1. The Big Three Monotheistic Religions
Christianity, Islam, Judaism

3. Judaism OLDEST of the “Big” 3. Began 3500 years ago!!!!
Began in Southwest Asia
Practiced today mostly in Israel and pockets in the US and Europe
Considered an Ethnic Religion

4. Judaism: God Believe in ONE God (Monotheistic) The God of Abraham
Called Adonai in Hebrew

5. Judaism: Holy Book & Language
TeNaKh (in 3 parts)
Torah is the most important part
The law of God
Hebrew is the sacred language

6. Judaism: Key Beliefs
Moses is Judaism’s most important prophet (teacher spoken to by God)
Lie a good life according to the rules of the Torah
Pass on Jewish traditions to one’s family

7. Judaism: Practices, Rituals and Holidays
Keep the Sabbath Holy
Family meal-breaking bread and sharing wine
Fast during Yom Kippur (day of atonement)
Give to the needy
Kosher food-no pork, shellfish, or meat prepared with dairy

8. Judaism: Building, Leader and Day of Worship
Synagogue
Rabbi
Friday evening to Saturday Evening

9. Judaism: Sects
Reformed
Orthodox
Conservative

10. Judaism: Holy Site in Jerusalem
Wailing Wall

11. Christianity: God Believe in One God (monotheistic) God of Abraham
Called Yahweh
Practiced today all over the world

12. Christianity: Holy Book and Sacred Language
Bible ( 2 parts)
Old Testament
New Testament
No real sacred language, though most historic texts are written in Latin or Greek.

13. Christianity: Key Beliefs
Based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ
Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
Jesus was both Human and Divine
Christ died on the Cross, was buried and rose 3 days later
Ascended into Heaven
Salvation: Heaven

14. Christianity: Practices, Rituals, & Holidays
Baptism: initiation into the faith
Communion: represents Jesus’ last supper before death
Christmas: Christ’s birth
Easter: Christ’s death and ressurection

15. Christianity: Building, Leader, & Day of Worship
- Churches
- Priests, pastors, ministers
- Sunday worship services

16. Christianity: Sects Roman Catholic - Orthodox - Protestant
All believe Jerusalem is the holiest city
(Christ died and rose)

17. Jerusalem Holy Site
Church of the Holy Sepulcher

18. Islam Fastest growing world religion
Youngest of the monotheistic religions

19. God
Believe in one God
- The God of Abraham
- Called Allah in Arabic

20. Holy Book: Parts & Sacred Language
- Koran (Qur’an)
- Contains revelations God made to Muhammad
- Arabic is the sacred language
- Believers called Muslims

21. Key Beliefs - Born in Mecca (holiest city and center of Islam)
- Based on the teachings of Muhammad
- Born in Mecca (holiest city and center of Islam)
- Believe he was the final prophet
- Live according to God’s guidance  rewarded with salvation
- Believe Moses and Jesus were prophets, but Jesus not divine

22. Practices, Rituals, & Holidays
- “Five pillars”
- Declaration of faith
- Pray 5 times a day
- Almsgiving (charity)
- Fasting during Ramadan
- Pilgrimage to Mecca
- Dietary laws: no pork or alcohol

23. Building, Leader, Day of Worship
- Mosque
- Imam (prayer leader)
- Friday noon prayers are most important

24. Sects
- Sunni
- Shi’ite
- Differ over leadership in the Muslim community

25. Holy Site in Jerusalem Dome of the Rock
Mostly found in SW Asia and Central Asia