1. Judaism and Christianity
World Religions
Judaism and Christianity

2. Judaism

3. Brief History
Judaism- Founded by Abraham around 2000 B.C.E. Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic faiths (religions with one God).
Christianity - Founded by Jesus Christ, who was crucified around C.E. 30 in Jerusalem.
Islam - Founded in Arabia by Muhammad between C.E. 610 and C.E. 632

4. Judaism
Judaism is around 3500 years old and is the oldest of the world's four great monotheistic religions. It's also the smallest, with only about 12 million followers around the world.
Its holy city is Jerusalem.

6. Judaism - Origins
The Jewish origin story is told in Genesis of the Old Testament
Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve
The story continues with Abraham and God’s (or Yahweh's) promise to make his decedents (the Hebrews) the chosen people

7. Judaism - Origins This tie was continued through Moses Burning bush
Plagues of Egypt
Parting of the Red Sea
Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai

8. Judaism - The Ten Commandments

9. Judaism - Beliefs
Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe
Jews can have an individual and personal relationship with God.
They await the Messiah, or Savior.
They believe in heaven, but that God determines where they go after life on earth.

10. Judaism - Holy Books The Jewish holy books are written in Hebrew.
The most holy Jewish book is the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).
The Torah contains the five books revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

11. Judaism – Holy Books
The Talmud includes a written version of Judaism's oral tradition and laws such as:
Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)
Dress and other symbols
Prayer and devotion to the one God
The Temple and Temple rites
Observance of Holy Days
Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.

12. Judaism - Place of Worship
Jews worship in Synagogues, or temples. Men and women usually sit separately.
Worship is led by a Rabbi.
Friday evening is time for worship.
Stamford Hill, London

13. Judaism – Holy Days High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Passover (commemorates the story in Exodus, where the ancient Israelites or Hebrews were freed from slavery in Egypt)
Chanukah, the “Festival of Lights”
Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday) – Day of Rest

14. Christianity

15. Christianity - Origins
Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.2 billion followers worldwide.
It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago.
His story is told in the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

16. Christianity - Beliefs
Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God
God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins
Around age 30, Jesus began preaching, teaching, and healing as an itinerant teacher
Had a following of 12 primary disciples and countless multitudes attracted by his miracles and words of wisdom
A political threat to Roman and Jewish authorities, he was put to death through torturous crucifixion (a Roman punishment)
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion (the Resurrection)

17. Christianity - Beliefs
Jesus’s Teachings
taught through parables (“the Kingdom of God is like…”)
a miracle worker and faith healer (Lazarus)
preached forgiveness of sin over punishment for sin (“Turn the other cheek”)
Inspirational words of wisdom:
The “Sermon on the Mount”
The “Golden Rule”: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
The “Lord’s Prayer” (“Our Father who art in heaven…”)

18. Christianity - Beliefs
Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament
Messiah = Christ in Hebrew
There is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 "persons"
The Trinity - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
They believe in life after death, where one’s soul will exist through eternity either in heaven or hell.

19. Christians - Holy Book The Bible is the Christian holy book.
It combines the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) with the New Testament.
The New Testament was written after Jesus’ death, by his followers, during the first century. It includes:
Four gospels (“good words”) about the birth, life, teaching, acts, death, and resurrection of Jesus
The Book of Acts of the apostles – earliest history of the developing church
Epistles (“letters”) of Paul and other evangelists addressed to the churches they founded and led throughout the Mediterranean
The Book of Revelation – a vision of the future, the ultimate destiny of mankind, the culmination of God’s plan for humanity

20. Christian Place of Worship
The Christian place of worship is called a church, which are built in the shape of a cross with the altar facing east towards the rising sun. Services are led by a priest, pastor or reverend.
Day of worship is normally Sunday.
Westminster Abbey London

21. Christianity – Holy Days
Two major seasons in the Christian calendar:
Christmas – celebrating the birth of Jesus
Easter – commemorating Jesus’s resurrection
Ash Wednesday and Lent (40 days before Easter, a period of sacrifice and spiritual renewal in preparation for Easter)
Holy Week:
Palm Sunday (Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem)
Maundy Thursday (The Last Supper – basis for sacrament of communion)
Good Friday (Jesus’ Passion and crucifixion)
Easter Sunday (celebrating the resurrection)

22. Christianity – Medieval Catholicism
The Church was the intermediary between humans and God
The Pope spoke with God’s authority.
Church’s power came from its ability to control the Sacraments (a rite that will bring salvation to those participating in or receiving it).

23. Christianity - Medieval Catholicism
Sacraments include:
Baptism
Communion (Eucharist, Mass, the Lord’s Supper)
Confirmation
Confession of sins, penance, atonement
Marriage (“Holy Matrimony”)
Ordination (“Holy Orders”)
“Holy Unction” or “Last rites”

24. Christianity - Medieval Catholicism
Being denied the Sacraments could result in eternal damnation
The Church used the threat of excommunication (being kicked out of the Church so you couldn’t receive any of the Sacraments) to keep believers in line