Abrahamic Religions

JudaismIslam

Christianity

Important Vocabulary• Theism –• Monotheism – • Salvation – • Orthodox – • Canon – • Predestination – • Prophet – • Clergy –

Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin.

The belief in one god.

The books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired.

Conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, etc.

Belief in the existence of a god or gods.

A person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration

The act of God in foreordaining, from eternity, whatever comes to pass

The group or body of ordained people in a religion

Islam

• Basic Facts• Origins and History• Religious Beliefs

Basic Facts• Followers are called Muslims• Islam is mainly concentrated in the Middle

East and Southeast Asia• Qu’ran (Koran) is the sacred text of Islam

– Hadith (Other written authority)

• Mosque (House of Worship)

• Imams (Clergy)

• Main day of worship – Friday

1. “Word of God”2. Identical book in Heaven3. Divided into 114 chapters or

Surahs4. Surahs are revelations given to

Mohammed

1. “Tradition”2. Collection of the sayings and actions of Mohammed

Origins and History

• Founded 622 AD

• Major Split – Shi’a/Sunni 650 AD

• Founded in Arabia (Saudi Arabia today)

• Founded by Mohammed Ibn Abdallah

• Original Language - Arabic• Within 12 years Islam had spread to the entire

Arabian Peninsula. Within 100 years, the Islam had spread from the Atlantic to China

-Believed that Ali (Mohammed’s Son-in-Law was the rightful successor as leader of Islam following Mohammed’s death)

-Ali is revered as a saint to the Shi’a

-The Shi’a are dominant in Iraq and Iran

-Accept Ali as well as the 3 other leaders that came before him and after Mohammed

-Follow the belief that a new leader should be elected from those proven to be capable of the job.

-Sunni Muslims make up the majority of Muslims all over the world (85%)

Religious Beliefs

• Monotheistic faith • Allah (Arabic for God)• The Qur’an is the inspired, literal word of God. Inerrant in original

languages.

• Humans have the equal ability to do good or evil

Religious Beliefs cont. • Salvation is attained by: good deeds, correct belief, Five Pillars

• Salvation predestined by Allah

• Afterlife exists:– Good Afterlife – Eternal Paradise– Bad Afterlife – Eternal Hell

Islamic View of Other Abrahamic Religions

Jews and Christians are respected as “People of the Book,” but they have wrong beliefs and

only partial revelation.

Judaism

• Basic Facts

• Origins and History

• Religious Beliefs

Basic Facts• Followers are called Jews• Judaism is mainly concentrated in Israel, USA, and Europe

• Sacred Text is the Bible– Christian Old Testament– Torah (Books of Moses) – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

• Other Written Authority: Talmud, Midrash, Responsa

Jewish Law, Ethics, Customs and History

Written decisions and rulings given by the

scholars

Verse by verse interpretation of

Hebrew scriptures

Basic Facts cont.

• Clergy - Rabbis

• House of Worship - Synagogue

• Main day of worship - Saturday

Origins and History• Date Founded - unknown• Founded in Israel/Palestine• Founded by Moses or Abraham

• Original Language - Hebrew

• Little Expansion• Major Split – Reform/Orthodox (1800s)

Religious Beliefs

• Names of God – Yahweh or Elohim

• Views vary when it comes to the origin and inspiration of Sacred Texts

• Humans have two equal impulses: One good and one bad.

Religious Beliefs cont.

• Salvation comes from belief in God and good deeds

• Yahweh has divine revelation and forgiveness (as opposed to predestination)

• Afterlife– Good Afterlife : either heaven, or no afterlife– Bad Afterlife: either reincarnation, eternal hell, or no afterlifeu8

Jewish View of Other Abrahamic Religions

Islam and Christianity are false extensions and interpretations of Judaism.

Christianity

• Basic Facts

• Origins and History

• Religious Beliefs

Basic Facts• Followers are called Christians• Judaism is mainly concentrated in Europe,

North and South America, rapid growth in Africa

• Sacred text is the Bible– Jewish Bible and New Testament

• Clergy are: priests, ministers, pastors, bishops • House of worship: Church, Chapel, Cathedral• Main day of worship: Sunday

1. Split into two sections: Old Testament and New Testament

2. Has 66 books

3. Was the first book to be printed

Origins and History

• Originally written in Aramaic and Greek

• Founded in Israel/Palestine

• Founded by Jesus Christ

• Founded in 33 AD

• Within 60 years, churches in major cities in Palestine, Turkey, Greece, and Rome; entire Roman Empire by the end of the 4th century.

• Major Split:– Catholic/Orthodox (1054 AD)– Catholic/Protestant (1500s AD)

Religious Beliefs

• The Bible is inspired, some believe inerrant in original languages

• Names of God: Yahweh, the Holy Trinity

• Trinitarian Monotheism

• Humans have “Original Sin” inherited from Adam

Religious Beliefs cont. • Salvation comes from correct belief, faith, good deeds (Faith Alone)

• Predestination and varying forms of grace both play roles in salvation

• Afterlife:– Good Afterlife: eternal heaven– Bad Afterlife: eternal hell, temporary purgatory (Catholicism)

Christian View of Other Abrahamic Religions

Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation. Islam is a false religion.