World ReligionsWorld Religions

Southwest to SoutheastSouthwest to Southeast

AsiaAsia

Southwest Asia

Judaism

Judaism• This is the religion

of the Jews. Belief in one God (monotheistic) and began in the area called Palestine (modern day-Israel).

Origins• The origins of the

Jewish faith begin with a covenant between Abraham and God, that through Abraham his descendents (Isaac via Sarah) would be God’s chosen people.

Books

• The Hebrew Bible consist of three parts: Torah (teaching), Nev’im(the prophets), and Ketuvim (the writings).

• The Torah represents five books of Moses; words of God as revealed through Moses on Mount Sinai 3,000 years ago.

Torah Continued

• The Torah contains 613 commandments on how Jews can live a good and pious life.

Additional Facts

• The four predominate types / sects / denominations for this religion are:

• Chasidic • Orthodox• Reformed• Conservative

Christianity

Christianity• Religious belief

that focuses on Jesus as the Messiah and son of God; his life and teachings are told in the four gospels of the Christian Bible.

The Bible

• The Christian Bible is made up of 66 books, those of the Jewish Bible (old testament), the Gospels (first four books of new testament), and the teachings of the apostles.

Christian Sects

• Protestantism• Group that arose

out of Martin Luther’s protest of Papal corruption and the need for church reform.

• Catholicism• The largest single

Christian body, composed of those Christians who acknowledge the supreme authority of the bishop of Rome, the pope, in matters of faith.

Islam

Islam Origins• The foundations of Islam

are rooted in the belief that in 610 the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet Muhammad and Allah’s instructions for humanity were revealed, and were recorded in the Qur’an.

Islam Meaning• The word Islam means “surrender” or

“submission,” submission to the will of Allah, the one God.

• Muslims are those who have submitted themselves.

• The basic creed of Islam is brief: There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.

The Qur’an• Muslims believe that

the Qur’an completes the sacred writings of the Jews and Christians, but is on a higher level because it contains Allah’s actual words.

Five PillarsFive Pillars of Islam are:Five Pillars of Islam are:1. Profession of Faith (the Shahadah)2. The second duty is that of five daily

prayers (Muslims are required to face the direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca)

– The first prayer is offered before sunrise, the second in the very early afternoon, the third in the late afternoon, the fourth immediately after sunset, and the fifth before retiring and before midnight

Five Pillars Continue

3. Almsgiving (Giving of gifts to the poor or needy)

4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan (From sunrise to sundown).

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca)

Ka’ba the Center of Muslim Prayerthe Center of Muslim Prayer

• Muslims believe that Allah commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build the Ka’ba 4,000 years ago and that it represents the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam. It is the focal point of Muslim prayer.

Islamic Sects Origins• Sunni Muslims • Believe Muslim leader

should be an elected caliphate.

• 90% of Muslims are of this type.

• Today follow basic Islam

• Shiite (Shi’a) Muslims• Followers of Islam who

believe Muslim leader should be descend from Muhammad’s family.

• Today follow Iman (political and religious leaders)

This dispute arose when Muhammad died without leaving a successor.