Creation of the world• There is one creation story for all 3 of the Abrahamic Religions

• Judaism, Christianity, Islam

• It is the same for all three.

• God (one god) is all there is, floating in the nothingness of space.

• Decides to make the universe.

• Over 7 days, creates everything in the universe, earth, animals, vegetation, and humans. • On the 7th day he rests (that’s why people relax and go to church on

Sundays)

• Man created out of clay, God exhales “divine spark” through nostrils and then man is created.

• Woman either created at same time as man or from man’s rib (depending on which Genesis verse you read)

Some 12 year old’s drawing of the creation

Adam and eve• God considered universally good, other religions have good and bad gods, not this

one.• Living like God wants = good person; living against what God wants = bad

• God is a pretty decent guy• Adam and Eve exist in the Garden of Eden, a paradise with no suffering or hardships, all

of their needs are met.

• And yes, they are naked.

• Tells people they can have anything they want as long as they don’t eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge

• Of course, this is what they do! (Have your parents ever told you NOT to do something? COME ON!!!)• A serpant convinces Eve to eat an apple from the tree, she does, and then convinces

Adam to join her.

• They are overcome with emotions, realize they are naked and cover themselves.

• God catches them, punishes Adam and Eve for their betrayal• Kicks them out of Eden and punishes them individually too

• Adam and all men after him are forced to labor and work all day

• Eve is forced to suffer the pains of child birth

• This act of defying God, eating the forbidden fruit, called “Original Sin”

• All humans after Adam and Eve are tainted with Original Sin.

Ever hear of Noah?• God looks down on the earth and feels it has become corrupt

and horrible, too much murder, no one following God’s rules.

• Searches for “one true believer”, finds Noah

• Tells him to build a great arc, stock it with just his family and 2 of every living creature.

• God sends a great flood to destroy all the humans on earth and “wipe the slate clean” so earth starts over.

• Rains for 40 days and 40 nights.

• Noah and his family left with the burden of starting over

• Humans all come from the line of Noah, therefore, all humans are related to some extent.

Noah: Helping the dogs and cats to get along since 3000BCE

And then there’s this noah…

First of all… Christianity can be considered an “update” to Judaism.

Abraham, Moses, Exodus…

All these things are in Christianity as well, but they are called the “Old Testament” instead of the “Torah”

These are the Holy Books: Torah=Judaism Bible=Christianity

In fact: Islam, Christianity, Judaism all follow the same belief as Judaism’s “Torah” and Christianity’s “Old Testament”…

But Judaism stops at the Torah, Christianity and Islam both add on.

Jesus of Nazareth Jesus was a Jewish man

born to a poor family.

History confirms his birth and existence, but history and religion tell different tales of his life.

Christianity considers him “the son of God”

Judaism does not acknowledge this. (This is the primary difference between Christians and Jews)

Islam calls him a Prophet, not “the son of God.”

Jesus

What Christians believe about Jesus

Conducted miracles

Turned water into wine at a feast.

Cured the sick

Raised the dead

Giving sermons about love and respect for everyone.

Teaching people to forgive and treat everyone equally (including women, poor, sick)

But There is a Problem:

Jews under the control of Roman Empire.

Jews were unhappy and fighting for their freedom often, but always losing to the Romans

Thousands being killed often

Many people looked to Jesus as a savior to help the Jews finally free themselves from the Romans

What Happens to Him Jews ask Romans to deal

with him

He is taken captive, whipped, clubbed, crusified, stabbed, dies.

His followers (Disciples) bury him and, according to scripture, he resurrects from the dead three days later.

His Disciples go forth and spread the word to the rest of the world.

Jesus Continued

Jesus Christ is the primary fixture of Christianity.

The stories of Jesus and his miracles convert a great many people to Christianity. The message is universal:

Everyone is loved by God.

You don’t need to own or pay to be a part of the religion.

Universal love and respect

Rome is full of the sick, starving, poor, and downtrodden. The religion spreads quickly.

Check for Understanding

Who is considered to be the father of all 3 of the middle eastern religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism)?

For Christians, how much of the Torah is part of their belief? What is this called?

What is the New Testament? Who does is primarily focus on?

Why was Jesus put to death?

ROMA!!! Rome follows its own

religion and everyone MUST OBEY or DIE!!!

Christians, Jews, Zoroasters, Persians, ANYONE who believes something different is hunted and made an example of in the Coliseum.

Religion used by Romans as a way of controlling people in the empire.

Other religions teach people characteristics that go against the Roman state.

“These people are dangerous to our nation” -Romans

Christianity Lives Becomes so popular that

Rome cannot stamp it out.

Constantine adopts Christianity as Rome’s official religion and it is accepted.

Most revered and important of the early workers for the faith is Paul the Apostle

His writings are the most influential and most common in the New Testament

Roman Christians are called “Catholics”

Power of Christianity The Catholic Church

Super all-powerful

People in charge of church were our direct contact with God.

If you upset the church, you upset God and can be excommunicated (or “kicked out” of heaven in the afterlife)

Speaking out against the church same as arguing with God, labeled as a “heretic” or a non believer and punished with torture, excommunication, or death.

Check for Under-again?

What happened to early Christians, as well as members of other religions?

What major Empire adopted Christianity as their religion and, therefore, helped the religion survive?

What kind of punishments were awaiting those who spoke out against the Catholic Church?

Christianity vs. Islam Islam arrives around 600 AD

Spreads quickly through Africa, Asia, Europe

Takes control of all land near “the Holy Land” of Jerusalem, and take the city itself.

Pope Urban II declares “all true Christians must rise and do the work of God to reclaim our Holy Land from the heathen invaders.”

1st Crusade: “blood up to a horses bridle in the streets”

Crusades Holy wars where the Christian world

tried to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslims.

1st Crusade is successful

Islamic forces under Saladin reclaim the city.

One of histories greatest military leaders and most compassionate rulers.

Allows anyone who wishes to leave the city peacefully.

Many other crusades, only the 1st

considered “successful”

Reformation Christian world split in half in early 1500s.

Many complained that Catholic Church had become corrupt

Buying lavish gold crowns and staffs, jewels when so many are starving.

Selling of indulgences (tickets to heaven)

German Monk named Martin Luther had enough, nailed 95 thesis to the front of the Catholic Church door complaining of how corrupt they had become.

Speaking out against the church meant death.

Protestantism Those who agreed with

Martin Luther formed Protestantism or “to protest” against the Catholic Church

Now old followers were Catholics, those following Luther became Protestants.

Presbyterians, Baptists, Congregational, Methodist, Episcopalian

Protestants are the Pilgrims that founded America.

Check for that Understanding, y’all!

What were the Crusades?

Were any of them successful at accomplishing their goal? What was the goal?

Who was the leader of the Islamic world that retook Jerusalem and was one of histories greatest rulers?

Who was the Germanic Monk who nailed his 96 thesis to the door of the Catholic church?

What was his major complaint?

What were the followers of this man called? What happened to Christianity because of him?