Introduction to World Religions: Christianity & Judaism Basics

1. Warm Up – February 4 • Grab the guided notes from the front table and answer the following questions on a post it: • 1. How are karma, reincarnation and the caste system related in Hinduism? • 2. What are the four noble truths In Buddhism? What two things is one attempting to end in order to reach enlightenment? • 3. Define the significance of the following in Islam? Mecca, Quran, Ramadan • 4. What are the five pillars of Islam? • 5. What are the two denominations of Islam and what does each believe?

2. Unit 2: World Religions Christianity

3. Christianity Basics • *Largest religion • ~2 billion followers • ~29% of the world’s population • *All over the world

4. Christianity Basics • Holy Text = Bible • New Testament • Gospels = biographies of Jesus • Letters of Paul = teaching about, trying to spread Christianity • Revelation = prophecy about end of world

5. Roots in Judaism • Monotheistic • Jesus was Jewish • Christianity based on Jewish morals, history • Old Testament = Jewish scripture

6. Roots in Judaism • Messiah = leader & savior of Jews • Prophesized about in Old Testament • Christ = messiah in Greek • Jesus & his followers believed he was the messiah

7. Jesus’ Teachings • Pacifism = refusal to fight on moral grounds • Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 • Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

8. Jesus’ Teachings • *Salvation and damnation – if you believe in Jesus teachings – you will be saved – those that do not believe will not be saved • He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

9. Jesus’ Teachings • Wealth – Wealth corrupted people, distracted them from God • Luke 6:20-21 – Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”

10. Early Church Leaders • Peter • One of the 12 Disciples • Jesus chose him to lead the church • Considered 1st Pope by Catholics

11. Early Church Leaders • Paul the Apostle • Wrote letters that stressed: • Jesus was son of God • Died for people’s sins • All people could convert

12. Denominations • *Based on different beliefs, leadership • *Catholic • *Orthodox • *Protestant

13. Unit 2: World Religions Judaism

14. Judaism Basics • Followers of Judaism are called Jews or Hebrews • ~13 million followers • 0.2% of world’s population • 5th Largest Religion • *Dominant in Israel, US & Europe

15. Judaism Basics • Monotheistic • Worship in synagogues • Sacred text = Torah • Torah means “law” • Old Testament in Christian Bible

16. Genesis • Tells Jewish creation story • Tells about the covenant between Jews and God: • Jews will obey God • God will protect Jews • Abraham made the covenant

17. Exodus • Story of enslavement in and escape from Egypt • Moses leads the Jews to the Promised Land (Israel) • On the way, he receives the 10 Commandments

18. Exodus • Ten Commandments – summary of how God wants Jews to live • 1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. • 2. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

19. Exodus • 3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. • 4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work

20. Exodus • 5. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. • 6. You shall not murder. • 7. You shall not commit adultery. • 8. You shall not steal. • 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. • 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

21. Most important teachings • 1. There is only One God • 2.Treat others well • 3. Honor the Sabbath • 4. Pray • 5.Study • 6. The Land of Israel is Judaism’s most important center • Jerusalem – ancient and modern Jewish capital – city that Jews face when they pray

22. Denominations • Denomination = group within a religion • Based on how strictly they follow Jewish law • Orthodox – completely • Conservative – mostly • Reform – somewhat

23. CREATE A RELIGIONS MOVIE POSTER • Your assignment is to make a movie poster for a movie you are directing about one of the religions we have discussed in class • Graded on: Title (25 pts), the slogan for the movie (25 pts), Starring actors (25 pts), colorful images (25 pts) • Your poster needs to be historically accurate – title, slogan, picture should all be related to the topics that we have talked about for each of the religions

24. TOD – February 4 Answer these questions on the same post it as the warm up: • 1. What is the Story of Exodus in Judaism? • 2. What is the holy book in Judaism? What is the holy book in Christianity? • 3. What covenant was made between God and the Hebrews? • 4. What are two similarities between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? • 5. What are three teachings of Jesus in Christianity?