Introduction to

Monotheistic Religions

Early Religion - Polytheistic

Early Religion - Polytheistic•In a harsh climate, where

famine often prevailed, the Sumerians looked to nearly 3,000 gods helped explain and “order” their world.

•Temples—or “ziggurats”—were dedicated to the chief god or goddess of the city. (3000—500 BCE)

The Ancient Hebrews

Abraham’s Journey from UrAbraham’s Journey from Ur

Canaan The “Promised Land”

Canaan The “Promised Land”

•Perhaps as early as 2000 BCE, a man named Abraham left the city of Ur with his family and traveled to Canaan.

•The Bible states Abraham’s God advised him to do so.

•Abraham’s God represents a shift/evolution from the polytheistic relgions of the era to the age of monotheism.

Abraham’s GeneaologyAbraham’s Geneaology

ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR

IsaacIsaac

EsauEsauJacobJacob

12 Tribes of Israel

12 Tribes of Israel

Ishmael

Ishmael

12 Arabian Tribes

12 Arabian Tribes

Muslims

Muslims

JewsJews

Yahweh’s (YHWH”s) “Covenant” With His People

Yahweh’s (YHWH”s) “Covenant” With His People

The TorahThe Torah

Abraham’s story—and that of his ancestors, was written down in the “Torah.”

The Torah is the first 5 books of the HebrewBible (referred to by Christians as the “Old Testament.)

Abraham’s story—and that of his ancestors, was written down in the “Torah.”

The Torah is the first 5 books of the HebrewBible (referred to by Christians as the “Old Testament.)

God wanted to know if God wanted to know if Abraham would obey Abraham would obey him. God told him to him. God told him to sacrifice Isaac on a sacrifice Isaac on a mountain. mountain.

Abraham loved his son Abraham loved his son very much. He did not very much. He did not want to sacrifice Isaac. want to sacrifice Isaac. But Abraham wanted But Abraham wanted to obey God. to obey God.

God told Abraham to God told Abraham to go to a mountain. He go to a mountain. He took Isaac and two took Isaac and two men with him. men with him. Abraham and Isaac Abraham and Isaac rode on a donkey. rode on a donkey. They traveled for They traveled for three days. three days.

The two men stayed The two men stayed with the donkey. with the donkey. Abraham and Isaac Abraham and Isaac walked up the walked up the mountain. Abraham mountain. Abraham took a knife. Isaac took a knife. Isaac took some wood. took some wood.

Isaac asked where Isaac asked where the lamb was for the lamb was for the sacrifice. the sacrifice. Abraham told him Abraham told him God would provide God would provide Himself a lamb. Himself a lamb.

Abraham built an Abraham built an altar. He put wood altar. He put wood on it. on it.

Abraham tied Isaac Abraham tied Isaac and put him on the and put him on the altar. He held the altar. He held the knife over Isaac. knife over Isaac. Abraham was ready Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son. to sacrifice his son.

But an angel spoke But an angel spoke to Abraham. He told to Abraham. He told Abraham not to Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac. sacrifice Isaac. Abraham had Abraham had obeyed God. God obeyed God. God loved Abraham. loved Abraham.

Abraham Abraham looked around. looked around. He saw a ram in He saw a ram in the bushes. God the bushes. God had given the had given the ram for the ram for the sacrifice. sacrifice. Abraham Abraham sacrificed the sacrificed the ram on the ram on the altar.altar.

God was happy God was happy Abraham had Abraham had obeyed him. God obeyed him. God said he would bless said he would bless Abraham’s family.Abraham’s family.

Abraham and Isaac Abraham and Isaac went home. went home. Abraham had Abraham had obeyed God. He obeyed God. He was willing to let was willing to let his son die, but his son die, but God had spared God had spared him. him.

Moses and IsraelMoses and Israel

“Shepherd of His People”

“Shepherd of His People”

•Probably around 1300 BCE, Abraham’s descendants fled drought in Canaan and traveled to Egypt—where they were enslaved by the Egyptian king.

•Yet God had promised Abraham that a great nation would rise from his descendents . . . Presumably in Canaan (near modern day Lebanon, Israel, Palestinian territories).

•Moses led his people back to Canaan between 1200-1000 BCE—where they organized their tribes and established a kingdom known as “Israel.”

Story of Moses link

Moses and the 10 Commandments

Moses and the 10 Commandments

A new “covenant”

with Yahweh

A new “covenant”

with Yahweh

Mount SinaiMount Sinai

Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites finally returned to Canaan . . .

King David’s EmpireKing David’s EmpireKing David—the first effective “King of the Israelites,” established Jerusalem as Canaan’s capital (1006 BCE).

Solomon’s

Kingdom(970-928 BCE)

Solomon’s

Kingdom(970-928 BCE)David’s son

Solomon would build the first temple to YHWH. Worship becomes more formal.

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem (Today)

The Temple Mount, Jerusalem (Today)

Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall

Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall

Kingdoms of

Israel and

Judah

Kingdoms of

Israel and

Judah•In 922 BCE—rebellion divided Canaan

Origins of

“Judaism”

Origins of

“Judaism”

•@ 722 BCE, Israel was overrun by surrounding empires. Israelites scattered—some joined the Kingdom of Judah, others merged with surrounding peoples and lost their identity.

•The people of Judah survived captivity and a period of nomadic existence—and ultimately moved back to Jerusalem (now part of Persian Empire.)•They would become known as “Jews”— their religion, “Judaism.”

Diaspora

•In the years after the destruction of Israel, Jewish people would scatter throughout the world.

•Prophets (Ezekiel & Isaiah) would explain that YHWH was “mobile,” an in fact the “one true God for all the people of the world.” The stories of Abraham, Moses, etc. were committed to scripture “People of the Book.”

•The synagogue evolves as center of study and worship.

Diaspora

•In the years after the destruction of Israel, Jewish people would scatter throughout the world.

•Prophets (Ezekiel & Isaiah) would explain that YHWH was “mobile,” an in fact the “one true God for all the people of the world.” The stories of Abraham, Moses, etc. were committed to scripture “People of the Book.”

•The synagogue evolves as center of study and worship.

The Rise of Christianity

Roman PalestineRoman Palestine•27 BCE: Augustus becomes 1st Roman emperor.

•Official state religion focused on worshipping gods and goddesses such as Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.

•Judea—lands of the old Jewish kingdom of Judah, was a province of Rome.

•Unrest was widespread in Judea—some favoring violent overthrow of Roman rule.

•The Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70CE

The Beginnings of Christianityin Bethlehem

The Beginnings of Christianityin Bethlehem

•Scholars generally agree that a child named Jesus was born between 7 and 2 BCE…that year would be renamed “0” in the sixth century.

•In his young adult life, Jesus became a well-known teacher.

•Jesus’ preaching stirred controversy—seen as threat to Roman leadership, as his followers (like other Jews) refused to worship state gods.

Christianity SpreadsChristianity Spreads•Ponitius Pilate, chief magistrate of Judea, ordered Jesus’ crucification sometime in the 1st century CE.

•Upon his death, followers of Jesus came to be called “Christians,” separate from the Jews.

•Christians believed that Jesus was the son of God, the Messiah mentioned in early Jewish text, who would save the Israelites from oppression and usher in an age of peace.

(Jews do NOT believe that Jesus was the son of God or the messiah.)

The Spread of Christianity

The Spread of Christianity•Early followers of Jesus—known as apostles—

spread Jesus’ message during and after his death.

•These teachings would be recorded in the “New Testament,” the second part of the Christian Bible.

•After a period of persecution, Christianity flourished when Constantine became the first Christian Roman emperor in 312.

The Judeo-Christian

Foundations of Islam

The Prophetic Tradition

The Prophetic TraditionAbraham

Moses

Jesus

Muhammad

(According to Islam, the Qur’an=God’s last revelation)

The Origins of the Qur’anThe Origins of the Qur’an Muhammad received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel in the Cave of Hira in 610.

622 Hijrah Muhammed flees Mecca for Medina. * The beginning of the Muslim calendar (1 A.H.)

Muhammad’s revelations were compiled into the Qur’an after his death.

IslamAn Abrahamic Religion

IslamAn Abrahamic Religion

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 Origins of Islam

The Qur’anThe Qur’an Muslims believe it contains the word of God.

114 suras (chapters).

In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. Written in Arabic.

The MosqueThe Mosque The Muslim place of worship.

The Spread of IslamThe Spread of Islam Easy to learn and practice.

No priesthood.

Teaches equality.

Non-Muslims, who were “Peoples of the Book,” were allowed religious freedom, but paid additional taxes.

Easily “portable” nomads & trade routes.

Jihad (“Holy War”) against pagans and other non-believers (“infidels”).