The Big Three Monotheistic Religions

Christianity, Islam, Judaism

Judaism

• OLDEST of the “Big” 3. Began 3500 years ago!!!!• Began in Southwest Asia• Practiced today mostly in Israel and pockets in the US and Europe• Considered an Ethnic Religion

Judaism: God

• Believe in ONE God (Monotheistic)• The God of Abraham• Called Adonai in Hebrew

Judaism: Holy Book & Language

• TeNaKh (in 3 parts)• Torah is the most important part

• The law of God

• Hebrew is the sacred language

Judaism: Key Beliefs

• Moses is Judaism’s most important prophet (teacher spoken to by God)

• Lie a good life according to the rules of the Torah

• Pass on Jewish traditions to one’s family

Judaism: Practices, Rituals and Holidays• Keep the Sabbath Holy• Family meal-breaking bread and

sharing wine• Fast during Yom Kippur (day of

atonement)• Give to the needy• Kosher food-no pork, shellfish,

or meat prepared with dairy

Judaism: Building, Leader and Day of Worship• Synagogue• Rabbi• Friday evening to Saturday

Evening

Judaism: Sects

Orthodox

Conservative

Reformed

Judaism: Holy Site in Jerusalem

• Wailing Wall

Christianity: God

• Believe in One God (monotheistic)• God of Abraham• Called Yahweh

• Practiced today all over the world

Christianity: Holy Book and Sacred Language• Bible ( 2 parts)

• Old Testament• New Testament

• No real sacred language, though most historic texts are written in Latin or Greek.

Christianity: Key Beliefs

• Based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ

• Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit

• Jesus was both Human and Divine

• Christ died on the Cross, was buried and rose 3 days later

• Ascended into Heaven• Salvation: Heaven

Christianity: Practices, Rituals, & Holidays• Baptism: initiation into the faith• Communion: represents Jesus’

last supper before death• Christmas: Christ’s birth• Easter: Christ’s death and

ressurection

Christianity: Building, Leader, & Day of Worship• - Churches• - Priests, pastors, ministers• - Sunday worship services

Christianity: Sects

Roman Catholic- Orthodox- Protestant- All believe Jerusalem is the holiest city - (Christ died and rose)

Jerusalem Holy Site

• Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Islam

• Fastest growing world religion• Youngest of the monotheistic religions

God

• Believe in one God• - The God of Abraham• - Called Allah in Arabic

Holy Book: Parts & Sacred Language

• - Koran (Qur’an)• - Contains revelations God made to Muhammad• - Arabic is the sacred language• - Believers called Muslims

Key Beliefs

- Based on the teachings of Muhammad- Born in Mecca (holiest city and center of Islam)- Believe he was the final prophet- Live according to God’s guidance rewarded with salvation- Believe Moses and Jesus were prophets, but Jesus not divine

Practices, Rituals, & Holidays

• - “Five pillars”• - Declaration of faith• - Pray 5 times a day• - Almsgiving (charity)• - Fasting during Ramadan• - Pilgrimage to Mecca

• - Dietary laws: no pork or alcohol

Building, Leader, Day of Worship

• - Mosque• - Imam (prayer leader)• - Friday noon prayers are most

important

Sects

• - Sunni• - Shi’ite• - Differ over leadership in the

Muslim community

Holy Site in Jerusalem

• Dome of the Rock• Mostly found in SW Asia and

Central Asia