All three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - believe in and worship the same God, even if they refer to him by different names (God, Yahweh, Allah). They also trace their origins back to the prophet Abraham.

1. What does monotheism mean?
(If theism means belief in a god,
what do you think mono-theism
means?)

3.  Began in present day Israel
 Founded by Abraham (a key figure in ALL 3 of
these religions)
 Moses led Israelites from Egypt out of
slavery.
 David: 2nd King of Israel, the young boy who
defeated Goliath, eventually succeeds Saul as
King of Israel and Judah.

4.  Torah
 First 5 books that
contain teachings of
Moses
 IS the first five books
of the Bible
 Is accepted as a Holy
Book in Islam as well
 Written in Hebrew
▪ Read right to left,
instead of left to right

5.  Found in present-
day West Bank
 Are the oldest
surviving copies of
Biblical documents,
dating back over
2100 years.

6.  Followers are the Hebrews (culturally) and
Jews (religious term)
 Hebrew is the language they spoke

7.  They worship in synagogue or temple
Temple – the original
place of worship,
Solomon’s “temple”
Synagogue – modern
buildings used for
worship. Many referred to
as temples as a tribute to
the original one.

8.  Orthodox (very religious)
 Conservative (traditional, but less rigid than
Orthodox)
 Reform (the most liberal of the three)

9. God
Yahweh
Judaism: Teacher/Religious Leader
•Rabbi

10.  10 Commandments given to Moses by God
 Kosher—strict dietary laws (“free of
contamination”)
 Shabbat (Sabbath)-Holy Day—Sundown on
Friday to Sundown Saturday – Spent in prayer,
resting, family feasting.
 Calendar includes five major festivals (including
Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur) and two
minor ones – Hanukkah, Purim
 (Pa-celebrates Exodus from Egypt. R.H.-Jewish New Year, YK – Day of
Atonement/pray for forgiveness, H – celebrates religious freedom/victory over
Maccabees)

11. The Beginnings of Christianity
in Bethlehem Present day Israel

12.  Jesus: Son of God, born in Nazareth
 Messiah (the anticipated savior)
 Disciples: Followers/students of Jesus
 Apostles: the “chosen” teachers of Jesus’
message
 Paul: Continued to spread
Christianity and wrote a good
portion of the New Testament

13.  Bible (originally written in Hebrew,
Aramaic/Greek, translated/updated countless
times since) 1382-English
 Old Testament: the foundation of the Biblical
story, the history/customs of the Jews, written
hundreds of years before the life of Jesus.
 New Testament: written
after the birth of Jesus
Christ, about his life,
teachings, death.

14. Followers:
Christians
Place of Worship
Church
Cathedral (largest
church in a diocese)
(Basilica – a church blessed
by the Pope, 33 in the U.S)

15.  Reformation led by Martin Luther in 16th
Century, resulted in formation of many
different “branches” of Christianity: Catholic
and Protestants
- Protestants, Baptists, Orthodox,
Presbyterians, Anglicans, Pentecostals,
Methodists………..

16.  “Holy Trinity”: God the Father, Jesus the Son
and the Holy Spirit
Teacher/Religious Leader
 Pastor, Priest, Reverend, Preacher

17.  Gospels: First 4 books of New Testament
 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
 Tells story of Jesus
 Jesus’ message of love/forgiveness
 Drew large crowds
 Resurrection: Jesus died on the cross, rose 3
days later and ascended to Heaven 40 days
later (Easter)
 Sunday is Holy Day

18.  Mecca, Saudi Arabia
 Birthplace of Muhammad,
most sacred city in Islam.
 Muslims around world
face Mecca 5 times daily
for prayer.

19.  Muhammad: Last and greatest prophet
 What is a prophet? Someone sent by Allah
(God, to bring people to believe in and
worship Him alone.
The Prophetic Tradition of Islam
1. Adam
2. Noah
3. Abraham
4. Moses
5. Jesus
6. Mohammad (the last and greatest)

20.  Sunni - believed there was no successor
appointed by Muhammad, recognize 4 post-
Muhammad caliphs, do not recognize any
caliphs alive today; since the 1920s (Most
Muslims are Sunni)
 Shi’ite (pronounce She-Ite) – believe there
were 12 Imams (followers of Muhammad),
one in hiding because of sins of Islamic
Communnity, but will return before “the end
times.”

21.  Qur’an/Koran: exact words revealed to Muhammad by God.
 Recorded by scribes during Muhammad’s lifetime.
 The primary source of every Muslim’s
faith/practice.
 Deals with wisdom, beliefs, worship and the law.
 Focuses on the relationship between God and His
creatures.

22. Followers:
Muslims
Place of Worship:
Mosque

23.  Allah (Arabic for “God”)
 Central Theme/Belief: Monotheism – belief in
one all-powerful God.
 Purpose of humanity is to serve Allah,
worship him alone, and lead a moral life.
Teacher/Religious Leader
 Imam

25. 1. The Shahada
The declaration of faith:
"There is no God but
Allah and Muhammad 1
is his Prophet"

26. 2. The Salat
 The mandatory prayers
performed 5 times a day:
* dawn
* noon
2
* late afternoon
* sunset
* before going to bed
 Wash before praying.
 Face Mecca and use a prayer rug.

27. 3. The Zagat
 Almsgiving (charitable
donations).
 Muslims believe that all things
belong to God.
 Zagat means both “purification” 3
and “growth.”
 About 2.5% of your income.

28. 4. The Sawm
 Fasting during the holy month
of Ramadan.
 Considered a method of self-
purification.
4
 No eating or drinking from
sunrise to sunset during
Ramadan.

29. 5. The Hajj
 The pilgrimage to Mecca.
 Must be done at least once in a
Muslim’s lifetime by all that
are physically/financially able.
5
 2-3 million Muslims make the
pilgrimage
every year.

30. 5. The Hajj
 Those who complete the
pilgrimage can add the title
hajji to their name.
5

31. Other Islamic Religious
Practices
 Up to four wives allowed at once.
 No alcohol or pork.
 No gambling.
 Sharia  body of Islamic law to
regulate daily living.
 Three holiest cities in Islam:
* Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem.

32. Name one thing that all three
religions have in common?