CHRISTIANITY
Founding of Christianity FOUNDER: JESUS CHRIST (A JEW) ZERO A.D. PALESTINE/ISRAEL SPREAD BY APOSTLES (FOLLOWERS OF JESUS) PAUL: MOST IMP. IN SPREADING & STARTING CHURCHES (NOT AN APOSTLE) EMP. CONSTANTINE: MAKES CHRISTIANITY OFFICIAL RELIGION
Basic Beliefs 1 GOD (SAME AS JEWS, MUSLIMS) JESUS: SON OF GOD, DIED FOR “OUR” SINS, ROSE FROM DEAD BELIEF IN JESUS = SALVATION FROM SINS, REWARD IN HEAVEN HEAVEN/HELL: IS FOR ETERNITY 1 CHANCE TO “GET IT RIGHT”
Sacred Text BIBLE : TWO PARTS OLD TESTAMENT: JEWISH “BIBLE”, INCL. TORAH) NEW TESTAMENT: LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS REVELATION: END OF WORLD AND CREATION OF NEW KINGDOM ON EARTH
God of Christianity ONE GOD IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS: HOLY TRINITY: GOD, JESUS, HOLY GHOST (SPIRIT) PROPHETS PLAY IMPORTANT PART: MOSES, ISAIAH, EZEKIEL
Leadership PRIESTS: SERVICES LOCALLY BISHOPS: CONTROL LARGER AREAS POPE: HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH #1 RELIGIOUS GROUP IN WORLD
Rituals Baptism: ENTRY INTO CHURCH Communion: SHARING BREAD/WINE = BLOOD/BODY OF CHRIST
SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY Pax Romana, which made travel and the exchange of ideas fairly safe, provided the ideal conditions for Christianity to spread Christians refused to worship Roman gods. This refusal was seen as opposition to Roman rule By the second century, as the Pax Romana began to crumble, persecution of the Christians intensified. Thousands were crucified, burned, or killed by wild animals in the circus arenas.
“BREAD AND CIRCUS”
Constantine tolerates Christianity
Why was Christianity Appealing? ANYONE COULD CONVERT: JEW, GREEK ROMAN WEALTH & CLASS NOT AN ISSUE: APPEALED TO POOR AND POWERLESS: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth” PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ETERNAL LIFE FOR BELIEVERS
SECTS: 2.2 BILLION ROMAN CATHOLIC: LED BY POPE, LARGEST SECT AT 1.1 BILLION PROTESTANT: BROKE FROM CHURCH ~ 1500 A.D. (LUTHERANS, BAPTISTS, METHODISTS, ETC.) (800,000+ followers) EVANGELICAL, JEHOVAH WITNESS, MORMON, ETC
ISLAM
Key Terms Islam Submission to the will of Allah Muslim One who has submitted
Founding of the Religion MOHAMMAD: FOUNDER, 600 A.D, MECCA (SAUDI ARABIA) HEARS VOICE OF ANGEL GABRIEL, TELLS HIM TO ‘SPREAD WORD OF ALLAH’ UPSETS POWERFUL/RICH: FORCED TO FLEE (HIJRAH) RETURNS TO MECCA W/ 10,000 MAN ARMY, CONQUERS, & BEGINS ISLAM
Basic Beliefs 1 GOD = ALLAH MOHAMMAD IS PROPHET OF ALLAH SALVATION COMES BY FOLLOWING “FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM” HEAVEN & HELL = ETERNAL 1 CHANCE TO “GET IT RIGHT”
The Five Pillars of Islam WHAT ALL MUSLIMS MUST DO: STATEMENT OF FAITH: “There is no God but Allah” & Mohammad is His Messenger PRAY 5 X DAY FACING MECCA CHARITY: GIVE TO POOR (2.5%) FAST DURING MONTH OF RAMADAN: NO FOOD/WATER SUNRISE TO SUNSET HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA ONCE IN LIFE (HEALTH AND WEALTH PERMITTING)
THE HAJJ Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca
Sacred Text KORAN = QUR’AN ONLY HOLY IF IN ARABIC WORD OF ALLAH TO MOHAMMAD THROUGH GABRIEL
Leadership NO “CHURCH”, CENTRAL AUTHORITY, “PRIESTS” ULAMA: RELIGIOUS TEACHERS WHO APPLY QUR’AN TO EVERYDAY LIFE MANY COUNTRIES OPERATE UNDER ISLAM = THEOCRACY
Rituals/Practices HALAH: DIET WHICH IS OK FOR MUSLIMS TO EAT & DRINK NO PORK/ NO ALCOHOL! 5 PILLARS FRIDAY = DAY OF WORSHIP (PRAY DIRECTLY TO ALLAH) WASH FEET/HANDS
The Spread of Islam Islam spreads through: Trade
The Spread of Islam Islam spreads through: Conquest
Muslims and Conquered Peoples EARLY MUSLIM STATES USUALLY: LET CONQUERED PEOPLES KEEP THEIR PROPERTY AND RELIGION (HAD TO PAY A TAX) WERE SUBJECT TO SOME RESTRICTIONS BUT COULD MARRY WHO THEY WANTED, WORK JOBS THEY WANTED (EVEN AS OFFICIALS, SCHOLARS, ADMINISTRATORS) JEWS OFTEN ROSE TO HIGH POSITIONS
Links to Judaism and Christianity Allah is the same God of Judaism and Christianity. Qur’an is Word of Allah, just as Torah and Gospels is to Jews and Christians. Qur’an is the final book, Muhammad the final prophet. Muslims will have a ‘Day of Judgment”
Muslim View of Christians and Jews Muslim ancestry traced to Abraham’s Son Share holy places w/ Jews, Christians Christians & Jews =“People of the Book” (religious tolerance for them)