The Five Themes Through World Religions

1. The Five Themes Through World Religions

2. How does religion connect and separate societies? • What do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have in common?

3. Introduction to Judaism

4. Basic Facts Tenets: • is monotheistic • belief in justice and righteousness • adherence to rules and commandments from the scriptures • importance of covenants (Abrahamic, Mosaic, Messianic);

5. Basic Facts • Supreme Being: G-d (Jews do not spell out full name as it is considered too holy) • Sacred Text: The Tanach which includes the Torah. • Place of Worship: Synagogue • Holy Land: Israel, particularly Jerusalem and the Western Wall

6. Synagogue

7. Western Wall

8. The Western Wall

9. Basic Facts • “Founding Fathers”—Abraham, Jacob, Moses • Founded around 2000 B.C.E. • Founded in Canaan (also known as Israel or Palestine) • Approximately 14 million followers, nearly half of which live in Israel

11. Basic Beliefs

12. Basic Beliefs “But you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you do eat of it, you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17 • Original Sin • Adam’s Curse (Genesis 3:14-19)

13. Abrahamic Covenant "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Genesis 15:5 What could this mean?

14. The Branch of Abraham God’s promise to Abraham—book of Genesis Ishmael Isaac Jacob Twelve Tribes of Israel King David (Tribe of Judah) Muhammad Jesus Islam Christianity Judaism

15. Mosaic Covenant The Promised Land The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…” Exodus 3:7 Why is this important?

16. Messianic Covenant • Promise of “Moshiach”—Messiah The days are coming," declares the LORD ,     "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,     a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 23:5 What could this mean?

17. Theories Regarding the Messiah • Before the time of the moshiach, there shall be war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16) • The moshiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5).

18. Theories Regarding the Messiah • He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). • He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). • He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15).

19. Fundamental Beliefs

20. Beliefs about G-d • G-d is Omniscient • G-d is Omni-present • G-d is Omnipotent • G-d is Eternal • G-d is neither male nor female • G-d is both just and merciful • G-d is holy and perfect • G-d is the father and King

21. Scriptures and Laws

22. Scriptures • Torah • The Writings • The Prophets • Ten Commandments • 613 additional laws • click here to view them all: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm

23. Ten Commandments • Have no other gods before Me • Do not worship a graven image • Do not take the Lord’s name in vain • Keep the Sabbath holy • Honor your mother and father • Do not murder • Do not steal • Do not commit adultery • Do not give false testimony • Do not covet

24. Dietary Laws (aka Kosher Laws) • Certain animals may not be eaten at all (chews cud, split hoof, sea creatures without fins/scales, certain birds, certain insects) Lev. 11:9-46 • Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law. • All blood must be drained from the meat (under Rabbinical supervision) or broiled out of it before it is eaten.

26. More Kosher Laws 4. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten. 5. Meat cannot be eaten with dairy. 6. Eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy.

27. Kosher Symbols on Food Packages

28. Kosher for Passover

29. Branches of Judaism

30. Orthodox Judaism • Conform completely to G-d’s laws • Traditional culture with gender roles • Rarely associate w/outside world

31. Reform Judaism • Believe in retaining essential elements of faith that make sense in today’s society • Torah is inspired by G-d but open to interpretation • Emphasize broad moral messages rather than strict adherence to rules

32. Conservative Judaism • Not a “closed” system like Orthodox • Value tradition; adhere to most laws • “Happy Medium”

33. Rituals and Celebrations

34. Sabbath Services • Amidah—prayers and praise to G-d • Sh’ma— “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.” • Reading from the Torah • Friday services—1-3 hours • Saturday services—3 full hours

35. Rosh Hashanah • Jewish New Year (Sep or Oct) • Celebration of the Creation of the Earth • No work is performed • Considered a “High Holy Day”

36. Yom Kippur • Day of Atonement • Holiest day in entire Jewish calendar • No work; must fast • Considered a “High Holy Day”

37. Passover • Honors the deliverance of Jews from Egyptian slavery • Major Holiday (seven days long)

38. Chanukah (Hanukkah) • Festival of Lights (8 days long) • Celebrates victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians • Minor holiday

39. Mezuzah

40. Rituals • Bar Mitzvah (son of the commandment) • Bat Mitzvah (daughter of the commandment) • Marriage

41. Conflict Though Judaism shares some similarities with Christianity and Islam (monotheistic, origins in the Middle East, God of Abraham), the creation of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948 has led to conflict in the region. We will get to this at a later date.

42. Judaism and the Five Themes: Movement

43. Diffusion and Spread • Jews do not seek converts but has spread across the world through Diaspora (scattering). • Diaspora occurred due to persecution and forced exile • Thought to have begun in the 8th-6th century BCE (documented in the Old Testament and other ancient texts) and occurred throughout history until the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 • What push and pull factors would affect choice of movement For an interactive map, of the Diaspora, click here: www.mccarter.org/Education/mad7/html/7.html

44. Top Ten Jewish Nations • Israel • US • France • Canada • United Kingdom • Russia • Argentina • Germany • Australia • Brazil

45. Essential Question How do Jewish beliefs and practices determine where and how they live?

46. Introduction to Christianity

47. Basic History • Founder—Jesus of Nazareth • Scriptures—Old and New Testament (66 books) • World’s largest religion (2 billion adherents) Click here for interactive map of Christian population: http://go-passport.grolier.com/atlas?id=mtps006

48. Basic Facts Tenets: • Is monotheistic • Jesus was the son of God • Jesus was God in the flesh • Jesus died, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven • Follow the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Supreme Being: God Sacred Text: The Bible which includes the Old and New Testaments

49. Beliefs about God • God is Omniscient • God is Omni-present • God is Omnipotent • God is Eternal • God is both just and merciful • God is holy and perfect • God is the father and King • God is made up of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

50. Basic Facts • Origins: • Based on the teachings of Jesus (his lineage can be traced to Abraham) • Was founded in present-day Israel; approximately 32 CE • Place of Worship: Church • Holy Land: Israel