Religion in the Middle East Religions Defines Who

Religion in the Middle East

Religions Defines Who They Are: • • • Actions Laws they follow Loyalties Friends Enemies

Religion in the Middle East • Muslims • Jews • Christians

The Holy Land

Origin Historic Places Jews • God gave land to Canaan ~2100 BC • ~1450 BC God directed Moses to lead Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt and into that land • Tombs of Patriarchs • Jerusalem • King David’s Capital • Holy Mount • Western (Wailing) Wall Muslims • • Christians Muhammad (Saudi Arabia) received message from God By 1900 50 million Muslims in ME (90% of population • Setting in the Bible (not given) • Jesus was born, lived and died here • Mecca – home of Muhammad • Medina - Mosque of the Prophet • Jerusalem • Al-Aqsa Mosque • Dome of the Rock • Jerusalem • Bethlehem • Golgotha • Church of Holy Sepulcher • Mount of Olives

Other Issues Jew vs Jew Muslim vs Muslim • Ultra-Orthodox – nation should revolve around God and the Torah • Secular – nation should revolve around Jewish ethnicity • Sunnis – largest; leadership in the community • Shiites – minority; leadership = decedents of Muhammad

Handout THE BASICS OF ISLAM…

Tomb of Patriarchs

Western Wall

Mecca

http: //www. cnn. com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/0 2/vbs. mecca. diaries/index. html? hpt=C 1

Dome of the Rock

The Black Cube – Kaaba