Introduction to Judaism

• Judaism was the first monotheistic religion• Both Christianity and Islam have their roots in

Judaism

Introduction to Judaism

• As of 2010, there were nearly 13.5 million Jews worldwide: www.jewishdatabank.org

Israel: 5.7 millionU.S. : 5.2 millionEurope: just under 1 millionRussia and Ukraine: 272,000

• Jews are both an ethnic group and a religion. However:according to the Jewish faith, anyone may be considered

to be a Jew if:1. they were born to a Jewish mother2. they are a convert to Judaism

Origins

• The founder of Judaism was Abraham • Abraham was born in the Sumerian city of Ur around

1900 B.C. • God called out to Abraham, offering to make him the

father of a great nation, if he would leave his home and settle in the land which God promised to him.

• This promised land was called Canaan. It was located in present day Israel and Jordan

Origins

Route Abraham took to Canaan

Origins

• Abraham entered into a covenant with God:Abraham had to keep God’s laws. In

return, God granted Abraham and his wife Sarah a son, who they named Isaac.• What was the most important of God’s laws?

That Abraham and his people worship no other gods but the one God

Origins

• All of the Jewish people are descended through Abraham’s son Isaac

• Isaac’s grandson Joseph led the Hebrews out of Canaan to the land of Egypt.

The Exodus

• The Hebrews were eventually enslaved by the Egyptians• Were led out of Egypt by Moses. This was known as the

Exodus (around 1200 B.C.)• Moses led his people back to the land of Canaan. They were

given the Ten Commandments by God as their rule of law.

The Ten Commandments

• The Ten Commandments are the most important and best-known Jewish laws.

• They require people to respect and honor God. They also tell people how they should treat each other: do not lie, steal, commit adultery, or murder

Kingdom of Israel

• Under their great king David, the Hebrew people created a kingdom in Canaan, which was located in modern day Israel and Jordan (around 1000 B.C.)

• Established Jerusalem as the religious and political capital

• This kingdom grew wealthy and powerful under David’s son, King Solomon

Kingdom of Israel

• Solomon built a magnificent temple to house the Ark of the Covenant, which is said to have contained the Ten Commandments

The Temple

• This Temple was eventually destroyed and rebuilt many times. It was destroyed once and for all by the Romans in 70 A.D.

• The only remaining part of the Temple is the Western or Wailing Wall

• It is an important place of pilgrimage to the Jewish people

The Temple

Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

The Diaspora

• The Romans forced the Jewish people out of Palestine. The Jews scattered throughout the known world. This scattering was known as the Diaspora

The Torah

• The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and is considered their most sacred text

• It provides the Jews with their early history, as well as moral and religious laws

The Prophets

• A prophet is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of God

• Moses, who gave the Jews the Ten Commandments, is considered their most important prophet

Key Teachings of Judaism1. There is only one God and God provides standards of right and wrong

that people should follow. Judaism introduced this belief, called ethical monotheism, to the world.– Judaism teaches that there is such a thing as “right” and “wrong” and that people

have an obligation to do what is right.

2. Ethical World View. Since the Hebrew Bible states that all people are created in the image of God, Jews believe that every individual is important and deserves to be treated with respect.

3. Honor the Sabbath. Judaism teaches that Jews should spend one day a week, the Sabbath, focusing on things other than work and material concerns.

– This is the origin of the idea of a weekly day of rest that is part of many religions and is widely followed in many parts of the world.

Key Teachings of Judaism

4. Live According to God’s Laws5. Study. Judaism teaches that studying the Hebrew Bible,

especially the Torah, leads to wisdom and good deeds, so Jewish culture emphasizes the importance of learning.

6. Dietary Laws

Sects of Judaism

Orthodox– most traditional branch; emphasizes observance of moral and ritual obligations

Reform– not as strict on ritual laws

Conservative – middle ground; emphasizes the study of traditional

Jewish texts

Christianity

Christianity in the Middle East

• As of 2010, there were 2.18 billion Christians in the world

• This religion has many denominations, or sects:1. Roman Catholic2. Protestant3. Eastern Orthodox

• Christianity has its roots in the beliefs and traditions of Judaism

1.

Origins

• The religion of Christianity is based upon the life and teachings of a Jewish man known as Jesus of Nazareth

• Other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, believe Jesus to be a Prophet

2

Christianity in the Middle East

• Unlike other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah, which means “Annointed One,” and the Son of God

• Jesus came down to earth in human form in order to bring God and humanity back together

2

The Christian Bible• The Christian Bible is divided into two parts:

the Old Testament, which contains the witness of God originally to the Jews, and the New Testament, which is an account of those who knew or were closely associated with Jesus

3

The Holy Bible• The four Gospels written by Matthew, Mark,

Luke, and John, together with three other books, form the New Testament of the Bible, which is the basis of Christianity

The Apostle’s Creed

• The Roman Emperor Constantine promoted the spread of Christianity throughout the Empire

• In A.D. 325, he convened a council of bishops at Nicaea, in modern day Turkey, to come to an agreement about Church doctrine

• They came up with a formal expression of Christian faith, known as The Apostle’s Creed

• Christianity would become the official religion of the Roman Empire

4

Resurrection and Ascension

• Jesus was executed by the Romans because his teachings were viewed as a threat, both to the Empire as well as the Jewish Elders

• According to Christian beliefs, Jesus was resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven

5.

Resurrection and Ascension

• Through his death and resurrection, Jesus forgives all sins and offers people the opportunity to gain eternal life

5.

Christianity in the Middle East• After Jesus’s death, his disciples resumed his

work, and spread his teachings throughout the Roman world

• All Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven

• Jesus reconciled humanity with God through this death and resurrection

5.

Christianity in the Middle East• These early Christian communities were met

with suspicion by the Roman authorities• Roman authorities viewed the Christians as

dangerous to the state, since they would not sacrifice to the pagan gods, nor recognize the divinity of their emperor

• By the middle of the 1st century, Christians came under intense persecution by Rome

6.

Christian Persecution in the Roman Empire

Extent of Christianity by 5th century A.D.

• Despite this persecution, Christian communities began to grow

Appeal and Spread of Christianity

• Christianity appealed to many people, both rich and poor, because it offered the hope of salvation and eternal life

• Jesus also preached that ALL people were EQUAL, regardless of social class or wealth

Reasons for Spread of Christianity

1. Jesus’s message of the universality of humankind: all people are the same, and should be treated with respect

2. Promise of an afterlife appealed to those whose daily existence was difficult

Appeal and Spread of Chrisianity

Christianity was able to spread for the following reasons:1. Appeal of Jesus’s message2. Infrastructure of the Roman Empire3. Early missionary activities of the

Apostles, especially Peter and Paul4. The Second Jewish Diaspora 7.

Eastern Orthodox Church

• The Roman Empire eventually split into two halves: East and West. The Christian Church had two main centers: Rome and Constantinople

• The Eastern Empire (Byzantine) eventually refused to recognize the Pope as the head of the Christian Church. This sectarian split became formal in 1054 A.D.

Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church (centered in Constantinople)

Similarities of Judaism & Christianity• All religions:

– A way to rejoice and give thanks

– moral code– Give to needy– Golden rule: “do unto others”– Supreme power

• C and J:– Monotheism– Old Testament– Prophets– Ten Commandments– Idea Heaven– Belief in the idea of a Messiah– Jerusalem Holy– Coming of Age ceremonies– Several

Denominations/movements– Sacred text– Sabbath (Sat/Sun)

Comparison of Statistics and Basics

  Judaism Christianity

adherents called Jews Christians

current adherents 14 million 2 billion

current size rank 12th largest largest

major concentration Israel, Europe, USA Europe, North and South America, rapid growth in

Africa

sacred text Bible/TorahBible (Jewish Bible + New

Testament)

other written authority Talmud, Midrash, Responsa

church fathers, church councils, papal decrees

(Catholic only)

clergy rabbispriests, ministers, pastors,

bishops

house of worship synagogue church, chapel, cathedral

main day of worship Saturday Sunday

Comparison of Origins and History

 Judaism Christianity

date founded unknown c. 33 CE

place founded Palestine (def) Palestine

founder Moses or Abraham Jesus

original language(s) Hebrew Aramaic, Greek

early expansion little expansion; mostly confined to Palestine

within 60 years, churches in major cities in Palestine, Turkey, Greece and Rome (map); entire

Roman Empire by end of 4th cent.

major splits Reform/Orthodox, 1800s

CE Catholic/Orthodox, 1054 CE;

Catholic/Protestant, 1500s CE

Comparison of Religious Beliefs

 Judaism Christianity

type of theism strict monotheism Trinitarian monotheism

ultimate reality one God one God

names of God Yahweh, Elohim Yahweh, the Holy Trinity

other spiritual beings angels and demons angels and demons

identity of Jesus not prophet Son of God, God incarnate,

savior of the world

death of Jesus death by crucifixion death by crucifixion

resurrection of Jesus Not part of beliefs affirmed

divine revelationthrough Prophets, recorded in Bible

through Prophets and Jesus (as God Himself), recorded in Bible

means of salvation belief in God, good

deeds

correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (some Protestants

emphasize faith alone)

afterlife views vary: some

heaven eternal heaven