
Muslims will stop whatever they are
because no one should copy what
followers to think of the meal as the
doing and bow down to pray.
Allah has made. This is why you
body and blood he would soon
Mecca is a holy city to
will not find a picture of
sacrifice.
Muslims
because it is the site of the
Muhammad in Islamic literature.
Christian holy days include
Kaaba, a small shrine that Muslims
Christmas (the birth of Jesus), Easter (when Christians
believe to be the most sacred spot on earth. Muslims
believe Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to
orient themselves toward the Kaaba during their daily
heaven), and Lent, a forty-day holy period of
prayers. Every Muslim who makes the pilgrimage to
penitence and self-denial.
Mecca walks around the Kaaba seven times. Islamic
tradition states that the stone was originally white, but
Islam
it had become black by absorbing the sins of the
millions of pilgrims who have kissed and touched it.
Islam is an Arabic word that
Ramadan is a sacred month to Muslims, and
means “surrender to God.” Believers in
faithful
Muslims fast between dawn and dusk during
Islam are called Muslims, or “those who
Ramadan.
To fast means to abstain from eating.
surrender." Muslims believe that Muhammad was the
Ramadan is sacred because it is the month in which
last of a series of holy prophets that included
the Quran was revealed to
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. A
Muhammad. Muslims use a lunar
prophet is a holy messenger.
How
Do
You
Spell
calendar, so Ramadan falls at
Christians believe that Jesus is God,
different times each year. Ramadan
That?
while Muslims believe Allah is the
will begin November 17, 2001.
The Quran is spelled
only God and that Muhammad was
There are more than one
his messenger. Allah is an Arabic
many different ways because it
billion
Muslims,
but only five million
term that means "the God" (al-El).
is an Arabic word. Arabic is
live
in
the
United
States. Nations
Muhammad lived about 600
written in a different script than
with
large
Muslim
populations
years after Jesus in what we now call
English. The generally
include Indonesia (180 million),
accepted spelling for the Quran
Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that
Pakistan (125 million), Bangladesh
Muhammad was visited in a cave by
is with a 'Q' to represent the
(109 million), India (84 million), Iran
an angel. Muhammad repeated the
glottal 'K' sound. You will
(66 million), Egypt (60 million),
words of the angel to others who
often see the holy book of Islam
Turkey (60 million), Nigeria (52
learned them by heart. Eventually,
spelled Qur’ran or Koran.
million), Algeria (29 million),
Many words associated
Mohammad's followers collected
Morocco (29 million), Ethiopia (24
these messages and gathered them
with Islam have more than one
million), Sudan (22 million),
into a book known as the Quran. The
accepted spelling. Muslim is
Afghanistan (22 million), Iraq (20
Quran is the holy book of Islam. It
more common than Moslem,
million) and Saudi Arabia (19
has been translated into many
and Mohammad is more
million). Russia also has a large
languages, but many Muslims believe
common than Muhammad.
Muslim population, but estimates on
that the only true version of the
its size vary.
Quran is written in Arabic. This is
1997-2001 Mike Dowling, www.mrdowling.com. All rights reserved.
Page 3 of 4
The Teaching of the Quran
The Ten Commandments
The following is from the Revised Standard
Version of the Christian Bible.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other Gods before me.
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; 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, but showing steadfast love to
thousands of those who love me and keep my
commandments.
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.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six
days you shall labor, and do all your work; 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; 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.
The following translations from the Quran help define Islam
for the non-Muslim. Many Muslims believe that the only true
version of the Quran is written in Arabic, and that the word of
Allah is lost when translated into another language.
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.
Muhammad is only a messenger, and many messengers have
gone before him.
Pay homage to Allah and be good to your parents and
relatives, the orphans and the needy and the neighbors who are
your relatives, and the neighbors who are your strangers and
the friend by your side, the traveler and your servants.
Give in charity what is good of the things you have earned, and
of what you produce; do not choose to give what is bad as
donations, that is, things you would not accept yourself.
It is good to give donations openly, but it is better to give to
the poor in secret.
Be good to your parents. Look after them with kindness and
respect.
Give full measure when you are measuring, and weigh with a
balanced scale.
You may dislike something even if it is good for you, but other
things that please you may be bad for you.
Allah is with those who preserve themselves from evil and do
right.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days
may be long in the land which the Lord your God
gives you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
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.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Shahada – The expression of faith. “There is no God but
Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.”
Salat – Muslims pray five times every day—dawn, midday,
late afternoon, sunset, and at night. Muslims always
face toward the holy city of Mecca.
Zakat – Muslims give a portion of their income to the poor
and to public charities.
Sawm – Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and
sunset during Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month
when the Quran was revealed to Muhammad.
Hajj – If they are in good health and can afford it, Muslims
are expected to journey to Mecca once in their lifetime.
-Exodus 20: 2-17
1997-2001 Mike Dowling, www.mrdowling.com. All rights reserved.
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