RELIGIONS OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE MIDDLE EASTMIDDLE EAST

Birthplace of Major World ReligionsBirthplace of Major World ReligionsAll monotheistic and linked by a common All monotheistic and linked by a common

ancestor - ABRAHAMancestor - ABRAHAM Judaism – 2000 BCE Judaism – 2000 BCE Christianity - Birth of Jesus (CE Begins)Christianity - Birth of Jesus (CE Begins) Islam – 610 CE Koran revealed to Islam – 610 CE Koran revealed to

Muhammad Muhammad

ABRAHAMABRAHAMLinks Judaism, Islam Links Judaism, Islam

and Christianityand Christianity

Covenant with Covenant with GodGod

Land & PeopleLand & PeopleAbraham – SarahAbraham – Sarah

IsaacIsaacAbraham – HagarAbraham – Hagar

IshmaelIshmael

MonotheismMonotheism

Unifies the cultureUnifies the cultureStresses moral behaviorStresses moral behaviorRighteousnessRighteousnessEnds destructive practices Ends destructive practices Encourages spirituality and self-reflectionEncourages spirituality and self-reflection

JUDAISMJUDAISM

Belief in one GodBelief in one God God promised God promised

Abraham “land and Abraham “land and descendants”descendants”

““Chosen People” are Chosen People” are the descendants of the descendants of Abraham’s son Abraham’s son IsaacIsaac

Land of Canaan is Land of Canaan is modern day Israelmodern day Israel

Messiah – will bring Messiah – will bring peace & unitypeace & unity

Teachings of JudaismTeachings of Judaism

MosesMoses

Hebrew people enslaved in Hebrew people enslaved in EgyptEgypt

God sends10 PlaguesGod sends10 Plagues The PassoverThe Passover Moses led the Hebrew Moses led the Hebrew

people to the out of Egypt people to the out of Egypt to the “Promised Land”to the “Promised Land”

The 10 Commandments The 10 Commandments received from Godreceived from God

1400 BC (approx)1400 BC (approx)opl

Sacred TextsSacred Texts

The TorahThe Torah

““Five books of Moses”Five books of Moses”The story of creation, escape The story of creation, escape

from Egypt, laws and duties of from Egypt, laws and duties of the Jewish peoplethe Jewish people

The Tanakh – The Hebrew BibleThe Tanakh – The Hebrew BibleSacred stories and writings of Sacred stories and writings of the Jewish people. the Jewish people.

Sacred TextsSacred Texts

The Talmud The Talmud The Jewish LawThe Jewish Law

Legal Opinions and Legal Opinions and Scholarly DebatesScholarly Debates

Strongly influences Strongly influences Western LawWestern Law

Religious Dress for Religious Dress for WomenWomen

The Temple of Solomon The Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem in Jerusalem

Destroyed 70 CE -Destroyed 70 CE -Wailing Wall is all Wailing Wall is all that remains of the that remains of the templetemple

Jewish communities Jewish communities keep traditions alive keep traditions alive throughout the worldthroughout the world

Await the Messiah – Await the Messiah – who will bring peace who will bring peace & unity& unity

The DiasporaThe Diaspora

ORTHODOX,ORTHODOX,CONSERVATIVE, CONSERVATIVE, REFORMREFORM

RECONSTRUCTIONISTRECONSTRUCTIONIST

Branches of JudaismBranches of Judaism

CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth Son of GodSon of God Preached about Preached about

humility, mercy humility, mercy equality, forgivenessequality, forgiveness

Crucified by RomansCrucified by Romans Rose from the deadRose from the dead Apostles spread faithApostles spread faith Salvation for rich and Salvation for rich and

poorpoor

Jesus of Jesus of NazarethNazareth

Challenged corrupt Challenged corrupt Jewish officialsJewish officials

Seen as a threat by Seen as a threat by RomansRomans

Crucified by Crucified by RomansRomans

Christians believe Christians believe

The BibleThe Bible

Old Testament Old Testament – – Hebrew ScripturesHebrew Scriptures

New TestamentNew Testament – – Life and teachings of Life and teachings of

Jesus as written by his Jesus as written by his followersfollowers

JESUS JESUS TAUGHT HIS TAUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS FOLLOWERS TO:TO:

Love GodLove God

Love one Love one another as another as they love they love themselvesthemselves

Christians believe Christians believe The Trinity The Trinity

3 personifications of 3 personifications of one Godone God

God the Father, God the Father,

God the Son,God the Son,

God the Holy SpiritGod the Holy Spirit

Three Major Three Major Types of Types of ChristianityChristianity

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic

Orthodox ChristianOrthodox Christian

ProtestantProtestant

Important RitualsImportant RitualsBaptism Baptism

ConfirmationConfirmation

Eucharist/CommunionEucharist/Communion

““The blood of the The blood of the martyrs is the seed of martyrs is the seed of the Christian Church.”the Christian Church.”

Christianity was not destroyed by Christianity was not destroyed by Roman persecution, but spread to Roman persecution, but spread to

far flung regions of the world. far flung regions of the world.

ISLAMISLAM

Allah (God)Allah (God)Muhammad – Muhammad –

The ProphetThe ProphetKoran - Holy Koran - Holy

BookBookHadith – words Hadith – words

of The Prophetof The ProphetMosque – Place Mosque – Place

of worshipof worship

THE FIVE PILLARSTHE FIVE PILLARS1. To proclaim the belief in 1. To proclaim the belief in the one God.the one God.

2. To pray five times a day.2. To pray five times a day.

3. To give to the poor.3. To give to the poor.

4. To fast during Ramadan.4. To fast during Ramadan.

5. To make the Hajj.5. To make the Hajj.

JIHADJIHAD

SOMETIMES CALLED SOMETIMES CALLED THE “SIXTH” PILLAR OF THE “SIXTH” PILLAR OF

ISLAMISLAM

MEANS “STRUGGLE”MEANS “STRUGGLE”

Spiritual struggle of the soulSpiritual struggle of the soul

Physical struggle to defend IslamPhysical struggle to defend Islam

The HajjThe HajjThe Pilgrimage The Pilgrimage

to Mecca to Mecca Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia

hosts and hosts and controlscontrols

Also visit the Also visit the Prophet’s grave Prophet’s grave in Medinain Medina

Circle the Circle the Ka’abaKa’aba

ABRAHAMABRAHAMLinks Judaism, Islam Links Judaism, Islam

and Christianityand Christianity

Abraham – SarahAbraham – Sarah Isaac Isaac

Hebrew people (Jesus)Hebrew people (Jesus)

““Ibrahim” – HagarIbrahim” – Hagar Ishmael Ishmael

Arab people Arab people (Muhammad)(Muhammad)

““People of the Book”People of the Book”

The Prophet's phrase for Christians & The Prophet's phrase for Christians & JewsJews

All MonotheisticAll Monotheistic All worship the same GodAll worship the same God Muslims regard Jesus Christ as a Muslims regard Jesus Christ as a

prophet of Islam who will come before prophet of Islam who will come before the Day of Judgmentthe Day of Judgment

The Prophet accepted the Hebrew and The Prophet accepted the Hebrew and Christian scriptures as the word of GodChristian scriptures as the word of God

Religion Links Believers Religion Links Believers to the Middle East to the Middle East

Strong emotional tiesStrong emotional tiesPeople around the world care about the People around the world care about the

politics of the regionpolitics of the regionWant stabilityWant stabilityAccess to the Holy Sites (Jerusalem, Access to the Holy Sites (Jerusalem,

Mecca)Mecca)Donate money and support causes based Donate money and support causes based

in the Mid Eastin the Mid East

JERUSALEM JERUSALEM HOLY TO THREE HOLY TO THREE

FAITHSFAITHS

Islam Islam Sunni and Shi’ite Split Sunni and Shi’ite Split

Sunni (85%) Leaders chosen Sunni (85%) Leaders chosen from among the people from among the people (Caliphs)(Caliphs)

Shi’ite (15%) leaders are Shi’ite (15%) leaders are descendants of the Prophet descendants of the Prophet (12 Imams) (12 Imams)

Same basic beliefsSame basic beliefs

Sunni and Shia Sunni and Shia

Sunni (green) Shia (red)Sunni (green) Shia (red)

SHIA ISLAMSHIA ISLAM

Shi’ism originates in Shi’ism originates in IraqIraq

with the assassination of Imam with the assassination of Imam Hussein (Nephew of the Prophet) Hussein (Nephew of the Prophet) at Karbala 632ADat Karbala 632AD

Iraq and spreads over the border Iraq and spreads over the border to Iranto Iran

More mystic and emotional More mystic and emotional

Ayatollahs have more power than Ayatollahs have more power than Sunni clericsSunni clerics

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FundamentalismFundamentalism

• Belief that one's religious Belief that one's religious texts are infallibletexts are infallible

• One’s practice is better or One’s practice is better or more pure than that of more pure than that of others who follow the same others who follow the same faith.faith.

Fundamentalism is Fundamentalism is GrowingGrowing

• Found in all religionsFound in all religions• Want to maintain traditional, Want to maintain traditional,

basic beliefs of their faithbasic beliefs of their faith• Resist change, modernizationResist change, modernization

Christian Christian FundamentalistsFundamentalists

• Waco Massacre Waco Massacre • 1993 siege on 1993 siege on

headquarters of headquarters of Branch DavidiansBranch Davidians

• Cult like group led Cult like group led by David Koreshby David Koresh

• 76 killed, including 76 killed, including 20 children20 children

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Jewish Jewish FundamentalistsFundamentalists

• Orthodox in their Orthodox in their observanceobservance

• Torah given to Torah given to Moses by God and Moses by God and must be observed must be observed in every detailin every detail

• In modern Israel In modern Israel “settlers” claim “settlers” claim God given rights to God given rights to land designated for land designated for PalestiniansPalestinians

Muslim Muslim FundamentalistsFundamentalists

• Reject Western valuesReject Western values

• Jihad as violent struggleJihad as violent struggle

• Strictly follow the Sharia LawStrictly follow the Sharia Law

• Women play a traditional role in Women play a traditional role in societysociety