Middle East: The Birthplace of Religion

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Middle East The Birthplace of Religion

• WILF How does the presence of Judaism,
  Christianity, and Islam within the same region
  influence the development of the region?

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Judaism

• Oldest major religion
• First to teach monotheism
• Trace ancestry to Abraham
• Descendants of Hebrews (Israelites)
• Three main sects Orthodox, Conservative,
  Reformed

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Lineage is 4,000 years old
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Beliefs/Teachings

• Only one God
• Based on their holy book how to worship how to
  live a moral life
• Pass on Jewish traditions to their families
• Supreme God Yahweh

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Covenant with God

• Special agreement/ promise with God
• Ten Commandments from Moses
• Place of Worship- Gods Chosen People would
  live in a promised land called Canaan (Now
  Jerusalem, Israel)
• Assures Jews of Gods love protection

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Holy Book

• Hebrew Bible, called the Torah (Old Testament)
• First 5 books crucial
• Contains basic laws describes history
• Talmud, serves as guide

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Structure

• Synagogue - house of worship
• Rabbi - spiritual leader
• Does not actively try to convince others to
  convert to Jewish faith
• Give to the needy to create justice in the world

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Holy Days/Festivals

• Sabbath (Day of Rest) is Saturday
• Rosh Hashanah, New Year
• Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement
• Hanukkah, Feast of Lights
• Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah
• Passover, freedom from Egypt

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Orthodox Customs

• Do not eat pork or shellfish
• Store meat milk products separately
• Separate sets of utensils
• Kosher, means ritually correct
• Do not work, travel, or carry money on the Sabbath

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Christianity

• Largest religious group
• monotheistic
• based on life teachings of Jesus, the Messiah
  almost 2000 years old
• humanity can achieve salvation through Jesus
• 3 main sects Roman Catholic, Orthodox,
  Protestant

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Spread of Christianity

• Spread orally by 12 apostles
• first Christians were Jews
• New Testament, written record of life teachings
  of Jesus
• Started with the Birth Of Jesus in Bethlehem,
  Israel

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Beliefs/Teachings

• Only one God
• God created the universe
• God sent son, Jesus, to help people fulfill their
  religious duties
• Holy Trinity, God has 3 parts
• 2 important practices baptism Holy Communion

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Holy Book/Holy Days

• Bible, Old New Testament
• Sabbath
• Lent, preparation for Easter
• Palm Sunday
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Christmas

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Islam

• Fastest spreading religion
• originated in Middle East around 610 A.D.
• Muhammad had a vision calling him to be a prophet
  of God
• Two major sects Sunni Shii

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Spread of Islam

• First spread orally
• Koran, holy book
• Muslims consider the Koran the words of God as
  spoken to Muhammad

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Beliefs/Teachings

• Monotheistic
• Belief in series of prophets, including Moses
  Jesus
• Belief in a Day of Judgment
• forbids lying, stealing, adultery, murder
• Belief in Gods mysterious will

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Holy Book/Holy Days

• Koran, contains history of Muhammads search for
  God
• Outlines goal living according to Gods guidance
• Foundation for Islamic social law
• Moral behavior
• Muhammad's birthday

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Customs

• Five Pillars Faith, Prayer, Alms (2.5),
  Fasting, Pilgrimage
• Dietary laws, do not allow pork or alcohol
• Major celebration when a child memorizes the
  entire Koran
• Mosque, holy place of worship
• Imam, prayer leader, selected by the followers

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Comparison

• all three are monotheistic
• all three acknowledge Abraham as the patriarch of
  their faith
• each has a holy book
• each has a specific place of worship
• each one has a different view about Jesus Christ
• some of these religions share common holy sites
  in the region but also have their own unique holy
  sites