Transcript Three Monotheistic Religions of the Middle East

Three Monotheistic
Religions of the
Middle East
Judaism
Approx. Date
of Origin
Founder
Christianity
Islam
2000 BCE
33 CE
622 CE
Moses/Abraham
Jesus
Muhammad
Torah
Bible
Quran
Synogogue, Saturday
Church, Sunday
Mosque, Friday (pray
5x/day)
Symbol
Sacred
Text/ Law
Worship
(places,
times)
Judaism: the basics
• Oldest monotheistic religion!
• Central city is Jerusalem
• Founded in 2,000 BC (approx.)
• Founder = Moses/Abraham
• God known as “Yahweh”
• Trace origin to ancient Israelites, Kingdom of Israel. Eventually
scattered
• Mainly found in Israel, but is in diaspora (spread throughout the
world)
• Current number of Jews: 15-16 million worldwide
Jewish Practices &
Beliefs
• Place of worship is the synagogue
• Holy day = Saturday
• Torah is the sacred text
• Believed to be written by Moses, inspired by God
• One of several books (Old Testament) record Jews’ history
• 613 laws, first 10 are most important
• Talmud (“oral law”): how to apply God’s law to everyday life through
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Dietary rules (kosher)
Dress & other symbols
Prayer & devotion to one God
Proper social relations
Observance of holy days
Synagogue in
Jerusalem
Torah
Beliefs & Practices
• Thoughts on Jesus
• He was a good, wise (but ordinary) man who died thousands of
years ago. Was NOT resurrected, but did die.
• Still awaiting the messiah, or the political figure (not divine!)
who would bring peace to earth.
• What they’re concerned about:
• “repairing this world” through justice & righteousness
• Doing good deeds based on God’s commandments
• Emphasis on family, home, responsibility, hard work &
education
• Through all of this, the world will be what it’s supposed to be:
HOLY!
Jewish Traditions &
Celebrations: Bar/Bat Mitzvah
• Coming of age ritual
• Bar Mitzvah = 13-year-old boy
• Bat Mitzvah = 12-year-old girl
• Idea that boys & girls are responsible for their actions at
this point; boys (and some girls) can lead prayer in family
or community
• Fun fact: can be legally married…..according to Jewish law
• Must study a lot before the actual event
• At the event: recites speech/reading for family & friends,
receives gifts
Jewish Traditions: Rosh
Hashanah
• Jewish New Year (October 2-4, 2016)
• Occurs around September or October and lasts from
evening to evening. Beginning of the “Days of Awe”
(from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur)
• Seen as a time to look back on mistakes of the past
year & make changes in the new one
• No work permitted on Rosh Hashanah—most of the
day spent in synagogue
Yom Kippur
• Day of Atonement
• This year: October 11-12(evening to evening)
• Must practice self-denial— prohibitions (can’t do certain
things)
• Includes no eating, drinking, bathing, etc.
• Idea is to seek forgiveness for sins. Highest synagogue
attendance rate of the year!
Hanukkah
• “Festival of Lights” commemorating the religious history
of the Jews—rededication of the Holy Temple
• In December, before Christmas
• Is NOT the equivalent of the Christian Christmas! (doesn’t
have as much religious significance)
• Lasts 8 days
• Light one candle per day, families exchange one small
gift a day
• Sing songs, play with dreidels, eat fried foods (latkes)
Christianity
• 2nd oldest Monotheistic religion (33AD)
• Prophet: Jesus, who was God’s son and is the eternal
savior
• Most practiced religion in the world with 2 billion
Christians worldwide
• Also has holy city of Jerusalem
• Found in Europe, North & South America, and Africa
• Three divisions: Catholicism, Orthodoxy & Protestantism
Practices
• Attend church on their holy day, Sunday
• Wednesday sometimes, too
• Church led by preachers, priests
• Sacred text: Bible
• Jewish Old Testament + New Testament
• 10 Commandments as a “how-to” guide for living
a Christian life
• “you shalt not murder…commit adultery..”
Beliefs
• Life & teachings of Jesus as basis for Christianity
• Jesus, who was Jewish, preached renewal; was
eventually executed and then resurrected
• God encompasses three spirits: the father, the son,,
and the Holy Ghost (aka: HOLY TRINITY)
• Way to heaven is through faith in God, good deeds,
sacrament
• Sacrament: baptism, communion, Lord’s Supper, etc.
• No coming-of-age ritual, as seen in Judaism
Christian Traditions &
Celebrations: Christmas
• Comes from the word “Christes” (Old English)
meaning “Christ’s mass”
• December 25, every year
• Attend Christmas Eve worship services, prayer in
celebration of Jesus Christ’s virgin birth in Bethlehem
• Christmas Day: typically presents!
• Also Christmas trees, lights, candy canes, stories of Old St.Nick,
waiting for Santa Claus…did I mention presents?!
Good Friday
• Good Friday
• Friday before Easter Sunday
• Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
• How it’s celebrated:
• Day of rest (no work/school)
• Fasting in the Catholic Church, reparations in
Roman Catholicism (prayer)
Easter Sunday
• AKA-Pascha in some Asian countries
• Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ
• Marks the end of the 40-day period of fasting in some Christian
religions (Lent)
• How it’s celebrated:
• Church services
• Recitations of the Old Testament
• Both Good Friday & Easter Sunday take place in either March or April
Islam: The Basics
• Founded in 622 AD
• Currently the second-largest religion (1 .3 billion)
• Prophet: Muhammad
• Gabriel the Angel came to him & delivered a message
from the one, true God  monotheism in a
polytheistic world
• Sacred text: Qur’an
• Major religion in Middle East & Southeast Asia
• Two major sects: Sunni (majority) & Shia
Muslim Beliefs
• Muhammad was the last of a great line of prophets
• Idea that Islam has existed since the creation of the world
• Other prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus
• There will be a day in which people are judged for their deeds on earth (AKAJudgment Day)
• Account begins @ puberty
• either be rewarded with heaven or punishment in Hell
• Jesus IS a prophet and was born from the Virgin Mary, but was not God’s son
• Jesus escaped death on the cross & was taken up to Paradise instead
Muslim Practices
• Attend mosques, Friday = holy day
• Leaders called “imams”
• Call to prayer 5 times a day
• Do not eat pork, gamble, do illegal drugs, etc.
• Pronounce God’s name before eating & drinking, eat
and drink with right hand
• Follow the Five Pillars of Islam
Muslim Celebrations:Ramadan
• Month of fasting
• 2016: June 6-July 5
• No eating, drinking between dawn & sunset
• Purpose is to teach about patience, spirituality,
humility & submissiveness to God
• Encouraged to read the entire Qur’an
Eid-Al Fitr
• Marks the end of the fasting of Ramadan
• What happens:
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Food donated to the poor
Everyone wears best (usually new) clothes
Communal prayers
Feasting & visiting with family & friends
Gifts (money & clothes) given
Eid Al-Adha
• Celebration of sacrifice (sheep replaces Ishmael,
Abraham’s son who was ordered to be
• Sacrifice animal (goat, sheep, ram, cow or camel),
divide meat in 3 parts
• One for poor & needy
• One for relatives & friends
• One for the family