What’s the big deal with Egypt???

1. What’s the big deal with Egypt???

2. Lets begin with Religion. . . • Religion is a system of beliefs which seek to understand the origins and meaning of human existence • Usually have some form of deity or deities. • There are two basic forms of religion—Monotheism and Polytheism • Monotheism- The belief in only one god • Polytheism- The belief in many gods

3. Religion and Politics in the World • Why study religion in the world? • Religion plays an important part in the everyday decisions of people all over the world • This includes the political movements in different areas • Globalization has illustrated the importance of understanding other religions

4. Religion and Politics in the World • Monotheisms of the World • The three great monotheisms of the world include: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity • All three of these religions originated in the area we know today as Palestine • Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and Islam is the fastest growing religion • The two make-up over one-third of the world’s population

6. Monotheisms: Judaism • Judaism is the world’s oldest surviving monotheism • It originated in Eastern Mediterranean around 2,000 B.C.E • Jews claim that their first prophet was Abraham. • The traditional home of the Hebrews was Palestine • However, beginning in 73 C.E. the Romans forced the Jewish Diaspora.

7. Movement to create a Jewish Homeland • 1897: Theodor Herzl made Zionism an international movement • “But we wish to give the Jews a Homeland. Not by dragging them ruthlessly out of their sustaining soil, but rather by removing them carefully, roots and all, to a better terrain” • What is Herzl’s view of Zionism from the above quote? Zionism

8. Monotheisms: Judaism & Israel • Following the end of the Second World War, many surviving European Jews moved to Palestine • Most Western countries supported the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine • In 1948, Israel declared itself an independent state. • The vast majority of Israel’s modern population is Jewish.

9. Monotheisms: Islam • Islam first began in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th Century C.E • It has its foundations in both Christianity and Judaism • Shares many of the same stories and prophets • The founder, Muhammad, wrote the Quran

10. Monotheisms: Islam • 8th century, Islam had spread throughout Western Asian and North Africa. • The Quran calls for religious tolerance towards Jews and Christians as “people of the book.” • Today, relations between Jews, Muslims, and Christians have been strained by political issues.

11. Monotheisms: Islam • caliph - leader of the Islamic Empire • Sunni Islam- Believe that the caliph should be elected. • Tend to be moderate in the implementation of Islamic Law within government • Shia Islam- Believe that only direct decedents of the Prophet Muhammad could be caliph • Tend to support the institution of Sharia Law (Islamic Law/Theocracy)

12. Monotheisms: Christianity • The Development of Christianity • Christianity has its foundations in Judaism • Before the Diaspora, Christianity arose as a new branch of the old Jewish tradition • Initially, Christians faced persecution from the Roman Empire • 4th century C.E. Emperor Constantine made the practice accepted • View Palestine as the holy land (Crusades)

13. Monotheisms Relations • Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe Palestine to be holy and Jerusalem to be its most important city. View of modern Jerusalem

14. Monotheisms Relations • The West Wall of Solomon’s Temple- a.k.a. “ The Wailing Wall”

15. The Wailing Wall

16. Monotheisms Relations • The Dome of the Rock

17. Monotheisms Relations • Inside the Dome of the Rock

18. UFO? Dome of the Rock

19. Monotheisms Relations • The Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall- Point The Dome of the Rock The Wailing Wall How can this create conflict between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem and the world?

20. Monotheisms Relations • The Church of the Holy Sepulchure

21. Holy Sepulchure

22. Monotheisms Relations • The Kaaba- Mecca, Saudi Arabia The Black Stone of the Kaaba

23. The Hajj and Kaaba

24. Monotheisms Relations • The Church of the Nativity- Bethlehem, Israel

25. Church of Nativity