Transcript What is Judaism?

Judaism is…
 “A 4000 year old tradition with ideas
about what it means to be human and how
to make the world a holy place”
(Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)
 A “covenant relationship” between God
and the Hebrew people
 A celebration and sanctification of life
 A faith, a people, a way of life…
A 4000 year old tradition…
 The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
(“Israel”) – origins of the Hebrew people
(more than 3800 years ago)
 Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by
Moses (more than 3300 years ago)
 Hebrew monarchy in the “Promised Land”
(The Land of Israel), ends 6th century
BCE
As a faith, Jews Believe…
 In one God, creator of the universe, personal
but non-corporeal
 In prophets of old – especially Moses, through
whom Torah was revealed to the Hebrew
people
 In Torah (first five books of the Bible),
containing religious, moral and social law which
guides the life of a Jew
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the Hebrew Bible does not include the New
Testament
As a people, Jews are…
 A nation in Diaspora (dispersed)
 15 – 16 million in worldwide population
 United by a common heritage (an “ethnic”
religion), divided in contemporary practice:
 Orthodox:
Modern
 Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox)
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 Reformed (18th century Germany)
 Conservative – moderates, response to
reform
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Reconstructionalism (20th century America)
As a way of life, Judaism is based on…
 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”)
 Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient rabbis
that elaborates on how to apply God’s Law in
everyday life through:
 Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)
 Dress and other symbols
 Prayer and devotion to the one God
 The Temple and Temple rites
 Observance of Holy days
 Proper social relations between male and female, in
business, judicial rulings, etc.
 Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way
How does Judaism sanctify life?
Life cycle celebrations:
 Bris – ritual circumcision, sign of the covenant
 Bar/Bat Mitzvah – full adult status and
responsibility within the religion
 Marriage - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen.
1:22)
 Death – funerals, mourning (sitting “Shiva”),
and memorials (“Yartzeits”)
How does Judaism sanctify time?
The Jewish Holidays:
 High Holidays:
 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
 Sukkot, the “Festival of Booths” (fall
harvest festival)
 Simchat Torah – celebrating Torah
 Chanukah, the “Festival of Lights”
More Holy Days…
 Purim (“Lots”) – a carnival (commemorates
events told in book of Esther)
 Pesach (“Passover”) – commemorates the
exodus from Egypt (events told in Exodus)
 Shavuot (“weeks,” Pentecost) –
commemorates receipt of Torah at Sinai
 Other, minor festivals
 Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday) –
the “Day of Rest”
How is Judaism related to Christianity?
 Judaism predates Christianity – it is the foundation
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of Christianity but is not a part of it
Jesus was Jewish, as were his followers and the
Apostles
Jews do not believe that Jesus was anything more
than a good and wise man who lived and died 2000
years ago – Jews still await their messiah
The Jewish messiah would not be divine. He would
be a political figure who restores the Hebrew
monarchy and causes peace to reign on Earth
Jews are not concerned about salvation and the
“world to come”
What are Jews really concerned about?
 Tikkun Olam - “repairing this world” through
justice and righteousness; through “deed, not
creed”
 The heart of Judaism is in the home and family,
social responsibility and doing Mitzvot (“good
deeds” based on God’s commandments)
 Through education and hard work we make our
lives, the lives of others, and the world, what
God intended it to be – Holy!
What is Christianity?
 A diverse, 2000 year old religion followed
by almost one third of the world’s
population!
 Based on the life, teachings, death and
resurrection of a first century Jew known as
Jesus, believed to be the Christ (messiah,
savior) by his followers (thus called
“Christians”)
Who was the historical Jesus?
 Born, bred, lived, and died a Jew in first century
Roman occupied Palestine
 Around age 30, took on a mission of preaching,
teaching, and healing as an itinerant teacher
 Had a following of 12 primary disciples and
countless multitudes attracted by his miracles
and words of wisdom
 A political threat to Roman and Jewish
authorities, is put to death through torturous
crucifixion (a Roman punishment)
What did Jesus do & teach?
 A story telling teacher who taught through parables about
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the Kingdom of God (“the Kingdom of God is like…”)
A miracle worker and faith healer (“your faith has made you
whole”)
A religious and social reformer (love and the spirit of the
law, over the letter of the law)
Preaching forgiveness of sin over punishment for sin
Inspirational words of wisdom:
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The “Sermon on the Mount”
The “Greatest commandment”: Love God and love others as you love
yourself
The “Golden Rule”: Do unto others as you would have others do
unto you
The “Lord’s Prayer” (“Our Father who art in heaven…”)
The Christian Bible
Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible)
 New Testament (written after Jesus’ death, by his
followers, during the first century; not canonized until the
4th century)
 Four gospels (“good words”) about the birth, life, teaching,
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acts, death, and resurrection of Jesus
 The Book of Acts of the apostles – earliest history of the
developing church
 Epistles (“letters”) of Paul and other evangelists addressed to
the churches they founded and led throughout the
Mediterranean
 The Book of Revelation – a vision of the future, the ultimate
destiny of mankind, the culmination of God’s plan for
humanity
What do Christians believe? –
“Who do men say that I am?”
 The “Christ” - born of a virgin in fulfillment of Jewish
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messianic expectation to be “king of the Jews”
The “Son of God” – fully divine and fully human
The savior of humanity – saving us from sin through his
sacrifice on the cross
Risen from the dead (resurrection) “on the third day” –
overcoming death so that we too may have “eternal life”
Ascended into heaven, residing with God “the father” to
intervene on our behalf
Will come again at the “end of days” to judge the living and
the dead
The Holy Trinity
 God the Father residing in heaven (same God
worshiped by Jews and Muslims)
 God the Son (Jesus, the Christ) who “came
down from heaven” to dwell among us, as one
of us
 God the Holy Spirit (“Holy Ghost”)
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The spirit of God residing within everyone who
accepts the sacrifice of Christ and thus becomes a
Christian
Communion with God the Father is through the
Son and the Holy Spirit
What else do Christians believe?
 Original sin: all humanity is inherently separated
from God
 The sacrifice of Jesus – a sinless representative of
humanity (a “scapegoat”) - as the ultimate
atonement for the sins of humanity
 Heaven and Hell:
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Eternal life for those who are “saved by the blood of
the lamb (Jesus)”
Eternal damnation for those who are not so saved
Who are Christians?
 The Eastern church: Orthodox Christianity
 Greek, Russian, Coptic, and other national churches of
Eastern Europe, North Africa, and Asia
 The Western church: Roman Catholicism
 unified under the Pope (bishop of Rome)
 found throughout western Europe and the Americas
 Over 900 million (half of all Christians worldwide)
These two original church bodies officially broke from
each other in 1054 CE
What about the Protestants?
 Broke from Catholic church beginning in 16 th century
 Diverse church bodies, denominations, sects, and
independent churches of European background:
Lutheran (early 16th century)
 Church of England (Anglican, Episcopal) (16th century)
 “Reformed” churches: Presbyterian, Congregational, etc.
(16th century, based on teachings of John Calvin)
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 Anabaptist and other sectarian churches break away
from these original (“mainline”) churches:
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Baptist, Methodist, Brethren (Puritan), Mennonite,
Amish, Quaker, etc.
American born Christian groups
 19th and 20th century developments include:
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Mormons (1830’s)
Seventh-Day Adventist (1840’s)
Christian Science and Unity (1880’s)
Jehovah’s Witness (20th century)
Evangelicals and Pentecostals (20th century)
Unification Church (20th century, Korean origin)
 Some newer sectarian churches are sometimes considered to
be “cults” by “mainstream” Christians
 Also: independent, non-denominational churches
(generally modeled after Protestant belief and practice)
How do Christians practice their faith?
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Sacraments:
1. Baptism
2. Communion (Eucharist, Mass, the Lord’s Supper)
3. Confirmation
4. Confession of sins, penance, atonement
5. Marriage (“Holy Matrimony”)
6. Ordination (“Holy Orders”)
7. Healing (anointing, “Holy Unction”, “Last rites”)
Sabbath celebrated on Sunday with prayer, scripture
readings, singing of hymns, a sermon or lesson from the
pastor/minister/priest, recitation of creedal statement,
confession of sins, communion (format varies from
church to church)
What are some Christian holy days?
Two major seasons in the Christian calendar:
 Christmas – celebrating the birth of Jesus
 Easter – commemorating the resurrection of Christ
 Christmas:
Advent (four weeks leading up to Christmas day)
 Christmas Day (December 25th)
 Epiphany (the “twelfth day of Christmas”)
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More Christian holy days:
 Easter: (early spring, date varies)
 Ash Wednesday and lent (40 days before Easter, a
period of sacrifice and spiritual renewal in preparation
for Easter)
 Holy Week including:
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Palm Sunday (Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem)
Munday Thursday (inauguration of the communion meal)
Good Friday (Jesus’ Passion and crucifixion)
Easter Sunday (celebrating the resurrection)
 Pentecost: the 50th day (seven weeks) after
Easter (commemorates the coming of the Holy
Spirit upon the apostles)
What is Islam and how is it related to
Judaism and Christianity?
 Islam = “peace,” “submission”
 Muslim = “submitter”
 Not “Mohammedanism”
 Abraham’s two sons:
 Isaac  the Hebrews (Judaism  Christianity)
 Ishmael  the Arabs (Islam)
 Islam respects the two earlier Abrahamic
religions as “Peoples of the Book”
Who was Muhammad
 b. 570 CE, d. 632 CE
 Prophet/founder; human, not divine
 Lived in Arabia, near Mecca
 Orphaned by age 6, raised by grandfather and uncle
 Worked as a caravan driver for a woman – Khadija – 15
years his senior
 Age 25: accepted offer to marry Khadija
 Sired six children; only one daughter – Fatimah – had
children of her own
 Age 40: Revelation begins 610 CE, continues
throughout remainder of the Prophet’s life
What is the Qur’an?
Holy book of Islam
 Revealed to Muhammad by God through angel
Gabriel
 Written piecemeal by scribes during or shortly after
Muhammad’s life
 Compiled as a whole about 20 years after
Muhammad’s death
 Comprised of 114 chapters (called surahs)
 Other Sources: Hadith and Sunnah (stories, sayings,
and traditions of Muhammad)
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Qur’an + Hadith and Sunnah = Shariah (Islamic Law)
The Development of Islam
 Early persecution by Meccans
 Year 619: wife and uncle both die
 Year 622: Hijrah - migration to Yathrib (Medina =
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“City of the Prophet”) (year 1 AH)
Success in Medina, defense against Meccan attacks
Year 630: Reclaiming of Mecca
Year 632: first Muslim pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, led by
Muhammad who died a few months later, having united
the Arab tribes under the banner of Islam
Within 100 years, spread east toward India and west
into north Africa and Spain
Who are Muslims?
 More than one billion Muslims in the world
today
 Two major groups:
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Sunni: 80% in many locations throughout the world
Shi’ite: 15%, mostly in Iran
 Difference is political, basic beliefs and
practices are the same
 Sufis are Muslim mystics, come from both
Sunni and Shi’ite backgrounds
 Most Muslims are not Arab and not all Arabs
are Muslim
What do Muslims Believe?
 One God (Allah)
 Spiritual beings:
 Angels, Jinn and the Devil (“Iblis,” “Shaitan”)
 Prophets & Messengers:
 Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus,
Muhammad…
 Holy Books:
 Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Qur’an
 Decrements (destiny) – Inshallah (“if God wills”)
 End Times (eschatology)
 Resurrection, Judgment day, Heaven & Hell
The Five Pillars
 Shahada – Witness:
 “There is no God but The God (Allah) and
Muhammad is the Prophet of God
 Salat – Prayer, five times every day
 Zakat – alms giving to the poor and needy
 Sawm – fasting, sun-up to sun-down during
month of Ramadan
 Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in a
Muslim’s life, if able)
Feast Days
 Eid-al-Fitr - Feast at the close of the
Ramadan fast
 Eid-al-Adha - Feast of Sacrifice,
at the close of the annual Hajj
The Ka’aba
 Older than Islam
 Supposedly first built
by Abraham
 Eastern corner houses
“the Black Stone”
 Covered in black silk
with gold Shahada
 Entrance to interior is
strictly limited
What is the Ka’aba?
 Located in the center of Mecca
 Pre-dates Islam (said to have been built by
Abraham and Ishmael as an altar to God)
 Used by pre-Muslim Arabs for worship of their
many tribal gods (idols)
 Year 630: reclaimed by Muhammad, cleansed
and rededicated to Allah
 Center of Islam to this day – place of annual
pilgrimage and direction of prayer for Muslims
from all corners of the globe
Sacred Places
The Great Mosque in Mecca
The Prophet’s
Mosque in Medina
The Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem
What is a Mosque?
 A place for prayer, study, socializing
 No shoes in prayer hall
 Women cover head, separate from men
 Wudu room for ritual cleansing before prayer
 Minaret for call to prayer (Adhaan)
 Prayer hall oriented toward Mecca
(qibla)
 Imam (prayer leader) stands in mirahb
(niche)
Islam as a Way of Life
Shariah (Islamic Law)
 Based on Qur’an + Hadith and Sunnah
 Concerned with preserving human dignity through five
principles:
 preservation of life
 preservation of progeny (family)
 preservation of intellect (education)
 preservation of wealth (property)
 preservation of religion
 not just for the individual but for the society
Prohibitions
Halal (permissible) and Haram (prohibited)
 No eating of pork (other dietary regulations =
halal)
 No gambling
 No intoxicants
 No fornication (homosexuality, adultery,
prostitution, etc.)
 No usury (charging or paying interest on loans)
(the rich shall not profit from helping the poor)
What about Jihad?
 “Struggle” not “Holy War”
 Inner: spiritual and moral struggle between
good and evil
 Outer: struggle to maintain proper social
setting according to God’s will
 Struggles in the Holy Land
 Palestinian vs. Israeli, not Muslim vs. Jew
(political, not religious)
What about Women in Islam?
 Respected and Protected by Men
 “Modest dress” for both men and women
 “Hijab” differs from culture to culture
 Heavy cover and veil not a religious
requirement