COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS H O U R 1

EASTERN & WESTERN RELIGIONS Eastern (Asian based wisdom traditions) Buddhism Hinduism Taoism Confuciansim Western (Really middle eastern traditions ) Judaism Christianity Islam

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism Tanakh Key Ideas What did we see in the Tanakh? What does it mean to be God s chosen people? Believes in orthopraxy, Correct action as evidence of faith What are covenants and how are we supposed to fulfil them?

FULFILLING THE COVENANTS: THE WAY OF THE TORAH

FULFILLING THE COVENANTS: THE WAY OF THE TORAH Variations on Judaism 1. Reform Judaism Should adapt to changing world. Be loyal to birth country. Committed to ethical teaching, but not strict laws of Torah. 2. Orthodox Judaism Should have strict observance of the Torah. 3. Conservative Judaism Middle ground between Reform & Orthodox. Recognizes authority of scriptures. But, admits interpretation may need to be changed.

MEANING IN THE FUTURE The End of Days Some Common (but not Necessarily Universal) Beliefs End of the world. Redemption for Israel. All nations recognizing God of Israel as the only true God. Coming of a Messiah. Bodily resurrection and Judgment: Eternal life in New Eden or punishment. Though not much said about afterlife. Key Idea: Judaism much more concerned about life, than afterlife.

THE MESSIAH The Messiah The Anointed One (Not Savior ) People and objects were anointed with oil to be marked as holy. Variations on the Messiah Orthodox: A messiah (from David s line) will come to restore Israel, build a 3 rd Temple, and usher in era of peace. Reform: A messianic era of peace, but no messiah. Conservative: Messiah is metaphorical. We each should strive to bring about messianic era.

WHAT S THE CORE? (EVEN IN NON-RELIGIOUS TERMS) What is the Ultimate God Human Condition? Off the mark from what God had intended. How to Transcend the Human Condition? Live the way God has asked us to: the way of the Torah. What s the key idea to you? Faith. Personal responsibility. Significance of our choices. Meaning of events (past & future). Mankind as Family Do you see similarities with any religions you re familiar with?

JUDAISM QUESTIONS (LAST WEEK) You ever felt like can t catch a break? Ever wondered why bad things happen to you? What it all means?

ISLAM QUESTIONS You ever searching for something really important, only to later remember you ve had it the entire time?

THE WORLD RELIGIONS (WORLD COMPRISED OF DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES) Unaffiliated = claim not to be part of a religion. *Includes followers of African traditional religions, Chinese folk religion, Native American Religions, and Australian aboriginal religions. **Includes Bahai s, Jains, Sikhs, Shintoists, Taoists, Wiccans, Zoroastrians, and other faiths.

THE POPULATION OF ISLAM Guess The Population Which countries do you think have the most Muslims? Rank Your Top Five Syria Saudi Arabia Indonesia Pakistan Afghanistan Sudan India Iraq Turkey Iran Bangladesh Egypt Nigeria Algeria Morocco

THE POPULATION OF ISLAM Guess The Population Rank your top five: which countries do you think have the most Muslims? 1. Indonesia 2. Pakistan 3. India 4. Bangladesh 5. Egypt Afghanistan - #13 Saudi Arabia - #14 Syria - #15 More Muslims in Africa & Asia than the Middle East. Fastest growing religion. On pace to surpass Christianity. Why do you think?

THE POPULATION OF ISLAM More Muslims in Africa & Asia than Middle East

THE POPULATION OF ISLAM Fastest Growing Religion. On Pace to Pass Christianity. Why do you think?

REVIEW: FORKING PATHS OF ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS Abraham Isaac (son from Abraham s wife Sarah) Ishmael (son from Sarah s handmaiden Hagar) Judaism Islam Modern Judaism Christianity

Abrahamic Origins Red Sea Hagar & Ishmael

What do you associated with Islam?

ISLAM (ALLAH)

ISLAM (MOSQUES)

ISLAM (PRAYER)

ISLAM (PILGRIMAGE)

ISLAM (MECCA)

ISLAM (QUR AN)

ISLAM (SUNNI & SHIA)

ISLAM (HALAL)

ISLAM (CRESCENT)

ISLAM (SUFI)

ISLAM (RUMI)

ISLAM (WHIRLING DERVISHES)

WHAT IS ISLAM? Allah A contraction of al- illah ( The God ) Muslim: One who submits to Allah Islam: Peace, Submission to Allah Peace can be found by remembering to submit to the will of Allah (Does this kind of sound familiar?)