Topic 2
JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, AND Islam
THE SPREAD OF CULTURE AND RELIGION THROUGH SOUTHEAST ASIA
table of contents
Unit 4 - Topic 2: Overview........................................................................................................................................................1
Unit 4 - Topic 2: Goal, GLEs, & Description.............................................................................................................................2
Essential Content - GLEs
Ancillary Content - GLEs
Homework: What Did you Learn in Unit 4 - Topic 1..............................................................................................................3
Student Strategies....................................................................................................................................................................4
Caterpillar Writing
Thinking Like a Historian
R.A.C.E. Strategy for Reading
C.E.R. Strategy for Reading and Stating Claims (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning)
Lesson Activity: Vocabulary Words - Homework....................................................................................................................5
Instructional Process: Judaism, Christianity & Islam - The Spread of Culture and Religion.............................................6
Eastern Hemisphere Map - Where did Religions Originate...................................................................................................7
Judaism: A Brief History of Judaism - Passage 1......................................................................................................................8
Judaism: The Promised Land - Passage 2..................................................................................................................................9
Judaism: Beliefs and Texts of Judaism - Passage 3...................................................................................................................10
Christianity...................................................................................................................................................................................11
Formative Assessment: Venn Diagram.....................................................................................................................................12
Islam..............................................................................................................................................................................................13
Islam: Desert Life - Passage 1......................................................................................................................................................14
Islam: The Life of Muhammad - Passage 2.................................................................................................................................15
Summative Assessment...............................................................................................................................................................16
unit 4 - Topic 2: Overview
Page 1
Unit 4 Description: Students explore the role of trade in the advancement of civilization by examining the development of civilizations in Asia and Africa. Students investigate the role of trade in the advancement of societies and how trade is responsible for the exchange of more than just goods.
unit 4 - topic 2: goals, gles, & description
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Topic 2: Goal
Students will examine Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will be able to define monotheism as a belief in only one God. Students will be able to complete a Venn Diagram discussing the similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Topics (GLEs) for the unit & pacing:
Unit 4: Approximately 7 weeks
Topic 2: 4-5 class periods
Connections to the Unit Claim:
This task requires students to compare and contrast three major world religions ( Judaism, Christianity, and Islam ).
Key Connections:
Resources and land use contributed to the development and expansion of trade between civilizations and world religions.
Economic motivations influenced territorial conquests and led to the success of kingdoms.
Territorial expansion and the growth of trade and taxation influenced migration patterns and the spread of cultures, ideas, and religion.
Claim:
How and why have the major world religions spread from their place of origin.
Sub-claim:
What are the similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Where did the major world religions originate?
essential content
6.2.6 Analyze the origin and spread of major world religions as they developed throughout history.
Explain factors that influenced the spread of religion. (trade)
Analyze the role and importance of key people (Abraham, Moses, kings, prophets, Jesus, apostles) and texts (Hebrew Bible, Bible) in the origins and early spread of two major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity).
Explain the reasons for Jewish migration in the ancient world, including factors that pushed and pulled Hebrews to different areas (geographic and environmental factors such as famine, as well as social factors such as the exodus, expulsions, and persecution), and how migration and the Jewish diaspora contributed to the spread of Judaism.
Compare/contrast the origin and spread of major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity).
ancillary content
6.1.3 Analyze information in primary and secondary sources to address document-based questions.
Read and analyze Three Religions, One God to build context on the similarities and differences between Christianity and Judaism.
6.1.4 Identify and compare measurements of time in order to understand historical chronology.
Identify historical time periods surrounding the origin of Judaism and Christianity.
Review terms related to measurements of time as needed (B.C.E./B.C., C.E./A.D., circa or c.).
6.4.2 Explain how world migration patterns and cultural diffusion influenced human settlement.
Explain the relationships between migration along trade routes and the spread of Islam.
Ancillary Content not addressed in the textbook at this time. Teachers should include Ancillary Content with the Topic.
homework: what did you learn in unit 4 - Topic 2?
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Directions for Homework: Before we start this new topic, take a minute to write about what you have learned so far. Use complete sentences in your writing. Try to fill these pages with the new knowledge you have gained. Celebrating YOU, Because YOU ARE SOMEBODY!!! Don't forget it!
Student Strategies - Caterpillar Writing, Thinking Like a Historian, & R.A.C.E.
Page 4
Student Strategies - CER (Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning) & Sentence Starters
lesson activity: vocabulary words - homework
Page 5
Students, there is a list of vocabulary words for each religion.
Judaism
12 tribes of Israel
apostles
covenant
Cyrus the Great
diaspora
exile
gospels
kosher
Messiah
monotheism
parable
rabbi
synagogue
Talmud
Torah
zealots
Christianity
Christian
Jesus
gospel
The Last Supper
Twelve Apostles
New Testament
missionary
epistles
pope
Islam
Bedouin
Islam
Mecca
Muhammad
Muslim
Qur'an
Sunna
clans
imam
monotheistic
mosque
oasis
pilgrim
pilgrimage
prophet
shari’a
sultan
shah
tolerance
Directions: Open your NOTEBOOK and complete the vocabulary for a HOMEWORK assignment. You will not be tested on all words, but you need to know them for content.
Instructional Process: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
The Spread of Culture and Religion
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NOTE: Before beginning this task, students must understand that religions are personal belief systems that are influenced by culture and community. Differences in belief and culture can lead to conflict. Though there may be a commonality between several religions, the ultimate purpose of this task is to define the origin and spread of the major world religions. Cultures vary and the world is a diverse place.
In-school Students with your teacher or Virtual Students could possibly zoom.
20 min. Roundtable (Table) Activity: Elements of Culture
This activity will allow you to explore the Essential Question by examining the elements that make up a culture.
Each table or each student should investigate the following questions:
What elements make up a culture?
What are some ways that cultures are different from one another?
Each student in the group will write an answer, read it aloud, and then pass the paper to the next person at the table so that they may add their answer. Send the paper around the table for 10 minutes, then have a volunteer read the group's answers to the class. How many different answers did your group have?
Virtual students: proceed with this task as per your teacher's instructions.
Write Notes from these 2 activities into your NOTEBOOK.
Before we start talking about the different religions, let us stop for a minute to remember what we learned in Topic 1 of this Unit, and that is that cultures vary and the world is a diverse place. We respect the rights of others to worship as they please.
In Unit 2, we examined the various aspects of cultures that developed in the Fertile Crescent. Not only was it the home of some of the earliest civilizations, but it is also the birthplace for three of the world's major religions. In this task, we will learn about the similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity.
What does monotheism mean? Quickly skim the article, Three Religions, One God, to find contextual (context) clues for a definition.
Eastern Hemisphere Map - Where did religions originate?
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Students will plot where these religions originated on the map below. The map can be found in your NOTEBOOK.
Animated Map Shows How Religion Spread Sround the World.mp4
The Abrahamic Religions
Excerpts from Global Connections: The Middle East
Adaptations from The Pluralism Project: Harvard University
Edited by Benjamin Marcus (Research Fellow, Newseum Institute)
Three of the world's major religions -- the monotheist[1] traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- were all born in the Middle East and are all inextricably[2] linked to one another. Christianity was born from within the Jewish tradition, and Islam developed from both Christianity and Judaism.
While there have been differences among these religions, there was a rich cultural interchange [3]between Jews, Christians, and Muslims that took place in Islamic Spain and other places over centuries. Judaism is the oldest surviving monotheistic religion, arising in the eastern Mediterranean in the second millennium B.C.E[4]. Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew and to have made a covenant[5] with God. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as an important prophet[6] who had a close relationship with God, they are also called the Abrahamic religions.
Judaism
Judaism is best thought of as a triangle with three points: God, Torah, and the Jewish people. None is central; all are interdependent. Jews believe in one God, the God of all creation, with whom they have a special covenant.[7] Jews believe God gave the prophet, Moses, the Torah. The Torah[8] includes sacred texts as well as Judaism’s intellectual culture, which focuses on the study, understanding, and interpretation of these texts. The Jewish people have a historical culture that includes specific customs, foods, arts, music, and dance that are part of a way of life.
Judaism is concerned not only with belief but also religious practices that regulate human behavior. According to Orthodox [9]Judaism, Jewish law, or Halakhah, includes 613 commandments[10] given by God in the Torah, as well as rules and practices elaborated[11] by scholars and custom. Jewish law covers matters such as prayer and ritual, diet, rules regulating personal status (marriage, divorce, birth, death, inheritance, etc.), and observance of holidays (like Yom Kippur and Passover).
[1] Monotheist – (adj) religion with only one God
[2] Inextricably – (adv) impossible to escape from
[3] Interchange – (v) exchange things
[4] B.C.E. or Before Common Era is the time before we started using our current calendar. C.E. or Common Era refers to the calendar we currently use.
[5] Covenant – (n) agreement
[6] Prophet – (n) somebody who interprets divine will
[7] covenant- (n) relationship or agreement
[8] Torah literally means “instruction” or “teaching” and has a variety of meanings, often referring to the first five books of the Bible. Here it refers to the total of Jewish teaching, culture, and practice.
[9] Orthodox – (adj) original or traditional
[10] commandments – (n) rules from God
[11] elaborated – (v) given more detail
Abraham and the Three Angels
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NOTE: Introduction to the story of Abraham and the beginning of Judaism as a religion. Note: This video addresses topics including faith and spiritual practice. The video does not advocate a given faith but is part of a series that informs students of the beliefs and practices of many world religions. The founding stories of the religions presented in this series are based on the texts, beliefs, and traditions of those religions and are not intended as historical analysis. Please preview before use in a classroom environment.
Abraham and Moses:
While mighty empires rose and fell, a group of shepherds grew into a small nation. These people never ruled a powerful empire. But they were bound together by a strong religious faith, and their influence has been greater than that of many empires. These people are known by various names, including Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews.
Main Idea: Abraham and Moses were important leaders of Judaism, the first religion based on the worship of a single God.
Objective: Explain why Abraham and Moses were important leaders of Judaism.
Directions: Write in your NOTEBOOK. Explain the question.
Essential Question:
How did early Jews develop and maintain a distinct cultural identity? Compare and contrast Christianity and Judaism.
Judaism: A Brief History of Judaism - Passage 1
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Judaism: The Old City
In the Old City, lies the Temple Mount. Jewish tradition holds that the Temple Mount is the site where God gathered the dust to create Adam and where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son to prove his faith. King Solomon, according to the Bible, built the First Temple of the Jews on the Temple Mount around 1000 BCE, only to have it torn down 400 years later by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who sent many Jews into exile.[1] In the first century BCE, Herod—a king in the Roman Empire—expanded and refurbished[2] a Second Temple. This Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and marked the beginning of a new Jewish diaspora[3] or dispersion in which Jews left the land and went elsewhere to live.
According to Jewish tradition, the Temple contained the Holy of Holies, a site that is special to God. The Temple was also the location where priests performed sacred rituals. For centuries Jews have gathered at the ruins of the Temple—referred to as the Western Wall or Wailing[4] Wall—to mourn its destruction, to grieve over the loss of the priesthood and certain sacred rituals, and to get as close as possible to the original site of the Holy of Holies. The Western Wall is an unforgettable sight, the cracks of its chalky stone stuffed with prayers written on bits of paper; Jews stand chanting and swaying. It is managed by a rabbi[5] and every year hosts millions of visitors who come to pray and connect to their heritage, especially during the High Holidays.
Adapted from:
What is Beneath the Temple Mount?
[1] Exile (n) – a long separation from one’s country
[2] refurbish (n) –to renovate or restore to good condition
[3] diaspora (n) - a group of people living outside the area in which they had lived
[4] wailing – (v) making a very sad cry
[5] rabbi (n) – a Jewish teacher, scholar, and head religious official in a community
Old City’s Importance to Christianity
The white marble circle in the Holy Sepulcher Church in Jerusalem’s Old City is described in some literary sources and folkloric legends as the "center of the world." Jerusalem's centrality, however, comes not from geographic or scientific, but from spiritual and religious considerations. The Old City is the place where Jesus Christ died and was raised from the dead on the third day. Resurrection[1] in Christianity is the central and basic event, the core of Christian belief, without which Christianity doesn't exist and religion loses its meaning.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is believed, by Christians, to be the site where Jesus died and was resurrected. Every year thousands of Christian pilgrims[2] come to the Old City to retrace Jesus’s steps he took when he was nailed to the cross.
According to the New Testament, the Temple Mount is also important to Christianity. The Temple of Jerusalem played a significant role in the life of Jesus. After his birth (around 4 BC), Jesus was dedicated at the Temple in accordance with the Law of Moses (Luke 2:22-28). Jesus was later tempted by Satan to jump off the Temple to prove his status (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13, 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:14).
Adapted from:
The Significance of Jerusalem: A Christian Perspective
[1] Being raised from the dead
[2] people who travel to a place for religious reasons
Three Religions, One God (adapted from PBS)
Judaism
A brief history of Judaism
Judaism is the oldest surviving monotheistic religion, arising in the eastern Mediterranean in the second millennium B.C.E. Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew and to have made a covenant with God. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as their first prophet, they are also called the Abrahamic religions.
While there was always a small community of Jews in historic Palestine, in 73 C.E. the Roman Empire dispersed the Jews after an insurrection against Roman authority. Most Jews then lived in Diaspora, as minorities in their communities, until the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.
When Jews from all over the world came to settle in modern Israel, they found that various subcultures had developed in different areas with distinctive histories, languages, religious practices, customs, and cuisines.
Jewish cultural groups
Jews from Germany and Eastern Europe were known as Ashkenazim (from "Ashkenazic" the Hebrew word for Germany). Yiddish, a fusion of German and Hebrew, was the spoken language of the Ashkenazi. In Europe, Jews had tended to be segregated -- voluntarily or not -- from the Christian population. From the late 19th and through the first half of the 20th century, many Ashkenazi Jews came to Palestine to escape the persecution and discrimination they faced because of their religion.
Sephardic Jews trace their ancestry to the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal; "Sephardic" comes from the Hebrew word for Spain). They once spoke Ladino, a mixture of Hebrew and Spanish.
Mizrahi Jews (from the Hebrew word for Eastern, also sometimes called Oriental Jews) trace their origin to North Africa and Asia. Mizrahi and Sephardic Jewish communities tended to be integrated into their respective societies.
Judaism in Israel and America
There is a great difference of opinion among Israeli Jews over the role Jewish religious law should play in the state. Until recently, Orthodox Judaism was the only form of religion formally and legally recognized in Israel. Although less conservative branches of Judaism now have partial recognition, Orthodoxy remains dominant politically and legally.
Many Israeli Jews describe themselves in terms of their degree of observance of Jewish law. About half call themselves secular; about 15 to 20 percent see themselves as Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox, and the rest describe themselves as traditionally observant, but not as strict as the Orthodox.
In the United States, the debate over the necessity of observing Jewish law has led to the development of three major movements. Orthodox Jews believe that Jewish law is unchanging and mandatory. Conservative Jews argue that God's laws change and evolve over time. Reform and Reconstructionist Jews believe that these laws are merely guidelines that individuals can choose to follow or not. In addition, there are many Jews in the United States who are secular or atheist. For them, Judaism is a culture rather than a religion.
What Jews believe
Jews believe in one god and his prophets, with special respect for Moses as the prophet to whom God gave the law. Jewish law is embodied in the Torah (also known as the Pentateuch) and the Talmud (collected commentary on the Torah completed in the fifth-century C.E.).
Judaism is more concerned with actions than dogma. In other words, observance of rules regulating human behavior has been of more concern than debates over beliefs in the Jewish tradition. According to Orthodox Judaism, Jewish law, or Halakhah, includes 613 commandments given by God in the Torah, as well as rules and practices elaborated by scholars and custom. Jewish law covers matters such as prayer and ritual, diet, rules regulating personal status (marriage, divorce, birth, death, inheritance, etc.), and observance of holidays (like Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; and Passover, the feast celebrating the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt).
The Exodus from Egypt
People of Judaism
Menorah
Star of David
Judaism in Israel and America
The following video analyzes the history of Judaism throughout the ages and provides insight into the main teachings of Judaism. The program also looks into special holidays and festivals celebrated by Jewish people. Note: This video addresses topics including faith and spiritual practice. The video does not advocate a given faith but is part of a series that informs students of the beliefs and practices of many world religions. The founding stories of the religions presented in this series are based on the texts, beliefs, and traditions of those religions and are not intended as historical analysis.
Judaism: The Promised Land - Passage 2
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Answer the questions below after reading the passage below:
Why are Abraham and Moses important in the history of Judaism?
What natural feature did Abraham follow the first part of the long journey to Canaan? (Hint: Look at Map)
Compare and Contrast: How did Judaism differ from the religions of other ancient peoples?
The Jewish Torah Bible
Directions: Answer the questions in your NOTEBOOK.
The Promised Land
The Hebrews were a people who settled in Canaan around 1800 BCE. Canaan was on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This region was later called Israel and also Palestine. The Hebrews differed from all other ancient people in an important way: they practiced monotheism, the worship of a single God. All other ancient people practiced polytheism, which you may recall is the worship of many gods. Monotheism was a significant development in religion and has had a great impact on cultures around the world.
Most of what we know about the Hebrews comes from the Hebrew Bible, a collection of ancient religious writings. According to these writings, God told Abraham, a Mesopotamia shepherd, to take his family and settle in Canaan. The region would be their promised land--a land that would belong to Abram and his family forever. Abraham's decedents would have a special covenant, or religious agreement, with God. According to the covenant, God would protect the Hebrews if they accepted no other god and did what God asked.
The early Hebrews led a quiet, seminomadic life in Canaan. Seminomadic people move frequently with their flocks, but they often return to one place where they grow crops.
The Exodus Wall Map Bible Poster - Etsy
The Exodus
The land of Canaan sometimes became too dry for growing crops. According to the Hebrew Bible, a devastating drought, or long dry period, caused such a severe shortage of food that the Hebrews left Canaan and settled in northern Egypt perhaps around 1650 BCE. Here, the pharaoh enslaved them to work on his building projects. Around this time, the Hebrews became known as the Israelites.
The Hebrew Bible relates that the Israelites endured centuries of suffering before God chose a man named Moses to help them escape from Egypt. The Israelites returned to Canaan in a journey from slavery to freedom called the Exodus, possibly in the 1200s BCE. According to the Bible, the Israelites traveled through the desert for 40 years before finally returning to Canaan. Along the way, Moses climbed Mount Sinai, where God gave him the Ten Commandments and their laws. This religious, moral, and civil code reaffirmed and expanded the Israelites' covenant with God. Today, the Ten Commandments form the basis of many modern laws, such as the law against stealing another person's property. The Hebrews united because of their beliefs.
A Distinct Culture - Passage 2 cont...
Answer the questions below after reading the passages below:
What was a major difference between the Israelites and the Canaanites?
According to the text, how was Israelite society organized?
How did the Israelites maintain a distinct cultural identity?
You need a lot of nerve to go against a common belief. Abraham had this courage. But his strong belief ended up leading his people down a path filled with intolerance and harsh treatment, which continues in some places today. As you will see, acting out a strong belief became an important part of the distinct culture of the Israelites.
Main Idea: As the Israelites fought to win control of their Promised Land, their religious beliefs and practices set them apart from the Canaanites.
Belief in One God
The belief in one God is central to Judaism. This idea may seem normal to many people today, but it was a radical idea in the ancient world. The Israelites were the first people to reject polytheism, making Judaism the world's oldest monotheistic religion.
Belief in one God helped unify the Israelites, but their beliefs and practices also set them apart from other ancient cultures. According to the Hebrew Bible, God gave Moses a code of religious practices that governed most aspects of life. The Israelites did not worship idols or false gods. They ate only certain foods. They did not work on the Sabbath, a weekly day of rest. While they traded with other peoples, they tried to keep a distinct cultural identity Most Israelites did not marry outside their faith, and they were careful not to adopt foreign customs. They generally avoided cultural diffusion or mixing, which was a major part of many other civilizations.
The Twelve Tribes
According to the Hebrew Bible, when the Israelites retired to Canaan from Egypt, they consisted of 12 tribes or extended family units. Each tribe was descended from a son of Jacob, Abraham's grandson. Since Jacob was also called Israel, the tribes were called the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and Jacob's descendants were called Israelites. They referred to Canaan as the Promised Land.
Moses had died before the Israelites returned to Canaan. The Bible describes how a new leader named Joshua brought the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1250 BCE. Joshua went to war against local people known as the Canaanites, who practiced polytheism. After battling for about 200 years, the Israelites conquered most of Canaan. The tribes then divided up the conquered lands among themselves. They lived separately but acted together as a loose confederation or group of allies. Powerful leaders called judges came to head the confederation of tribes. The judges directed battles, made decisions on policy, and helped keep the tribes united.
At Mount Tabor, the Israelites battled the Canaanites. This view shows the town of Dabburiya at the foot of Mount Tabor today. Based on this view, how would you describe the terrain of the Promised Land?
The terrain is hilly, with level land that appears to be good for agriculture.
Judaism: Beliefs and Texts of Judaism - Passage 3
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Jewish Beliefs and Practices
The Hebrew Bible describes how Moses transmitted a religious code that governed the lives of the Israelites. It addressed all aspects of life, including how to worship God, how to treat all members of society well, and what to eat. For example, they could eat only kosher foods, foods that were specially prepared to Jewish dietary laws. According to these laws, animals had to be killed humanely, dairy and meat could not be eaten together, and pork and shellfish were not allowed.
Judaism stressed the importance of treating others well. It promoted social justice, equality, and the holiness of human life. The Israelites also highly valued education, charity, and hospitality or the kind treatment of guests. In addition, Israelite women were treated well for the time. Religious teachings told husbands to love and respect their wives, who were considered to be the heart of the family.
In time, Jews began gathering to worship in buildings called synagogues, meaning “places of assembly.” A spiritual leader called a rabbi, or “teacher,” usually conducted services. Rabbis upheld Jewish customs and provided guidance for living a Jewish life.
An important practice of Judaism is the observance of a weekly day of rest known as the Sabbath. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday night. On the Sabbath, the Jewish community gathers for prayer and to read from sacred texts. Families enjoy festive meals, and people leave behind weekday work and concerns.
Sacred Texts
The Hebrew Bible consists of 24 books in three sections: the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. The Torah consists of the five books of Moses. The name Torah means “the teaching.” Jews believe that the Torah contains the word of God as revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Torah includes religious and moral guidance covering most areas of life. In fact, it forms the basis of all Jewish law. Every synagogue has a Torah scroll, handwritten on parchment, which is treated with enormous respect and read from beginning to end over the course of a year. The Torah and other Jewish laws are discussed and explained in the Talmud, a collection of writings by early rabbis.
The books in the Hebrew Bible also made up the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, though the books are ordered, divided, and sometimes named differently. Many stories related in the Hebrew Bible and in the Christian Bible also appear in the Qur’an the holy book of Islam. For example, stories about Abraham appear in all three texts.
1. What are some important beliefs and texts of Judaism?
2. What were important values in Judaism, and why might they have stood out in the ancient world?
3. Why do you think the Torah is treated with great respect by Jews?
Christianity
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The Origins of Christianity:
A man named Jesus who lived in Nazareth was a Jew whose beliefs became a threat to Jewish and Roman leaders. His teachings formed the foundation of a religion that has powerfully shaped the world for over 2,000 years. Christianity developed in Jewish communities and was based on the teachings of Jesus.
Christianity
Christianity developed out of the monotheistic tradition of Judaism; Jesus, its founder, was a member of the Jewish community in Roman Palestine. Its holy scriptures[1] are the Old Testament (the Jewish Bible with additions), and the New Testament (written by Jesus’s followers after his death and containing the life story of Jesus and early Christian writings).
Today Christianity has three major branches, each possessing its own internal variety of beliefs, practices, and forms of community— the Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian Churches, and Protestant faiths. Despite their differences, each branch focuses on the life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. Many Christians believe that there is one God in three persons:[2] the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Religious practices vary by denomination[3] but may include baptism[4] and communion.[5]
While Christianity is growing most rapidly in Africa and Latin America, it is still the dominant religious tradition of Europe and North America. Despite the threat of war, small and ancient Christian communities continue to exist in the Middle East.
[1] Scriptures – (n) holy books of Christianity
[2] persons here means “forms”
[3] denomination – (n) a branch of Christianity
[4] baptism – (n) a ritual of initiation into the Christian community
[5] communion –(n) a Christian practice that involves the sharing of a ritual meal
[6] the Arabic word for God is “Allah” and refers to the same God as that of Christians and Jews
Click on the Blue Button Above to watch the video.
Evaluates the growth and development of what is now the largest religion in the world today: Christianity. The program analyzes the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, and describes how the religion was spread throughout the world. Note: This video addresses topics including faith and spiritual practice. The video does not advocate a given faith but is part of a series that informs students of the beliefs and practices of many world religions. The founding stories of the religions presented in this series are based on the texts, beliefs, and traditions of those religions and are not intended as historical analysis.
Bible, Rosary, & Jesus on the Cross
Symbols of Christianity
Christianity
Definition of Christianity
The religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.
A brief history of Christianity
Christianity started as an offshoot of Judaism in the first century C.E. Until the emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 324 C.E., early Christian communities were often persecuted. It was then that the Roman Empire became the Holy Roman Empire, and its capital relocated from Rome to Constantinople (formerly Byzantium and now Istanbul). The development of Christian groups derived from major and minor splits.
The Orthodox Church and its patriarch split away from the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope in 1054 C.E. because of political and doctrinal differences. In the 16th century, Martin Luther, upset at the corruption of the Catholic papacy, spearheaded a reformation movement that led to the development of Protestantism.
Christian missionaries proselytize all over the world, and there are large populations of Christians on every continent on Earth, although the forms of Christianity practiced vary.
Christianity: Jewish Roots
Questions to think about as you read the passage below:
What were some of Jesus' teachings?
What were the key events in the life of Jesus?
What do you think makes parables an effective way to teach Christian ideas? (Making an Inference)
Directions: Answer the questions in your NOTEBOOK.
Jewish Roots
As the empire expanded, the Romans were usually tolerant of the many different religions practiced throughout the empire. As long as people worshipped their emperor as a god, they could follow whatever faith they liked. This was not a problem for most religions. The exception was Judaism, the religion of the Jewish people.
As you've already learned, the Romans captured the Jewish City of Jerusalem in 63 BCE. This brought the Jewish people under Roman control. At first, the Romans allowed the Jews to worship one God. Over time, tensions exploded into conflict. In AD 70, Rome defeated the Jews, who then scattered throughout the empire. This helped spread a new religion that was developing in the Jewish community: Christianity.
The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci completed this painting in 1498. It was painted directly on the wall of a church in Milan, Italy. Jesus and his Twelve Apostles have gathered for a final Passover supper. The painting depicts the moment when Jesus tells the Apostles that one of them will betray him. Da Vinci captures a range of emotions among the Apostles and a sense of calm in Jesus. According to Christian belief, the Apostle Judas would betray Jesus after the meal. The next day Jesus was put to death.
A depiction of Jesus
Jesus in Judha
The Good Shepherd LORD Jesus Christ and His Sheep
Jesus of Nazareth
Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus, a man born into a poor family in Judea around 6 BCE. Most of what we know about Jesus' teachings comes from the four Gospels. These books were written after Jesus' death by four of his followers--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospels are part of the New Testament, which presents the history, teachings, and beliefs of Christianity. According to the historical record, Jesus was a practicing Jew and worked as a carpenter. When he was about 30 years old, he began to teach ideas that differed from Jewish practices. Biblical accounts claim that Jesus could perform miracles, such as healing the sick.
In time, Jesus traveled around Judea preaching and gathering disciples, or followers. He chose his closest followers, known as the Twelve Apostles, to help spread his teachings. He often used parables (short stories about everyday life) to make his religious or moral points. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared that love for God and charity toward all people were more important than following Jewish law. He also promised that those who sought God's forgiveness for their sins would go to heaven after death. To his followers, Jesus became Christ, "the Anointed One." They believed he was the promised Messiah--the one who would free them.
According to Christian writings, Jesus criticized Jewish practices while visiting Jerusalem during the Jewish observance of Passover. Jesus was arrested and turned over to Roman authorities. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion--being nailed to a cross and left to die. Jesus' body was buried, and then, according to the Gospel accounts, he was resurrected, or rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. For Christians, the resurrection signals victory over sin and death. The man called Jesus was gone, but Christianity was just beginning.
Christianity Spreads
Appeal of Christianity
At first, all Christians were practicing Jews who still met in synagogues, places for Jewish worship. However, soon Christianity placed less emphasis on the laws of Judaism and welcomed Fwnriles or non-Jews. As a result of the split from Judaism, Christianity grew and developed its own identity.
Christianity appealed to a lot of people. The religion's main appeal was the promise of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus. Many followers were also attracted by Christianity's rejection of the Roman focus on wealth and image. They preferred Jesus' focus on wealth and image. They preferred Jesus' focus on wealth and image. They preferred Jesus' focus on living simply and peacefully sharing property, and providing charity to help the less fortunate. The poor liked the way Christian communities shared their wealth and established hospitals, schools, and other public services to improve their lives.
formative assessment: Venn Diagram
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Once you have read all of the passages, you will complete a Venn Diagram noting the similarities and differences between Christianity and Judaism.
Islam
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The third major monotheistic religion is Islam.
Below are quick facts about the religion of Islam.
The word Islam means 'submission to the will of God.'
Islam is the second-largest religion in the world with over 1 billion followers. The 2001 census recorded 1,591,000 Muslims in the UK, around 2.7% of the population.
Muslims believe that Islam was revealed over 1,400 years ago in Mecca, Arabia.
Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
Muslims believe that there is only One God.
The Arabic word for God is Allah.
According to Muslims, God sent a number of prophets to mankind to teach them how to live according to His law.
Jesus, Moses, and Abraham are respected as prophets of God.
They believe that the final Prophet was Muhammad.
Muslims believe that Islam has always existed, but for practical purposes, date their religion from the time of the migration of Muhammad.
Muslims base their laws on their holy book the Qur'an, and the Sunnah.
Muslims believe the Sunnah is the practical example of Prophet Muhammad and that there are five basic Pillars of Islam.
These pillars are the declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once).
Discovery Education provides information about the main beliefs and practices of the Islamic faith. The program profiles the life of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, describes the differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims, examines the importance of the Quran, and highlights the five pillars of Islam: belief, prayers, fasting, alms-giving, and pilgrimage. Note: This video addresses topics including faith and spiritual practice. The video does not advocate a given faith but is part of a series that informs students of the beliefs and practices of many world religions. The founding stories of the religions presented in this series are based on the texts, beliefs, and traditions of those religions and are not intended as historical analysis
Temple Mount & Dome of the Rock
Islam: Dome of the Rock - Jerusalem
The Temple Mount—known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary—contains the shrine of the Dome of Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is under the administration of an Islamic trust or waqf.[1]
Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad traveled to the al-Aqsa mosque from Mecca during his night journey on a fabulous winged horse called el-Burak and prayed with the souls of all the prophets including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
A few steps away from the mosque, the shrine of the Dome of the Rock holds the foundation stone, where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended[2] to heaven during his night journey from Mecca. In the earliest years of Islam, Muslims prayed in the direction of the Temple Mount.
Today Muslims visit the holy site all year round, but every Friday during the holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Muslims come to pray at the mosque.
Adapted from:
Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount
Edited by Benjamin Marcus (Research Fellow, Newseum Institute)[1] Trust here means a gift made by Muslims to religious, educational, or charitable causes
[2] ascend (v) –go up, climb, rise
Pictures of the Dome of the Rock
Islam
Muslims believe that God[6] sent a revelation[7], the Quran[8], to the prophet Muhammad in the seventh century C.E. to share with mankind. The Quran contains verses about worshiping one god and treating others properly. The Hadith[9] describes Muhammad's life, elaborates on laws for the community based on the Quran, and explains how certain rituals[10] should be performed.
Many Muslims follow five principles (pillars): orally declaring[11] their faith in God and belief in Muhammad as a prophet; praying five times a day; fasting [12]in the daylight hours during the month of Ramadan; giving a share of their income for charity; and making a pilgrimage[13] to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. Many Muslims also observe dietary rules, in origin similar to those of Judaism, that forbid certain foods (like pork), outlaw alcohol, and dictate how animals should be slaughtered for food.
Islam has several branches and much variety within those branches. The two divisions within the tradition are the Sunni and Shi'a, each of which claims different methods of maintaining religious authority.
[7] Revelation – divine (from God) information
[8] Quran – holy book of Islam
[9] Hadith – another holy book of Islam
[10] rituals – (n) performance of formal activities that are done in a certain way and usually at certain times of the day or year
[11] declaring – (v) announcing something clearly or loudly
[12] fasting – (n) going without food
[13] pilgrimage to Mecca – religious journey to the most sacred place in the Islamic religion
The Holy Quran Book with rosary on top
World Map of Where Islam is Practiced
Islam: Desert Life - Passage 1
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Desert Life
The huge rectangle of the Arabian Peninsula, also known as Arabia, is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. Almost the entire 1.2 million square miles is scorching desert and dry, flat land. Rain falls in few places, making water scarce and precious. Much of the Peninsula gets only three to five inches of rain a year.
The region's harsh climate has long placed limits on farming. Many of Arabia's early inhabitants made their living as nomadic herders called Bedouin (BEH-duh-wuhn). They constantly moved their sheep, goats, and cattle among sources of water and grazing land. Bedouin is an Arabic word meaning "desert dweller."
In the 600's, the Bedouins were organized into tribes based on clans, or groups of related families who believed they shared a common ancestor. Each tribe formed an extended family to which members were fiercely loyal. Tribe members owned land and most property together, and each tribe had an elected leader called a sheikh (SHAYK). The tribes often fought one another to maintain or gain control of areas of the desert. As a result, the tribesmen became strong and skilled warriors.
Growth of Cities
The only place life could flourish in Arabia was at an oasis. An oasis is an isolated, reliable source of water in a desert where plants can grow. The oases were like stepping stones across the vast desert. They naturally attracted people, who then built permanent settlements. Anyone crossing the desert had to visit the oases, which became useful places to trade.
Because of its central location, Arabia became an important crossroads connecting routes from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Merchants led camels carrying silks, spices, metals, and other products along these trade routes. As a result, some oases grew into rich market towns and then into cities.
Desert life was very difficult.
Oasis in Desert
City of Mecca
Muslims from all over the world journey to Mecca to pray at the Ka'aba. This shrine is in the shape of a stone cube and contains a holy rock called the Black Stone.
Directions: Answer the following questions in the NOTEBOOK.
How did Arabia's location contribute to its development as an important trading crossroads?
How did Arabia's physical geography influence the Bedouin's way of life?
Find Mecca's location on the map, why is its location good for trade?
Why did people who lived in the Arabian Peninsula in the 600's build settlements in or near oases?
Draw a Conclusion: For what reason was Mecca considered the most important city in Arabia?
Arabia's most important city was Mecca, which became a center for both trade and religion. The various Arab tribes worshipped different nature gods. These beliefs were polytheistic or based on the existence of multiple gods. Most Arabs also recognized the existence of multiple gods. Most Arabs also recognized the existence of a supreme God, called Allah (Al-luh) in Arabic. According to ancient Islamic tradition, the religious leader known in the Hebrew Bible as Abraham had stopped at Mecca and built a shrine called the Ka'aba (KAH-buh). Although Abraham dedicated the Ka'aba to the one supreme God, the shrine came to include representations of many Arabian tribal gods. Mecca became an important site for polytheistic Arabs. People from all over the peninsula made a pilgrimage, or journey, to worship there.
Islam: The Life of Muhammad - Passage 2
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The Life of Muhammad
Today the religion of Islam has about 1.5 billion followers worldwide. Its prophet, Muhammad, was born into a family of Mecca's ruling tribe about 570. A prophet is a teacher believed to be inspired by God. As a young man, Muhammad gained a reputation for intelligence, honesty, and kindness. He worked as a trader for a wealthy widow and merchant named Khadijah (kah-Dee-juh). She was so impressed by Muhammad's virtues that she married him.
Muhammad had a deep interest in religion. He periodically retreated to a cave outside of Mecca to pray. When he was about 40 years old, he had the first of many religious experiences. As he prayed in his cave, he heard a voice that he identified as the angel Gabriel. The main message was that people could achieve salvation, or go to heaven, in the afterlife only by worshiping and obeying the one true God. Muhammad thereafter rejected the polytheism that was common in Mecca. Instead, he followed the teaching attributed to Abraham, who said that there is only one God.
In 613, Muhammad began to preach that only the God of Abraham should be worshipped and obeyed, not the traditional tribal gods. In Arabic, Islam means, "submission to the will of God." The name for a follower of Islam, Muslim, means "one who has submitted to God."
Mohammad: Legacy of a Prophet
Quotes from religious text:
Quotes from Religious Texts
Judaism
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12: 1-3)
Christianity
“You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Acts 3: 25)
Islam
“And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled; He said: ‘I will make thee an Imam[1] to the nations’.” (Qur'an 2: 124)
[1] Imam – a religious leader in Islam
Three religions evidence chart
DIRECTIONS: Now that you have read and studied the Three Religions, complete the Evidence chart shown to the left. You will find this in your NOTEBOOK. Your teacher could take this for a grade.
The March of Abraham, a 19th-century painting by Jozsef Molnar, depicts Abraham leading his clan to Canaan, or Palestine. God had asked Abraham to leave his own country and journey to a new land, where he would become the founder of a new nation.
Summative Assessment:
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Engage students in a conversation about the three religions. Teachers, use a discussion tracker to keep track of students' comments.