Map of Christianity Percentage by Country

Fast Facts  Judaism is the religion of more than 14 million people throughout the world.  A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. It is usually built so that the congregation faces toward Jerusalem during worship.  A rabbi, or “teacher,” leads prayers and reads passages of the Hebrew Bible, or Torah, during the service.  Dietary laws have established what is kosher, or acceptable, for Jews to eat. Kosher laws forbid the eating of animals considered unclean. These animals include pigs and shellfish.

 Hashanah is a one- or two-day festival that marks the beginning of the new year in the Jewish calendar.  Passover, or Pesach, lasts for seven or eight days and recalls the departure of the Jews from Egypt, where they had been enslaved.  Hanukah is a Jewish holiday which usually falls in November or December. Hanukah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.

The fish is an early symbol of Christianity. There are many theories about the origin of the symbol, but some Christians believe that it derives from the fact that Jesus called his disciples, or followers, “fishers of men.” Many Christian worship services include communion, in which bread and wine are consumed in remembrance of Jesus’ death. Communion celebrates the last meal Jesus took with his disciples, as illustrated in the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The cross is the earliest and most widely used Christian symbol. It represents the crucifixion of Christ.

Jesus of Nazareth

History of Judaism  The Hebrews, later known as Jews, were from Palestine, a region at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.  Most of what we know about the early history of the Hebrews is contained in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, called the Torah. These are considered the most sacred writings in Jewish history.  In the Torah, God chose Abraham to be the “father” of the Hebrew people. God and Abraham made a covenant – Abraham promised to obey God, and in return, God promised to protect Abraham and his descendants.

 Hebrews migrated to Egypt because of drought and famine. Between 1300 and 1200 B.C., the Hebrews left Egypt, and were led by a man named Moses.  Moses climbed to the top of Mt. Sinai, and God spoke to him. It was during this time that Moses was given the Ten Commandments. These commandments and the other teachings that Moses delivered to his people became the basis for the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

Jesus of Nazareth Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of the Christian religion. Jesus was born in the town of Judea around the year 4 B.C. Some Jews living in Judea regarded Jesus as the Messiah, or “Anointed One,” which meant he was the king sent by Yahweh (God) to deliver Israel from their enemies. Jesus was a Jew, and therefore believed in one God. He honored the prophets Abraham and Moses, and he preached the Ten Commandments. He lived and preached primarily in Palestine, among fellow Jews. As He preached, He began to attract many followers and large crowds.

However, not everyone in the Roman Empire welcomed Jesus and his message. In particular, Roman and Jewish leaders alike were concerned about the growing popularity of Jesus. Roman leaders felt Jesus was defiant of Roman law, while Jewish leaders found His teachings to be blasphemous (false). Roman and Jewish leaders wanted Jesus arrested for the charges mentioned above. One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, identified Jesus for the authorities, and in return was given 30 pieces of silver. Jesus was taken before the Roman governor, Pontus Pilate, who under pressure from a rioting Jewish mob, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. This was the most common form of capital punishment in the Roman Empire.

On the third day after His death, His tomb was found empty. Christians believe Jesus descended into heaven on this day. He was later seen by His disciples and many other believers, whom He commanded to teach and baptize others.

Fast Facts  Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with about 2 billion followers.  Christians believe that they reach salvation by following the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Christianity is a monotheistic religion, which means Christians believe in one God.  Today, most Christians are members of one of three major groups: Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Eastern Orthodox.

 The Bible is the most sacred book of the Christian religion. It is divided into two major parts: the Old Testament, which focuses on Jewish history, and the New Testament, which describes the teachings of Jesus.  Christian holidays have come to have a considerable impact on western culture and traditions. Christmas is celebrated each December 25, and is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Easter is a spring festival that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year. Palm Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Lent and the last Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.