Shi’a
SunniSunni
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85-90% of all
muslims
Orthodox or
traditionalist branch
of Islam
Follow all prophets of
Qu’ran but espeically
Muhammad. All other
Muslim leaders are
of less importance
Emphasize a codified
system of Islamic
Law
Leader of Islam does
not have to be a
descendent of
Muhammad
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Islam
Muhammad
was last
and most
important
prophet
Come from
similar
countries
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Distinct messianic
element to the faith
Hierarchy of clerics who
practice independent
interpretations of
Islamic texts
10% of Islam
Tend to make up the
poorest sections of
society
Tend to swear
allegiance to caliph of
the day
Leader of Islam (caliph)
must be a descendent
of Muhammad
What Religion
does this man
belong too?
Sihk!!!
 Sihkism
 Emerged in the mid 1500’s in the
Punjab of Northwest India.
 Influences from Hinduism and Islam
 Sikh traditions teach that Nanak
encountered God directly and was
commissioned by Him to be His
Servant
Sihkism
 80% of the world’s 20 million sihks live in the Punjab, but
the religion has spread throughout the world.
 Sacred Text – The Adi Granth
 Sacred Symbol – Khanda
 Sacred Site- The Golden Temple (Harimandir Sahib)
 Leadership- Led by Gurus
Gurus? Ring a bell?
Islam
Outcome: Islam Today
Islam in the world today…
Islam Today
1.
A Statistical Look
a. Today there are over 1.2 Billion Muslims in the world
b. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world
Experts predict that it will be the largest religion in the world someday
d. Most populous Muslim countries include: Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, and India.
e. Indonesia alone has over 175 Muslims which exceeds combined total of
Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, the traditional heartlands of
Islam
c.
f.
Populations are rising in Europe and North America
Peaceful Islam vs. Radical Islam
Islam Today
2. Peaceful Islam vs. Radical Fundamental Islam
a. Islam, at heart, is a peaceful religion
b. Most Muslim’s faith is stronger than the average Christian
c. Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s Islam remerged as a potent political
force, associated with both reform and revolution
d. Radical Islamic Fundamentalists are opposed to Western
civilization’s way of life and imperialistic pursuits
Islam Today
e. These fundamentalists represent a small percentage of the
population of Islam, so we must be careful not to label or assume
f.
Jihad: a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty;
a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual
discipline
g. No where in the Qu’ran does it say you will go to paradise if you
martyr yourself with a suicide bomb
h. Important: The majority of Muslims do not live this way
9-11
Islam Today
3. What does Islam Mean for the West?
a. Terrorism is a real battle we will continue to face
b. 9-11 was not the first attack against the US and experts say it will
not be the last
1993 World Trade Center Bombing
Islam Today
c. Can we win the war on terror?
i.
ii.
Invisible enemies
To win we need to raise the standard of living in areas of squalor and
educate so as to avoid political brainwashing
d. “Start seeing Muslims” and avoid racial profiling