 Three of the world’s major religions were born in the Middle East.  They are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (In that order based on age.)  All three religions refer to Adam and Eve, God and Abraham.  The general belief is that Abraham had two sons (Isaac and Ishmael). Christianity will branch from Isaac and Islam will branch from Ishmael.  All three religions view Jerusalem as a sacred city

 Monotheism is the belief in one god. Belief in many gods is polytheistic.  Each of these religions has a monotheistic tradition.  Judaism  Christianity  Islam

 Judaism is the oldest surviving monotheistic religion (yet one of the least followed).  Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew and to have a made a covenant with God around 2000 BC  Their place of worship is a synagogue or temple.  Saturday is their holy day, Sabbath.  A holy person is a Rabbi

 Jews believe in one god and his prophets.  Special respect is given to Moses as the prophet to whom god gave the law.  Jewish law is written in the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament).  Judaism is more concerned with actions than beliefs.  Jewish law includes 613 commandments given by God in the Torah (Leviticus).

 Jews believe others besides Jews will go to Heaven.  Jews do not believe in the prophets after the Jewish prophets, including Jesus and Muhammad.  They do not believe in the idea that Jesus was the Messiah and the son of God, nor do they believe in the teachings of Islam.

 Most followed religion in the world (2.1 billion)  Christianity started out of Judaism. Christians were the followers of “Christ”, around 33 AD  There are two major denominations of Christians (Catholic and Protestants).  The Pope is the “earthly” head of the Catholic Church.  Martin Luther, upset at the corruption of the Catholic church, began a reformation movement that led to the Protestant Reformation.  The holy scriptures are the Old Testament and the New Testament.

 Jesus is considered the son of God, born to the virgin Mary and come to Earth to offer redemption for mankind’s sins.  Christians believe that you must accept Christ as your savior in order to go to Heaven.  Christians believe in an afterlife where some will reside in heaven with God, and some will be punished in hell.  Their Sabbath is Sunday.  Their place of worship is a church.  Their holy book is the Bible.  A holy person is a pastor, preacher, minister, nun, priest, cardinal, bishop, deacon, etc

 Christians do not follow all Jewish laws.  Christians follow the Ten Commandments.  Christians do not accept Muhammad as a prophet.

 Islam is the second most followed religion in the world (1.5 billion)  Islam began in the desert community of Mecca, Saudi Arabia around 600 AD  It developed from the Judaism and Christian traditions and the cultural values of the nomadic tribes of Arabia.  Islam has expanded into other areas: North Africa, Europe, and Asia.

 Muslims believe that Allah (the Arabic word for God) sent his word, the Qur’an (Koran), to the prophet Muhammad.  Muhammad was born in Mecca.  He was a prophet that received the message from the Angel Gabriel.  This message was collected in the Qur’an.  The Qur’an tells Muslims to worship one god, and explains how to treat others properly.  The central message is “There is no god but God!”

1. Orally declaring their faith. Belief in one god Allah. 2. Praying five times a day towards Mecca. 3. Fasting in the daylight hours during the month of Ramadan. They must abstain from food, water, cigarettes, gossip, anger, and anything else perceived as negative behavior. 4. Giving a share of their income (alms) for charity usually 2.5%. 5. Making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

 Muslims believe in a Day of Judgment (by Allah, who will call up those still alive and all those who have died, present them with a record of their deeds, and weigh their obedience to God and actions toward human beings.  Many Muslims also observe dietary rules that forbid pork, outlaw alcohol, and dictate how animals should be slaughtered for food.  Friday is their Sabbath.  The faithful with righteous souls will go to heaven and wrongdoers will go to hell.  The place of worship is a mosque.  A holy person is a Imam or Sheikh

 Muslims recognizes many of the Jewish and Christian prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (although he is not considered to be the son of God).  Muhammad himself is not divine, but a prophet chosen by God to deliver his message.  Jews and Christians are specifically protected in the Quran as Peoples of the Book.  The Islamic legal tradition has upheld the rights of Jews and Christians to maintain their beliefs and practices within their communities in Islamic lands.  The Islamic religion recognizes the Torah and the Bible as sacred books.

 What is monotheistic?  What things do Judaism, Christianity and Islam have in common?  How are they different?  What religion is the oldest?  What are the two “general” branches that have broken off from Christianity?  What religion has the most followers?