•Symbol: Cross

•Followers: Christians Adherents: 33.4% of the world population

•Lent – 40 days prior to Easter – rededication to God.

•Easter – Resurrection of Christ.

•Advent – 4 weeks prior to Christmas – preparation for coming of Christ.

•Christmas – birth of Christ

Observance Days:

• God of Abraham - Yahweh

• Monotheism - 1 God

• Covenant between God and Abraham - descendants would be the chosen people through Isaac (Hebrews).

• Trinity - God in 3 parts:God - the Father God the Son - Jesus Christ God the Holy Spirit - God’s Presence

•Bible - No sacred language

•Old Testament - History of the Hebrews, law, prophets, and psalms

•New Testament - 4 Gospels - stories of Jesus. Letters and stories about early Christians

• 10 Commandments

•Jesus is human and divine

•Trinity

•Resurrection

•Heaven and Hell

•Goal - Salvation (Eternal life with God)

•Jerusalem is a holy city – City of David. Where Jesus was crucified & buried.

• 2 Sacraments: 1. Baptism – Remembrance of Jesus’ blessing in the River Jordan. 2. Communion - Last Supper of Christ - Body and Blood of Christ - bread and wine

• Some sects have 7 sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Priesthood, Marriage, Confession, and Last Rites)

• Tithing - giving

• Evangelism - declaration of faith

• Prayer

• Repentance - Ask forgiveness for sins.

•Building - Church

•Service is on Sunday

•Leader - Ordained (trained) ministry

•Service includes: prayer, Bible readings, sermon, Sacraments, and creed

•Roman Catholic

•Protestant

•Orthodox

•Symbol: Crescent Moon & Star

•Followers: Muslims

•Adherents - 17.7% of the world population

• Eid Al-Fitr – Holy feast to end Ramadan

• Eid Al-Adha – Festival of Sacrifice - End of the Hajj. Commemorates Abraham’s loyalty to God

• Birth of the Prophet – commemorates Muhammad’s birth.

• Ramadan – time of rededication to Islam

• Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca.

Observance Days:

•God of Abraham - Allah

•Monotheism - 1 God

•Covenant between God and Abraham - descendants would be the chosen people through Ishmael (Arabs)

• Koran (Qur’an) - Arabic is the sacred language

• Includes history of the Hebrews, laws, prophets, and Jesus' life

• Outlines the goal of Islam - Reward of Salvation

• Hallal - Allowed acts

• Haram - Forbidden acts

• Angel Gabriel dictated Koran to Muhammad

• Moses and Jesus are prophets, but Muhammad is the FINAL prophet.

• Heaven and Hell

• Lead a moral life as taught by Muhammad

Goal - Reach Salvation

Jerusalem is a Holy City - where Muhammad ascended to Heaven. City of Prophets

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Public declaration of faith

2. Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca

3. Giving of alms

4. Fasting during Ramadan - no food, drink, or sex from sun up to sun down

5. Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca (site of the Ka’ba)

Dietary laws - no pork or alcohol

Kabah cornerstone. Given to Abraham by God.

The door to the Kabah

The Kabah at Makkah - believed to have been built by Adam and then Abraham.

Makkah - only people who practice Islam are allowed inside.

Heraa Cave where Gabriel came to Muhammad

•Building - Mosque (Masjid)

•Service is Friday Noon

•Leader - Imam (prayer leader). A good person of character and religious knowledge

•Service includes sermon, Koran readings, and prayer

•Sunni - 90%

•Shi’i or Shi’a - 10%

•Differ over leadership. Sunnis believe succession through Caliphs(Custom of all Muslims) Shiite believe leaders must come from the 12 perfect teachers.

•Symbol: Star of David

•Followers: Jews

•Adherents

- .3% of the world population

•Rosh Hashanah – New Year•Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

•Sukkot – Biblical pilgrimage•Hanukkah – Festival of lights (rededication of the Temple)

•Pesach - Passover•Shavuot – Commemorates the day God gave the 10 Commandments to Moses

Observance Days:

• God of Abraham - Adonai

•Monotheism - 1 God

•Covenant between God and Abraham - descendants would be the chosen people through Isaac - (Hebrews)

• TeNaKh - Hebrew is sacred Language

• T - Torah - God’s Law - Stories about Hebrews and laws

• N - Nevi’im - History of Hebrew prophets

• K - Ketuvim - Writings and Psalms

• Given to Moses

• 613 Commandments (many dietary laws)

•Chosen People - given Canaan

•Holy Day - Shabbat

•Talmud - God’s teachings are continuing revelation (oral tradition) - can change over time.

Goal - to live a good (moral) life and to carry on Jewish Traditions

Jerusalem is Holy City - Remains of the Temple - Wailing / Western Wall. City of Prophets.

• Kashrut - Laws about being Kosher - No shellfish, No pork, and also No dairy and red meat prepared together.

• Shabbat - Friday night. Eat Challah (bread) and drink wine.

• Fasting during Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) - Sorry for bad deeds.

• Males are circumcised (usually on the 8th day)

•No work on the Sabbath Day

Shabbat meal of Challah and wine. Time of prayer and family

The Wailing Wall - Western Wall of the Temple Mount - Solomon’s Temple

• Building - Synagogue

• Service - Friday night and Saturday morning

• Leader - Rabbi (Teacher) Torah Scholar, but can have other jobs.

• Service includes - Torah readings, a sermon, and prayer

•Orthodox

•Conservative

•Reformed

•(Differ over varying degrees of Kashrut)