Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

1. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam World Studies

2. Southwest Asia and Religion • Southwest Asia is the hearth for THREE of the world’s major religions. • Judaism (Canaan, which is Israel today) • Christianity (In and around Jerusalem, Israel) • Islam (Saudi Arabia, with holy sites in Jerusalem) • Because of this, all 3 religions consider parts of the region as holy. • Historically, this has led to conflict between these different groups.

3. Jerusalem

4. Holy Sites in Jerusalem

5. What is an Abrahamic religion? • A monotheistic faith whose spiritual tradition identifies with Abraham. • Refers to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. • Approx. 3.8 billion people follow these religions worldwide.

6. Major similarities between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. • Monotheistic • Similar stories in holy texts (Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses) • Belief in prophets • Struggle of good vs. evil • Origins in the Southwest Asia • Both Christianity and Islam are founded on the Jewish faith.

7. Judaism • Judaism began about 4000 years ago in the year 2000 B.C. • It is among the oldest religious traditions still being practiced today, and it is the originator of the Abrahamic Religions. • Followers of Judaism are called Jews…there are about 13.2 million Jews in the world.

8. Major Beliefs of Judaism • There is one all powerful God (Yahweh) who created and controls everything. • Pray to no one but God. • Moses is the chief of the prophets and the words of the prophets are true. • The words of the Torah are from God. • God rewards those who follow his commandments and punishes those who don’t. • A Messiah is coming.

9. Major Jewish Holy Days • Shabbat- weekly day of rest (Sabbath) • Three pilgrimage festivals- celebrate landmark events in Jewish history. • Passover- a week-long holiday that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. • Shavuot- celebrates the revelation of the Torah to the Israelites on Mount Sinai • Sukkot- commemorates the Israelites' forty years of wandering through the desert on their way to the Promised Land • High Holy Days • Rosh Hashanah- the Jewish New Year • Yom Kippur- is the most solemn day of the Jewish year. It is a day of communal fasting and praying for forgiveness for one's sins. • Other holidays • Hanukah- Jewish festival of lights…not too important.

10. Jewish Denominations • Orthodox • Conservative • Reform

11. Orthodox Jews

12. Christianity • Christianity was born out of Judaism and centers around the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. • Christianity began with the death of Jesus (30 A.D.) and spread globally over the next 1,500 years. • Between 1.5 and 2.1 billion Christians worldwide.

13. Spread of Christianty

14. Major Beliefs of Christianity • Shares many core beliefs with Judaism (Christian Old Testament overlaps Jewish Torah) • Major teachings can be found in the 4 Gospels. • Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and died for the sins of all men (Jews, Muslims do not believe this!) John 3:16 • Jews believe Jesus is a false prophet • Muslims believe Jesus is a minor prophet • Those who accept the teachings of Jesus will be saved. • The life and teachings of Jesus are found in the four Gospels, which are a part of the New Testament.

15. Christian Holy Days • Easter- celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. • Lent- 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. • Christmas- celebration of the birth of Jesus • Advent- Four weeks of fasting leading up to Christmas.

16. Christian Branches and Denominations • Roman Catholic (Latin America, Western Europe) • Protestant (Northern Europe, Anglo- America) • Lutheran • Baptist • Methodist • Evangelical • Pentecostal • Eastern Orthodox (Eastern Europe, Greece, Russia)

17. Christian Denominations

18. The Beginning of Islam • Begins on the Arabian Peninsula, in modern day Saudi Arabia around 600 A.D. • A young merchant named Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca (570 A.D.) and at the age of 40, heard the voice of the angel Gabriel calling him to be the messenger of God. • This is the beginning of Islam, which means “submission” in Arabic.

19. Muhammad’s life • At first, very few people listened to the preaching of Muhammad. • He preached against false gods and the ills of society. • He left Mecca for the city of Medinah where thousands converted to Islam. • Eventually, he returned to Mecca and destroyed false idols in the Kabba, a temple thought to have been built by Adam. • Muhammad dies in 632 A.D., but Islam continues to spread.

20. Teachings of Islam • Islam is monotheistic…same as Judaism and Christianity. • The Quran (Koran)is the sacred text of Islam. • Word of God revealed to Muhammad. • Final authority on all matters • A complete guide to life, not just God. • Five Pillars of Islam • Declaration of Faith (belief in one God, Muhammad is prophet) • Daily prayer (5 times a day, facing Mecca) • Charity to the poor • Fasting during Ramadan (month long, eat nor drink from sunrise to sunset.) • Pilgrimage to Mecca (one in your life)

21. Teachings of Islam • Jihad- means to struggle in God’s service…some view the struggle as internal, some as external. • Sunni Muslims believe that Muhammad’s successors did not need to be descended from him. (80-90 % today) • Sunni majority in most Arab countries, also Indonesia. • Shiite Muslims believe that only Muhammad’s ancestors should be spiritual leaders. (10-20%) • Shiites primarily in Iran, Iraq

22. The Kaaba in Mecca

23. Mecca during Ramadan