1. What’s the big deal with Egypt???

2. Lets begin with Religion... Religion is a system of beliefs which seek to understand the origins and meaning of human existence Usually have some form of deity or deities. There are two basic forms of religion—Monotheism and Polytheism ▫Monotheism- The belief in only one god ▫Polytheism- The belief in many gods

3. Religion and Politics in the World Why study religion in the world? ▫Religion plays an important part in the everyday decisions of people all over the world ▫This includes the political movements in different areas ▫ Globalization has illustrated the importance of understanding other religions

4. Religion and Politics in the World Monotheisms of the World The three great monotheisms of the world include: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity All three of these religions originated in the area we know today as Palestine Christianity is the largest religion in the world, and Islam is the fastest growing religion The two make-up over one-third of the world’s population

6. Monotheisms: Judaism Judaism is the world’s oldest surviving monotheism It originated in Eastern Mediterranean around 2,000 B.C.E Jews claim that their first prophet was Abraham. The traditional home of the Hebrews was Palestine However, beginning in 73 C.E. the Romans forced the Jewish Diaspora.

7. Zionism Movement to create a Jewish Homeland 1897: Theodor Herzl made Zionism an international movement “But we wish to give the Jews a Homeland. Not by dragging them ruthlessly out of their sustaining soil, but rather by removing them carefully, roots and all, to a better terrain” What is Herzl’s view of Zionism from the above quote?

8. Monotheisms: Judaism & Israel Following the end of the Second World War, many surviving European Jews moved to Palestine Most Western countries supported the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine In 1948, Israel declared itself an independent state. The vast majority of Israel’s modern population is Jewish.

9. Monotheisms: Islam Islam first began in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7 th Century C.E It has its foundations in both Christianity and Judaism ▫Shares many of the same stories and prophets The founder, Muhammad, wrote the Quran

10. Monotheisms: Islam 8 th century, Islam had spread throughout Western Asian and North Africa. The Quran calls for religious tolerance towards Jews and Christians as “people of the book.” Today, relations between Jews, Muslims, and Christians have been strained by political issues.

11. Monotheisms: Islam caliph - leader of the Islamic Empire Sunni Islam- Believe that the caliph should be elected. ▫Tend to be moderate in the implementation of Islamic Law within government Shia Islam- Believe that only direct decedents of the Prophet Muhammad could be caliph ▫Tend to support the institution of Sharia Law (Islamic Law/Theocracy)

12. Monotheisms: Christianity The Development of Christianity Christianity has its foundations in Judaism Before the Diaspora, Christianity arose as a new branch of the old Jewish tradition Initially, Christians faced persecution from the Roman Empire 4 th century C.E. Emperor Constantine made the practice accepted View Palestine as the holy land (Crusades)

13. Monotheisms Relations Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe Palestine to be holy and Jerusalem to be its most important city. View of modern Jerusalem

14. Monotheisms Relations The West Wall of Solomon’s Temple- a.k.a. “ The Wailing Wall”

15. The Wailing Wall

16. Monotheisms Relations The Dome of the Rock

17. Monotheisms Relations Inside the Dome of the Rock

18. Dome of the Rock UFO?

19. Monotheisms Relations The Dome of the Rock and the Wailing Wall- Point The Wailing Wall The Dome of the Rock How can this create conflict between Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem and the world?

20. Monotheisms Relations The Church of the Holy Sepulchure

21. Holy Sepulchure

22. Monotheisms Relations The Kaaba- Mecca, Saudi Arabia The Black Stone of the Kaaba

23. The Hajj and Kaaba

24. Monotheisms Relations The Church of the Nativity- Bethlehem, Israel

25. Church of Nativity