Chapter 3 Section 2Religions of the Middle EastReligions of the Middle East

Monotheism• Belief in one supreme God

Judaism

Judaism (Jewish)

• Oldest of the 3 religions• Torah-Jewish Holy book

– Tells early Jewish history– 5 books of Moses

• Moses– Prophet– Revealed 10 commandments

• Prosperous state under king Saul, David, and Solomon– Made the city of Jerusalem

• Diaspora– Spreading of Jewish people outside of

the holy land

• Holocaust– The murder of 6 million Jews in the

1940’s– Scapegoat

• Blamed for peoples troubles

• Believe God will send a Messiah or savior

• Holidays– Rosh Hashanah

• New Years

– Yom Kippur• Most sacred holiday-Holiest day• 24 hours of prayer and fasting• Day of Atonement

First practiced by a small group of people called Israelites.

Christianity

Christianity

• Largest religion• Believe Jesus is the Messiah• Study the Bible

– Old testament • books of Moses

– New Testament • Teachings of Jesus

The Bible

Christianity

• Constantine made Christianity official religion of Rome in 300 A.D.

• Crusades– Popes and Kings organized to capture

the city of Jerusalem According to the Christian calendar,AD 1 is the year Jesus wasborn.

• Holidays– Christmas-birth of Jesus– Palm Sunday-Jesus rode into Jerusalem– Good Friday-Jesus died on the cross– Easter Sunday-Jesus rose from the dead

Islam

Islam

Islam (Muslim)• 2nd largest religion• Call god Allah• Believe Muhammad is prophet• Quran is the holy book• 3 holy cities

– Makkah (Mecca)-pilgrimage madeto this city

– Medinah – Jerusalem

Five pillars of Faith

1. State beliefs in faith-There is noGod but god and Muhammad is The messenger2. Pray 5 times a day3. Give to charity4. Fast (no food or drink)5. Hajj

– Visit the holy city once

The Five Pillars of Faith

Hajj

Holidays

– Ramadan• Fast sunrise to sunset