Transcript The Judeo-Christian Tradition

The Judeo-Christian
Tradition
The Roots of Democracy
Main Idea:
• Judaism and Christianity taught
individual worth, ethical standards,
and the need to fight injustice.
Why It Matters Now:
• These ideals continue to be
important to democracy today.
I.) Judaism
• A.) The first monotheistic religion
B.) Some Basic Beliefs that
Connect to Democracy:
• 1.) God wants people to live moral lives
• 2.) God gave people the ability to choose
between good & evil
• 3.) People are responsible for their choices
• 4.) Each individual is important
• 5.) People must oppose injustice and help
the less fortunate
C.) Code of laws:
The Ten Commandments
• 1.) Emphasized
morality rather
than politics
II.) Christianity
• A.) Based the life & teachings Jesus of
Nazareth (a Jew & a Roman)
• 1.) Stressed love for all (even one’s
enemies)
• 2.) Jesus was crucified by the Romans
because he was seen as a political threat
• 3.) His followers believe that he rose
from the dead and is the Messiah (savior)
B.) Democratic influences:
• 1.) Jesus emphasized God’s relationship
with each person (individualism)
• 2.) Stressed the equality of all human beings
(a democratic principle)
• 3.) Continued the Hebrew traditions of
moral obligation and the freedom to choose.
C.) Paul (an apostle) spread
Christian teachings throughout
the Roman Empire.
• 1.) In spreading the teachings of Jesus, Paul
establishes the religion of Christianity.
• 2.) Christianity became the dominant
religion throughout Europe.