“In the end, the good will triumph and the world will have eternal peace”

What was the main religion of ancient and classical civilization of Persia?

Zoroastrianism: Struggle between Good and Evil

Founder is Zarathustra

Established the wisdom tradition of

the “magis”

Defended by a prince thus became as a

state religion

Teachings and Beliefs

Believes in dualism

Evil – Ahriman; Good – Ahura Mazda

Human beings are creations of Ahura Mazda but are given the freedom to decide and act.

Traditions: Land, fire and water are sacred and should not be dirtied by death.

Texts: Avesta or Zendavesta

“Love your neighbor as you love yourself”

Judaism: There is Justice from God

JUDAISM is a religion of just one people: the Jews.

JUDAISM was the first to teach belief in only one God. Two other important religions developed from Judaism: Christianity and Islam.

JudaismStarted in the time of Abraham

Abraham’s family lineage were called Hebrews

Hebrews (Israelites) were slaves in (?), freed by (?)

From Egypt, they went to (?), where (?) became the first king of Israel

Kingdom was divided into 2: (?)

JudaismJews 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 teaches that death is not the end and that there is a world to come.

Judaism• The "Torah," the first five books of the

Hebrew Bible, is the most important Jewish scripture.

• It contains the basic laws of Judaism.• Another important book is the "Talmud,"

serving primarily as a guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism.

• Bias for social jsutice

The Jewish house of worship is called a synagogue.

Rabbis (spiritual leaders) conduct services, act as interpreters of

Jewish laws, and deliver sermons.

Today there are over 18 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world. A large number of those people live in

the Jewish nation of Israel.

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.

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”

Christianity: Love as a Weapon of Change

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.

Christian Philosophy

Sin and Evil are realities in our existence.

The Bible is the Holy Book that records

God's revelation.

All believers are promised

life everlasting.

The leader of Christianity

was Jesus, and the followers

was his 12 disciples.

Teachings and Beliefs• God is the Father of all humankind.• Love God above all.• Life and one’s personhood are sacred.• Each person should be charitable and just.• Each person can be cleansed of his sins and attain eternal

salvation.• The humble and the oppressed as well as those who forgive

others shall receive blessings from God.

“The faithful followers will reach paradise

Islam: Surrender to the Will of God• Founded by Mohammed• The holy book of Islam is the "Koran."

Muslims believe its words to be those of Allah himself, spoken to Muhammad by an angel.

• Allah, is the Islamic God.• People who believe these ideas are called

Muslims.

• 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.

Five PillarsProclamation that there is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet

Praying five times

Fasting during holy days of Ramadan

Giving of alms

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Sunnah Shia (or Shi'ah) adherents called Sunnis Shiites, Shi'i meaning of name "well-trodden path" or "tradition" "party" or "partisans" of Ali primary locations most Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Yemen

origins c. 632 CE; theology developed especially in 10th cent.

c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in 680 CE is major event

did Muhammad designate a successor? no yes

true successor of the Prophet

Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by

people of Medina)

'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet)

qualifications for ruler of Islam

tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any qualified ruler family of the Prophet

current leaders imams mujtahids

identity of imams human leaders infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an

religious authority other than the Qu'ran

ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community infallible imams

concealing faith for self-protection (taqiya)

affirmed under certain circumstances emphasized

temporary marriage (mut'ah)

practiced in the Prophet's time, but now rejected still practiced

holy cities Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala