Three Major Religions of the Middle East

Christianit y God -One God -God of Abraham -Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) God -One God -God of Abraham -Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) Practices and Rituals -Communion – breaking bread, sharing wine -Baptism - Confession of faith -Sacraments Practices and Rituals -Communion – breaking bread, sharing wine -Baptism - Confession of faith -Sacraments Worship Services -Led only by Christian ministers (priests, or pastors) -Meet in a church Worship Services -Led only by Christian ministers (priests, or pastors) -Meet in a church Factions -Roman Catholic -Orthodox -Protestant Factions -Roman Catholic -Orthodox -Protestant Key Beliefs -Man is alienated from God because of sin -The death of Jesus Christ overcame the chasm between God and man -Achieve salvation by faith in Jesus and his teachings -Followers of Jesus broke away from Judaism Key Beliefs -Man is alienated from God because of sin -The death of Jesus Christ overcame the chasm between God and man -Achieve salvation by faith in Jesus and his teachings -Followers of Jesus broke away from Judaism Holy Book -Bible -Old Testament (Torah and history of the Hebrews) -New Testament (Life of Jesus) -No sacred Language Holy Book -Bible -Old Testament (Torah and history of the Hebrews) -New Testament (Life of Jesus) -No sacred Language

Islam God -One God (The God of Abraham) – called Allah God -One God (The God of Abraham) – called Allah Practices and Rituals Five Pillars 1. Shahada - Public declaration of faith 2. Salat – prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca 3. Zakat – giving to the needy (2.5%) 4. Siyam – fasting during Ramadan 5. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca Practices and Rituals Five Pillars 1. Shahada - Public declaration of faith 2. Salat – prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca 3. Zakat – giving to the needy (2.5%) 4. Siyam – fasting during Ramadan 5. Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca Worship Services -Worship in Mosque -Friday noon is most important -Iman – prayer leader leads prayer, reads from Koran and gives sermon Worship Services -Worship in Mosque -Friday noon is most important -Iman – prayer leader leads prayer, reads from Koran and gives sermon Factions -Sunni -Shi’i Factions -Sunni -Shi’i Key Beliefs -Believe Hebrews descended from Isaac (Abraham's son) & the Arabs descended from Ishmael (Abraham's son) -Life example is Muhammad -Mecca (Abraham’s Peninsula) is their Holy City -Living according to God’s guidance gives salvation or eternal life. Key Beliefs -Believe Hebrews descended from Isaac (Abraham's son) & the Arabs descended from Ishmael (Abraham's son) -Life example is Muhammad -Mecca (Abraham’s Peninsula) is their Holy City -Living according to God’s guidance gives salvation or eternal life. Holy Book -The Koran (God’s teachings revealed to Muhammad) -Sacred language is Arabic Holy Book -The Koran (God’s teachings revealed to Muhammad) -Sacred language is Arabic

Judaism God -One God (The God of Abraham – called Adonai) God -One God (The God of Abraham – called Adonai) Practices and Rituals -Shabbat – Shabbat bread (challah) & sharing wine -Friday evening & Saturday morning Jews gather to pray at the synagogue Practices and Rituals -Shabbat – Shabbat bread (challah) & sharing wine -Friday evening & Saturday morning Jews gather to pray at the synagogue Worship Services -Keep the Sabbath (Friday evening until Saturday the Jews must rest and pray.) -Rabbi leads the congregation -Saturday services include a sermon Worship Services -Keep the Sabbath (Friday evening until Saturday the Jews must rest and pray.) -Rabbi leads the congregation -Saturday services include a sermon Factions -Orthodox -Conservative -Reform Factions -Orthodox -Conservative -Reform Key Beliefs -Live a good life according to the laws of the Torah (613 laws) -Believe that the oral law continues to be revealed -Fast by not eating or drinking during the holiday of Yom Kipper -Give to the needy -Do not eat pork, shellfish, or meat prepared with dairy products Key Beliefs -Live a good life according to the laws of the Torah (613 laws) -Believe that the oral law continues to be revealed -Fast by not eating or drinking during the holiday of Yom Kipper -Give to the needy -Do not eat pork, shellfish, or meat prepared with dairy products Holy Book -TeNaKh (3 parts) 1. Torah – stories of ancient Hebrew & Hebrew Law 2. Nevi’im – history of the prophets 3. Ketuvim – Psalms written in song or poem form Holy Book -TeNaKh (3 parts) 1. Torah – stories of ancient Hebrew & Hebrew Law 2. Nevi’im – history of the prophets 3. Ketuvim – Psalms written in song or poem form

Symbols: *Please draw each symbol on the correct page in your journal. Christianity Islam Judaism

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