The “Religions of the Book”

The “Religions of the Book”Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition stems from

ancient Middle EastReligions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam share

many major figures and historical eventsAll are monotheistic religions focusing on the role

of a supreme God and the duty of believers to obey“The Book” is the writings of the Old Testament

from which each of the three religions draw theology, ethical ideas and historical foundations

Judaism

Religion of the “chosen people”; Jews secured a COVENANT between God and the Jewish people

Sources of Judaism stem from history of the ISRAELITES and their efforts to keep hold of and return to CANAAN (modern day Israel / Palestine)

Many PROPHETS continue to renew the covenant and receive the words of God

Sources of Judaism

The TORAH is the central document of Hebrew religious and historical foundations

The TORAH consists of the 1st 5 books of the OLD TESTAMENT of the BIBLE (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

Hebrew bible consists of the TORAH, the Book of PROPHETS (NEV’IM), and the Book of WRITINGS (KETUVIM) and is called the TANAKH

The TALMUD is a collection of interpretations of the Hebrew texts by Jewish scholars and RABBIS

Major figures of JudaismADAM is 1st man, created in the beginning

chapters of GENESISHe and EVE are guilty of 1st sin and are cast out

of paradiseChain of disasters for mankind continues till the

flood and God’s 1st covenant with NOAHNoah is 1st of 6 to secure God’s covenant with the

Jewish people

Major figures of Judaism

ABRAHAM is the “father of the chosen people”; at command of God he leaves Mesopotamia to settle in Canaan (1900 BC)

God’s covenant with Abraham promises a great nation for the Hebrews if they remain faithful

Covenant renewed with Abraham’s son ISAACJACOB is Abraham’s grandson and his 12 sons goes

on to form the 12 Tribes of Israelsevere famine sends Israelites to Egypt where they live

peacefully until they are enslaved by the Egyptians

Major figures of Judaism

1200 BC sees prophet MOSES lead Jews out of Egypt in a mass movement called the EXODUS into the Sinai Desert

During this trek, God renews his covenant with Moses and reveals the TEN COMMANDMENTS

Hebrews return to Canaan and fight 200 years to establish Kingdom of ISRAEL

DAVID rules as king of unified Israel and is the last to renew God’s covenant; establishes capital in JERUSALEM

David’s son SOLOMON spends huge sums to create temples to God and expand Jerusalem

Solomon’s harsh taxes and labors split Israelites after his death

Split sees creation of Kingdom of Israel in north and Kingdom of Judah in south (from where we get the word “JEW”)

Split seen as breaking of the covenant… so what happens next???

History of the Jews (cont)Dual kingdoms too weak to hold off invaders from

MesopotamiaInvaders capture Jews and move many in exile to

Babylon; during exile prophets like JEREMIAH condemn the abuses of Jewish society and say the exile is divine retribution for forgetting their duties to God and each other

Persians control area in 500’s BC and allow Jews to return to Israel; Jews rebuild Jerusalem

400’s BC sees writings collected and formed into the TORAH

Jews see their history as having a God-directed purpose and continue to study and examine it for meaning

Sects of JudaismOrthodox Judaism – majority of followers of the Jewish faith

follow this branch that focuses on rabbinical tradition and historical precedence with some adjustment towards secular life

Conservative Judaism – focuses on the “positive historical” tradition and opposes changes in practice

Reform Judaism – seeks more liberal reforms in Jewish practice, more political / secular involvement and ordination of women / acceptance of gay / lesbian community

Hasidic Judaism – most conservative and stringent form; stemming from Eastern European nations; ultraconservative social customs and little / no flexibility to practice

The HolocaustStems from centuries of ANTI-SEMITISM in

Europe and around the worldNazi Germany takes advantage of that anti-

Semitism and fear to develop the systematic extermination of some 6,000,000 men, women and children

Various nations aside from Germany share in the blame

World War II era sees growth of support for a ZIONIST movement which calls for an independent Jewish homeland

Israel becomes that nation in 1948 and has experienced repeated conflict since

Ethics of JudaismEvery human being is made in the image of God; therefore every human life has infinite worth

Humans are to work in partnership with God to create a perfect world on earth and make people responsible for what happens in the world

All segments of society have ethical obligations of equal value

God is both metaphysical and personal (both of all things and involved with each thing)

Nature is “amoral” and should not be a focus of worship

Good and evil actions will receive their just rewardsAll humans are of one family (community focus)Observe the rules and practices of the faith

Menorah – seven branched candelabrum created by Moses; represents the wisdom of God and may represent seven days of week and / or astronomical representations

Star of David – symbol said to be on David’s shield when facing Goliath; represents seven days of week and interlocking equilateral triangles symbolize reconciliation of fire and water, woman and man, flesh and the soul

Christianity

with over 1.5 billion followers, it is the largest faith in the world today

split between Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and various Protestant sects

Christian theology is based on the shared source of the Old Testament, the teachings of JESUS CHRIST and the writings of the NEW TESTAMENT

ChristianityBIBLE is the collected work of Christian holy

scriptureSuggests God exists as a HOLY TRINITY whose

three parts include the 1. Father (God); 2. Son (Christ) and 3. Holy Spirit

Originated as sect of Judaism; through Roman persecution and Judaic rejection of Christ as the prophesized messiah it grew and developed on its own

Becomes official religion of Rome in 300’s ADTheology develops over time under the Catholic

Church headed by the Bishop of Rome (POPE)

Christianity / divisions

EASTERN ORTHODOXY forms from divisions within Roman Empire

Orthodox Church does not recognize Pope and will take on different character as Byzantium and Western Europe diverge

Eastern Orthodoxy prevalent today in Greece and Eastern Europe (Russia)

Eastern Orthodox and Catholics do share most religious traditions and share the 7 sacraments

7 Sacraments

Catholicism and Orthodoxy demand these seven acts of faith and obedience of its followers1. Baptism 2. Penance3. Eucharist 4. Confirmation5. Matrimony 6. Holy Orders7. Extreme Unction

ProtestantismMARTIN LUTHER is a Catholic monk who

writes in objection to what he sees as corruptions of catholic practice

With his 95 THESES he initiates a movement that will grow into the Protestant Reformation

Lutheranism rejects the Pope, emphasis on clergy and tells followers to interpret the Bible themselves

Only 2 sacraments to Luther: baptism and “the Lord’s Supper” (communion); some Protestant sects include penance as well

Luther stresses “faith alone” as most important prerequisite of a Christian

Christian sects

Roman CatholicEastern Orthodox

Russian GreekMultiple other sects include

Anglicanism/Episcopal ChurchBaptists PresbyterianMethodists CongregationalistsMormons AdventistsAmish / Mennonites… and many, many more….

IslamStems from the teachings of Muhammad and

the KORAN (QURAN) as revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel

Incorporates Judeo-Christian ideas from Torah and Old Testament with understanding that those faiths had “lost the way”; Muhammad is last and greatest prophet

Islam stresses obedience to ALLAH and reconciliation of religious and political ideals and systems

Five PillarsFAITH – affirms the oneness and all-powerful mercy

of the one god AllahPRAYER – involves reciting passages from the

Quran five times a day in position facing Mecca with actions that represent submission to Allah; mosque – Muslim church; holy day is Friday

ALMS – charity to the poor and disadvantaged; done through both private contributions and public tax

FASTING – during month of Ramadan; no food, drink from sunrise to sunset

PILGRIMAGE – also know as the HAJJ; every Muslim is to travel to Mecca and do three days of ceremony and prayer at holy shrines and especially at the Kaaba (built by Abraham)

Islamic EthicsThe SHARI’AH is the Islamic moral code; a

collection of passages from the Quran and the HADITH (examples from the life of Muhammad)

Many similarities to Judeo-Christian ideals expressed in 10 Commandments

Islam prohibits gambling, alcohol, porkStrict regulation of business, marriage and

property/inheritance laws; divorce allowed but infrequent

Blurred separation between political and religious law in Islamic states

Divisions in Islam Soon after Muhammad’s death comes split over who should

rule Sunni Muslims say next ruler should be chosen by community;

focus on leadership skills and not as a religious figure; Sunnis are majority (70%) of Muslims today – traditional practice of the faith

Shi’a (Shiite) Muslims believed only descendants of Muhammad should rule (Ali 4th caliph); Shi’a are minority of Muslims; close to 30% on Muslims today; practice of faith varies between two main sects

Sufism – 3rd sect that focuses on strict and pious lifestyle; includes meditation, fasting and missionary work

Wahabbism – extremist Sunni sect that seeks a return to older practice of Islam – rejects modernization and western influence and stresses radical interpretation of “JIHAD”