Transcript Unit 1: History of World Religions

Unit 1: History of World Religions
In this unit, you will:
• Know the vocabulary and key figures in
the history of the five major religions.
• Understand the effects of religious thought
on societies. The similarities and
differences between the major religions.
• Compare and contrast the major religions
with 100% accuracy.
What is religion?
• Belief in and reverence for a supernatural
power or powers regarded as creator and
governor of the universe.
• Religion facets:
Judaism
• Essential Questions:
– What are the main beliefs and who are the
key figures of Judaism?
– How has Judaism acted as a foundation for
both Christianity and Islam?
How did Judaism start?
• It started with Abraham
– Abraham (Abram) was a Semitic man who
was living in Mesopotamia.
– Monotheistic
– Made a covenant with Yahweh
Abraham’s Covenant with God
• Abraham gets
Canaan
– Becomes known as
Israel
Abraham’s Journey
Abraham’s Genealogy
HAGAR
ABRAHAM
Ishmael
12 Arabian
Tribes
SARAH
Isaac
Jacob
12 Tribes of
Israel
Esau
Ancient Israel
• Abraham’s to Issac to
Jacob leads.
• Jacob’s = Israel
– 12 sons = 12 tribes of
Israel
Story of Moses
“Prince of Egypt”
“Shepherd of His People”
The Exodus
• Israelites work as
slaves for Egypt
• Moses requests to
take Israelites to
“promised land”
• 10 plagues
• Parting of the Red
Sea
Route of the Exodus
Moses and the 10 Commandments
A new “covenant”
with Yahweh
Mount Sinai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk
Resettlement
• Used Diaspora to
expel the other
peoples
• Have claimed the land
since.
• Jubilee
• Synagogue
– Levites
Yahweh’s “Covenant” With His People
The Torah
The first 5 books
of the Christian
Bible.
 The most sacred
text in the Jewish
religious tradition.
The Torah
King David
• Story of David and Goliath
• David becomes King of Israel.
• As king, David created the most powerful
nation in the World at the time.
King David’s Empire
Psalms and Song of Songs
• A compilation of songs and poetry from
the years of Israel rule
• Written mostly by David and Solomon
Psalm 23
23:1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me
beside still waters. 23:3 He restores my soul. He guides
me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 23:5 You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
23:6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow
me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s
house forever.
Solomon’s
Kingdom
Israelites in Captivity
Israel’s History
• Very cyclical
– Constant story of success and failure
• There is one God who is the creator and
judge over us.
• Jews are the “chosen people” by god
Religious holidays
• Big three:
– Passover
– Rosh Hashanah
– Yom Kippur
• Hannakuh
• Orthodox Jews
Israel Historical Law
• Talmud
– Mishnah
– Gemara
• Used in Israel Today
– Independent since May 14, 1948
The Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Today
Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall
Population
• Worldwide:
13,296,100
– Israel: 5,593,000
– USA: 6,444,000
• Mostly centered in
NYC and
Philadelphia
Christianity
• Essential Questions:
– What led to the appeal of Christianity
becoming the most popular religion in the
World today?
– What are the main beliefs and practices of
Christianity?
History of Christianity
Prior to Jesus
• Christianity roots in Jewish culture/religion.
• Old Testament prophecy
Isaiah Scroll
Culture at the time
• Jews were conquered by the Romans.
• Messiah theories
The coming of Jesus
• Roman emperor Augustus (31BCE-14AD)
• Decree for a new census to be taken to
properly tax his empire.
• Everyone had to return to their tribal
land/hometown
The coming of Jesus
• Story of Jesus’ birth
– Immaculate conception
– Stable birth
Early life of Jesus of Nazareth
• Jesus grew up Jewish.
– Temple story
• He worked as a carpenter
• Jesus had several brothers and sisters,
including James.
The ministry of Jesus
• Jesus began to teach
at the age of 30.
– Teaches for three yrs.
• Used miracles to show
his power
– First miracle
• Taught with parables.
• Recruited 12 disciples.
Death of Jesus
• Came to Jerusalem
• Pharisees claimed he
had revolutionary
ideas. Was found
guilty by the Roman
court.
• Crucified on Golgotha.
Themes of Jesus
• Jesus’ teachings focused mainly around:
– Love
– Need for personal morality
– Prayer and meditation
– Self-control
– Service to others
– Jesus is the only way to heaven
Ministry of Paul
• Paul was a Roman
• Learned from
disciples writings,
converted to
Christianity
– Apostle
St. Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles
Christianity gains popularity
• Paul established Christian churches
• Martyrdom
• Constantine accepts Christianity in …
– Edict of Milan
• Becomes dominant religion in Europe by
middle ages
Christian Bible
• Contains the 36 Old Testament books plus
27 New Testament books
– Old Testament- Hebrew, before Jesus
– New Testament• Jesus’ teaching written down (first 4 books)
• Apostle’s teachings for the rest
• Judaism
–
23If
any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth
for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound,
stripe for stripe.
– 26 When a slave-owner strikes the eye of a male or female slave,
destroying it, the owner shall let the slave go, a free person, to
compensate for the eye. 27If the owner knocks out a tooth of a male or
female slave, the slave shall be let go, a free person, to compensate for
the tooth.
• Christianity
•
•
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you
and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you
to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do
not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
—Matthew 5:38-42, NIV
Christianity today
• 3 main Sects
1) Eastern Orthodox2) Roman Catholic-most popular
-Based in Rome
3) Protestant(Lutheran,
Methodist, Baptist,
UCC, Anglican,
Presbyterian,
Episcopalian,
Amish, Mennonite)
Holidays
• Most important
holidays:
– Easter
– Christmas
– Pentecost
– Lent
Islam
• Essential Questions:
– What are the main beliefs of Islam?
– What is the origin of Islam and how does it
connect with Christianity?
What is a Muslim?
 Muslims are strict monotheists.

They believe in the JudeoChristian God, which they call
Allah.

Muslims believe that the Torah
and the Bible, like the Qur’an,
is the word of God.
Diagram of prophets
Adam
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Jesus
Muhammad
Muhammad's Life

Cave of Hira
 Hijrah
 Qur’an (Koran)
 Mecca
The Koran (Qur’an)
 Muslims believe it contains the
word of God.

114 suras (chapters).
 Written in a oral story form.

Written in Arabic.
The Five Pillars
• The five pillars of
Islam are essential to
Islamic life.
• The Five Pillars
separate Islam from
Christianity and
Judaism.
1. The Shahada
 The testimony.

The declaration of faith:
2. The Salat
 The mandatory prayers
5 times a day:
* dawn
* noon
* late afternoon
* sunset
* before going to bed

Wash before praying.

Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.
2. The Salat
 The call to prayer by the
muezzin in the minaret.

Pray in the mosque on Friday.
3. The Zakat
 Almsgiving
(charitable
donations).
 About 2.5% of your
income.
4. The Sawm
 Fasting during Ramadan

Considered a method of selfpurification.

No eating or drinking from
sunrise to sunset during
Ramadan.
5. The Hajj
 The pilgrimage to Mecca.

Must be done at least once in a
Muslim’s lifetime.
5. The Hajj
 “Hajji”
Reasons to join Islam
 Easy to learn and practice.

No priesthood.

Teaches equality

Dhimmi

Easily “portable”  nomads & trade
routes.

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans
and other non-believers (“infidels”).
Muslims around the World
Other important info.
• After the establishment of the Muslim
religion, leaders in Islamic countries have
called themselves Caliphs.
– Modern-day examples:
• Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia
– Used Sharia Law as the basis for gov’t
Buddhism
• Essential Question
– What are the origins and main beliefs of
Buddhism?
– What did Buddha achieve in order to start the
religion and how?
The essence of Buddhism
 The “middle way of wisdom and
compassion.”
 2,500 year old tradition.
 The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
 Buddha
 Dharma
 Sangha
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
History: Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
 Born in NE India
(Nepal).
 Raised in great luxury
to be a king.
 At 29… Rejecting this
extreme, sat in meditation,
and found nirvana.
 Became “The Enlightened
One,” at 35.
Four Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in the world.
To live is to suffer. (Dukkha)
Four Noble Truths
2) The cause of
suffering is selfcentered desire
and attachments.
(Tanha)
Four Noble Truths
3) The solution is to
eliminate desire and
attachments.
(Nirvana = extinction)
Four Noble Truths
4) To reach nirvana,
one must follow the
Eightfold Path.
Buddhism today
• There are two sects of Buddhism
– Theravada
– Mahayana
• Buddhism is centered in…
Hinduism
• Essential Question:
– Explain the history and main beliefs of
Hinduism and how it shaped the culture of
South Asia…
Origins of Hinduism
• Hinduism is based in
India, Nepal and
Bangladesh
• Grew out of the
geography and mixing
groups of people over
time
• Hinduism has over
1,000 gods
“God is one, but wise people know it by
many names.”
AKA…the idea that as long as you believe in
a God, no matter the name, you are
similar and equal to others.
Some Hindu Gods
• Brahman• Shiva• Vishnu-
Hindu beliefs
• Improve your atman
• By improving your atman, you can reach
moksha, or union with Brahman
Hindu beliefs
• Dharma• Karma• Reincarnation-
Caste system of India
Why does Hinduism survive?
How does it serve the caste system of
India?
Connections between religions
• Using a graphic organizer, compare the
connecting religions together…
• What are the main components of each
religion? How are they similar/different to
others?