1. Middle East: The Birthplace of Religion
WILF: How does the presence of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam within the same region influence the development of the region?

3. Judaism Oldest major religion First to teach monotheism
Trace ancestry to Abraham
Descendants of Hebrews (Israelites)
Three main sects: Orthodox, Conservative, & Reformed

5. Lineage is 4,000 years old

6. Beliefs/Teachings Only one God
Based on their holy book; how to worship & how to live a moral life
Pass on Jewish traditions to their families
Supreme God: Yahweh

7. Covenant with God Special agreement/ promise with God
Ten Commandments from Moses
Place of Worship- God’s Chosen People & would live in a promised land called Canaan (Now Jerusalem, Israel)
Assures Jews of God’s love & protection

9. Holy Book Hebrew Bible, called the Torah (Old Testament)
First 5 books crucial
Contains basic laws & describes history
Talmud, serves as “guide”

10. Structure Synagogue - house of worship Rabbi - spiritual leader
Does not actively try to convince others to convert to Jewish faith
Give to the needy to create justice in the world

12. Holy Days/Festivals Sabbath (Day of Rest) is Saturday
Rosh Hashanah, New Year
Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement
Hanukkah, Feast of Lights
Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah
Passover, freedom from Egypt

13. Orthodox Customs Do not eat pork or shellfish
Store meat & milk products separately
Separate sets of utensils
Kosher, means ritually correct
Do not work, travel, or carry money on the Sabbath

14. Christianity Largest religious group monotheistic
based on life & teachings of Jesus, the Messiah almost 2000 years old
humanity can achieve salvation through Jesus
3 main sects: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, & Protestant

15. Spread of Christianity
Spread orally by 12 apostles
first Christians were Jews
New Testament, written record of life & teachings of Jesus
Started with the Birth Of Jesus in Bethlehem, Israel

17. Beliefs/Teachings Only one God God created the universe
God sent son, Jesus, to help people fulfill their religious duties
Holy Trinity, God has 3 parts
2 important practices: baptism & Holy Communion

18. Holy Book/Holy Days Bible, Old & New Testament Sabbath
Lent, preparation for Easter
Palm Sunday
Good Friday
Easter
Christmas

19. Islam Fastest spreading religion
originated in Middle East around 610 A.D.
Muhammad had a vision calling him to be a prophet of God
Two major sects: Sunni & Shi’i

20. Spread of Islam First spread orally Koran, holy book
Muslims consider the Koran the words of God as spoken to Muhammad

22. Beliefs/Teachings Monotheistic
Belief in series of prophets, including Moses & Jesus
Belief in a Day of Judgment
forbids lying, stealing, adultery, & murder
Belief in God’s mysterious will

23. Holy Book/Holy Days
Koran, contains history of Muhammad’s search for God
Outlines goal: living according to God’s guidance
Foundation for Islamic social law
Moral behavior
Muhammad's birthday

25. Customs Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms (2.5%), Fasting, Pilgrimage
Dietary laws, do not allow pork or alcohol
Major celebration when a child memorizes the entire Koran
Mosque, holy place of worship
Imam, prayer leader, selected by the followers

28. Comparison all three are monotheistic
all three acknowledge Abraham as the patriarch of their faith
each has a holy book
each has a specific place of worship
each one has a different view about Jesus Christ
some of these religions share common holy sites in the region but also have their own unique holy sites