COMPARATIVE RELIGIONS W E E K 6 - H O U R 3

EASTERN & WESTERN RELIGIONS Western Judaism Christianity Islam In what way do they have shared roots?

WESTERN RELIGIONS: SHARED ROOTS Creation in Six Days

WESTERN RELIGIONS: SHARED ROOTS Origins of Humanity

FORKING PATHS OF WESTERN RELIGIONS The Family Tree of Abrahamic (Western) Religions Adam & Eve Cain Abel Only lineage to Abraham shown. Judaism, Christianity, Islam all share lineage up to this point. Seth Noah Shem Abraham

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 RELIGIONS The Shared Big Picture With God all is perfect, good, and loving. We are (or can be) estranged from God. Life is about returning to ideal relationship w/ God. Biggest (?) difference is how the religions interpret 1. what it means to be estranged from God, 2. and on how to find our way back to God.

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

What do you associated with Judaism?

JUDAISM (SYNAGOGUES)

JUDAISM (STAR OF DAVID)

JUDAISM (RABBI)

JUDAISM (BAR MITZVAH)

JUDAISM (BAT MITZVAH)

JUDAISM (PASSOVER)

JUDAISM (KOSHER)

JUDAISM (YARKMULKE)

JUDAISM (MENORAH)

JUDAISM (HANUKKAH)

JUDAISM (TORAH)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Can Mean What Does it Mean to be Jewish? To be a member of the religion. To be secular, but be of the Jewish culture. What it is does not mean It is NOT an ethnicity or race (genetic distinction). Except in American law. Can convert to Judaism.

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: Belief in G-d Names important; should treat with respect. Name shouldn t be written down Writing could be treated with disrespect. God has many names in scripture: Elohim (first name used, God the creator) El Shaddai ( God Almighty ) G-d, or G!d YHVH (acronym, most important, shall not be said; associated with God s closeness to us)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: Important Texts Sacred Texts Teachings Esoteric Teachings

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: Sacred Texts Tanakh (Written Torah) Christian -> Old Testament Acronym from the texts within it. 1. Torah (The Law) 2. Nevi im (The Prophets) 3. Kethuvim (The Writings) Contains history of Jewish people.

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: Sacred Texts (English)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: Sacred Texts (Hebrew) Torah (The Law) Nivi im (The Prophets) Kethuvim (The Writings) Bereishith (Genesis) Shemoth (Exodus) Vayiqra (Leviticus) Bamidbar (Numbers) Devarim (Deuteronomy) Yehoshua (Joshua) Shoftim (Judges) Shmuel (I &II Samuel) Melakhim (I & II Kings) Yeshayah (Isaiah) Yirmyah (Jeremiah) Yechezqel (Ezekiel) The Twelve (too many to list) Tehillim (Psalms) Mishlei (Proverbs) Iyov (Job) Shir Ha-Shirim (Song of Songs) Ruth Eikhah (Lamentations) Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) Esther Daniel Ezra-Nechemyah Divrei Ha-Yamim (Chronicles)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: History & Covenants Torah Adam & Eve Out of Eden Noah & The Flood Isaacs line. 1 st Covenant (Abraham) 2 nd Covenant (Moses) Isaacs s son Jacab s line. Jacob also called Israel (he who wrestles with God.)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: History & Covenants Torah The Story of Moses (Exodus)

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: History & Covenants Torah The Story of Moses (The Covenant) Moses Moses leads people towards Promise Land Moses given the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai Moses given the Torah. With the 2 nd Covenant, God refers to them as his Chosen People

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: History & Covenants Torah The Ten Commandments Simplified 1. Do not worship other gods. 2. Do not make any idols. 3. Do not misuse God s name. 4. Keep the Sabbath holy. 5. Honor your father & mother. 6. Do not murder. 7. Do not commit adultery. 8. Do not steal. 9. Do not lie. 10.Do not covet. What does this say/mean to you?

WHAT IS JUDAISM? Religious Judaism: History & Covenants Nevi im Rule of King David high water mark in Jewish history. United Israel Kings Saul, David, Solomon Building of the 1 st Temple in Jerusalem Collapse of Nation of Israel Splits into Israel/Judah Conquered & exiled. 1 st Temple destroyed Emphasis in this book is on how the calamities faced by the Jewish people are the result of disobeying God. Also stresses the God will not give up on the Israelites.