ChristianityChristianity began in Judah, in the city of Bethlehem

Jesus was born and believed to be the son of God

He began a religion while preaching a recruiting 12 apostles or followers

His 12 apostles helped to spread the word of Jesus

Christianity

What made people appeal to Jesus?

He healed peopleHe told grade stories called parables

(good Samaritan)

He attracted people who were sick of Rome

ChristianityOne of Jesus’ apostles Paul was a

great mission and helped spread the word of Jesus throughout the world

Peter was another apostles and he was responsible for starting the church of Jesus, this is known as Roman Catholicism

Peter was the first Pope of the church, who is the leader of the church

Christianity: Seizing the Moment

Anything before Jesus is considered BC

Anything after Jesus is born is considered AD (2014 AD)

This is do to the church controlling time and the calendar of years

Outcomes: The Rise of Islam & Beliefs of Islam

Islam

The Arabian Peninsula

The Rise of Islamc. Mecca: City in Western Arabia (Modern day

Saudi Arabia)i. Ka’aba: ancient shrine people came to

worship at1. Black stone- built by Abraham and son

Ishmael2. Contained 360 idols worshipped by many

tribes

The Ka’aba

The Rise of Islamii. Muhammad

1. Orphaned at age 6 and raised by grandfather and uncle

2. At age 25 Muhammad became a businessman and trader

Life changes: While meditating in a cave, he is visited by angel Gabriel who proclaims to Muhammad to preach message that there is only one true god

3. Began to preach and spread Islam4. Not seen as divine (having extra power)

The Rise of Islam Islam: Submission to will of Allah

(god)Muslim: One who has submitted

The Rise of Islamiii. Hijrah & Return to Mecca

1. in 622 AD, Mohammad and followers leave Mecca for Medina and continue to spread Islam known as the Hijrah

2. Becomes “year 1” for Muslims3. First mosque established for Islam4. 630 AD, Muhammad returns to Mecca and

destroys the idols in the Ka’aba5. Ka’aba becomes the most sacred site in

Islam6. Muhammad dies 2 years later at age of 62

Great Mosque in Mecca

2. Islam Grows and Expands

Muhammad did not name a successor or instructed his followers on how to chose one

Tribal customs led to the election of Abu-Bakr, a loyal friend of Muhammad to be the successor

Abu-Bakr became the first caliph or “successor” or “deputy” Later, disagreements over who should succeed caused a split in

Islam▪ Shi’a, or Shi’ites believe that the caliph needed to be a descendent of Muhammad

▪ Sunni Muslims acknowledge the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad even though they weren’t of same blood

Beliefs of Islam3. Five Pillars

a. Faith: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

b. Prayer: Pray 5 times a day towards Meccac. Alms: Give alms (money for the poor)d. Fasting: During holy month of Ramadan, Muslims

fast between dawn and sunsete. Pilgrimage: Must visit Mecca at one point in lifetime

if capable. Known as the Hajj.

Beliefs of Islam4. The Qur’an OR (KORAN)

a. Islamic holy textb. Allah is the source of authorityc. Written in Arabic, only true version

Beliefs of Islam5. Links to Judaism and Christianity

a. Muslims, Christians, and Jews trace ancestry back to Abraham

b. To Muslims, Allah is the same god that is worshipped in Christianity and Judaism

c. Qur’an is the word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad in the same way that Jews and Christians believe the Torah and the Gospels (books of the Bible- the sacred text of Christianity) were revealed to Moses and the New Testament writers.

d. All three are “people of the book” due to their use of a holy book

Islam in the world today…

Islam Today

1.  A Statistical Looka. Today there are over 1.2 Billion Muslims in the worldb. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the worldc. Experts predict that it will be the largest religion in the

world somedayd. Most populous Muslim countries include: Indonesia,

Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.e. Indonesia alone has over 175 Muslims which exceeds

combined total of Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, the traditional heartlands of Islam

f. Populations are rising in Europe and North America

Peaceful Islam vs. Radical Islam

Islam Today

2. Peaceful Islam vs. Radical Fundamental Islama. Islam, at heart, is a peaceful religionb. Most Muslim’s faith is stronger than the

average Christianc. Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s Islam remerged

as a potent political force, associated with both reform and revolution

d. Radical Islamic Fundamentalists are opposed to Western civilization’s way of life and imperialistic pursuits

Islam Today

e. These fundamentalists represent a small percentage of the population of Islam, so we must be careful not to label or assume

f. Jihad: a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline

g. No where in the Qu’ran does it say you will go to paradise if you martyr yourself with a suicide bomb

h. Important: The majority of Muslims do not live this way