Birth of three religions

Abrahamthe father of 3 religions!Abraham lived in the Mesopotamian city of Ur (what is today the Middle East). Abraham loved and obeyed God. God made Abraham a promise … that his descendents would out number the stars and would inhabit land that God would give them.

Birth place of Abraham

Abraham’s family treeAbraham and his wife,

SarahIsaac

The second son

Abraham and HagarIshmael

The oldest son

DescendentsHebrews

(Jews/Christianity)

DescendentsArabs (Islam)

The problem … Abraham and his wife,

SarahIsaac

The second son

Abraham and HagarIshmael

The oldest son

His descendents believed God’s

promise was for them and all their

descendents!

His descendents believed God’s promise was for

them and all their descendents!

The problem … Abraham and his wife,

SarahIsaac

The second son

Abraham and HagarIshmael

The oldest son

His descendents believed God’s

promise was for them and all their descendents!

His descendents believed God’s promise was for

them and all their descendents!

So these two religions, Judaism and Islam, have

been fighting ever since the death of Father Abraham!

But this is for another day!

First, let’s first learn about the similarities and differences of

these religions!

Judaism

Symbol – Star of David

Holy Book - Torah

Foundation on promises from

God

Holy book -

Torah

Jerusalem is a holy city for

the Jews.

During Biblical times, Jerusalem was a political and religious

center of Jewish people. King David made it the capital city and later his

son, King Solomon built the first Jewish

temple here (900’s BC).

This temple was built, destroyed, and rebuilt many times over several hundred years as other people

conquered Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed for the last time in 70 AD by the Romans. All that

remains today is the Western Wall.

Jews come to this wall to pray. Because of the heartfelt prayers offered here, non-Jewish people

refer to the wall as the Wailing Wall. However, the Jewish people refer to the wall as the Western Wall.

Judaism

Worship in a synagogue

Holy City - Jerusalem

Christianity

Symbol – Cross

Holy Book – Holy Bible

Followers of Jesus Christ

The Birth of ChristianityJesus was born to a Jewish family about 2030 years ago in the city of Bethlehem. At 30 years old, he began preaching and teaching about God. Soon his followers grew, as well as his enemies.

Three years later, his enemies crucified Him on the hill of Calvary in Jerusalem. Three days later

He rose from the dead, appeared to His followers, and eventually went to heaven. His followers continued his work and began the

religion of Christianity.

Therefore, Jerusalem is also

very holy to Christians. The Church of the

Holy Sepulcher is believed to stand

on the hill of Calvary.

Christianity

Worship in a church

Holy City – Jerusalem

Islam

Foundation – Muhammad’s revelations

Holy book – Qur’an

Symbol – crescent

moon and star

The Birth of IslamMuhammad (an

Arab) was born in Mecca in 570 AD. At age 40, he received revelations from God. He began preaching about these messages from God as well as against the corruption of society. He also gained many followers as well as enemies.

In 622 AD nobles of Mecca were threatening his life, so he fled Mecca to Medina. There he built an army and eight years later (630 AD), he returned to Mecca. He took the city of Mecca and destroyed the idols in the Kaaba. He proclaimed that only Allah (God) was to be worshipped and proclaimed Mecca a holy city.

The KaabaThe Qu’ran

(Islam’s holy book) states

that the Kaaba was built by

Abraham and his son

Ishmael. The Kaaba had

been filled with over 300 idols,

but when Muhammad

took Mecca, he destroyed the

idols and proclaimed

that only Allah would be

worshipped here.

Muslims (followers of Islam) consider the Kaaba so sacred, they believe that at least

once in their life they must make a pilgrimage (or Haj) to the Kaaba.

Another sacred place for Muslims

Dome of the Rock

Muslims believe that Muhammad rose to heaven from this site and the rock marks the site. Where is this rock and dome located? Jerusalem!

http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_07_156.gif

During the 7th and 8th centuries, Islam spread by conversion and military conquest throughout the Middle East and North Africa. By 733, just 100 years after the death of Muhammad, an Islamic state stretched from the Indus Valley in the east to Spain in the west.

(Caliphs – rulers of Islam)

There is only 1 God Praying 5 times a day in the direction of Mecca

Giving to the poor and needyFasting during the month of Ramadan

Making a pilgrimage, or haj, to Mecca

5 pillars of Islam

Muslims have differences of opinion. This has caused a division among Muslims, dividing them into two separate groups: Sunnis and Shiites

•The major reason for this division came in the 7th century with the question of succession.

•The Shi’ites believed that Mohammad’s successor should be a direct descent of Mohammad

•Sunnis believed that Mohammad’s successor should be selected by religious leaders.

•This sparked a civil war between the two groups, and the two groups continue to be divided on major issues today.

Islam

Worship in a mosque

Holy City - Jerusalem

Holy City – Mecca

JerusalemHoly to all 3 religions!

For Christians … Jesus spent his last days on Earth here in Jerusalem and was resurrected here as well.For Jewish faith … temple of Solomon was built on this site. It was destroyed but a second temple was built on the same site. This wall was the western wall of that 2nd temple. Jewish people also believe this is the eternal capital of the Israelite nation. For Islam … the Dome of the Rock Mosque surrounds the rock from which the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven.

All 3 holy sites captured in one image!

Church of the Holy Sepulcher commemorates the hill of crucifixion and the tomb of Christ's burial.

Dome of the Rock

Western Wall

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.What problems do you think this may cause

for the people who consider this city holy to their religion?

Problem?

Christianity

Islam Judaism

•Christmas – - the birth of Jesus•Lent – - 40 days leading up to Easter – personal reflection, improvement through prayer, fasting, and study•Holy Week - Palm Sunday - Maundy Thursday – remembrance of Last Supper - Good Friday - Easter Sunday

•Ramadan - Muslims fast during daylight hours entire month as part of effort toward self-purification and moral excellence

•Passover – celebrates Exodus from Egypt •Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year-reflection•Yom Kippur - day of fasting and repentance for mistakes •Sukkot - celebrates Biblical period of wandering in the desert•Hanukkah - celebrates rededication of holy Temple in Jerusalem

Holidays and Traditions

Basic BeliefsChristianit

y Islam Judaism

•One God•Bible is written word of God•Jesus Christ God manifested in flesh•Jesus died for sinners•Believe in life after death

•One God•Belief in holy books sent to all prophets (including Torah)•Belief in all prophets•Belief in Day of Judgment and life after death•Holy Book – Qu’ran or Koran

•G-d exits•G-d is one•G-d is eternal•Pray to G-d alone•Words of prophets are true•G-d will reward the good and punish the evil•Holy Book - Torah

Judaism

Christianity Islam

Where did the religion begin?

Sumer

JudeaArabia

Who is the founder?

Abraham

Followers of Jesus Muhammad

What is the religion based on?

Abraham’s covenant with God

Jesus – the Son of God Muhammad’s revelations

Where are the stories recorded?

New Testament Qur’an

What do they have in common?

Old Testamen

t

Founders

received revelatio

n

Worship one God

Jews have differences of opinions…

•Orthodox Jews believe in strict observance of the traditions and principles of Judaism.

•Secular Jews do not follow all the laws and traditions as strictly.

Christians have differences of opinions…

Just to name a few …

•Methodists

•Baptists

•Lutherans

•Presbyterians

•Episcopalians

Sunnis

Shi’ites

Believe in

-One God

-5 Pillars

-Qu’ran

•Successor should be direct descent of Mohammad

•Interpret the Qu’ran

•Extremely conservative

•Most believe in jihad

•Successor should be elected by leaders

•Take Qu’ran literally – not interpretations

•Very conservative

•Some willing to practice jihad (holy war)

Muslim Distribution Today

Sunni

Shi’ite

Words to know…MonotheismPolytheismJudaismChristianityIslamMuslims Sunni Shi’iteHaj TorahQu’ran (Koran)Jihad

MuhammadAbrahamJesusMosque Synagogue Dome of the RockWestern Wall

People and places to know…

Why is Jerusalem so important to all 3 religions?

What is the origin of Judaism?What is the origin of Christianity?What is the origin of Islam?Why did Muslims divide into two

separate groups? What are these two groups? What are the similarities and differences of these two groups of Muslims?

Essential Questions to know…

Believe it or not…

Abraham – father of 3 major religions – Christianity, Judaism, Islam Jesus – followers are called Christians – believe He is the Son of God Mohammad – founder of Islam – followers believe God gave him

revelations Christianity – followers of Jesus Christ Judaism – descendants of Abraham and Isaac – believe they are the chosen

of God Islam – religion founded by Mohammad Torah – holy book of Judaism Qur’an (Koran) – holy book of Islam Synagogue – where Jewish faith worship Mosque – where Muslims worship Monotheistic – belief in one God Dome of the Rock – mosque built around the rock where Muslims believe

Mohammad ascended into heaven Haj – an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca – one of the 5 pillars of Islam Mecca – birth place of Mohammad Western wall – holy place for Jewish – wall of 2nd temple Jerusalem - capital of Israel and holy city to 3 major religions Sunni – A division of Islam. Believe Islamic ruler should be elected Shia (Shi’ite) – another division of Islam Believe Islamic ruler should be a

descendant od Mohammed

Words to know …

18 terms-9 on one page-9 on the other!