1. Introduction to World Religions
-Mainstream Monotheism-

2. Let’s Warm Up Our Brains
How does religion shape the way we look at ourselves? The world? Others?

3. Judaism Who: The Israelites (Hebrews) What: Monotheistic belief in God
God was:
All knowing
All powerful
Creator (history and faith interconnected)

4. Religious Text
The Torah
The Law

5. First 5 Books of the Hebrew Bible
What is the Torah?
First 5 Books of the Hebrew Bible
Genesis – The Beginning
Exodus – The Names
Leviticus – He Called
Numbers – In the wilderness
Deuteronomy – The Words

6. Abraham Father of the Israelites
from Ur (Mesopotamia)  migrated to Canaan (Palestine)
Covenant between he and God becomes focal point of religion
*You are probably wondering what a covenant is…don’t worry. I will tell you now.*

7. This is Canaan

8. Genesis 17:4-8
“You shall be the father of a multitude of nations…I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant…”

9. What was the covenant? Two things:
God and Abraham would be buddies forever
 “chosen people”
God promised that Canaan (Palestine) would be theirs
 The “promise land”

10. Moses and the covenant

11. Kingdom of Israel
Established 1000 B.C.
12 Tribes
David (2nd King) united tribes: 1 nation
Solomon (son of David) establishes Jerusalem

12. King David

13. King Solomon

14. Israel Conquered Kingdom splits into Israel (north) and Judah (south)
Syria conquers Israel (722 B.C.)
Babylon captures Judah (586 B.C.) and they are exiled to Babylon
Cyrus of Persia frees Israelites (539 B.C.)
 Known as Jews because they are from Judah

15. Important Stuff
Stress a religious code of ethics (moral standards)
Honor the Sabbath (a day of rest and worship)
Diaspora: spreading of the Jewish people to other regions of the world

16. Influence On Other Religions
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all recognize Abraham, Moses, and the prophets
All of them teach the ethical worldview developed by Israelites
Although Judaism influences both Christianity and Islam, it is important to pay attention the subtle differences in beliefs that develop within the both Christianity and Islam that differentiate them from Judaism.

17. The Patriarchs Abraham  Sarah was wife
Isaac (son of Abraham)  Rebekah was wife
Jacob (son of Isaac)  Leah and Rachel were wives
Patriarch: male head of a family or a tribe