Transcript Abrahamic Religions

Abrahamic Religions
Humanities II Honors
Overview
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Abrahamic religions
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What are they?
What common bond is the
term derived from?
The figure of Abraham
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Who was he?
His significance in each
religion
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A look at the common
stories and figures that
evolve from Judaism’s
traditions to foundation of
Islam
The figure that alters
tradition of monotheism
Spiritual figures & prophets
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One God for each, or One
God for all?
Regarding Jesus
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Foundation & religious
texts
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The element of
monotheism
Spiritual beings below
deities and the revered
humans of religious text
Clergy & hierarchical
structure
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From religious scholars to
spiritual guides
The Abrahamic religions
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World’s three major
monotheistic religions
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Although each are distinct,
a number of parallels exist
amongst them
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Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam
All three were founded in
the Middle East,
similarities seem to reflect
this closeness in proximity
Term “Abrahamic” derived
from the common
patriarchal figure of
Abraham
Abrahamic religions today
• Purple indicative of areas where Abrahamic religions are
most prevalent. (Yellow areas adhere predominantly to
Eastern religions)
A look at Abraham
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Born between 1900-1800
BCE (depending on
religious interpretation)
Originally from Sumerian
city of Ur (modern Iraq),
eventually migrated to
Canaan (modern Israel)
“Original believer” –
identified with early
monotheistic struggle in
age of polytheism
Accounts of Abraham
appear in the holy books of
all three religions at hand
Abraham (cont.)
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In Judaism & Christianity
Was known as Abram
(“exalted father”) in
Hebrew
Lineage: Father of Isaac,
grandfather of Jacob –
leads to the Israelites, and
eventual branch-off of
Christians
Story of Abraham’s nearsacrifice of Isaac appears
in the Torah’s book of
Genesis (subsequently
included in the Old
Testament)
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In Islam
Known as Ibrahim in
Arabic
Lineage: Father of Ishmael
- ancestor of the Arab
people and, more
specifically, of the prophet
Muhammad
Abraham is himself
regarded as a prophet in
the Qur’an
The Al-Baqara chapter of
the Qur’an claims that
Abraham and Ishmael built
the Kaaba in Mecca
Foundation of Judaism
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Time period: 5th to 3nd
century BCE
Location: Jerusalem,
Palestine (modern Israel)
Jewish faith asserts that the
Israelites received the Torah
from God in 1313 BCE
After some 800-900 years,
and periods of exile from their
homeland, Israelites resettle
Jerusalem
Recognize the Tanakh as
scripture in 450 BCE
By 3rd century BCE, Judaism
spreads to Egypt and into
larger area of Roman Empire
Foundation of Christianity
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Time period: 1st to 2nd
century CE
Location: Palestine
(modern Israel)
Jesus born approx. 4 BCE,
in Galilee (northern region
of Israel)
Expressed alternate views
to contemporary rabbis,
inspired Apostolic church,
texts of New Testament
Christianity spread beyond
Jewish community to
become predominantly
Gentile religion
Foundation of Islam
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Time period: 7th century
CE
Location: Mecca, modern
Saudi Arabia
Muhammad began to
preach Islam in Mecca,
migrated to Medina in 622
CE
There he was able to unify
Arabian tribes under Islam,
these Muslims overtook
Mecca in 630 CE
Qu’ran was compiled by
Muhammad’s followers
after his death in 632 CE
Religious texts (Judaism’s Tanakh)
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Often referred to as the
Hebrew Bible
Includes the texts…
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Torah: focuses on law and
beginnings of Judaism
Nevi’im: largely narratives
of prophets following the
death of Moses
Ketuvim: includes
historical acount following
the events of other two
texts
Traditionally claimed that
Israelites recognized the
Tanakh as scripture in 450
BCE
Religious texts (Christian Bible)
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Old Testament: largely
composed of the Tanakh
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Shows the influence of
Judaism’s concepts in
Christianity
New Testament: collection
of writings spanning period
from mid-1st to mid-2nd
century CE
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Generally includes 27
books - numerous writings
attributed to apostles
Final book of Revelation
introduces the apocalyptic
concepts that go on to
shape many Christian
sects
Religious texts (Islamic Qur’an)
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Final product of the angel
Gabriel’s revelations to
Muhammad
Compiled shortly after
Muhammad’s death in 7th
century CE
Includes number of
elements from JudaeoChristian texts
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Jesus, Moses, John the
Baptist, etc. regarded as
prophets
These earlier texts are
seen as having merit, but
simply being corrupted
The element of monotheism
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Not only are each of these
religions monotheistic, but
figures from each have
asserted that they are
merely interpretations of
one truth (one God, and
one shared God)
Islam’s founding adhered
to clear separation of deity
and prophets, as seen
earlier in Judaism
Christian divinity of Jesus,
resulting Holy Trinity
diverges from this
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Judaist and Islamic
principles lead many to be
critical of this concept
Regarding Jesus
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In Judaism
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In Christianity
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Traditionally regarded as false prophet
Deny concept of “virgin birth”
Acknowledge death by crucifixion
Deny concepts of initial resurrection and the second coming
Son of god
Born of virgin birth
Believe he was crucified
Was resurrected, and will return in second coming
In Islam
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A true prophet whose message was corrupted in earlier religious texts
Born of a virgin birth
Did not die during crucifixion, but instead ascended to Heaven
Thus was not resurrected, but concept of second coming is accepted
Appearance of spiritual figures
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Abrahamic religions all
endorse existence of
spiritual beings that are
not deities – namely
angels and demons
Concept of prophets exists
in all three as well
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Prophets of Judaism have
text attributed to their
stories in the Tanakh
Concept less prevalent in
Christianity outside of
Judaism-inspired writings
Notion of prophets is
central to Islam – stretch
from Adam down to
Muhammad
Clergy & hierarchical structure
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All three religions embrace concept of religious
clergy connecting worshippers with God
Judaism: rabbis – rooted in scholarly knowledge,
answer questions of congregation
Christianity: priests, pastors, etc. – in charge of
congregation level of churches of Christian sects
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Pontificate of Catholic Church epitomizes the existence
of hierarchical order in religious sects
Islam: imams – religious leaders that also,
perhaps as a result of Islam’s lack of distinction
between church and state, have degree of
political power
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The sense of “communal worship” is perhaps most
strong in Islam