Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Early Beginnings 1400 BCE Hebrews move into Palestine (modern-day Israel) They were shepherds from Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) searching for water Kings David and Solomon were very successful Hebrews and Jews were eventually attacked and scattered across the world

Diaspora- the movement or migration of people from their ancestral homeland

Hebrews + God 1 st to believe in one god (monotheism) Others continued to believe in many gods (polytheism) Yahweh was the name given to God

Abraham Founder of monotheism Had a wife – Sarah, God promised them child Sarah was too old to have a child so she told him to have a child w/ Hagar, their servant Abraham had two sons- Ishmael w/ Hagar and Isaac w/ Sarah

Abraham’s family tree Hagar – Abraham - Sarah Ishmael Who is Abraham’s rightful heir? Isaac

Isaac and Ishmael God promised Abraham and his family all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates Rivers Arabs claim their ancestry to Ishmael Jews claim their ancestry to Isaac This is one of the reasons for the Arab – Israeli conflict

Moses 10 Commandments Covenant with God A strict God who demands obedience God as father, protector of his family The dignity of man as opposed to slaves of God These were new concepts

Terms Torah – the old testament, Holy Book of the Jews Rabbi – religious teacher Talmud – interpretations of the Torah, writings on the Torah

Christianity + Jesus Jesus was born a Jew in Bethlehem Crucified by the Romans, considered a threat to Rome, a dissident Preached about God’s love for the world and the need for people to love one another

Christians, unlike Jews and Muslims, believe Jesus was the son of God.

Terms Bible – holy book of Christians, includes Old and New Testament Denomination – different kinds of Christians (i.e. Lutheran, Catholic, Pentecostal)

Islam Submission to God

Muslim- One who submits to God

Muhammad – founder of Islam In 622 Muhammad was driven from Mecca, he fled to Medina In Medina he was accepted as a prophet, (a messenger from God) He eventually returned to Mecca and took over the Kabaa Within 100 yrs. Islam had spread through Arabia

Koran Main religious text Recorded the word of Allah as told to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel 114 Chapters Topics include ethics, history, theology, and code of conduct

5 Pillars of Islam

Salat Pray five times a day in the direction of Mecca

Shahada Repeat everyday in Arabic, “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.”

Zakat Give charity to the needy

Hajj At least once in a lifetime a Muslim must visit Mecca

Bukhari Fast during the Holy month of Ramadan

Islam emphasizes Kindness and forgiveness BrotherhoodCharity Protection of the weak Devotion to God

Relationship to others… Jews + Christians are “people of the book” Moses and Jesus are honored as prophets Muslims believe theirs is the only true religion

Sunnis and Shi’ites 85% Sunni 15% Shiite Split was caused by a disagreement about who the caliph should be about who the caliph should be Caliph- successor to Muhammad Sunni – follow advisors and those highly qualified and trained in the ways of the Koran Shiite – follow blood line of Muhammad, (believe his message is passed down to his descendents, the imam)

Jihad As with any idea in religion the idea of jihad is open to interpretation “Holy struggle” is a more correct translation than “holy war” This could be interpreted as an inner-struggle to be a better Muslim –Known as the “Greater Jihad”, struggle against inner selfishness Also could have a violent interpretation as well – war against non-Muslims –Those who die in jihad against non-believers are assured paradise