SS7G8c

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SS7G8c

• The Student will describe the diverse cultures of
  the people who live in Southwest Asia (Middle
  East)

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)

• All three religions originated in the Middle East
• Although they have much in common, historically
  there has been a great deal of religious conflict
  in the Middle East.
• Israel is the only country that is mostly Jewish.
• The rest are mostly Muslim countries although
  there is a Christian minority.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)

• Muslims are divided into different sects or
  groups.
• Most important are the Sunni and the Shia
  (Shiite)
• Christians have different denominations,
  including Protestants, Catholics, and various
  Orthodox sects.
• Jews have different groups also including
  Orthodox and Reform.
• Religion plays an important part in the history
  and politics of SW Asia.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)

• Muslims are divided into different sects or
  groups.
• Most important are the Sunni and the Shia
  (Shiite)
• Christians have different denominations,
  including Protestants, Catholics, and various
  Orthodox sects.
• Jews have different groups also including
  Orthodox and Reform.
• Religion plays an important part in the history
  and politics of SW Asia.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• Monotheistic (belief in one God)
• Traces origins to Abraham (born in Mesopotamia
  approximately 2000 BC) BC commonly means before
  Christ. BCE means before common era which is
  exactly the same time with a different name.
• Abraham lived in a society which believed in many
  gods. He was one of the first to believe in one
  God.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• Torah (first five books in the Hebrew Scriptures)
  says God made an agreement with Abraham that he
  would be the head of the religion if he would
  dedicated himself and the Hebrew people to the
  worship of one God.
• Abraham left Mesopotamia and went to Canaan (part
  of modern day Israel) which he believed God had
  promised to him and his descendants.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• Hebrew people lived surrounded by more powerful
  kingdoms and according to the Bible they were
  forced into slavery by Egypt around 1300-1200 BC.
• The Jewish people were forced out of the lands
  around Jerusalem and lived in what was called
  Diaspora or the scattering of the Jews to other
  parts of the world.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• The importance of Jerusalem and the western wall
  of the Temple continued to be central to Jews
  during the centuries of the Diaspora.
• Jews believed that this ancient homeland (Israel)
  was part of the covenant (agreement) that they
  had made with God.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• What is the main belief that distinguished the
  Jewish faith from the others in the ancient
  world?
• The belief in life after death
• The organization of believers into a separate
  state
• The worship of a single god instead of many gods
• The offering of sacrifices during religious
  ceremonies

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
JUDAISM

• Which is the holy writing of Judaism?
• Torah
• Quran
• Constitution
• New Testament

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• Grew out of Judaism during the time of Roman rule
  in Palestine
• Founding figure is Jesus
• born in Bethlehem in about 4 BC
• Lived a modest life in Nazareth as a carpenter
• Began to attract attention as a teacher and
  preacher at about age 30

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• Jesus followed Jewish law and belief, but spoke
  of a more personal relationship with God.
• Focused on love of God and generous treatment of
  neighbors and acquaintances
• Followers known as disciples whose writings
  became the basis for the first four books of the
  New Testament (known as the Gospels)

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• Many Romans and Jewish leaders worried about the
  attention Jesus attracted among common people.
• Some saw him as the Messiah or savior of man.
• Jewish leaders considered him guilty of crimes
  against Jewish teachings.
• Pontius Pilate (Roman ruler) saw him as a threat
  to Roman authority.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion
  (being tied or nailed to a cross and suspended
  there until dead)
• After his death, his followers believed he rose
  from the dead and went to heaven.
• Continued to call him Messiah or the Greek
  Christos which was shortened to Christ
• Word of his rising from the dead spread and along
  with his teachings became the basis of
  Christianity.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• Followers emphasized the new religions
  willingness to take in all who believed.
• Angered the Romans as they refused to worship the
  Roman gods and goddesses
• Many early Christians were put to death by the
  Romans

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
CHRISTIANITY

• What basic belief made Christianity different
  from Judaism?
• Christians believed Jesus was the Messiah, or
  savior of man.
• Only Judaism accepted and believed in the Ten
  Commandments.
• Jews never had problems with Roman authorities,
  while the Christians did.
• Christians allowed the worship of many of the
  Roman gods, while Judaism did not.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Began in Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula in the
  600s AD
• Mecca trading center located along main
  shipping route on the Red Sea coast
• As a step in the trade route, many different
  people visited Mecca.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• A rectangular building (Kaaba) stood in the
  center of Mecca.
• Held several hundred different idols inside.
• Believed to have been built by Abraham and his
  son Ishmael to honor God for saving them from
  dying in the desert.
• Over the centuries statues of many other gods and
  idols were placed inside the Kaaba.

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Kaaba
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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 AD.
• Orphaned at a young age, taken in by his uncle,
  and trained to become a merchant.
• Married an older woman, took over her caravan
  business, and became a respected member of the
  Mecca community.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• At age 40 Muhammad heard the angel Gabriel
  calling on him to tell the word of God to the
  people.
• Told the people they needed to rededicate
  themselves to the worship of one God, Allah.
• Those who agreed became known as Muslims or
  ones who submit to the will of God.
• Many in Mecca feared the teaching would hurt
  trade by angering those who worshipped other
  gods.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Some followers began to face threats and
  violence.
• In 622 AD to escape the threats Muhammad and his
  followers moved to Medina
• 630 AD Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army
  and the city surrendered rather than face war.
• One of his first acts went to Kaaba and removed
  the idols then dedicated the building to Allah.
• Mecca and the Kaaba remain central to Muslim
  worship.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• After Muhammads death his teachings were
  collected into the Quran (the holy book of Islam)
• Islam has one God (monotheistic) and Muhammad is
  viewed as a prophet.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Muslims believe they must meet 5 basic
  obligations, known as the Five Pillars.
• 1. Shahada- There is no God but Allah and
  Muhammad is his prophet.
• 2. Salat- praying 5 times a day facing toward
  Mecca
• 3. Zakat- charity to the poor
• 4.-Sawm- eating or drinking nothing during the
  daylight hours of the month of Ramadan (the 10th
  month of the Muslim calendar)
• 5. A pilgrimage to Mecca sometime in ones
  lifetime (Hajj)

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Quran is a handbook for leading a respectable
  life.
• Some countries base their laws on the Quran
  (Sharia Law)
• Because so much of the Quran comes from the Old
  and New Testaments, Muslims refer to Jews and
  Christians as People of the Book.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• After Muhammads death, Islam spread rapidly
  throughout the Arabian Peninsula and parts of the
  Persian and the Byzantine Empires.
• Many people welcomed the Muslims and converted to
  Islam.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• What is the relationship between Judaism,
  Christianity, and Islam?
• The three religions all believe in different
  gods.
• All three religions accept Jesus as the Son of
  God.
• Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam won new
  converts only by war and force.
• Islam includes much of the Old and New
  Testaments in its holy book, the Quran.

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• What are the Five Pillars?
• The first five books of the Quran
• The five columns that support the roof of the
  Kaaba
• Five beliefs shared by Judaism, Christianity, and
  Islam
• Five basic obligations that Muslims are supposed
  to meet in their lives

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c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions
in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and
Islam)
ISLAM

• Why do Muslims call Jews and Christians People
  of the Book?
• People belonging to these religions could read.
• Followers of all 3 religions were taken in census
  records.
• Much of the Old and New Testaments are included
  in the Quran.
• Jews and Christians were the first groups in SW
  Asia who had a written language.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• After Muhammad died there was a disagreement
  about who should lead the Muslim community.
• At first it was decided to place power in the
  hands of men who had been friends of Muhammads.
• They ruled one after the other and were known as
  the Four Rightly Guided Caliphs.
• When the last one died, the argument started
  again.
• Two separate ideas were brought forward.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• One group (Sunni) thought leadership should go to
  whoever was most able to keep the community
  together.
• The other group thought leadership should go to a
  direct descendant of Muhammad.
• They wanted to choose one of Muhammads
  grandsons, the children of his son-in-law, Ali.
• They became known as the Shia-Ali (supporters of
  Ali) shortened to Shia.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• A battle for control soon followed resulting in
  the death of one of Muhammads grandsons.
• Power transferred to the Sunni supporters.
• Division remains today, but little difference in
  the basic religious beliefs.
• Sunnis are the majority (about 85 of all
  Muslims)
• Shia are an overall minority but make up a large
  portion of the populations of countries such as
  Iran (over 90), Iraq, and Lebanon.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• What issue led to the split between the Sunni and
  Shia in Islam?
• The Shia believed only Arabs could be Muslims.
• Arguments began over what should be included in
  the Five Pillars.
• The Shia wanted to change the direction of prayer
  to Jerusalem rather than Mecca.
• They disagreed over who should lead the Muslim
  community after Muhammads death.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• Why were the first four leaders of the Muslims
  after Muhammads death called the Four Rightly
  Guided Caliphs?
• They had been friends of Muhammad.
• They had studied leadership for many years and
  were well prepared to rule.
• They had arranged for a split in the community
  between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
• These men all ruled together so there could be no
  questions about their decisions.

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• Approximately what percentage of the population
  of Iran is Sunni Muslim?
• 9
• 33
• 64
• 90

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• The major religions of Iran and
• Iraq could be displayed as shown.
• What would be the BEST alternative to that
  display?
• One circle graph
• Two line graphs
• Two circle graphs
• A line graph with two lines of different colors

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d. Explain the origin of the division between
Sunni and Shia Muslims
ISLAM

• Which question could be
• answered by using the
• information from the graph?
• Which country has the most Shia Muslims?
• What part of the population of Iran is Hindu?
• What part of the population of Iraq is Christian?
• Which country has the highest proportion of its
  population as Shia Muslim?