Monotheistic Religions: Emphasizing Morality, Tolerance, and Human Dignity

1. Judaism Christianity &Islam

2. Hebrews = Jews • Torah: The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) • God chose Abraham to be the “father” or the Hebrew people. • God told Abraham to move his people to the land of Canaan in Palestine. (1800BC)

3. Created in God's Image • Judaism: The religion of the Hebrews • Monotheistic: Believed in one God instead of many different Gods. • This God was perfect, all-knowing, powerful and eternal. • It was God’s wish for people to live moral lives. • Human’s are created in God’s image… • Humans contain a divine spark that gives them dignity that can never be taken away. • Each person has dignity just for being a child of God. Not because of their ability to reason. • God granted humans moral freedom- the capacity to choose between good and evil. • ***These beliefs lead to a new emphasis on the worth of the individual!!***

4. Morality • The Ten Commandments:Written code of laws given to Moses by God. (1300-1200BC) • Focused on morality and ethics and less on politics • Includes rules for social and religious behavior which even rulers were subject to. • Strict but softened by expressions of God’s mercy • ***Lead to the Jewish belief that it is the responsibility of every person to oppose injustice and oppression and that the community should assist the less fortunate. They believed that individuals were capable of living according to high moral standards.***

5. Sacred text for both Jews and Christians!!!

6. Christianity • 63 BC: Rome took control of the Mediterranean, including Judea, the homeland of the Jews. • Jesus of Nazareth: Messiah, or savior, according to the New Testament of the Christian Bible. • Born a Jew in 6-4 BC in Nazareth. Began preaching at 30years old. • His preaching contained many ideas from Jewish tradition, such as monotheism and the principles of the Ten Commandments. • Emphasized a personal relationship with God.

7. Teachings of Christianity • Beyond traditional morality: • Stressed importance of peoples love for God, their neighbors, their enemies and themselves. • “I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and prosecute you.” • ~Sermon on the Mount • God would eventually end wickedness in the world and establish his eternal kingdom. • People who repented their sins would find life after death.

8. Spread of Christianity • The Apostle Paul: • Preached in cities around the Eastern Mediterranean • Stressed that Jesus was the son of God who had died for people’s sins. • Declared that Christianity was the universal religion and should welcome all converts. • “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” • Stressed the essential equality of all human beings, a belief central to democracy.

9. Islam • Monotheistic religion that developed in southwest Asia in the early 600s. • Based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. • Muhammad’s teachings are found in the holy book called the Qur’an. Followers of Muhammad’s teachings are called Muslims. • Muhammad’s teaching stressed: • Charity to those in need. • Rulers must abide by the same laws as the ruled. • Religious tolerance. • Dignity of all human beings and the brotherhood of all people. • ***A belief in the bond of community and the unity of all people led to tolerance of different groups within the community.***

10. Legacy of Monotheistic Religions • The duty of the individual and the community to combat oppression. • The worth of the individual • The equality of people before God