I. Introduction: How do you study world religions objectively?

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By Kathryn McClymond
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Judaism History

• Abraham considered forefather of Judaism
• God promised Abraham descendants and land
• The covenant fulfilled

I will maintain my covenant between Me and you,
and your offspring to come, as an everlasting
covenant throughout the ages. Genesis 177
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Judaism History

• Descendants became slaves
• Moses was called to lead slaves
• First five books of the Bible the Torah

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Judaism History

• King David
• Temple destroyed and rebuilt
• Diaspora

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Judaism Key Concepts

• The Torah, Prophets, and Writings
• The Shema
• The Ten Commandments

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is
one. You shall love the LORD your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might.
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Judaism Key Concepts

• Dietary laws
• No work on the Sabbath

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Judaism Geography

• Synagogues
• A place to worship and gather as a community

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Judaism Geography

• Home is central
• Passover
• Hanukkah

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Judaism Geography

• The Promised Land
• Israel established as a Jewish nation, 1948
• Conflict in the Middle East

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Judaism Contemporary Issues

• Divisions of Judaism
• Reform
• Orthodox
• Conservative
• Reconstructionist

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Judaism Today

• Most live in the U.S. and Israel
• Others live in France, Canada, the United
  Kingdom, Russia, and Argentina

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Christianity History

• More than 2,000 years old
• Jesus of Nazareth, Christ

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Christianity Geography

• The four Gospels
• Jesus was raised a Jew
• Condemned and crucified

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Christianity Key Concepts

• Human beings are sinful
• Humans cant be released from sin on their
  own
• Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice,
  according to Gods plan
• Jesus is the way to salvation

This is therefore now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ. Romans 81
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Christianity Key Concepts

• Disciples carried on Jesus teachings
• Paul was the most influential teacher
• Spread Christianity to Gentiles and Jews

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Christianity Key Concepts

• Old Testament and New Testament
• The Bible is the guide to history, theology,
  etc.

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Christianity Geography

• Spread of Christianity
• Official religion of the Roman empire
• Church is sacred space

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Christianity Geography

• Great Split
• Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodoxy
• Protestantism

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Christianity Geography
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Christianity Contemporary Issues

• War
• Poverty
• Social injustice
• Gender roles
• Sexual identity
• Environmentalism