The Big Three Monotheistic Religions Christianity Islam Judaism
The Big Three Monotheistic Religions Christianity, Islam, Judaism
Judaism • OLDEST of the “Big” 3. Began 3500 years ago!!!! • Began in Southwest Asia • Practiced today mostly in Israel and pockets in the US and Europe • Considered an Ethnic Religion
Judaism: God • Believe in ONE God (Monotheistic) • The God of Abraham • Called Adonai in Hebrew
Judaism: Holy Book & Language • Te. Na. Kh (in 3 parts) • Torah is the most important part • The law of God • Hebrew is the sacred language
Judaism: Key Beliefs • Moses is Judaism’s most important prophet (teacher spoken to by God) • Lie a good life according to the rules of the Torah • Pass on Jewish traditions to one’s family
Judaism: Practices, Rituals and Holidays • Keep the Sabbath Holy • Family meal-breaking bread and sharing wine • Fast during Yom Kippur (day of atonement) • Give to the needy • Kosher food-no pork, shellfish, or meat prepared with dairy
Judaism: Building, Leader and Day of Worship • Synagogue • Rabbi • Friday evening to Saturday Evening
Judaism: Sects Reformed Orthodox Conservative
Judaism: Holy Site in Jerusalem • Wailing Wall
Christianity: God • Believe in One God (monotheistic) • God of Abraham • Called Yahweh • Practiced today all over the world
Christianity: Holy Book and Sacred Language • Bible ( 2 parts) • Old Testament • New Testament • No real sacred language, though most historic texts are written in Latin or Greek.
Christianity: Key Beliefs • Based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ • Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit • Jesus was both Human and Divine • Christ died on the Cross, was buried and rose 3 days later • Ascended into Heaven • Salvation: Heaven
Christianity: Practices, Rituals, & Holidays • Baptism: initiation into the faith • Communion: represents Jesus’ last supper before death • Christmas: Christ’s birth • Easter: Christ’s death and ressurection
Christianity: Building, Leader, & Day of Worship • - Churches • - Priests, pastors, ministers • - Sunday worship services
Christianity: Sects Roman Catholic - Orthodox - Protestant - All believe Jerusalem is the holiest city - (Christ died and rose)
Jerusalem Holy Site • Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Islam • Fastest growing world religion • Youngest of the monotheistic religions
God • Believe in one God • - The God of Abraham • - Called Allah in Arabic
Holy Book: Parts & Sacred Language • - Koran (Qur’an) • - Contains revelations God made to Muhammad • - Arabic is the sacred language • - Believers called Muslims
Key Beliefs Based on the teachings of Muhammad - Born in Mecca (holiest city and center of Islam) - Believe he was the final prophet - Live according to God’s guidance rewarded with salvation - Believe Moses and Jesus were prophets, but Jesus not divine -
Practices, Rituals, & Holidays • - “Five pillars” • - Declaration of faith • - Pray 5 times a day • - Almsgiving (charity) • - Fasting during Ramadan • - Pilgrimage to Mecca • - Dietary laws: no pork or alcohol
Building, Leader, Day of Worship • - Mosque • - Imam (prayer leader) • - Friday noon prayers are most important
Sects • - Sunni • - Shi’ite • - Differ over leadership in the Muslim community
Holy Site in Jerusalem • Dome of the Rock • Mostly found in SW Asia and Central Asia
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