Oct 24-
Five Major Religions
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Monotheistic and the first major monotheistic religion in history
Some believe Judaism dates back to Adam and Eve
Many historians say that it was established around 1800 BC as a part of the covenant between God and Abraham
He would be blessed with many sons and his family would be given Israel
Moses led the Jews out of Egypt (slavery)
Torah is the first five books of the Bible
The Ten Commandments are the foundation of Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Studying Religion
Animism
Is the belief that all living and nonliving things in nature have a spirit
Was the belief system of many early civilizations
In early civilizations was often combined with ancestor worship
What is a Religion
An organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, practices, and worship that centers on one or more gods
What is the point of religion?
Designed to keep people in line
Answer unanswerable questioned
Polytheism vs monotheism
- Many vs one God
Oct 25-
Menorah is a major symbol
They worship is synagogues
Lead by Rabbis
Bar/bat Mitzvahs- Dance the Horah
Ritual Worship and Celebration
Many Jews make the pilgrimage to the “Wailing wall in Jerusalem
Signifies the presence of the Divine
Thought to be the most sacred of places
Believe that there is a single God(Yahweh) who not only created the universe, but with whom every Jew can have a personal relationship
They await the Messiah, who will be an earthly king
Believe in heaven, but the Torah doesn’t say a lot about i and focuses more on how to live your lives
Kosher Foods
Foods are kosher when they meet all criteria that jewish law applies to food
Characteristics that make a food non-kosher
The mixture of meat and milk
The use of cooking utensils which had previously been used for non-kosher food
- The type of animal it is
Oct 26-
Problems facing Jews
Anti-Semitism
Diaspora- when the Jews were forced to leave their homeland by the Romans
Pograms- Russians would round up Jews and persecute them (when jews were targeted)
Holocaust- 2/3rds of European Jews killed
Israel established as a Jewish state after WWII- Led to several wars and a lot of terrorism in the area
Comments from Iranian President and other Middle Eastern groups
Christianity
3 main branches- Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism
Beliefs are based on the life, teachings, and death of Jesus Christ
The cross is a symbol used to represent life, death, and resurrection
Jesus’ death made salvation and forgiveness of sins possible for everyone
Three days after his death he was resurrected and later ascended to Heaven
The resurrection of Christ is celebrated on Easter, which is considered christianity’s most important holiday
The first christians were Jews who came to believe Jesus was the Messiah
Christians believe that they can have a personal relationship with God, and that they are saved by faith and good works
Believe in heaven and hell
Believe that the Bible is the word of God
Christian way of life
Fellowship with God
Our relationships with others
Obedience to God’s commands
Discipline
Good Works
- Triune God- Father, Son, Holy Spirit (all God but not one with each other)
Oct 27-
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