Religions of the Middle East
Lesson 2
Goals of the Day
• I will compare the three major world
religions: Islam, Judaism, and
Christianity.
• I will explain how geography
contributed to the birth of Islam.
• I will analyze the Islamic religion.
Warm Up
• To what religious
affiliation do most
Middle Eastern
groups belong?
• Islam- Muslims
• All but Israelis and
Armenians
Comparative Religions
Religion
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Origins
Canaan
~2000 BCE
Palestine
~30 CE
Founders
Moses
Jesus Christ
Saudi
Arabia
622 CE
Mohammad
Adherents
Jews
Christians
Muslims
Population
14 million
2.1 billion
1.5 billion
Israel, Euro, US
Euro, Americas,
Africa
Mid East, SE
Asia
Comparative Religions
Religion
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Diety
God
Yahweh, Elohim
God
God
Allah
Holy Book
“People of
the book”
Torah
(Old Test.)
Bible
(Old and New
Test.)
Qur’an
(Koran)
Religious
Law
Halakhah
Canon Law
Sharia
Place of
Worship
Synagogue
Church
Chapel
Cathedral
Mosque
Clergy
Rabbis
Priest, Minister,
Pastor
Imam
Judaism
• ~1800 BC, Hebrews flee
Canaan, migrate to Egypt
(enslaved).
• Lead by Moses to Sinai
Peninsula. Covenant w/God.
• 1 God, 10 Commandments,
Chosen People
• ~1025 BC form kingdom of
Israel in Fertile Crescent.
• Kings David & Solomon help
reach greatest glory
• ~500 BC Persians take over,
Return to Israel & rebuild
temple in Jerusalem.
• ~70 AD, Romans expel Jews
from Israel/Palestine –
diaspora…
• Won’t return until late 1800s
• Israel formed after WW2
Christianity
• Jesus born in Roman ruled Palestine
(Bethlehem)
• Carpenter’s apprentice
• Studied w/ rabbis - Preacher 30 yrs old
• Some believed he was the messiah
– Savior from foreign rule, restore kingdom
• Roman’s, scared of popularity &
refusal to accept emperor as a
god, crucified him.
• Followers, Christians, spread word
• Everyone equal, salvation & eternal life
• Persecuted by Romans, became martyrs
• Becomes the official religion Roman
Empire
Birthplace of Islam
• What was life like in
the Middle East in
early centuries?
•
•
•
•
Desert
Bedouins
Oasis towns
Feuds, rivalry, lawless
Islam
• ~Angel Gabriel tells
Mohammed he is to be the
messenger of God/Allah
• ~Fleed to Medina, build 1st
mosque
• Hejira – Yr 1 of Muslim Calendar
• Expansion of Islam
• Uses war & political maneuvering
to spread ideas
ActivityIn groups of 3, analyze various elements
of the Islamic faith.
• Ideas of Islam
• Five Pillars
• Jihad
• Sunni v. Shi’ite (Shia)
• Women
Closure
• What is meant by the term “People of
the Book”?
• Allah is same God and God of
Jews/Christians
• Follow God’s teachings in the Bible
• Believe in final day of judgment
(heaven/hell)
• Protected/treat all with tolerance