Transcript Middle East Religions

Faith in the Middle East
Birthplace of 3 Monotheistic
Religions...
• Judaism - 4,000 years ago
• Christianity - 33 AD
• Islam - 600 AD
Ancient Religions of the ME
• Polytheistic
• Believed in forces in nature
Judaism
• Founded by Abraham - the patriarch
• Based on Covenants (agreements)
between the Hebrews and their God
(Yahweh)
Three Major Covenants…
Main beliefs of Judaism
• Monotheism
- Hebrews are to worship one God
- In return, God promises to bless
and protect their descendants
• “Promised Land”
- God promises a Jewish homeland
- Canaan - modern day Israel
• Chosen People
- For worshiping him, God would protect the
Hebrews
Major events in Hebrew
History
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Abraham & the Covenant
Isaac  Jacob  12 sons (Joseph)
Joseph sold to into slavery in Egypt
Famine …Jacob and his sons leave Canaan
and relocate to Egypt
• Hebrew people become slaves in Egypt
• Moses frees the Jewish people…cross the
Red Sea back to Canaan
• Holy Books
- Torah – (First 5 books of Old Testament)
- Talmud - Teachings of Rabbis & Religious decisions
• House of Worship - Temple
• Holidays
- Hanukkah - Festival of Lights
- Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year
- Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement
- Passover
• Holy Sites
- Tombs of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
- Western Wall (Wailing Wall) - remaining wall
built by Jewish exiles in 536 BC
The Wailing Wall
Jerusalem, Israel
Foundations of Christianity
• Canaan falls under Roman rule.
Renamed Palestine
• Jesus = Jewish carpenter
• Preached throughout ancient Palestine
• Followers believed he was the Messiah
(deliver)
Death of Jesus
• Many Jews feared Jesus
was a danger to stability
• Did not want to upset the
Romans Rulers
• Romans crucified Jesus in
33 AD
Main Beliefs of Christianity
• One, Merciful God
• Jesus is the Son of God
• Resurrection of Jesus
• The death of Jesus atones for
the sins of man  Kingdom of
Heaven
• Holy Book - Bible Old & New Testament
- N.T. - Life and teachings of Jesus
- Gospels -Mathew, Mark, Luke, John
• House of Worship - Church
• Holidays
- Christmas - Birth of Christ
- Good Friday - Death of Christ
- Easter Sunday - Christ rises from the Dead
• Holy Sites
- Bethlehem - site of Christ’s birth
- Golgotha - site of Christ’s death
- Church of the Holy Sepulcher - site of
Christ's burial
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Jerusalem
Islam
• Islam - “to submit” to God
• Teachings of God (Allah) through the prophet
Muhammad
• Muslims do NOT worship Muhammad - he is a
messenger and a teacher
• The Divine Chain
– Muhammad last in the line of Prophets
– Abraham / Moses / Jesus / Muhammad
– Christians & Jews = “People of the Book”
Life of Muhammad
• Taught and preached in Mecca
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Warned against worshiping many gods
• Merchants in Mecca became angry
(gained $ from pagan festivals)
• 622 AD Muhammad fled to Medina - from there
the faith took root
• Hejira - Journey from Mecca to Medina
- Start of the Islamic Calendar
• Hajj – Journey from Medina BACK to Mecca
- Ends w/ smashing statues in Ka’bah
Main Beliefs
5 Pillars of Islam
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Shahada - Declaration of Faith in Allah
Salat - Prayer towards Mecca 5x a day
Zakat - Charity
Swam - Fasting during the month of
Ramadan
• Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca
• Jihad - Defense of Islam
• Holy Book
- Koran
- Word of God spoken to
Muhammad and translated
into Arabic
• House of Worship - Mosque
• Holidays
- Ramadan - Month of Fasting
• Holy Sites
- Ka’bah, Mecca
- Mosque of the Prophet, Medina
- Dome of Rock Mosque,
Jerusalem
Ka’bah - Mecca
Dome of Rock, Jerusalem