Major Religions in Europe
SS6G11

Standard
• SS6G11: The Student will describe the cultural characteristics of Europe
• B. Describe the major religions in Europe; include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Three Major Religions
• Judaism
• Christianity
• Islam

Judaism
• Founder: Abraham
• Date: 2000 BC
• Followers called: Jews

Judaism
• Holy Book: Torah
• Number of followers: 15
Million
• Torah is the 1 st five books of Moses
Torah Scroll

Judaism
• Three main types: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform
• Nearly wiped out in Europe by Hitler and Nazi
Germany
Concentration
Camp

Christianity
• Founder: Jesus Christ
• Date: 30 A.D.
• Followers called:
Christians

Christianity
• Holy Book: Bible
• Number of followers:
2.1 Billion
• 1 St five books of Moses make up the 1 St five books of the bible

Christianity
• 3 Major Groups: Eastern
Orthodox, Roman
Catholic, and Protestant
• Protestants include:
Anglicans, Baptists,
Methodists,
Presbyterians,
Episcopalians,
• Christianity is the largest religion by followers and is in most parts of the world

• Founder: Muhammad
• Date 610 A.D.
• Followers called:
Muslims
Islam

Islam
• Holy Book: Koran
• Number of followers:
1.3 Billion
• Muslims believe that
Muhammad was the last of the prophets which include Abraham and Jesus

Islam
• Two largest groups include: Sunnis and
Shiites
• Main religion of Middle
East, North Africa, and
Asia
• Number of followers growing at a fast rate
• 5 pillars of Islam:
1)Prayer, 2)giving to charity, 3)belief in one
God, 4)fasting during
Ramadan, and 5)a trip to Mecca once in a lifetime

B.C. to A.D. Timeline
• Calendars uses the birth of Christ as a way of dating history events

History of Religion in Europe
• Wars fought because of
Religion
• Crusades- Military expeditions sent by the
Christian pope to capture the Holy land from Muslim Turks
Crusades