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ME: 3 Religions, 1 God Summary: Summary: Summary: NAME: ____________________________________ Judaism Islam ALL J After O&H Orig HTex Belief God Wors C I Christianity Judaism: The After Life Jews typically believe that there is only one life. Upon death, each person will be judged according to the life they lived (beliefs vary as to when this judgment will take place). Rather than an immediate life after death, there will be a life in the “world to come” after the arrival of the Messiah. Judaism: Organization & Hierarchy Judaism is often divided into sects based on the interpretation of the holy scriptures, the Torah and Talmud. The most commonly recognized divisions in Judaism are the modern movements of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Orthodox Jews believe the Torah and the Talmud contain the actual words of God which must be applied in all circumstances. Reform Jews believe in the divine inspiration of the Torah, but since it was recorded by humans at a certain point of time in history, it then becomes necessary to reinterpret the words in the context of the times you are living in. Within the Jewish faith, there is little hierarchy, but worship is often led by rabbis who are considered teachers. Judaism: Origin Judaism is the oldest surviving monotheistic religion, arising in the eastern Mediterranean around 2000 BC. Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first prophet and patriarch of Judaism and to have made a covenant with God, thus it is sometimes called an Abrahamic religion. The story of Abraham begins when God tells him to leave his homeland, promising Abraham and his descendants a new home in the land of Canaan. Then Moses, perhaps the most important Jewish prophet, was given the Torah – law on Mount Sinai by God. The exodus from slavery in Egypt and the founding of their own country in Canaan established in the minds of the Jews that they were the chosen people of God. This land is often referred to as the Promised Land because of God's repeated promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham. The land is described repeatedly in the Torah as a good land and "a land flowing with milk and honey." While there was always a small community of Jews in Canaan, historic Palestine, in 73 AD the Roman Empire dispersed the Jews after an insurrection against Roman authority. Most Jews then lived in Diaspora, as minorities in their communities, until the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. Judaism: Holy Texts The Jewish Holy book is the Torah (Sacred Writings) and consists of the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. There are within the Torah 613 commandments which are the basis of the covenant relationship between God and the Jewish people. Also of significance are the books of the prophets, and the Talmud. Judaism: Beliefs God has given the Torah to the Jews as a means of showing in practice what an obedient and holy life is like. Jews look forward to God’s Kingdom being established on earth, which has traditionally been connected with the coming of the Messiah. In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, thus obeying the law (Torah) is doing God’s will and showing respect and love for God. The interpretation and application of what is required is found in the Talmud which is an integral part of the life and beliefs of Jews. The Talmud contains six orders: prayers and agricultural laws, matters concerned with Shabbat and festivals, marital and divorce laws, civil and criminal law, laws of sacrifice and Temple ritual, and laws on personal and religious purity. One common belief of Jews is for each person to give ten percent of their income to charity. Jews also believe men and women are equal (but traditional Judaism prescribes different roles for men and women). Another common belief among Jews are the adherence to dietary laws (kosher) maintain that Jews should not consume pork or certain seafood, other meat must be killed by kosher method, and meat and dairy should be separated. For Jews, the holiest city is Jerusalem. Jews forbid images and statues of humans, believing this represents idolatry. Judaism: God Judaism is a monotheistic religion, in which God is under the name Yahweh or Jehovah. Jews believe there is one universal God, as he has revealed himself through the Prophets (Abraham & Moses). Jews believe God is the creator of everything, has no physical form, is omniscient, is eternal, and is holy and perfect. Judaism: Worship Jewish worship is undertaken at a synagogue (sometimes called a temple by reform Jews). The holy day is Saturday (from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) and is known as Shabbat. There are many different festivals celebrated by Jews. Christianity: The After Life Christians believe in life after death as an everlasting union with God. Christians believe that they have only one life, and they will be judged according to accepting Jesus and following his teachings. Christians believe that after life, the soul ascends to heaven for God’s judgment. Those who live according to God’s will would go to heaven and those would do not, would go to hell, a place of torture and punishment. Christianity: Organization & Hierarchy As Christianity spread throughout the world different groups began to disagree over different aspects and the Church began to split up into different branches. A formal division opened up in 1054 between Western Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. In the middle ages the Protestant Reformation further divided the groups within Western Christianity, the main denominations (groups) today are: Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestant. Within each sect of Christianity is a highly defined hierarchy, particularly within Catholicism (Pope, Cardinals, Bishops) and Orthodox. Although it depends on the sect, Christian groups are often led by Priests, Ministers, or Pastors. Christianity: Holy Texts Central to Christian beliefs and practices is the Bible which is made up of the New Testament which details the life of Jesus and the early Church and the Old Testament which is more or less the same as the Jewish Scriptures. Other important texts are the creeds – the Apostles' creed and the Nicene creed which are summaries of the beliefs formulated in the early years of Christianity. The teachings of the early Church Fathers are also seen as an important source of authority. Christianity: Beliefs The foundation of Christian belief is Jesus, a man born approximately 2000 years ago. Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God. Jesus was crucified and Christians believe that on the third day after his burial, he rose from the dead. It is believed that Jesus’ resurrection proved both his divinity and the existence of an after life. The essential Christian duty is to live life according to the example of Jesus Christ, to love God (through Jesus), to love one’s fellow human beings as one does oneself and to share the Christian message. Responding in faith to the grace of God is seen as the way of overcoming sin. Some basic characteristics of the Christian way of life include: love, joy, patience, kindness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. One common belief of Christians is for each person to give ten percent of their income to charity. Christians also believe men and women are equal (but traditional Christianity prescribes different roles for men and women). Unlike other Abrahamic religions, Christians do not have any dietary restrictions. For Christians, the holiest city is Jerusalem. Christians allow some statues and images but they are not to be worshipped. Christianity: God Christians believe there is one God, who is seen in three ways – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Incarnate), who came to earth as a man to restore the relationship between mankind and God. They believe that God the son was a man called Jesus. Jesus’ death opened up a pathway to God, they believe that he died for their sins and opened up this pathway which had previously been cut off due to the sins which humans had committed. God, as Creator, is the unproduced producer of all that is, who sustains all things in being. God exists apart from this or any other universe. God’s unchanging nature has been revealed as one of care and love. God is judge of all that they do, but also seeks to rescue and help them when they go wrong. Christianity: Worship Worship is undertaken in buildings called churches, but "The Church" refers to several things: yhe total group of Christians, individual religious sects, and the building in which a particular group worships. Christians believe worshipping in a group is important and this is usually called a service which takes place in a church on a Sunday (Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday). This is known as the Sabbath. Christianity: Origin Christianity is a monotheistic religion, arising in the eastern Mediterranean around 32 AD. Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first prophet of Christianity and to have made a covenant with God, thus it is sometimes called an Abrahamic religion. Christian faith is rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth (0 – 32 AD). It is believed that Jesus was the son of Mary, who had been impregnated by the Holy Spirit, and born on the Eastern Mediterranean. Jesus is also believed to be the Son of God. As a result of Jesus’ teachings, Christianity spread from Palestine and increasingly encompassed people of non-Jewish backgrounds. Christianity was persecuted under different Roman Emperors until the Emperor Constantine adopted it as the official religion of the Empire. From the 16th & 17th centuries onward Christianity developed missionary movements which established the religion throughout the world. Islam: The After Life There will be a day of judgment at the end of the world, when the dead will be resurrected and judged. All will be rewarded according to the deeds done in their life. If the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds then they will go to heaven if not then they will go to Hell. If a Muslim dies in Jihad (Holy War) or on Hajj (Pilgrimage) then they go straight to heaven. Islam: Organization & Hierarchy Islam is divided up into three sects: Sunnis, Shiites, and Sufis. Sunnis are a moderate sect and represent the majority of Muslims (around 90%). The word sunni refers to the practice of Muhammad. They look to Muhammad’s example if situations arise which are not able to be clarified within the Qur’an. Shiites are a more fundamental group than the Sunnis. They rejected the first three caliphs (successors to Muhammad) and followed Ali who married the prophet’s daughter and was the first leader of this party. Because of Ali’s connection to Muhammad’s bloodline, they claim that they are the true followers of Islam. Sufis are the mystic sect of Islam. They seek a personal relationship with Allah and do not believe in a rigid interpretation of the Qur’an. Islam: Origin Islam is a monotheistic religion, arising in the Arabian Peninsula. Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first prophet of Islam and to have made a covenant with God, thus it is sometimes called an Abrahamic religion. The religion started in Makkah, Arabia in 7th Century AD, although God’s revelation and religion is much older. His final revelation though was given to Muhammad who was the seal of the prophets and the holy words (the Qur'an) revealed to him via the angel Gabriel where the final revelation of God (Allah) to mankind. They recognize the other prophets such as Moses, Abraham, and Jesus, but Muhammad is Allah’s final and most important prophet. Islam: Holy Texts Muslims believe that of the books sent down by God only four remain, the laws given to Moses, psalms given to David, the Gospel given to Jesus, and the Qu’ran given to Muhammad. The Qu’ran is the holy text which was revealed by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad and within it covers all areas of how a Muslim should live. The Qur’an contains for a Muslim the actual words of God and the language it was revealed in, Arabic is seen as very important in order to understand the real meaning of the words. The first three texts have been corrupted and have been replaced by the Qur'an. The Qur'an was brought to Muhammad on the Night of Power and dictated to Muhammad via the angel Gabriel over the rest of his life. Islam: Beliefs "Islam" is an Arabic word that includes the concept of submitting to the will of God, thereby achieving peace and security. They believe in the books revealed by God, angels, the day of judgment, life after death, the prophets and the Prophet Muhammad was God’s messenger and his seal. A Muslim’s beliefs and values are found in the Five Pillars of Islam which are obligatory. They are: 1. Affirmation in God – ‘There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.’ To become a Muslim you need only utter the words, ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet’, in front of witnesses and you have become a Muslim. 2. Prayer – Muslims must perform set prayers in the direction of Makkah 5 times a day. 3. Fasting – Each day during the month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the lunar calendar, a Muslim is not allowed to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. 4. Alms – Giving a compulsory percentage of income (2.5%) to the poor is required, either through an Imam at the Mosque or to a specific charity by the individual. 5. Pilgrimage – Muslims must make a pilgrimage or Hajj to the holy city Makkah at least once during a Muslim’s lifetime, if physically able. One common belief of Muslims is for each person to give 2.5 percent of their total wealth to charity each year. Muslims also believe men and women should worship separately. Another common belief among Muslims are the adherence to dietary laws that maintain that Muslims should not consume pork, other meat must be prepared by halal method, and alcohol should never be consumed. For Muslims, the holiest city is Makkah, although Medinah and Jerusalem are also significant places. Muslims strictly forbid images and statues of humans, believing this represents idolatry. Islam: God Muslims believe there is only one God called Allah. Allah created the world, and he is all powerful, omnipotent, eternal, beyond time and is present with Muslims all the time. Angels are the messengers of Allah, they are sinless beings created out of light. Of the four archangels Gabriel was the medium used to reveal Allah’s words to Muhammad. The devil is called Shaitan or Iblis and is a fallen angel. Other beings are called jinn and they can be either good or bad and they inhabit the human world. Islam: Worship The main place of worship for Muslims is the Mosque (from an Arabic word meaning ‘place of prostration’). Prayers are undertaken five times a day and the person praying must always be facing towards Makkah. The times the prayers have specific postures which Muslims have to undertake and should be undertaken are at dawn, at midday, late afternoon, after sunset, and later in the evening. Prior to the prayers Muslims must ceremonially wash themselves. The prayers are in always in Arabic and led by Imam who are teachers who have studied the Qur’an.