origins of judaism, christianity, and islam. the three major religions that originated in southwest...

Origins of Judaism, Origins of Judaism, Christianity, and IslamChristianity, and Islam

The three major religions that originated in The three major religions that originated in Southwest Asia are Judaism, Christianity, Southwest Asia are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. and Islam.

All are based on monotheism, a belief in All are based on monotheism, a belief in one god. one god.

Each religion has a sacred text, or book, Each religion has a sacred text, or book, which is at the core of its faith. which is at the core of its faith.

Each book is a collection of writings Each book is a collection of writings compiled over time. compiled over time.

None was written by the central figure of None was written by the central figure of the faith.the faith.

Origins of JudaismOrigins of Judaism

Judaism is the oldest of the three Judaism is the oldest of the three religions.religions.

It began as a set of beliefs and laws It began as a set of beliefs and laws practiced by ancient Hebrew people practiced by ancient Hebrew people in Southwest Asia. in Southwest Asia.

Its book is the Hebrew Bible. Its book is the Hebrew Bible.


Jews believe that one day a human Jews believe that one day a human leader will come as a messenger of leader will come as a messenger of God and bring about a golden age. God and bring about a golden age.

They call this leader the messiah. They call this leader the messiah. In Greek versions of the Bible, In Greek versions of the Bible,

messiah is written as christos, the messiah is written as christos, the anointed one.anointed one.


The Bible names Abraham as the The Bible names Abraham as the father of the Jews. father of the Jews.

There is no other evidence of his life. There is no other evidence of his life. Scholars place Abraham living Scholars place Abraham living sometime between 2000 and 1500 sometime between 2000 and 1500 BCE. BCE.

The Bible states that Abraham was The Bible states that Abraham was born in Ur, in present-day Iraq.born in Ur, in present-day Iraq.

He later moved to Canaan, in present-He later moved to Canaan, in present-day Israel. day Israel.


Jews believe Canaan is the Promised Jews believe Canaan is the Promised Land, which God promised to Land, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants. Abraham and his descendants.

It is said that Abraham’s grandson It is said that Abraham’s grandson Jacob had 12 sons. Jacob had 12 sons.

The twelve tribes of Israel began with The twelve tribes of Israel began with Jacob’s sons. Jacob’s sons.

Jacob was later called Israel, and his Jacob was later called Israel, and his descendants are called Israelites.descendants are called Israelites.


According to the Bible, the First According to the Bible, the First Temple for Jewish worship was built Temple for Jewish worship was built around 900—1000 BCE and around 900—1000 BCE and destroyed by Babylonians in 586 destroyed by Babylonians in 586 BCE. BCE.

The Jews were then sent out of The Jews were then sent out of Canaan, but returned after 50 years Canaan, but returned after 50 years in exile. in exile.


A Diaspora occurs when a group of A Diaspora occurs when a group of people leave their homeland and people leave their homeland and move to many different locations move to many different locations separately. separately.

All of the world’s Jewish communities All of the world’s Jewish communities today that do not live in present-day today that do not live in present-day Israel are part of the Jewish Diaspora.Israel are part of the Jewish Diaspora.


A new temple was finished 70 years A new temple was finished 70 years later on the site of the First Temple, later on the site of the First Temple, but was badly plundered by invading but was badly plundered by invading Romans about 54 BCE. Romans about 54 BCE.

King Herod, a Jew, ruled Judea for the King Herod, a Jew, ruled Judea for the Romans. Romans.

The second temple was rebuilt in 20 The second temple was rebuilt in 20 BCE. BCE.


When Romans attacked Jerusalem When Romans attacked Jerusalem again in 70 CE, they destroyed again in 70 CE, they destroyed Herod’s temple. Herod’s temple.

Today, the single remaining temple Today, the single remaining temple wall, the Western Wall, is a place of wall, the Western Wall, is a place of prayer for Jewish pilgrims. prayer for Jewish pilgrims.

Jews moved away from the land Jews moved away from the land again, until the modern state of again, until the modern state of Israel was formed in the late 1940s.Israel was formed in the late 1940s.

Origins of ChristianityOrigins of Christianity

In 30 CE, a Jew named Jesus began In 30 CE, a Jew named Jesus began preaching new ideas about Judaism preaching new ideas about Judaism in Roman-controlled Judea. in Roman-controlled Judea.

The later title of Jesus Christ given to The later title of Jesus Christ given to Jesus is a reference to the belief by Jesus is a reference to the belief by his followers that he is the Jewish his followers that he is the Jewish messiah.messiah.


According to the Christian New Testament, According to the Christian New Testament, Jesus preached only to his fellow Jews. Jesus preached only to his fellow Jews.

His idea was that the old laws of Judaism His idea was that the old laws of Judaism should be replaced by a simpler system should be replaced by a simpler system based on love of one’s fellow human based on love of one’s fellow human beings. beings.

He began to grow popular. Jewish leaders He began to grow popular. Jewish leaders did not want Jesus and the disciples Jesus did not want Jesus and the disciples Jesus to threaten their power and asked the to threaten their power and asked the Romans to arrest him. Romans to arrest him.


The Romans found him guilty of The Romans found him guilty of speaking against Jewish laws and speaking against Jewish laws and sentenced him to death by sentenced him to death by crucifixion, or by being hung on a crucifixion, or by being hung on a cross. cross.

He died in 33 CE, after preaching for He died in 33 CE, after preaching for only three years.only three years.

Origins of ChristianityOrigins of Christianity Jesus had 12 close followers, or disciples. Jesus had 12 close followers, or disciples.

Interestingly, a man who had never met Jesus Interestingly, a man who had never met Jesus became the person to spread his message around became the person to spread his message around the world. the world.

Paul of Tarsus had a vision of Jesus after the Paul of Tarsus had a vision of Jesus after the crucifixion that told him to teach Jesus’ ideas to crucifixion that told him to teach Jesus’ ideas to non-Jews. non-Jews.

Paul traveled to build churches throughout the Paul traveled to build churches throughout the ancient world in Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, and ancient world in Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, and other cities. other cities.

The New Testament records Paul’s journeys The New Testament records Paul’s journeys through a series of letters, or epistles, that he through a series of letters, or epistles, that he wrote.wrote.


The chapters of Romans, Corinthians, The chapters of Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, and Ephesians, Galatians, and Thessalonians, are all letters written Thessalonians, are all letters written by Paul to the people of new, non-by Paul to the people of new, non-Jewish churches established in these Jewish churches established in these locations.locations.

Paul taught them how to live their Paul taught them how to live their lives in these letters.lives in these letters.


By 100 CE, the growth of Christianity was By 100 CE, the growth of Christianity was left to a new generation of people who had left to a new generation of people who had never known Jesus and who did not know never known Jesus and who did not know Jewish laws. Jewish laws.

Roman authorities fought the growth of Roman authorities fought the growth of Christianity. Christianity.

Christians were often arrested and killed. Christians were often arrested and killed. Most Christians practiced their religion in Most Christians practiced their religion in

hiding, but their numbers continued to hiding, but their numbers continued to grow and the religion spread.grow and the religion spread.


By the early 4th century, Christianity By the early 4th century, Christianity may have reached members of the may have reached members of the Roman emperor’s family. Roman emperor’s family.

The Roman Emperor Constantine was The Roman Emperor Constantine was not a Christian, but he had his not a Christian, but he had his soldiers fight an important battle in soldiers fight an important battle in 313 CE with a Christian symbol on 313 CE with a Christian symbol on their shields. their shields.

His army won the battle.His army won the battle.


In the nearly 300 years since his In the nearly 300 years since his death, many different ideas had death, many different ideas had developed about how to follow Jesus. developed about how to follow Jesus.

In 325 CE, Constantine called a In 325 CE, Constantine called a meeting for all the Christian leaders meeting for all the Christian leaders to meet in Nicea. to meet in Nicea.

About 300 men attended the About 300 men attended the meeting to discuss how Christianity meeting to discuss how Christianity should be practiced. should be practiced.


The council produced the Nicene The council produced the Nicene Creed, the first attempt at a uniform Creed, the first attempt at a uniform statement of Christian doctrine. statement of Christian doctrine.

When the Christian leaders left this When the Christian leaders left this meeting, a new type of Christian meeting, a new type of Christian church had been formed. church had been formed.

This new church was said to be This new church was said to be Catholic, which means universal.Catholic, which means universal.

Origins of IslamOrigins of Islam

The Prophet Muhammad was an Arab born The Prophet Muhammad was an Arab born in 570 CE, in Mecca, which is in present-in 570 CE, in Mecca, which is in present-day Saudi Arabia. day Saudi Arabia.

He was a merchant known as “al-Amin,” He was a merchant known as “al-Amin,” the trustworthy one. the trustworthy one.

According to Islamic tradition, in 610 CE, According to Islamic tradition, in 610 CE, while he was praying in a cave, he had a while he was praying in a cave, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel, a figure in the vision of the angel Gabriel, a figure in the Hebrew Bible. Hebrew Bible.

The angel gave him messages from God, The angel gave him messages from God, called Allah in Arabic.called Allah in Arabic.


Muhammad spread the messages he Muhammad spread the messages he received from Allah. received from Allah.

He was forced to flee Mecca for He was forced to flee Mecca for Medina in 622 CE. Medina in 622 CE.

This flight is known as the Hijrah. This flight is known as the Hijrah. The Islamic calendar begins at this The Islamic calendar begins at this

date. date. By the time he died in 632 CE, Islamic By the time he died in 632 CE, Islamic

control of central Arabia was well control of central Arabia was well underway. underway.


Before 700 CE, Muhammad’s Before 700 CE, Muhammad’s followers were fighting over his followers were fighting over his successor. successor.

The fight split Muslims into the Shi’a The fight split Muslims into the Shi’a and the Sunni. and the Sunni.

The Shi’a comprise 10%—15% of The Shi’a comprise 10%—15% of Islamic followers today and the Sunni Islamic followers today and the Sunni comprise close to 90%.comprise close to 90%.


The Five Pillars of Islam is the term The Five Pillars of Islam is the term for the religion’s five main beliefs. for the religion’s five main beliefs.

They are accepted by all Sunnis and They are accepted by all Sunnis and Shi’as, but the Shi’as have added Shi’as, but the Shi’as have added several other practices to form the several other practices to form the Branches of Religion. Branches of Religion.

The Five PillarsThe Five Pillars

The Five Pillars are:The Five Pillars are:1.1. Believe in only one God and Believe in only one God and

Muhammad is his messenger.Muhammad is his messenger.2.2. Pray in the direction of Mecca five Pray in the direction of Mecca five

times a day.times a day.3.3. Donate money to the poor.Donate money to the poor.4.4. Fast during the month of Ramadan.Fast during the month of Ramadan.5.5. Make a journey, or häjj, to Mecca at Make a journey, or häjj, to Mecca at

least once.least once.


Islam has other rules, including what Islam has other rules, including what Muslims are allowed to eat and drink. Muslims are allowed to eat and drink.

Also, the Qur’an, their sacred book, Also, the Qur’an, their sacred book, explains a concept called jihad. explains a concept called jihad.

Jihad requires believers to meet the Jihad requires believers to meet the enemies of Islam in combat. enemies of Islam in combat.

Enemies can be attacked by the heart, Enemies can be attacked by the heart, the tongue, the hand, or the sword.the tongue, the hand, or the sword.


An Islamic Golden Age lasted from 750 An Islamic Golden Age lasted from 750 to 1400. to 1400.

Advances in Islamic learning inspired Advances in Islamic learning inspired the European Renaissance. the European Renaissance.

The city of Mecca became a major The city of Mecca became a major economic center, helping Islam expand. economic center, helping Islam expand.

Literacy was, for the first time, Literacy was, for the first time, widespread among the populations of widespread among the populations of the Middle East.the Middle East.


In 1258, the Islamic city of Baghdad In 1258, the Islamic city of Baghdad was attacked, conquered, and was attacked, conquered, and destroyed by the Mongols, a dynasty destroyed by the Mongols, a dynasty from central Asia. from central Asia.

The Islamic Golden Age began to The Islamic Golden Age began to draw to a close.draw to a close.

SummarySummary

Write 3 paragraphs describing the Write 3 paragraphs describing the beginnings to the spread of each of beginnings to the spread of each of the three main religions of the Middle the three main religions of the Middle East.East.

origins of judaism, christianity, and islam. the three major religions that originated in southwest...

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