SS7G8c

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

a. The belief in life after death b. The organization of believers into a separate state c. The worship of a single god instead of many gods d. The offering of sacrifices during religious ceremonies

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) JUDAISM • Which is the holy writing of Judaism?

a. Torah b. Quran c. Constitution d. New Testament

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

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)

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.

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.

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) CHRISTIANITY • Followers emphasized the new religion’s 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

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) CHRISTIANITY • What basic belief made Christianity different from Judaism?

a. Christians believed Jesus was the Messiah, or savior of man.

b. Only Judaism accepted and believed in the Ten Commandments.

c. Jews never had problems with Roman authorities, while the Christians did.

d. Christians allowed the worship of many of the Roman gods, while Judaism did not.

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.

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) ISLAM • A rectangular building (Ka’aba) 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 Ka’aba.

Ka’aba

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.

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.

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 Ka’aba and removed the idols then dedicated the building to Allah.

• Mecca and the Ka’aba remain central to Muslim worship.

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) ISLAM • After Muhammad’s 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.

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 10 th month of the Muslim calendar) 5. A pilgrimage to Mecca sometime in one’s lifetime (Hajj)

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”.

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) ISLAM • After Muhammad’s 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.

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?

a. The three religions all believe in different gods.

b.

All three religions accept Jesus as the “Son of God.” c. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam won new converts only by war and force.

d. Islam includes much of the Old and New Testaments in its holy book, the Quran.

c. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in the Middle East (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) ISLAM • What are the Five Pillars?

a. The first five books of the Quran b.

The five columns that support the roof of the Ka’aba c. Five beliefs shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam d. Five basic obligations that Muslims are supposed to meet in their lives

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”?

a. People belonging to these religions could read.

b. Followers of all 3 religions were taken in census records.

c. Much of the Old and New Testaments are included in the Quran.

d. Jews and Christians were the first groups in SW Asia who had a written language.

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 Muhammad’s.

• 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.

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 Muhammad’s grandsons, the children of his son-in-law, Ali.

• They became known as the Shia-Ali (supporters of Ali) shortened to Shia.

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 Muhammad’s 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.

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?

a. The Shia believed only Arabs could be Muslims.

b. Arguments began over what should be included in the Five Pillars.

c. The Shia wanted to change the direction of prayer to Jerusalem rather than Mecca.

d. They disagreed over who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death.

d. Explain the origin of the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims ISLAM • Why were the first four leaders of the Muslims after Muhammad’s death called the “Four Rightly Guided Caliphs”?

a. They had been friends of Muhammad.

b. They had studied leadership for many years and were well prepared to rule.

c. They had arranged for a split in the community between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

d. These men all ruled together so there could be no questions about their decisions.

d. Explain the origin of the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims ISLAM • Approximately what percentage of the population of Iran is Sunni Muslim?

a. 9% b. 33% c. 64% d. 90%

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?

a. One circle graph b. Two line graphs c. Two circle graphs d. A line graph with two lines of different colors

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?

a. Which country has the most Shia Muslims?

b. What part of the population of Iran is Hindu?

c. What part of the population of Iraq is Christian?

d. Which country has the highest proportion of its population as Shia Muslim?