Middle East: Cradle of Religion

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Middle East Cradle of Religion
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• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Similarities-
• All are monotheistic (believe in 1 God)
• All trace there roots to Abraham
• All began in the Middle East
• All believe Jerusalem is a holy city
• God is all powerful and omnipotent
• Good will win out and believers will go to
  Heaven (Paradise)
• All have a holy book of divine writings.
  (Given by God)
• Specifics of Each-
• Judaism-
• Oldest monotheistic religion
• Begun by descendents of Isaac
• Holy book called the Torah (tells history and
  laws)
• Covenant between God and Jews (Israel is
  theirs)
• 10 commandments are rules to live by
• A Messiah will come to lead the world to peace
  and unity

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Christianity- 33 of worlds population Believe
all Jewish beliefs plus Holy book is the Bible
(the Torah other Jewish books New
Testament) Messiah already has come in
Jesus Jesus rose from dead Jesus will come
again at the end of time to take believers to
heaven Followers are spread throughout the
world Islam- 20 of worlds population (fastest
growing) Begun with Muhammad (descendent of
Ishmael) 610 AD Holy Book is the Quaran 5
Pillars of Islam (core beliefs or
responsibilities) 1. Declaration of Faith
there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is
his prophet 2. Prayer 5 times daily 3. Alms-
payment of money to church or to help others 4.
Fasting- refraining from food, drink or sexual
relations during the day during Ramadan 5.
Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in
life Followers are spread throughout the world
but most are in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
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Legal Disclaimer

• All of the following information is believed by
  at least one of the groups discussed to be
  factual.
• While the information may or may not actually be
  true (I am not trying to persuade either), in
  order to understand the similarities and
  differences of the religions and the conflicts
  between the people who worship them you should
  understand that according to the teachings of the
  religions and the FAITH of their believers, the
  information is believed to be true by at least
  one, and often more than one of the groups.

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In The Beginning

• Abraham lived around 2000 BC in Canaan (Area from
  the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates).

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Children of Abraham

• Abraham was promised to have children that would
  be the kings of powerful nations. God would have
  a special pact with these nations and he would
  call them his own special people.
• Abrahams wife could not get pregnant so she gave
  her slave to Abraham and he got her pregnant.
  This child was called Ishmael.
• Sara later did become pregnant and gave birth to
  Isaac.
• Because Ishmael was not Saras she had he and his
  mother banished to live in the desert alone.
• Isaac would become the father of Jacob, whose
  sons went to Egypt and built a large family while
  in slavery.

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Return from Egypt

• Moses (descendent of Jacob) would lead the Jews
  out of Egypt and settle back in Canaanand be
  given the 10 Commandments as the foundation of
  Jewish Law.

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Continued 100s of years later

• The Romans (we will talk about later) control the
  land of Judea (current Israel) but let Jewish
  leader control their people.

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Jesus

• Jesus comes along around 30 AD and teaches Jews
  in Judea that they are not truly following the
  teachings of God. He is seen by Jewish leaders
  and the Romans as a revolutionary and is put to
  death by crucifixation.

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Christianity begins

• Followers of Jesus believe that he rises from the
  dead and they become a group called the
  Christians.
• Several of Jesuss parables (story with a moral
  message) spoke of God taking away his kingdom
  from original followers who did not treat it well
  and giving it to others who had not originally
  been chosen.

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Islam Begins

• Muhammad (descendant of Ishmael) is living in
  current Saudi Arabia) around 600 AD when he is
  visited by the Angel Gabriel)
• He is given many messages while meditating on Mt.
  Hira (near Mecca) which he writes down as what is
  to be called the Quaran (the foundation of the
  religion of Islam)

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Islamic territorial Gains

• Muhammad becomes a military leader to help spread
  the one true religion around the world.
• Through war Islam spreads to become the primary
  religion of the Middle East, Northern Africa, and
  portions of Southern Europe