Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

1. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

2. Early Beginnings • 1400 BCE Hebrews move into Palestine (modern-day Israel) • They were shepherds from Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) searching for water • Hebrews were eventually attacked and scattered across the world

3. Diaspora- the movement or migration of people from their ancestral homeland

4. Hebrews + God • 1st to believe in one god (monotheism) • Others continued to believe in many gods (polytheism) • Yahweh was the name given to God

6. Abraham • Founder of monotheism • Had a wife – Sarah, God promised them child • Sarah was too old to have a child so she told him to have a child w/ Hagar, their servant • Abraham had two sons- Ishmael w/ Hagar and Isaac w/ Sarah

7. Abraham’s family tree

8. Isaac and Ishmael • God promised Abraham and his family all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates Rivers • Arabs claim their ancestry to Ishmael • Jews claim their ancestry to Isaac • This is one of the reasons for the Arab – Israeli conflict

9. Moses • 10 Commandments • A strict God who demands obedience • God as father, protector of his family • The dignity of man as opposed to slaves of God • These were new concepts

10. Terms • Torah – the old testament, Holy Book of the Jews • Rabbi – religious teacher • Talmud – interpretations of the Torah, writings on the Torah

11. Christianity + Jesus • Jesus was born a Jew in Bethlehem • Crucified by the Romans, considered a threat to Rome, a dissident • Preached about God’s love for the world and the need for people to love one another

12. Christians, unlike Jews and Muslims, believe Jesus was the son of God.

13. Terms • Bible – holy book of Christians, includes Old and New Testament • Denomination – different kinds of Christians (i.e. Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist etc.)

14. Islam Submission to God

15. Muslim- One who submits to God

16. Mohammed – founder of Islam • In 622 Mohammed was driven from Mecca, he fled to Medina • In Medina he was accepted as a prophet, (a messenger from God) • He eventually returned to Mecca • Within 100 yrs. Islam had spread through Arabia

18. 5 Pillars of Islam • Pilgrimage to Mecca • Charity to the poor • Prayer five times a day • Recite: there is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet • Fast during the holy month of Ramadan

20. Relationship to others… • Jews + Christians are “people of the book” • Moses and Jesus are honored as prophets • Muslims believe theirs is the only true religion

21. Sunnis and Shiites • 85% Sunni 15% Shiite • Split was caused by a disagreement about who the caliph should be Caliph- successor to Muhammad, also known as an Imam. First chosen was Muhammad’s father-in-law, leaving out his bloodline and upsetting which group?

22. Differences • Leadership: • Shiite – the imam is descended from Ali, Muhammad’s son in law, (who Muhammad declared would lead after him). Ali was assassinated and so was his son Hussein. (Hereditary leadership) • Sunnis do not believe their imams are divine and can be elected or come to power in other ways • According to Shiite, humans have option either to obey God's rules, or disobey. • The Sunni scholars on the other hand say that Allah is the Creator of all of our acts

23. Jihad • As with any idea in religion the idea of jihad is open to interpretation • Holy struggle is a more correct translation than holy war • This could be interpreted as an inner-struggle to be a better Muslim • Also could have a violent interpretation as well

24. Crusades- Military expedition to “rescue” Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks.

25. Crusader Someone who fights on behalf of a religious cause

26. 1st Crusade • In 1097 three armies of knights began the journey to take back the Holy Land • They slaughtered Muslim men and women in Jerusalem

27. The Crusades were a turning point. They lead to extreme distrust between religious groups