People’s of the book

Major Religions of the World

(Ranked by Number of Adherents) 1) Christianity: 2.1 billion

2) Islam: 1.3 billion 3) Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion 4) Hinduism: 900 million 5) Chinese traditional religion: 394 million 6) Buddhism: 376 million 9) Sikhism: 23 million 12) Judaism: 15 million

America “The Great Melting Pot”

It has been said that the U.S. is “the great melting pot” for the people of the world

The “melting pot” would not be complete unless it included all the religions of the masses that make up our country’s population

Judaism15 Million Devotees

The Star of David & The MenorahThe Star of David & The Menorah(Represents the 7-day week & the Sabbath)(Represents the 7-day week & the Sabbath)

Judaism Religious culture of the Jewish People One of the world's oldest religions (Year 5,766) 12th largest religion in the world today Cultural system of Jewish law, custom &

practice of the whole individual & community Believes that everyone is under God's rule Oldest of 3 main monotheistic (‘1 god’)

religions Shares many beliefs with other 2, Islam &

Christianity Believes that all things were designed to have

meaning & purpose as part of a divine order

Famous Jews Abraham Moses King David & his son King Solomon Mary (mother of Jesus) John the Baptist Jesus The Twelve The Apostle Paul The entire early Christian Church

15 million Jews throughout the world (Mostly in the U.S., Israel & former USSR)

Jews makes up 83% of Israel’s population

More Jews live in the U.S. than in Israel!

Where are they?

Major Branches of Judaism

Conservative – 4.5 million Unaffiliated & Secular – 4.5 million Reform – 3.75 million Orthodox – 2 million•Most Jews today do not strictly hold to the Law•Many of Israel's Jews are nonobservant and either nonreligious or even agnostic / atheist •Religious Jews are in the minority in Israel

Monotheism There is only one God, YHWH Originally Judaism was much different

than the majority of ancient polytheistic religions. (An important statement of Jewish Theology.)

Parented the other two main monotheistic religions: Islam & Christianity

Land of Canaan/Promised Land

God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit this land forever

When it was lost it was a devastating blow to people’s faith Many believe that God was behind giving the land back to the Jews in this century (1948)

Israel – God’s Chosen People – The Jewish nation Abraham fathered has always believed themselves to be God’s only chosen people. (Jewish vs. Gentile perspective.)

The Law – 613 total commandments the Jews were to obey. Today only Orthodox Jews attempt to obey them all. (The rest pick & choose which portions are applicable to them.)

Land of Canaan/Promised Land

The Sabbath Begins at sunset each Friday, ends the

same time the next day Considered the most important Jewish

festival Originally ordained by God to be a holy

day of rest where work was forbidden Few things are specifically forbidden in

the Bible (Numbers 15:32-36 - Gathering kindling is forbidden under pain of death.)

Most of the rules are found in the Mishnah of 200AD, and are quite detailed & restrictive.

The Synagogue Place of Jewish communal worship Most Jews are members of a

Synagogue although that does not mean that they regularly attend

Mainly a place for reading scripture & prayer

Since 70AD (Destruction of the Temple), this has been the center of both religious & cultural life

The Temple Originally built by Solomon approx. 950

BC and rebuilt last by King Herod Two most significant events in Jewish

history are the destruction of the temples: 586BC by the Babylonians & 70AD by the Romans

While the temple has not existed for 1900 years it is still a very relevant topic

Many Jews believe that God will allow for the temple to be rebuilt again, now that they have returned to the Holy land

However, it is unlikely that Muslims will allow this – as they’ve built the “Dome of the Rock” on the location of the original Temple

All that remains of the original Temple is the Western Wall also knows as the Wailing Wall

The wall is a place of prayer & lamentation – as well as a popular pilgrimage site

Scriptures

We’re very familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures as the Old Testament contains them in their entirety, although the format is different

A prominent feature of the OT is the three-fold division of The Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets) & the Ketuvim (Writings)

Christianity

Early Christianity Roots lie in Judaism,

the teachings of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles

Earliest converts were Jews who did not think they were breaking away from Hebrew Law Earliest Christians wished to be

considered Jews since the Jewish religion was officially recognized by the Roman govt and its adherents had certain privileges

A New Direction After Jewish revolts of

66-70 AD and during the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian, Christians began to emphasize their separateness

Gulf between Jews and Christians had become huge by this time

A New Direction, Cont.

Christian leaders had decided that Gentiles who converted to Christianity did not have to become Jews in order to become Christians

There were dangers to this policy Unapproved religion Roman government by the time of

Nero or Domitian had decided that to be guilty of just the name Christian was punishable by death

Foundation of Christianity: Resurrection What is the one thing that the whole

Christian faith is based on ? Jesus’ resurrection from the death

Supporting material: 1Co 15:14: “And if Christ has not

been raised, then our proclamation is worthless, and your faith is also worthless.”

Apostolic Era: Empowerment

33

Jesus’ resurrection

A few weeks later:

Peter and other disciples of Jesus announced Jesus' resurrection in Jerusalem

Peter and other disciples denied Jesus… (scared)

The disciples are not afraid for their lives…Reason ???

Apostolic Era: Early Persecutions

33

Jesus’ resurrection

Jesus’ brothers did not believe that He was the Son of God (in fact, they believed that He was crazy - John 7:3-5

62

James (brother of Jesus) was stoned to death for his faith in JesusJesus appeared to James

after He has resurrected from the death (1 Co 15)… Seeing a death person coming back to life will surely make someone into a believer…

Apostolic Era: Early Persecutions

33

Jesus’ resurrection

37

Paul persecuted and killed Christians (according to his own words)

66

Paul was killed by Nero (because Paul was a Christian…)

According to Paul: he was converted to Christianity after seeing and speaking with the resurrected Jesus (Acts 9)

38

Apostolic Era: Persecutions

64

Rome burnedBy Nero

Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians (Tacitus)

Post Apostolic: Persecutions

"I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed....” – Pliny

Pliny: 100 AD

Persecution Greatest persecutions began in 3rd century AD

Christian intolerance of pagan beliefs bred powerful retaliatory hatred of Christians Accused Christians of

cannibalism, atheism, haters of mankind

Charged with dishonoring the emperor

Blamed with all the evils that afflicted the state

Post Apostolic: Persecutions

Decius: 249 - 251

"Under the emperor Decius many persecutions arose against the name of Christ, and there was such a slaughter of believers that they could not be numbered. Babillas, bishop of Antioch, with his three little sons, Urban, Prilidan and Epolon, and Xystus, bishop of Rome, Laurentius, an archdeacon, and Hyppolitus, were made perfect by martyrdom because they confessed the name of the Lord.” – Gregory of Tours

Growth – 4th Century AD Hellenistic religions helped pave the

way for success of Christianity Shared similarities with cults as

Isis made Christianity acceptable But many found Christianity

superior to Hellenistic cults Central was Jesus, a historical

rather than a mythological figure His teachings in the Gospels

Books were elevated in content but written in the language of

Cult of Isis held ritual purification rites and offered

promise of an aftelife

the people

Post Apostolic: Official Religion

312 323313

Constantine emperor of the Western Roman Empire – fighting under the Christian Cross symbol (dream)

Edict of Milan: Christianity given same status as pagan religions

Constantine emperor of the WHOLE Roman Empire

324

Christianity only legal religion in Roman empire

325

Council of Nicaea

Islam:Submission to the will of

Allah

Islam: The Muslim World 622

Muslims are strict monotheists. They believe in the Judeo- Christian God, which they call Allah. Muslims believe that the Torah and the Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God.

Peoples of the BookPeoples of the Book

The Prophetic TraditionAdamNoah

Abraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

Muhammad Ibn (son of) Abdallah

Founder: Muhammad Ibn (son of) Adballah (descendant of Abraham) Born: 571 AD in Mecca, Arabia Titles: The prophet, the messenger (Alrasul)

The last revelation: Qur’an’s origins Muhammad received his

first revelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610. 622 Hijrah Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. *Beginning of Muslim calendar Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an (written in Arabic) after his death.

Islam by the death of Mohammed 632

Abu-Bakr - 632-634•The first elected official. Wise leader

Omar Ibn Elkhattab - 634-644 •A first-rate statesman. Honest, modest and just.•Conquered the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, Persia

Othman bin Affan - 644-656•Collected and compiled the Quran•Emergence of power struggle

Ali Bin Abitalib - 656-661 •Power struggle escalated to armed conflict•Emergence of political parties

632-661: Four Elected Successors (Caliphs)

732, 100 Yrs after Mohammed

Essential Question:

Why was Islam able to spread so quickly

and convert so many to the new

religion?

The Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice. No priesthood. Teaches equality (“close” to equality for women). Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes. Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.

1. The Shahada

1

The testimony. The declaration of faith:There is no god worthy of There is no god worthy of worship except God, andworship except God, andMuhammad is HisMuhammad is HisMessenger [Messenger [or Prophet]. Prophet].

The 5 Pillars . . .

Basic Duties of Life . . .

2. The Salat

2

The mandatory prayers performed 5 times a day: * dawn * noon * late afternoon * sunset * before going to bed Wash before praying. Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

2. The Salat

2

Pray in the mosque on Friday.

3. The Zakat

3

Almsgiving (charitable donations). Muslims believe that all things belong to God. Zakat means both “purification” and “growth.” About 2.5% of your income.

4. The Sawm

4

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Considered a method of self- purification. No eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

5. The Hajj

5

The pilgrimage to Mecca. Must be done at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime. 2-3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage every year.Those who complete the pilgimage can add the title hajji to their name.

Other Islamic Religious Practices

Up to four wives allowed at once. No alcohol or pork. No gambling. Sharia body of Islamic law to regulate daily living. Three holiest cities in Islam: * Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

Muslims in the World Today

Countries with the Largest Muslim Population

1. Indonesia 183,000,000

6. Iran 62,000,000

2. Pakistan 134,000,000

7. Egypt 59,000,000

3. India 121,000,000

8. Nigeria 53,000,000

4. Bangladesh

114,000,000

9. Algeria 31,000,000

5. Turkey 66,000,000 10. Morocco 29,000,000

Arabs make up only 20% of the total Muslim population of the world.