The Land of Three Faiths

Comunicación y Gerencia

Middle Eastern ReligionsIslam, Christianity, and Judaism

Introduction

Three of the world’s major religions were founded in the middle east.

CHRISTIANITY, JUDAISM, AND ISLAM

Christianity was born from within the Jewish tradition, and Islam developed from both Christianity and Judaism.

There are two result of this common link

All three of these religions are MONO THEISTIC- The belief in only ONE GOD.

All three religions recogonize Abraham as their first prophets, they are all three considered ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS

Lets take a closer look at each of these!!

Islam

Brief History of Islam• Islam was created by Muhammad in

the early seventh century C.E. in Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia.

• Islam continued to grow in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia

Brief History of Islam• Muslim leaders are

referred to as “Caliph”– Muhammad was the

first Caliph of Islam

• After Muhammad’s death, there was a dispute as to who should take over his role as caliph.

Brief History of Islam

• Some thought that someone in Muhammad’s family would be the next caliph. They believed it should be direct descendant of Muhammad– Shi’a

• More strict form of Islam

• Some thought that any Muslim could become the next caliph.– Sunni

Sunni/ Shi’a Split

Sunni and Shia Today

What Muslims Believe• Allah (the Arabic word for God) sent his

revelation to the prophet Muhammad – His message is found in the Quran (Islamic holy

book)

• Observant Muslims practice five principles or Pillars of Islam: – Say there is only one God and that Muhammad

is God’s Prophet– Pray 5 times a day towards Mecca– Help the poor– Fast during Holy Month of Ramadan– Make a Pilgrimage to Mecca (once in a lifetime)

What Muslims Believe • Jesus, Moses, and Abraham were all

prophets …– Muhammad was the last prophet

• Holy Cities = Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem

• Monotheistic = Believe in one God

• Muslims worship in a Mosque

Christianity

Brief History of Christianity

• Christianity started as an offshoot of Judaism in the first century C.E.

• Although Christians are a minority in the Middle East today, more than 75 % of Americans of Arab descent are Christian.

Beliefs

• Christians also believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah

• Christians believe that Abraham and Moses are prophets

What Christians Believe• Christians believe in one God,

– monotheistic religion

• Christians believe that many parts of Israel where Jesus lived are Holy Cities.

• Christians guide their daily life by the 10 Commandments.

• Its holy book is called the Bible.. It is made up of…

– the Old Testament: the Jewish Torah with additions

– New Testament can be found in the Christian Holy Book the Bible.

Other Vocabulary

• Christians worship in a Church

• Leaders of the Christian Church are called Preachers or Pastors.

Judaism

Brief History Judaism

• Judaism is the oldest surviving monotheistic religion

• Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew (prophet) and to have made a covenant with God.

Brief History of Judaism• Most Jews then lived in Diaspora, as minorities in

their communities, until the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.

• Diaspora = the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland

• When Jews from all over the world came back to settle in modern Israel – Zionism (movement that called for Jews everywhere to

return to their homeland)

• various subcultures had developed when the Jews returned– Thus conflict has arose in this region.

What Jews Believe• Judaism is a

Monotheistic religion.– They believe in One God.

• Jewish sacred text is the Torah

• Jerusalem temple, Hebron, Palestine, and burial place of Abraham are all Holy Cities.

What Jews Believe

• Jews guide their lives by the 10 Commandments

• Jews do not believe in the prophets after the Jewish prophets, including Muhammad.

Other Vocabulary

• Synagogue= where Jewish people worship

• Rabbi= the leader of the Jewish synagogue