Overview of the religions of the Middle East
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Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
- "People of the Book"
-
All are 'branches' off the same
tree: Monotheism (belief in 1 god)
Judaism
-
Abraham - father of
-
Believed in 1 god
-
Was promised a kingdom for his
"chosen people"
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Told to sacrifice his son, but
at the last second was spared
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Other prophets = Adam, Noah,
Moses
-
Holy book = Torah
Christianity
-
Followers of Jesus Christ
-
Adheres to the principals of
Judaism, with the additional belief in Jesus as the Messiah and the literal
son of God (the same monotheistic diety that Abraham worshipped)
-
Holy books include the Jewish
books (called the Old Testament) and writings concerning the life, preaching,
and effects of Jesus (called the New Testament)
Islam
-
mid 7th century, Muhammed in
what is now Saudi Arabia was commanded to "write" by God
-
Holy books include the Jewish
books, the Christian Bible, and the Qur'an
-
The verses written in the Qur'an
(Koran) are believed by Muslims to be the literal Word of God
-
Differs from the Judaic and
Christian texts which are written by humans
-
Islam accepts all the Christian
and Jewish prophets, but dies ot consider Jesus to be the actual son of
God
-
Allah is the Arabic word
for God, the same monotheistic diety that Abraham worshipped and that adherants
of Christianity believe in
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5 Pillars of Islam:
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Shahada - recitation
of Faith
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There is no god worthy of worship
except God and Muhammad is His messenger.
-
in Arabic: la ilaha illa
Llah, Muhammadun rasulu'Llah
-
Salat - prayer 5 times
daily
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Zakat - alms for the
poor, usually around 2% of yearly wealth
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Ramadan - fasting during
the 9th lunar month
-
No food, water, smoking, sex,
cursing, etc
-
from dawn to dusk (when one
can distinguish between a dark thread and a light thread)
-
Hajj -pilgimage to Mecca
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