The Judeo-Christian Tradition

Ancient Greece and Rome are two sources of Western democratic ideals. A third source is the Judeo- Christian Tradition The ancient HEBREWS had, by about 1000 B.C. established the State of Israel…also know as Judea. They were the first people to believe in monotheism…the belief in one God.

They set down their laws and traditions in a sacred book…The Bible, or The Torah….it is also known as The Old Testament. The Hebrews, or Jews as they would become known…came from Judea. They believed in one God, a God that is perfect, all-knowing, all powerful, and eternal. Earlier people…like the Greeks and Romans…believed in many gods. The Hebrews/Jews believed that it was God ’ s wish for people to live moral lives.

The Hebrew scriptures…the Bible…state that human beings are created in God ’ s image. Meaning within each human being is a divine spark… soul… which gives everyone dignity that cannot be taken away. Greeks and Romans - human beings had dignity because they had the ability to reason. Hebrews - each person had dignity simply by being a child of God. Hebrews believed that God had given humans moral freedom…the capacity to choose between good and evil. Each person was responsible for the choices he or she made. And that ’ s why God gave the Hebrews the 10 Commandments…to live a moral life.

The spiritual leaders of the Hebrews were the prophets…messengers of God…attacked war, oppression, and greed. Believed all people have the right to be treated with justice and dignity. Responsibility of every person to denounce injustice and oppression and the community should assist the poor and unfortunate. Important because: if everyone is taking care of each other’s needs, all needs will be met.

Importance of Judeo-Christian Traditions: EQUALITY: since every individual was capable of living to a high moral standard, and every individual was worthy, and every individual was supposed to assist their fellow man…EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE EQUAL. Important because: if everyone is equal, no one will put themselves above another person…this will lead to a more just and orderly society. Also important because Hebrews put God above all else, not other people.

In the first century a Jewish Rabbi (teacher) named Jesus was traveling throughout Israel preaching. Israel had been conquered by the Romans and had become a province of Rome…no longer an independent state. The Romans changed the name of Israel to Palestine…after the Philistines, Israel ’ s enemy. Jesus adopted much of the Prophets ’ moral outlook. Like them, he believed human beings were God ’ s children and were judged according to high moral standards. Like them, he spoke out against injustice. Like them, he saw morality as the essence of Jewish faith… “..do unto others only what you would have done to yourself ”

The early Christians were Jews. Unlike the other sects of Jews, the Christians were evangelists…they wanted to spread their beliefs to all people. Christian missionaries worked throughout the Roman Empire to convert people to Christianity. And so, from the Judeo-Christian tradition there emerged several important ideals that have been crucial to the shaping of a democratic outlook… The sacred worth of the individual The duty of the individual and of the community to combat oppression And the equality of people before God.

The Holy City of Jerusalem is perhaps the most significant, and almost certainly the best-known religious city on Earth. In no other single place can you find such a concentration of sites sacred to not just one, but three major world religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. This compact ancient city, surrounded by a 465-year old wall, and home to one that is among the holiest of Jewish sites, never fails to amaze visitors with the extraordinary religious history contained – and very much alive – within.

Three of the ideas from the Judeo-Christian tradition that have shaped American democracy are: The sacred worth of the individual The duty of the individual and community to combat injustice and oppression The equality of people Popcorn Reading: Read 1 paragraph each of “Hebrew Law and Morality” and answer the questions at the bottom. Then, we will read the beginning of the Declaration of Independence (on the back of your handout)

DISCUSSION: How did you answer the questions at the bottom of the “Hebrew Law & Morality” Reading? Brainstorm & Complete the Chart: LIST examples from the text that illustrate the ideas listed below and place them in the correct box. The sacred worth of the individual The duty of the individual and community to combat injustice and oppression The equality of people

DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE: For the Declaration of Independence, brainstorm a LIST of examples from the text that illustrate the ideas listed below. The sacred worth of the individual The duty of the individual and community to combat injustice and oppression The equality of people Place them in the correct box. For a 10, you must also list at least one historical example and one modern example of each idea in American society.