Transcript The 5 Major World Religions

Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem may be considered the most holy city
in the world. To the Jewish people it is the Holy
City, the Biblical Zion, the City of David, the site
of Solomon's Temple, and the eternal capital of
the Israelite nation.
To Christians it is where the young Jesus
impressed the sages at the Jewish Temple, where
he spent the last days of his ministry, and where
the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the
Resurrection took place.
Also greatly venerated by the Muslims, it is
where the prophet Muhammad ascended to
heaven.
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Jerusalem
Jerusalem is central to three of the world’s
major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam.
Vocabulary Preview:
Monotheism – A religion based on the
belief in one God.
Polytheism – A religion based on the belief
in many gods.
Pantheism – A religion that believes in
ultimate spiritual power being held by the
world and the universe.
Jerusalem - Judaism
Abraham & Isaac
Moses and the 10
Commandments
Torah
Jerusalem - Judaism
Judaism traces its roots to about 2000 B.C. with
the Biblical story of Abraham.
During the time of Moses, Judaism relocated to
Jerusalem.
A central feature of Judaism is the axis mundi or
most sacred place where the presence of God
dwells. Judaism taught that this was found in the
temple. The first of the permanent Jewish
temples was built during the reign of Solomon
about 950 B.C.
Judaism also taught that the temple was built
where Abraham had been commanded to offer
his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God.
Jerusalem - Judaism
The land of Palestine has always served as
a land bridge between Asia and Africa. As a
consequence, many more powerful nations
have conquered and re-conquered the land
around Jerusalem for thousands of years.
Solomon’s Temple was in use from about
950 B.C. until the capture of Jerusalem by
forces from Babylon in 586 B.C.
After the death of Solomon, lands held by
the Jews were divided. The northern parts
of the land we conquered by the Syrians in
about 740 B. C.
Jerusalem - Judaism
In about 516 B.C. the displaced Jews being
held in Babylon were allowed to return to
Jerusalem. This is often known as the
Second Temple period.
During the reign of Alexander the Great
Jerusalem was conquered by the Greeks.
Greek influence, often known as Hellenism,
spread quickly.
Jews in Palestine frequently resisted the
Greek practice of polytheism.
Jerusalem - Judaism
After the Greek Empire was conquered by
Rome Jerusalem fell under Roman control.
The Roman Empire generally allowed local
regions to practice the religion of their
choice but pay allegiance to Rome.
Throughout the occupation of Jerusalem
by Roman sources, Jews resisted Roman
control.
Jerusalem - Judaism
At this point it’s important to remember
that empires don’t generally like to wipe
out all the people in a given area. They like
to keep the workers around because that’s
how they get their wealth and work and
such.
Jerusalem - Judaism
Well, about 70 A. D. the Romans finally
gave up trying to control the Jews and
destroyed Jerusalem, killing most of the
men, destroying the Jewish temple, and
scattering the rest to the most distant parts
of the Roman Empire – particularly
England and Spain.
This is known as the Diaspora or
Dispersion.
Jerusalem - Christianity
Jerusalem - Christianity
Christianity began in the lands around
Jerusalem in about 33 A.D.
The birth and mission of Christ form the
central beliefs of Christianity.
To Christians, the life of Christ is the
fulfillment of the mission of God for the
Earth and the people on it.
Jerusalem - Christianity
Most early Christians were from Jewish
backgrounds. Christianity teaches that
Christ was from a Jewish background.
During the first century many non-Jews
began embracing Christianity as well. By
the middle of the second century, the
majority of Christians were probably not
descended from Jewish families
Jerusalem - Christianity
Most Christian religions believe that the
birth of Christ was a miracle, that Christ
performed miracles throughout his life, and
that he rose from the dead after being
executed by the Romans.
Christians believe many of these events
occurred in Jerusalem.
Christianity became a powerful influence in
the Roman Empire during the time of the
apostles – a name given to a few chosen
followers of Christ.
Jerusalem - Christianity
Unlike Judaism, Christianity placed great
emphasis on proselytizing, or persuading
others to believe in their religion.
Like Judaism, Christianity was
monotheistic. As Christian missionary
efforts expanded across the Mediterranean,
Roman resistance built.
Jerusalem - Christianity
This was based on two elements of
Christianity: first, Christianity was
monotheistic; second, the Romans
believed that people who pledged their
lives to Christ were threats to the power of
the emperor.
After a brief period of semi-tolerance, the
Roman Empire began to attack Christians
throughout the Mediterranean.
Christians faced imprisonment, property
confiscation, and execution for their
beliefs.
Jerusalem - Christianity
Despite repeated attempts by Rome to
crush Christianity it grew until Christianity
became the official religion of the Roman
Empire in about 300 A. D.
Jerusalem - Islam
Jerusalem - Islam
Islam traces its roots to the deserts of the
Arabian Peninsula in about 600 A. D.
At that time the Arabian Peninsula was
home to widely scattered nomadic traders
who practiced a wide variety of religions.
Muhammed was from a very wealthy family
in Mecca. He was deeply offended by the
practices of many of the religions in the
area. He made a habit of religious study.
Jerusalem - Islam
During one of his times of study he claimed
to be visited by the angel Gabriel who gave
him these instructions:
“Recite, in the name of the Lord who has
created,
Created man from clots of blood,
Recite, seeing that the Lord is the most
generous,
Who has taught by the pen,
Taught man what he did not know.”
Jerusalem - Islam
The Arabic for ‘recite’ is Qur’an (often
pronounced Koran). This book of Islam is
meant to be a recitation, or recording, of
the revelations to Muhammed.
Muhammed was forced out of Mecca to the
city of Medina. There, the teachings of his
visions gained a great deal of popularity.
Eventually, he returned to Mecca and
destroyed the idols of his opponents.
Today Mecca is the site to which Muslims
(followers of Islam) direct their prayers.
Jerusalem - Islam
Muhammed taught that prophets from the
history of the Jews such as Abraham and
Moses were also messengers of God. He
taught that there was one God. Like
Judaism, Islam is monotheistic.
Muhammed taught that Christ was also a
prophet.
Jerusalem - Islam
During the early part of his life Mohammed
claimed to have been taken by the angel
Gabriel to Jerusalem where he beheld the
rock on which Abraham was told to offer
his son, Ishmael. (This differs from the
Jewish belief.) He was then taken to
heaven by Gabriel. This quest connected
Jerusalem and Mecca in the religion of
Islam.
Jerusalem - Islam
Jerusalem was conquered by Muslim
warriors in 638 A. D. The city remained
under Muslim control until the 20th Century.
The Dome of the Rock was built by
Muslims who conquered the city. It was
built on the place where, they believed,
Mohammed had left earth on his night
quest to heaven.
This is also the location of the two previous
Jewish temples.
Jerusalem - Islam
Jerusalem - Islam
Today, questions about the control of
Jerusalem still cause hate and discontent
around the world.