Abrahamic Religions
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The Middle East
Judaism
In the Ancient World, what did most
people believe in ?
 Polytheism
– Belief in many Gods
 Paganism
- Religion used as means to explain
weather patterns, illness, world events.
 Jewish
people believe in Monotheism - One God
Judaism - Origins
Origins – Fertile Crescent 2000 BC
 Abraham - Prophet - Covenant with Yaweh,
monotheistic & migrate to Canaan (Palestine)
 Due to Famine in Canaan, many Hebrews migrate
to Egypt - Pharaoh enslaves Hebrews
 Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt – Exodus
 God revealed his laws and commandments (10
Commandments) to Moses on Mount Sinai in the
form of the Torah.
 Hebrew
Judaism - Beliefs

God loves and protects his people, but also holds them accountable
for their sins and shortcomings. Also, Since God created the world,
the world must be good – optimistic message; humanitarianism.

People serve God by studying the Torah and living by its teachings.
Torah – the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Oral Torah (Talmud and Mishna) –
over the centuries, Rabbis expounded and expanded the Torah.

Ten Commandments – Religious duties towards God & rules of
moral conduct; revealed by God to Moses.
YouTube - Ten Commandments - A Parody
Judaism - Holidays

Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement - is the most solemn
day of the Jewish year. It is a day of communal fasting
and praying for forgiveness for one's sins

Passover (Pesach) - commemorates the Exodus, the
liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

Hanukkah - Festival of Lights - commemorating the
rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.11
Conclusion
 Judaism
forever changed the world by believing
in one God (monotheism) as opposed to many
Gods (polytheism).
 Origin story is one of hope- struggling over
oppression.
 Moral values and laws come from the Torah and
the 10 Commandments.
 Christianity and Islam are continuations of the
Abrahamic Tradition.
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Christianity
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Christianity
 Originally
a Sect of Judaism - Follow Jesus
 Believe Jesus was the Jewish Messiah
 Messiah – savior chosen by God to restore the
Kingdom of the Jews
 Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God
and he died to redeem mankind for their sins.
 Jesus used Parables (short stories with simple
moral lesson). Gospels: Love Thy Brother; Take
Care of the Poor; Compassion for All; Turn the
Other Cheek; Peace and Love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1sx-vyWVk
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Roman Catholic Church
Leadership
 Pope – leader of
Religion (First Pope: the
Apostle Peter)


Bishop – Church official
who is responsible for
district area (diocese)
Priest work in local
parishes
History
 Constantine - 313 Edict
of Milan - Emperor of
Rome declared
Christianity to be
approved by the state.

380 Theodosius made it
the official religion of the
state.
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1054 Great Schism
 West
 East
 Holy
 Byzantine
Roman Empire
 Roman Catholic
Church
Map: whs161.swf
Empire
 Eastern Orthodox
Church
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Protestant Reformation (1517)
Protestants reject the Pope’s Leadership
 Martin Luther - 95 Theses Against corruption,
Indulgences
 Protestants have no class of priests with special powers to
forgive or anoint the sick
 Most have two or three sacraments Baptism, Eucharist, &
Matrimony
 Do not believe in the miracle of the mass where bread &
wine are transformed into the body & blood of Christ

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Protestants
Protestant Denominations:
 Lutherans
 Episcopalians
 Methodists
 Anglicans
 Presbyterians
 Baptists
 Calvinist
Adventists
 Anabaptist
 Congregational
 Pentecostal
 Quakerism
 Reformed
 Unitarian
 Waldensians

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Islam
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The Rise of Islam
 Religion
is born in
the 600’s in the
Arabian Peninsula.
 Pre 600’s region is
populated with
Bedouins (Arab
Nomads) live in
clans.
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Mecca
Center of polytheistic
worship - dotted with
temples
 People of Mecca
provided various services
to religious pilgrims that
came.
 Many come to worship at
the Ka’aba, an ancient
shrine

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The Founder of Islam
 Muhammad:
born into prominent Meccan family;
trader & business manager; great interest in
religion
 While meditating in cave outside city (Mt. Hira)
voice of Angel Gabriel spoke to him
 You
have been chosen as God’s Prophet.
 Muhammed
transcribed words of Angel = words
of Allah (God).
 Words
= The Koran (Qur’an)
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The Teachings of Islam
- “submission to the will of Allah” Muslim: “one who has submitted”
 Shari’a – laws based on the Qur’an and Sunna
Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahada: Belief in One God – Allah
2. Sawm: Fast During Holy Month Ramadan
3. Salat: Prayer 5x’s a day – facing Mecca
4. Zakkat: Give Alms, Charity
5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
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 Islam
Muhammad spreads Islam
622 Hijra – Muhammad and his followers flee to
Medina – In Medina, he becomes a powerful political
leader; builds a strong Army
 630 - Conquered enemies in Mecca & destroyed idols in
Ka’aba - Dedicates it to Allah. Becomes Holy Site.
 Many in Mecca convert to Islam and become part of the
Umma (Muslim Community)
 Muhammad died 2 years later
Who will continue the movement?
Sunni – Shia
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
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
A number of commonalities exist:


Monotheism. All three religions are monotheistic.
A prophetic tradition. All three religions recognize figures
called "prophets," though their lists differ.
 Semitic origins. Judaism and Islam originated among Semitic
peoples – namely the Jews and Arabs, respectively – while
Christianity arose out of Judaism.
 A basis in divine revelation rather than, for example,
philosophical speculation or custom.
 An ethical orientation. All three religions speak of a choice
between good and evil, which is conflated with obedience or
disobedience to God.
 A linear concept of history, beginning with the Creation and
the concept that God works through history.
 Devotion to the traditions found in the Bible and the Qur'an,
such as the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses.
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Additional Information
Click on to enhance your
knowledge of the Three
Abrahamic Religions.
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Differences Catholics & Eastern Orthodox
Catholic Priests Can not
Marry
 Services Conducted in
Latin
 Pope claims authority
over all kings &
emperors
 Divorce is not allowed

Eastern orthodox Priests
can Marry
 Services Conducted in
Greek or local languages
 Emperor claims authority
over Patriarch &
Bishops, P &B head
Church as a Group
 Divorce is allowed under
certain circumstances
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
Kingdom of Israel 1020-922 BC
 1st
loosely organized into 12 tribes/independent
states, largest Judah “Jews”, Judaism
 Rulers – Saul – drove Philistines out
 David united tribes, est. Jerusalem as Capital
 Solomon – son of David
 Built temple for the Ark of Covenant in Jerusalem
& Royal Palace
 Costly – High Taxes & Forced Labor
Collapse of the Kingdom
BC revolts & foreign invasions – Kingdom
splits into two Israel in North, Judah in South
 722 Israel falls to Assyrians
 586 Babylonians captured Judah
 King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed temple in
Jerusalem
 Babylonian Empire conquered by Persians –
40,000 Jewish Refugees to return to the region
 922
Blue Mosque, inspired by Muslim tradition .
Istanbul, Turkey.
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Following Muhammad
 Muhammad
is God’s Final Messenger
 Sunna: Muhammad’s example. Best to follow
 Shar’ia: Guidance of Qur’an & Sunna assembled
into body of law.
 Regulates
family life, moral conduct, Business, &
community life.
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Moving Across Continents
 Abu
Bakr: loyal friend of Muhammad elected
Caliph “leader”
 First
Four Caliphs expanded Islam 6,000 miles Atlantic
Ocean to Indus River – Wars of Expansion
“striving”; inner struggle against evil;
armed struggle against nonbelievers/Holy War
guarantee entrance into paradise
 Jihad:
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732 - Battle of Tours
 Islamic
Army stopped
by Charles Martel
(French) in Tours,
France
 Protected Christianity
in Europe
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