The “Religions of the Book”

1. The “Religions of the Book” • Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition stems from ancient Middle East • Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam share many major figures and historical events • All are monotheistic religions focusing on the role of a supreme God and the duty of believers to obey • “The Book” is the writings of the Old Testament from which each of the three religions draw theology, ethical ideas and historical foundations

2. Judaism • Religion of the “chosen people”; Jews secured a COVENANT between God and the Jewish people • Sources of Judaism stem from history of the ISRAELITES and their efforts to keep hold of and return to CANAAN (modern day Israel / Palestine) • Many PROPHETS continue to renew the covenant and receive the words of God

3. Sources of Judaism • The TORAH is the central document of Hebrew religious and historical foundations • The TORAH consists of the 1st 5 books of the OLD TESTAMENT of the BIBLE (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) • Hebrew bible consists of the TORAH, the Book of PROPHETS (NEV’IM), and the Book of WRITINGS (KETUVIM) and is called the TANAKH • The TALMUD is a collection of interpretations of the Hebrew texts by Jewish scholars and RABBIS

4. Major figures of Judaism • ADAM is 1st man, created in the beginning chapters of GENESIS • He and EVE are guilty of 1st sin and are cast out of paradise • Chain of disasters for mankind continues till the flood and God’s 1st covenant with NOAH • Noah is 1st of 6 to secure God’s covenant with the Jewish people

5. Major figures of Judaism • ABRAHAM is the “father of the chosen people”; at command of God he leaves Mesopotamia to settle in Canaan (1900 BC) • God’s covenant with Abraham promises a great nation for the Hebrews if they remain faithful • Covenant renewed with Abraham’s son ISAAC • JACOB is Abraham’s grandson and his 12 sons goes on to form the 12 Tribes of Israel • severe famine sends Israelites to Egypt where they live peacefully until they are enslaved by the Egyptians

6. Major figures of Judaism • 1200 BC sees prophet MOSES lead Jews out of Egypt in a mass movement called the EXODUS into the Sinai Desert • During this trek, God renews his covenant with Moses and reveals the TEN COMMANDMENTS • Hebrews return to Canaan and fight 200 years to establish Kingdom of ISRAEL • DAVID rules as king of unified Israel and is the last to renew God’s covenant; establishes capital in JERUSALEM

7. David’s son SOLOMON spends huge sums to create temples to God and expand Jerusalem Solomon’s harsh taxes and labors split Israelites after his death Split sees creation of Kingdom of Israel in north and Kingdom of Judah in south (from where we get the word “JEW”) Split seen as breaking of the covenant… so what happens next???

8. History of the Jews (cont) • Dual kingdoms too weak to hold off invaders from Mesopotamia • Invaders capture Jews and move many in exile to Babylon; during exile prophets like JEREMIAH condemn the abuses of Jewish society and say the exile is divine retribution for forgetting their duties to God and each other • Persians control area in 500’s BC and allow Jews to return to Israel; Jews rebuild Jerusalem • 400’s BC sees writings collected and formed into the TORAH • Jews see their history as having a God-directed purpose and continue to study and examine it for meaning

9. Sects of Judaism • Orthodox Judaism – majority of followers of the Jewish faith follow this branch that focuses on rabbinical tradition and historical precedence with some adjustment towards secular life • Conservative Judaism – focuses on the “positive historical” tradition and opposes changes in practice • Reform Judaism – seeks more liberal reforms in Jewish practice, more political / secular involvement and ordination of women / acceptance of gay / lesbian community • Hasidic Judaism – most conservative and stringent form; stemming from Eastern European nations; ultraconservative social customs and little / no flexibility to practice

10. The Holocaust • Stems from centuries of ANTI-SEMITISM in Europe and around the world • Nazi Germany takes advantage of that anti-Semitism and fear to develop the systematic extermination of some 6,000,000 men, women and children • Various nations aside from Germany share in the blame • World War II era sees growth of support for a ZIONIST movement which calls for an independent Jewish homeland • Israel becomes that nation in 1948 and has experienced repeated conflict since

11. Ethics of Judaism • Every human being is made in the image of God; therefore every human life has infinite worth • Humans are to work in partnership with God to create a perfect world on earth and make people responsible for what happens in the world • All segments of society have ethical obligations of equal value • God is both metaphysical and personal (both of all things and involved with each thing) • Nature is “amoral” and should not be a focus of worship • Good and evil actions will receive their just rewards • All humans are of one family (community focus) • Observe the rules and practices of the faith

12. Menorah – seven branched candelabrum created by Moses; represents the wisdom of God and may represent seven days of week and / or astronomical representations Star of David – symbol said to be on David’s shield when facing Goliath; represents seven days of week and interlocking equilateral triangles symbolize reconciliation of fire and water, woman and man, flesh and the soul

13. Christianity • with over 1.5 billion followers, it is the largest faith in the world today • split between Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and various Protestant sects • Christian theology is based on the shared source of the Old Testament, the teachings of JESUS CHRIST and the writings of the NEW TESTAMENT

14. Christianity • BIBLE is the collected work of Christian holy scripture • Suggests God exists as a HOLY TRINITY whose three parts include the 1. Father (God); 2. Son (Christ) and 3. Holy Spirit • Originated as sect of Judaism; through Roman persecution and Judaic rejection of Christ as the prophesized messiah it grew and developed on its own • Becomes official religion of Rome in 300’s AD • Theology develops over time under the Catholic Church headed by the Bishop of Rome (POPE)

15. Christianity / divisions • EASTERN ORTHODOXY forms from divisions within Roman Empire • Orthodox Church does not recognize Pope and will take on different character as Byzantium and Western Europe diverge • Eastern Orthodoxy prevalent today in Greece and Eastern Europe (Russia) • Eastern Orthodox and Catholics do share most religious traditions and share the 7 sacraments

16. 7 Sacraments • Catholicism and Orthodoxy demand these seven acts of faith and obedience of its followers • 1. Baptism 2. Penance • 3. Eucharist 4. Confirmation • 5. Matrimony 6. Holy Orders • 7. Extreme Unction

17. Protestantism • MARTIN LUTHER is a Catholic monk who writes in objection to what he sees as corruptions of catholic practice • With his 95 THESES he initiates a movement that will grow into the Protestant Reformation • Lutheranism rejects the Pope, emphasis on clergy and tells followers to interpret the Bible themselves • Only 2 sacraments to Luther: baptism and “the Lord’s Supper” (communion); some Protestant sects include penance as well • Luther stresses “faith alone” as most important prerequisite of a Christian

18. Christian sects • Roman Catholic • Eastern Orthodox • Russian Greek • Multiple other sects include • Anglicanism/Episcopal Church • Baptists Presbyterian • Methodists Congregationalists • Mormons Adventists • Amish / Mennonites • … and many, many more….

19. Islam • Stems from the teachings of Muhammad and the KORAN (QURAN) as revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel • Incorporates Judeo-Christian ideas from Torah and Old Testament with understanding that those faiths had “lost the way”; Muhammad is last and greatest prophet • Islam stresses obedience to ALLAH and reconciliation of religious and political ideals and systems

20. Five Pillars • FAITH – affirms the oneness and all-powerful mercy of the one god Allah • PRAYER – involves reciting passages from the Quran five times a day in position facing Mecca with actions that represent submission to Allah; mosque – Muslim church; holy day is Friday • ALMS – charity to the poor and disadvantaged; done through both private contributions and public tax • FASTING – during month of Ramadan; no food, drink from sunrise to sunset • PILGRIMAGE – also know as the HAJJ; every Muslim is to travel to Mecca and do three days of ceremony and prayer at holy shrines and especially at the Kaaba (built by Abraham)

21. Islamic Ethics • The SHARI’AH is the Islamic moral code; a collection of passages from the Quran and the HADITH (examples from the life of Muhammad) • Many similarities to Judeo-Christian ideals expressed in 10 Commandments • Islam prohibits gambling, alcohol, pork • Strict regulation of business, marriage and property/inheritance laws; divorce allowed but infrequent • Blurred separation between political and religious law in Islamic states

22. Divisions in Islam • Soon after Muhammad’s death comes split over who should rule • Sunni Muslims say next ruler should be chosen by community; focus on leadership skills and not as a religious figure; Sunnis are majority (70%) of Muslims today – traditional practice of the faith • Shi’a (Shiite) Muslims believed only descendants of Muhammad should rule (Ali 4th caliph); Shi’a are minority of Muslims; close to 30% on Muslims today; practice of faith varies between two main sects • Sufism – 3rd sect that focuses on strict and pious lifestyle; includes meditation, fasting and missionary work • Wahabbism – extremist Sunni sect that seeks a return to older practice of Islam – rejects modernization and western influence and stresses radical interpretation of “JIHAD”