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Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Early Beginnings. 1400 BCE Hebrews move into Palestine (modern-day Israel) They were shepherds from Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) searching for water Kings David and Solomon were very successful
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Early Beginnings • 1400 BCE Hebrews move into Palestine (modern-day Israel) • They were shepherds from Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) searching for water • Kings David and Solomon were very successful • Hebrews and Jews were eventually attacked and scattered across the world
Diaspora- the movement or migration of people from their ancestral homeland
Hebrews + God • 1st to believe in one god (monotheism) • Others continued to believe in many gods (polytheism) • Yahweh was the name given to God
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
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
Moses • 10 Commandments • Covenant with God • 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
Terms • Torah – the old testament, Holy Book of the Jews • Rabbi – religious teacher • Talmud – interpretations of the Torah, writings on the Torah
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
Christians, unlike Jews and Muslims, believe Jesus was the son of God.
Terms • Bible – holy book of Christians, includes Old and New Testament • Denomination – different kinds of Christians (i.e. Lutheran, Catholic, Pentecostal)
Islam Submission to God
Muslim- One who submits to God
Muhammad – founder of Islam • In 622 Muhammad 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 and took over the Kabaa • Within 100 yrs. Islam had spread through Arabia
Koran • Main religious text • Recorded the word of Allah as told to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel • 114 Chapters • Topics include ethics, history, theology, and code of conduct
Salat • Pray five times a day in the direction of Mecca
Shahada • Repeat everyday in Arabic, “there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.”
Zakat • Give charity to the needy
Hajj • At least once in a lifetime a Muslim must visit Mecca
Bukhari • Fast during the Holy month of Ramadan
Islam emphasizes • Kindness and forgiveness • Brotherhood • Charity • Protection of the weak • Devotion to God
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
Sunnis and Shi’ites • 85% Sunni 15% Shiite • Split was caused by a disagreement about who the caliph should be Caliph- successor to Muhammad Sunni – follow advisors and those highly qualified and trained in the ways of the Koran Shiite – follow blood line of Muhammad, (believe his message is passed down to his descendents, the imam)
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 • Known as the “Greater Jihad”, struggle against inner selfishness • Also could have a violent interpretation as well – war against non-Muslims • Those who die in jihad against non-believers are assured paradise