Three World Religions

Mr. Brown

Did You Know

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, is believed to be the exact and precise word of God, revealed to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel over a period of approximately 23 years. Although the Quran has been translated into many languages, only the original Arabic is considered the literal word of Allah.

I. Judaism

A. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are major faiths that are examples of monotheism, or belief in one supreme god.

B. Judaism was first practiced by a small group of people in Southwest Asia called the Israelites. The followers of Judaism today are known as Jews. Their holy book is the Torah.

I. Judaism

C. The Jews believe that they are God’s chosen people and will remain so for as long as they follow God’s laws. They believe God made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham. The most well-known of these laws are the Ten Commandments, which were revealed to a prophet, or messenger of God, named Moses.

D. About 1000 B.C., King David created a kingdom in the area of present-day Israel. The capital of this kingdom was Jerusalem.

E. Eventually, the Jewish people spread to many countries throughout the world. Jewish scholars, writers, artists, and scientists have greatly increased the world’s knowledge.

F. In some areas, Jews have been treated with tolerance. In other areas, they have been treated cruelly.

G. Jews celebrate several important holy days, including Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.

Essential Question

From whom do the Jewish people believe they are descended?

According to Jewish belief, the Jews are descended from Abraham and Sarah, who first worshipped the one god, or Yahweh.

II. Christianity

A. Christianity arose from Judaism in Southwest Asia. Later, it spread to non-Jews.

B. A Jew named Jesus began preaching in what is today Israel, the West Bank, and

Jordan. Some Jews greeted him as the messiah, or savior, who would deliver

them from the Romans. C. Jesus was convicted of treason under Roman

law and crucified outside Jerusalem. His disciples, or followers, proclaimed

he then rose from the dead. They began preaching that Jesus was the Son of

God.

Christainity

D. The disciples spread Jesus’ teachings across the Roman world and beyond. The holy book of the Christians is the Bible.

E. Christians were often persecuted until the Roman emperor Constantine became a Christian and proclaimed Christianity a lawful religion of the Roman Empire. Christianity later became divided into Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. A third group—Protestants—formed much later.

F. Christianity has more followers than any other religion. Christian holidays include Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter.

Essential Question

What is Easter? Easter, believed to be the day that

Jesus rose from the dead, is the most important day of the Christian calendar.

III. Islam

A. The followers of Islam are called Muslims. B. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last

and greatest prophet of Allah, or God. Muhammad was born about A.D. 570 in Makkah. He told people there was one God, Allah, before whom all believers are equal.

C. Muhammad’s message angered the rich merchants of Makkah. In A.D. 622, Muhammad was forced to flee for safety from Makkah to Madinah.

D. Muhammad’s forces eventually defeated armies who came to Madinah. Muhammad made Makkah the center of Islam. Over time, Muslim armies, merchants, and scholars spread the faith in Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

III. Islam

E. There are two main branches of Islam: Sunnis and Shiites. They differ on which leaders should rule in the Islamic community.

F. The Muslim holy book is the Quran. The Quran describes the five pillars of faith, or the five obligations all Muslims must fulfill.

G. Once in each Muslim’s life, he or she must, if able, make the hajj, or journey to Makkah to pray.

Essential Question

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the month, according to Muslim beliefs, in which God began to reveal the Quran to Muhammad. Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting during daylight hours.