Monotheistic Religions

Monotheistic ReligionsJudaism, Christianity and IslamJudaism

HistoryFounded by Abram in 1800 BCE in Ur in MesopotamiaBelieved in one god Made a covenant with GodAbram and his wife Sarai would move to Canaan, which they called the promised land (Israel). Changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. They would remain faithful to God (Yahweh). All male descendants would be circumcised. Many years later had a son name Isaac. All of the people descended from Abraham through his son Isaac are known as Jews.

History contAround 1300 BCE they moved to Egypt in search of foodBecame slaves to the PharaohFreed by MosesStory told in the book of Exodus in the BibleSettled in Jerusalem and built a temple to worship YahwehDestroyed by Romans in 60 Built many synagogues throughout the Middle East and the world

History contFirst Jewish congregation in America in 1650During WWII ,over 6 million Jews killedMovement called Zionism began in the late 19th centuryEncouraged Jews to return to the Promised Land

BeliefsOne God, the biblical YahwehEmphasize the laws given in the covenantsIn the United States three main movementsOrthodox Jews Hebrew BibleReform Jews covenant with YahwehConservative Jews elements of both

Concept of GodFirst religion to believe that there is one God who create the universe and continues to control itJews do not attempt to convert others to their beliefsWelcome outsiders who wish to become Jewish

JudaismJUDAISM is a religion of just one people: the Jews. JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God. Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

JudaismJews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way. Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish people do not agree; they anticipate His arrival in the future.Judaism teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

Sacred WritingsHebrew Bible (Old Testament)First five books often attributed Moses as the authorTorahTalmud: Mishnah and the GermaraSiddur prayer book

SymbolismStar of DavidShemaPassage from the Torah begins Hear, O Israel, and continues by telling the people to keep God constant in their minds and hearts, and to write it on the doorposts of their homes. Mezuzah shema placed inside a container and nailed to the doorpostTefellin small boxes or pouchestallit, or prayer shawl, and a yamulke.

Worship/Sacred SpaceHome or the synagoguePrayer three times a dayAt least ten Jewish men must gather for worshipService consists of the shema, blessings, readings from the Torah and prayers.The Torah in the synagogue is kept in a cabinet called an ark, a candle called the Eternal Light burns in frontRead from a platform called a bimah.Worship is led by a rabbi, assisted by a gabbai.Singing by a cantor.

Worship contOrthodox worship is in HebrewWomen sit apart from menReform Jews sit togetherSabbath is the weekly remembrance that God rested from creation on the 7th day.The Jewish Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday night and continues until sunset on Saturday.Day of rest, begins with a simple meal, then worship on Friday night and/or Saturday morning.8 days after birth a baby boy is circumcised, brit milah, and given his nameA baby girl receives her name during blessing at the synagogueWorship contAt 13Bar mitzvah Jewish boy becomes an adult, reads from the Torah and often leads the whole service.Bat mitzvah Reform movement for girlsBat hayil- Othodox movement

Jewish PhilosophyGod is one and uniqueGod is the creator God is transcendent God is immanent. God is lawgiver God is personal We have the obligation to worshipThe Torah is God's law God is judge The Messiah will come.

Holidays/FestivalsRosh Hashanah Jewish New YearYom Kippur Day of AtonementPesach (Passover) spring holidayShavuot (Pentecost) summer festivalSukkot (Feast of Tabernacles ) fall harvest festivalHanukkah (Feast of Lights) - DecemberMembership13-14 million in the worldHalf in North AmericaFive million in Israel and the Middle EastOthers in Europe, Russia, Africa and South America

Christianity

HistoryFollowers of Jesus of Nazareth (a town in what is now northern Israel)Born to a young girl named Mary who was engaged to a man named JosephMany Christians believe that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, and that God was his father.Jesus traveled telling stories and curing ailmentsHe gained a following and thousands flocked to hear Him.He chose twelve apostles to carry on His message.

History contWhen he was about 33 years old he was sentenced to death by hanging on a cross.Authorities saw Him as a threat to their political power Christians believe that after three days in the tomb Jesus was resurrected and appeared to his followers many times before finally leaving earth for heaven.Jesus followers banded together and began telling his story, they were called Christians, from the Greek word Christos, Hebrew for Messiah which means anointed one.

Early ChristiansHad to meet in secretPersecuted by the RomansChanged in the 4th century when Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman EmpireSpread through Europe and parts of Africa and the Middle EastThe Christian church became known as the Roman Catholic Church Church and government leaders controlled the empire In 1054 churches in Greece and areas east split and formed the Eastern Orthodox Church During the Protestant Reformation more denominations formed such as Lutheranism, Anabaptists, Anglicans, and many more later on. Today Christianity is the worlds largest religion.

BeliefsAll Christians honor Jesus and most believe that faith in His death a resurrection saves a person from the consequences of sin and gives them eternal life.

Concept of GodMost believe in the concept of the trinity:A supreme God, who came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ and is active in the world as the Holy Spirit

Sacred WritingsThe BibleWritten over a period of several centuries Tells the story of the Jewish people before Jesus, of Jesus life and death, and of the early Christian church started by Jesus followers.Historic Christian documents such as the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed

SymbolsThe crossThe crucifix

Worship/Sacred SpaceChurch buildingsServices vary from denomination to denominationMost include prayers, songs, readings from the Bible, and a sermon or talk by a clergyperson or a lay person.One prayer in common in the Lords PrayerMost believe in baptism, some form of the Lords Supper, and Communion.

Holy Days Christmas, Easter

Christian PhilosophySin and Evil are realities in our existence. The Bible is the Holy Book that records God's revelation. All believers are promised life everlasting. The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers was his 12 disciples.

Islam

HistoryIslam means submission to God in ArabicPerson who follows Islam is called a Muslim, which means a person who submitsTrace heritage back to the Old TestamentIshmael, the son of the Hebrew prophet Abraham , lived in the city of Mecca.Many Arabs visited the city of Mecca to visit the many statues of gods that were kept there. Muhammad (born about 570) was one of the merchants but was uncomfortable with the worship of idols.

MuhammadBegan to spend time alone prayingWhen he was about 40, he heard a voice telling him to recite the words of Allah (God) For the next 20 years he heard this voiceIt told him there was only one God called AllahMuhammad became a prophet and gained a small group of followersHe moved to Medina in 622This trip is called the Hegira, and it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendarThe people were open to his message and his new religion flourishedThe first mosque was built in Medina

Return to MeccaMuhammad and his followers returned and took Mecca by forceThe took the city and destroyed the idolsThe turned the shrine of the idols, called the Kaaba, into a mosqueBy the time of his death in 632, Islam had spread through Arabia

After Muhammads DeathSunnisMost qualified leader should be chosenSunna means traditions of the prophetChose a man, Abu Bakr, called a caliphShiitesMuhammads nearest relative, his cousin Ali, should succeed him.Shiite means followers of the party of AliIn 680 the Shiites formed a separate group (about 20% today)

BeliefsAllah sent a series of prophets to the worldNoah, Abraham, and JesusEach shared some of Allahs message but wasnt complete until Muhammad, considered to be the final prophet

Five Pillars of IslamShahada- declaration of faithThere is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet and MessengerSalat daily prayerfive times (dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and bedtime), all activities of daily living stopZakat- charitable giving2.5% income to those in needSawm fastingRamadan during this month adults do not eat during daylight hoursHajj- Travel to Mecca at least once in a lifetime during the pilgrimage month Dhu-I-Hijja

Concept of GodBelieve in one God called Allah99 names describing the character of AllahHas a hundredth name which is not revealedIndicating that Allah has a dimension that is unknowable

Sacred WritingsKoran means recitation Considered to be the word of AllahIncludes stories from Jewish and Christian scripturesWritten in Arabic and still studied in only that languaugeTouched by only those who have performed a ritual washingKept in a special place, wrapped in a cloth and nothing is allowed to rest on top of the Koran

SymbolsSince the 15th century the symbol has been the crescent moon and starNew moon represents the new birth that takes place at the beginning of each month of the Islamic calendarThe star represents the guidance of AllahForbids the use of human or animal figures or pictures in their mosques

Worship/Sacred SpacePray five times a dayUsually carry a prayer rugPray facing Mecca, reciting passages from the Koran , accompanied by standing, bowing, kneeling and prostratingMuslims gather in mosques for community prayersPrayers led by an imam, who is not a priest but is a leader in the local Muslim community

Islamic PhilosophyMuslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come. Angels record good and bad deeds.People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

Holidays/FestivalsCalendar has twelve lunar months, 354 daysHolidays occur during different seasons depending on the yearMost sacred place is Kaaba, a shrine in the center of MeccaMuslims believe it was built by Adam and later rebuilt by Abraham and his son, IshmaelHajj PilgrimageMuslims walk seven times around the Kaaba touching or kissing the Black Stone as they passThey participate in the Feast of SacrificeThey also run back and forth between two hills, imitating Hagar, one of the wives of Abraham, who ran back and forth looking for waterOther important daysRamadan, Festival of Ashura, and the birthday of Muhhammad

Top Ten Organized Religions of the WorldStatistics of the world's religions are only very rough approximations.Aside from Christianity, few religions, if any, attempt to keep statistical records; and even Protestants and Catholics employ different methods of counting members.Christianity 2.1 billion 33.0%Islam 1.5 billion 21%Hinduism 900 million14%Buddhism 376 million 6%Sikhism 23 million 0.36%Judaism 14 million 0.22%Bahaism 7 million 0.1%Confucianism 6.3 million 0.1%Jainism 4.2 million 0.1%Shintoism 4 million 0.0%