Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam

Comparative ReligionsReligion Judaism Christianit

yIslam

Origins Canaan~2000 BCE

Palestine~30 CE

Saudi Arabia622 CE

Founders Moses Jesus Christ Mohammad

Adherents

Jews Christians Muslims

Population

14 millionIsrael, Euro, US

2.1 billionEuro, Americas,

Africa

1.5 billionMid East, SE

Asia

Comparative ReligionsReligion Judaism Christianity Islam

Diety GodYahweh, Elohim

God GodAllah

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 ChurchChapel

Cathedral

Mosque

Clergy Rabbis Priest, Minister, Pastor

Imam

Origins and History of

Each Faith

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacob/IsraelJacob/Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

•Islam-Quran

•Other 10 tribes-(Israelites) (Hebrews)

•Judaism-Torah

Abraham’s Genealogy

•2 Tribes - (Jews) of Judah•Jesus Christ (son of God)•The Hebrew Bible - Old

Testament in the Christian Bible

Mecca(Muslims)

•Muhammad (the last prophet)

•Quran and the Five Pillars of

Islam

4000–550 BC

All 3 Religions are linked by Abraham—He is the patriarch of all 3

Ten Commandments

Judaism, Christianity, & Islam

• All developed among the Semitic-speaking people of the deserts of the Middle East.

o Judaism: 4,000 years ago

o Christianity: 2,000 years ago

o Islam: 1,300 years ago

• Share a common hearth in southwestern Asia.

Origins of Each Faith

• Date and Place founded:– Judaism – approximately 1300 B.C. in

Palestine• Some say the date is unknown

– Christianity – approximately 33 A.D. in Palestine

– Islam – 622 A.D. in Saudi Arabia

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Founders and Early Leaders

• Founders and Early Leaders• All three trace their origins originally to

Abraham as explained in the reading– Judaism – Abraham and Moses

– Christianity – Jesus

– Islam - Muhammad

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Brief History on Origins

• Judaism- The Hebrew leader Abraham founded Judaism around 2000 B.C.– Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic faiths

(religions with one God).

• Christianity - Founded by Jesus Christ, who was crucified around A.D. 30 in Jerusalem – After his death his followers came to believe in

him as the Christ, the Messiah.

• Islam - Founded in Arabia by Muhammad between A.D. 610 and A.D. 632

Spread of Each Faith

• Early Expansion– Judaism – Little expansion mostly confined to

Israel

– Christianity – by the end of the 4th century Christianity spread across the entire Roman Empire

– Islam – Within 12 years, entire Arabian peninsula

• After 100 years stretched from Spain to Southeast Asia

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Terms for Followers and Clergy

• Followers Called:– Judaism Jews– Christianity Christians– Islam Muslims

• Clergy Called:– Judaism rabbis– Christianity bishop, pastor, ministers, priest– Islam imams

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Judaism Timeline• 1800 BCE Hebrews flee Canaan,

migrate to Egypt (enslaved).– Lead by Moses to Sinai Peninsula.

Covenant w/God.– 1 God, 10 Commandments, Chosen

People

• 1025 BCE form kingdom of Israel in Fertile Crescent.– Kings David & Solomon help reach

greatest glory

• 500 BCE Persians take over, Return to Israel & rebuild temple in Jerusalem.

• 70 CE Romans expel Jews from Israel/Palestine – diaspora…– Won’t return until late 1800s

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 in 33 CE.

• Followers, Christians, spread word– Everyone equal, salvation & eternal life– Persecuted by Romans, became martyrs– 313 CE, Emperor Constantine converts– 395 CE, official religion Roman Empire

Islam Timeline• 610 CE Angel Gabriel tells

Mohammed he is to be the messenger of God/Allah– Merchant in Mecca

• 622 flee to Medina, build 1st mosque– Hejira – Yr 1 of Muslim Calendar– Prophet

• Expansion of Islam– Uses war & political maneuvering

to spread ideas– 632 control Peninsula– 732 Atlantic to Indus

How They Worship

Where and When They Worship

• House of Worship– Judaism: synagogue or temple– Christianity: church, cathedral, chapel– Islam: mosque

Day of Worshipo Judaism: SaturdayoChristianity: Sundayo Islam: Friday

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Languages of Faiths

• Original Language– Judaism: Hebrew– Christianity: Aramaic and Greek, then Latin– Islam: Arabic

• Names of God– Judaism: Yahweh and Elohim– Christianity: God, the Trinity– Islam: Allah

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Holy/Religious Texts

Sacred Texts of Each Faith• Sacred Texts• All three accept the Old Testament

as explained in the reading.– Judaism: Hebrew Bible is the Torah,

Talmud – Christianity: Old Testament and New

Testament– Islam: Qur’an (Koran)

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Beliefs

Monotheistic Beliefs

• Ultimate Reality (Type of Theism)

– Judaism: One God

– Christianity: Trinity (God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)

– Islam: One God

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Divine Revelation---God’s Words How do we know about God?

– Judaism: through prophets; recorded in the Hebrew Bible

– Christianity: through prophets and Jesus as recorded in the Old and New Testament

– Islam: through God’s final prophet Muhammad; recorded in the Qur’an

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Identity of Jesus

–Judaism: False prophet

–Christianity: Son of God, the Messiah, Savior

–Islam: prophet of God

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Death of Jesus

– Judaism: death by Crucifixion

– Christianity: death by Crucifixion

– Islam: Did not die, but ascended into heaven (a disciple took his place)

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Resurrection of Jesus

–Judaism: Denied

–Christianity: Affirmed

–Islam: Denied; since he did not die

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Means of Salvation

– Judaism: Belief in one God; good deeds

– Christianity: correct belief, good deeds; by faith accept Christ as Savior (Protestants)

– Islam: Belief in one God; good deeds and follow Five Pillars of Faith

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Afterlife

–Judaism: eternal heaven/ eternal hell

–Christianity: eternal heaven/ eternal hell

–Islam: eternal paradise (heaven)/ eternal hell

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Symbols of

Faiths

Symbols

– Judaism: Star of David

– Christianity: cross

– Islam: crescent with name of Allah in Arabic

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Views of Fellow Abrahamic Religions

View of Fellow Abrahamic Religions

– Judaism: “Islam and Christianity are false interpretations and extensions of Judaism.”

– Christianity: “Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation. Islam is a false religion.”

– Islam: “Jews and Christians are respected as fellow believers, but with wrong beliefs and only partial revelation.”

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Followers

Where They Can Be Found

• Major Locations TODAY– Judaism: Europe, Israel, North America– Christianity: Europe, North and South America– Islam: Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia

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PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Current Worldwide Followers TODAY

– Judaism: 14 million (ranks 12th)– Christianity: 2 billion (ranks 1st)– Islam: 1.3 billion (ranks 2nd)

In the USA• Judaism: 5.6 million• Christianity: 159 million• Islam: 1.1 million

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Judaism In More Depth

Judaism

• religion of just one people: the Jews.

• first to teach belief in only one God.

• Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

Judaism Beliefs

• Jews believe that there is a single God (Yahweh) who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship.

• They await the Messiah, who will be an earthly king. They believe in heaven, but that God determines where they go after life on earth.

• Ten Commandments is the basic code of law.

Judaism Briefly

• Judaism is around 3500 years old and is the oldest of the world's four great monotheistic religions (religions with only one God).

• It's also the smallest, with only about 12 million followers around the world.

• Its holy city is Jerusalem.

• The Jewish calendar is based on 29 or 30 days therefore they have 12.13 months.

Judaism Beliefs

• Jews believe that there is a single God who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have an individual and personal relationship.

• They believe in heaven, but that God determines where they go after life on earth.

• Give a tithe (10%). • Ten Commandments is the basic code of law.

Judaism

• Jews think that God will send a Messiah (a deliverer) to unite them and lead them in His way.

• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah.– The Jewish people do not agree; they

anticipate His arrival in the future.

Judaism• Basic Precepts

o Belief in One Godo Torah - original 5

chapters of Bibleo Prophecy of Moseso Coming of the

Messiah still to come

o Atonement accomplished by sacrifices, penitence & good deeds

Jewish Philosophy

• God is one and unique• God is the creator • God is transcendent • God is immanent. • God is lawgiver • God is personal • We have the obligation to worship• The Torah is God's law • God is judge • The Messiah will come.

Judaism Holy Book• The most holy Jewish book is the Torah (the first five

books of the Christian Bible)• Others include Judaism's oral tradition, the written

form of which is known as the Talmud.

• The Torah (scroll of teachings) contains the five books revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.

– Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy

• Another important book is the "Talmud," serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

• Hebrew is read right to left.

Judaism Place of Worship

• Jews worship in Synagogues or temples.

• Men and women usually sit separately.

• Worship is led by a Rabbi.

• Friday evening is time for worship.

Stamford Hill, London

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

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

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

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

The Temple

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

• King HerodKing Herod, a Jew, ruled Judea for the Romans. Under him the second temple was rebuilt in 20 BCE.

• When the Romans attacked Jerusalem again in 70 CE(AD), they destroyed Herod’s temple.

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

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

The Temple

Judaism

• Three major branches:

• ORTHODOX: Traditionalists who observe most ceremonial laws and dietary restrictions.

• CONSERVATIVE: Do not hold the importance of a Jewish political state, but emphasize the historical and religious aspects of Judaism.

• REFORM: Liberal wing; culture and race oriented with little consensus on doctrinal or religious belief.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Hasidic_jewish_couple.jpg

7 Holy Days

• Rosh Hashanah-Jewish New Year• Yom Kippur-A day of fasting and praying which

occurs 10 days after the first day of Rosh Hashanah. The holiest day in the year

• Sukkot-8 day festival of thanksgiving• Hanukkah-The Feast of Lights is an 8 day Feast

of Dedication. It recalls the war fought by the Maccabees in the cause of religious freedom

• Purim-The Feast of Lots recalls the defeat by Queen Esther of the plan to slaughter all of the Persian Jews, circa 400 BC

• Pesa(Passover)-The 8 day festival recalls the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt circa 1300 BCE. A holiday meal, the Seder, is held at home

• Shavouth-Pentecost recalls God's revelation of the Torah to the Jewish people

• The Star of David is the international symbol of Judaism

• Flag of Israel has it

• Menorah-It is a symbol of the nation of Israel and a mission to be "a light unto the nations.

• A Yarmulke is worn during prayer to shoe respect to G_d

Kosher Foods

• Foods are kosher when they meet all criteria that Jewish law applies to food

• Characteristics that make a food non-kosher:– the mixture of meat and milk – the use of cooking utensils which had previously

been used for non-kosher food– The type of animal it is

• Leviticus 11:3 says that Jews may eat all animals that have cloven hooves and chew their cud

• Leviticus 11:4 explicitly prohibited the consumption of animals that do not have these characteristics designating them "unclean to you."

• Six mammals are specifically not allowed:– The camel – The hyrax– The hare – The pig– Whales and dolphins

• Kosher animals are as follows:– Cows, goats, sheep, antelope, deer, giraffes, okapis and

pronghorns– Most fish(excluding shellfish, sharks, octupus, eels and squid)– Chicken, duck, turkey– Milk and cheese are kosher but cannot be eaten with meat or

mixed with meat.

• Preparation– the slaughter of animals is designed to minimize the pain—usually

done by a slice across the throat– this eliminates the practice of hunting for food unless it can be

captured alive and ritually slaughtered. – All blood and veins must be removed from meat(salting and

broiling are common methods)

Jewish homeland

• Created 1948 from a British mandate from Palestine.

• Some people do not recognize its existence.

• Long history of conflict with Arabs, particularly Palestinians.

• Capital is Jerusalem, considered to be a holy place for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Judaism – Map!

Judaism in 1500 C.E. Judaism Today

In 1500, located in Europe and Middle East

Today, located in Israel and U.S.

Christianity In More Depth

Christianity briefly

• Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.2 billion followers worldwide.

• It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago.

Christianity• The early Hebrews who eventually developed into

the Jewish religion became the foundation of Christianity.

• Jesus, or the Messiah, was a Jewish boy who disagreed with some of the Jewish principles of his day began to profess a new way of thinking.

• This eventually led to the beginning of the Christian religion.

• The central point of Christian belief is that God, the Father, entered into human history as the Son, Jesus of Nazereth, and arose as the Holy Spirit.

Christianity

• Monotheistic.• Evolved from

Judaism.• Moved east and

south of its hearth area.

• Routinely spread through force.

• European contact with the “New World” brought Christianity.

• World’s largest religion.

• Segmented into three separate churches:o Catholicso Protestantso Eastern Christians

• Catholicism - largest branch

o Headed by the Pope direct link to

God

o Ceremonial - 7 sacraments baptism,

marriage, Eucharist, etc.

o Very traditional

Christianity

• Protestantism - (1517) Reformation erao No Pope needed

individual has direct link to God

o Grace through faith rather than sacraments forgiveness for sins

through indiv. prayers

o Spread though N. Europe and England arose same time as

1466 Gutenberg Bible and the printing press

Christianity

Martin Luther

• Eastern Orthodoxy - 5th Century splito Rivalry between

Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) Rome remained

center for Roman Catholicism

o Rejected Roman Catholicism doctrine by 1054

officially splito National

Churches Russian, Greek,

Serbian Orthodox, etc.

Christianity

Christian Sects

• Roman Catholicism vs. Eastern Orthodox-Christian Church divided when the Roman Empire was divided and then fell. Orthodox Christians do not recognize the authority of the Pope.

• Catholicism vs. Protestantism-as a result of the Reformation, Protestant sects broke with the Catholic Church and established their own separate churches.

Christian Philosophy

• God is the Creator of the universe. There is one God, Who is Three Persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

• Jesus is both fully man and fully God. He was born of the Virgin Mary Crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

Christianity Beliefs

• Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God

• God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins

• Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion (the Resurrection)

• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament

• Christians believe that there is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 "persons"

• Christians believe that God made the world.

Christianity Beliefs continued• Christians believe that they can have a personal

relationship with God, and that they are saved by faith, not works. Grace is the law code.

• They believe in actual heaven and hell.• Sin and Evil are realities in our existence. • They believe that the Bible is the inspired word

of God.

• The leader of Christianity was Jesus, and the followers was his 12 disciples.

• Their giving is a tithe or offerings.

Christians Holy Book

• The Bible is the Christian holy book.• It is divided into the Old and New

Testaments. • Parts of the writing contained in the Old

Testament are also sacred to Jewish and Muslim people.

Christian Place of Worship

• The Christian place of worship is called a Church, which are built in the shape of a cross with the altar facing east towards the rising sun.

• Services are led by a priest, pastor or reverend.

• Day of worship is normally Sunday but most recently Saturday has been added.

Westminster Abbey London

Christianity – Map!

Christianity 1500 C.E. Christianity Today

In 1500, located in Europe and Middle East

Today, located in Americas and Europe

Islam In More Depth

Islam• Spread in a manner

similar to Christianity.o Proselytic faith.

• Adherents are known as Muslims.

• Worship one god, called Allah.

• Founded by the prophet Muhammad.

• Holy book is the Qur’an (or Koran).o Basis for sharia, or

holy law.• Divided into two

major groups:o Shiite & Sunni

• Fastest growing world religion

Islam Briefly

• Islam is the second most popular religion in the world with over a billion followers.

• Islam began in Arabia and was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• Those who follow Islam are called Muslims. • Muslims believe that there is only one God, called

Allah, who speaks Arabic.

• The Muslim calendar has 354 days– based on the 12 crescent moon cycles.

Islam

• ISLAM is the name given to the religion preached by the prophet Muhammad in the 600s A. D.

• The Islamic religion started in the area known as Palestine in the year 600AD.

• It has about 850 million followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea.

Islam

• Allah, is the Islamic God.

• People who believe these ideas are called Muslims.

Islamic Philosophy

• Muslims learn that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come.

• Angels record good and bad deeds.

• People should behave themselves and help others, trusting in Allah's justice and mercy for their reward.

Islam • Basic Preceptso Submission to the will

of God (Allah)o Lineage - Adam,

Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, & Mohammed (different lineage)

o Holy Book - Koran - built on Old Testament

o Five (5) pillars of faith

• 5 Pillars of Faith

o Creed:o “There is no

God but Allah”

o Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca

o Giving to the poor

o Month of Rammadan

o Pilgrimage to Mecca

Islam Holy Book

• The Muslim scripture is the Holy Qur'an. It is 'the word of God'. Muslim beliefs and practices are rooted in the Qur'an.

• Muslims treat the Qur'an with great respect because they believe that the Qur'an is from Allah, and every word and every letter is sacred.

• Muslims regard the Qur'an as the unaltered word of God.

• It is read from right to left and written in Arabic, the language of heaven.

Islam Place of Worship

• The Muslim building for communal worship is called a Mosque. The word comes from the Arabic for "place of prostration".

• Worshippers are called to prayer 5 times a day from minarets – towers on the mosque corners.

• They contain only designs, no people or animals or furniture.• Normal day of worship is Friday.• Religious leaders are called imams.

Grand mosque in Mecca

Islam Place of Worship

• The Muslim building for communal worship is called a Mosque. – The word comes from the Arabic for

"place of prostration".

• Worshippers are called to prayer 5 times a day from minarets – towers on the mosque corners.

• They contain only designs, no people or animals or furniture.

• Normal day of worship is Friday. Jamia Mosque in Derby England

Islam

• While praying, they face the holy city of Mecca (in Saudi-Arabia) and sometimes kneel with faces to the ground.

• All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage (trip to a sacred place) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Five Pillars Belief System/Law Code• Shahadah: declaration of faith

"I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God." By reciting this, one enters Islamic faith.

• Salah: prayerMuslims are required to pray five times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of Mecca while praying.

• Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to those less fortunate, regardless of their religion. It is usually 2.5%.

• Saum: fasting during the month of RamadanMuslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this time, Muslims reflect on their behavior and strive to purify their thoughts.

• Hajj: pilgrimage to MeccaIf it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Shahada(witness) is the Muslim profession of faith- "I witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah"

• Muslims say this when they wake up in the morning and just before they go to sleep at night

• 2. Salat(daily prayer) is a prayer ritual performed 5 times a day by all Muslims over the age of 10

• Between first light and sunrise • After the sun has passed the middle of the

sky • Between mid-afternoon and sunset • Between sunset and the last light of the day • Between darkness and dawn

3. Sawm(fasting) is abstaining each day during Ramadan

• Sawm helps Muslims develop self-control, gain a better understanding of God's gifts and greater compassion towards the deprived.

• Ramadan is the holiest day for Islam. It marks when Muhammad had the Qur-an revealed to him

• Sawm is usually described as fasting, but it actually involves abstaining from all bodily pleasures between dawn and sunset

• Not only is food forbidden, but also things like smoking, chewing gum, negative thoughts and sexual activity

Food Laws

• Very similar laws to the Jewish kosher foods• No alcohol, pork, blood, no pork fat products,

scavenger animals• Food must be prepared similarly to the Jews

– Slice to the jugular– Drain blood

4. Zakat(almsgiving) is giving alms to the poor • This is a compulsory gift of 2.5 % of one's

savings each year • Giving in this way is intended to free

Muslims from the love of money • It reminds them that everything they have

really belongs to God.

5. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all physically/financially able Muslims should make at least once in their life

• Mecca is the most holy place for Muslims• Takes place during days 8-13 of the 12th

month of the Islamic Lunar calendar• They circle the Kaaba seven times on three

occasions, say prayers, drink from a holy spring, walk to Mount Arafat to pray, feast, cast stones at three pillars(to fight Satan’s temptations), shave hair, run seven times between some hills

Main Festivals

• Hijja:The month of pilgrimage during which all Muslims, at least once in their life, should try to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and worship at the Kaaba

The Kaaba

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b0/Masjid_Al_Haram_in_the_night.jpg

Muslim Sects• Sunni-the majority• Shia-the minority• The split rose from an early dispute over who should be the

leader of Islam after the death of Muhammad. • The Sunnis argued that the successor should be appointed

by election and consensus, as tradition dictated. (Sunni comes from the Arabic word Sunna , meaning “tradition.”)

• The Shia believed that Muhammad's successors should come from his family, starting with Ali, his son-in-law. These, the partisans of Ali, were named from the word Shia , meaning “partisan” in Arabic.

Islam – Map!

Islam in 1500 C.E. Islam Today

In 1500, located in Middle East, Africa, and Southern Europe

Today, located in Middle East, Africa, and Asia