Three Religions PPT

Middle Eastern ReligionsMarch 12, 2012

Objectives– Define Monotheism– Identify the three major Middle

Eastern Monotheistic Religions– Summarize the Major Features of

each Religion– Compare and Contrast these

Religions to understand similarities – Analyze the relationship that each

of these religions have with Jerusalem

Religions of the Middle East• Monotheism

– Belief in One God• Polytheism

– Belief in many gods• Abrahamic

Religions– Religion tracing

back to Abraham• Islam, Christianity,

Judaism

Judaism• Abraham, “Father” of Judaism• 1000 BCE – Israel established• Center of Jewish faith - Temple • After WWII (Holocaust) – State of Israel

created• Holy Text: Torah-First five books of Old

Testament

Judaism • Sects of Judaism

– Orthodox– Conservative– Reform

• Beliefs– One God created the

universe– “Messiah” or “Savior”

• Will come to earth• Rebuild the Temple• Rule a new Kingdom of

Israel

Christianity• Sect of Judaism• Most holy place (Jerusalem)

– Location of Jesus’ death and resurrection• Growth of Christianity

– Started as a fairly small religion– 313 CE: Roman Emperor Constantine

converted, leading to official religion of Roman Empire

– Modern day: Largest religion with many denominations-approx. 2 billion followers

Christianity• Break between Rome and

Constantinople– Leads to Roman Catholicism and Eastern

Orthodox• Martin Luther leads Protestant

Reformation-1517- Thirty Years War in Europe

• Ten Commandments and the Bible• Many sects believe in the Holy Trinity

– Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost

Islam• “Allah”

– Same God Jews and Christians believe in

• Adam and Eve • Abraham is the father of their

people• Jesus is a great prophet, but

not God• 610 CE: Allah reveals the

Koran to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel

• Koran main holy text, but also consider the Bible and Torah holy

Islam• Flight to Jerusalem• Rapidly spread

throughout Middle East, into Africa and Europe

• Ascension to Heaven occurred in same location where Jewish Temple used to stand

• Dome of the Rock now stands here

Sunni/Shia Divide• Sunnis are the majority (85%)• Shiites mostly in Iran, some in Iraq• Mainly the same religion with

differences in prayer and leadership

adherents called Sunnis Shiites, Shi'i meaning of name "well-trodden path" or "tradition" "party" or "partisans" of Ali current adherents 940 million 120 million percentage of total Muslims 90% 10%primary locations most Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Yemen subsects none, but four major schools of

Muslim law are recognized Ithna 'Ashariyah (Twelvers; the

largest), Isma'iliyah and Zaydiyahorigins c. 632 CE; theology developed

especially in 10th cent. c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in 680 CE is major event

did Muhammad designate a successor? no yes

true successor of the Prophet Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's

favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by people of Medina)

'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet)

qualifications for ruler of Islam tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any qualified ruler family of the Prophet

current leaders imams mujtahids

identity of imams human leaders infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an

Al Mahdi will come in the future

was already on earth, is currently the "hidden imam" who works through mujtahids to intepret

Qur'an; and will return at the end of time

religious authority other than the Qu'ran

ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community infallible imams

concealing faith for self-protection (taqiya)

affirmed under certain circumstances emphasized

temporary marriage (mut'ah) practiced in the Prophet's time, but now rejected still practiced

holy cities Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala

major holidays Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura

Jerusalem• Holy city for all three religions• Controlled by each group throughout

points in history (currently the Israeli government)

• Why would this lead to conflict?