Transcript Religion
Religion Religion • Religion – a system of beliefs and practices through which a group of peoples struggle with the ultimate problems of human life • Nearly every religion includes three things – Rituals – Myths – Holy days Religion • Purpose/function of religion – – – – – Sense of belonging Protection Answers and explains Provides values Meaning of life • Why can religion cause war? – Belief in only one faith, the correct faith – Entangles with politics Islam The Beginnings • Muhammad is the founder of Islam – Muhammad is believed to be the last prophet of God – When he was 25 he had mystical encounters with Gabriel – He was forced to flee Mecca and went to Medina for safety – By 632 A.D. he persuaded most of the Arabian Peninsula to follow his religion – By 1500 A.D. Islam dominates Arabia, Africa and Asia Islam • The Religion – Arabic – the sacred language of Islam – Monotheistic – Allah – the Muslim name for God • Same god as Christians and Jews – Quran (Koran) – Sacred text of Islam – Mecca – spiritual center for Islam – Holy cities are Jerusalem, Mecca and Medina Islam • Five Pillars of the Muslim faith 1. Shahada – declaration of beliefs – “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet.” 2. Salat – Prayer – – Pray five times a day (dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall) Pray in Arabic 3. Sawm – Fasting – – Observed during the daylight hours during Ramadan Abstention from food and drink Islam • Five Pillars (cont’d) 4. Zakat – Purification of wealth (tithing or alms) 5. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca – – – – Muslims need to go on pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime Go to the Kabul, or granite block covered in a black cloth They wear special clothing so social class can’t be determined Must follow the five pillars daily Islam • Sects – Shi’ites • Follow Ali, Muhammad’s cousin • Leaders must be political and spiritual • Must be from Muhammad’s bloodline – Sunnis • Leaders can be just spiritual • Doesn’t have to be from the bloodline of Muhammad – These differences lead to hatred among the Muslims • Iraq is Sunni, Iran is Shi’ite • Iraq is Arab, Iran is Persian