Middle Eastern Religions

March 12, 2012

Objectives
Define Monotheism Identify the three major Middle Eastern Monotheistic Religions Summarize the Major Features of each Religion Compare and Contrast these Religions to understand similarities Analyze the relationship that each of these religions have with Jerusalem

Religions of the Middle East

Monotheism
Belief in One God

Polytheism
Belief in many gods

Abrahamic Religions
Religion tracing back to Abraham Islam, Christianity,
Judaism

Judaism

Abraham, Father of Judaism 1000 BCE Israel established Center of Jewish faith - Temple After WWII (Holocaust) State of Israel created Holy Text: Torah-First five books of Old Testament

Judaism
Sects of Judaism
Orthodox Conservative Reform One God created the universe Messiah or Savior

Beliefs

Will come to earth Rebuild the Temple Rule a new Kingdom of

Israel

Christianity
Sect of Judaism Most holy place (Jerusalem)
Location of Jesus death and resurrection

Growth of Christianity
Started as a fairly small religion 313 CE: Roman Emperor Constantine converted, leading to official religion of Roman Empire Modern day: Largest religion with many denominations-approx. 2 billion followers

Christianity
Break between Rome and Constantinople
Leads to Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox

Martin Luther leads Protestant Reformation1517- Thirty Years War in Europe Ten Commandments and the Bible Many sects believe in the Holy Trinity
Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost

Islam

Allah
Same God Jews and Christians believe in

Adam and Eve Abraham is the father of their

people Jesus is a great prophet, but not God 610 CE: Allah reveals the Koran to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel Koran main holy text, but also consider the Bible and Torah holy

Islam
Flight to Jerusalem Rapidly spread
throughout Middle East, into Africa and Europe Ascension to Heaven occurred in same location where Jewish Temple used to stand Dome of the Rock now stands here

Sunni/Shia Divide
Sunnis are the majority (85%) Shiites mostly in Iran, some in Iraq Mainly the same religion with differences
in prayer and leadership

adherents called meaning of name current adherents percentage of total Muslims primary locations subsects
origins did Muhammad designate a successor? true successor of the Prophet qualifications for ruler of Islam current leaders identity of imams

Sunnis Shiites, Shi'i "well-trodden path" or "tradition" "party" or "partisans" of Ali 940 million 120 million 90% 10% most Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Yemen none, but four major schools of Muslim Ithna 'Ashariyah (Twelvers; the largest), law are recognized Isma'iliyah and Zaydiyah c. 632 CE; theology developed especially c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in 10th cent. in 680 CE is major event
no yes Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated people of Medina) by the Prophet) tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any family of the Prophet qualified ruler imams mujtahids human leaders infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an was already on earth, is currently the "hidden imam" who works through mujtahids to intepret Qur'an; and will return at the end of time

Al Mahdi

will come in the future ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community affirmed under certain circumstances practiced in the Prophet's time, but now rejected Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr

religious authority other than the Qu'ran

concealing faith for self-protection (taqiya) temporary marriage (mut'ah) holy cities major holidays

infallible imams
emphasized still practiced Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Najaf, Karbala Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Ashura

Jerusalem
Holy city for all three religions Controlled by each group throughout points in
history (currently the Israeli government) Why would this lead to conflict?