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