The Role of Religion in the Middle East  Judaism  Christianity  Islam  Judaism  Christianity  Islam

Jerusalem  Religion has always been an important factor in the history of the Middle East. It is holy to the three largest monotheistic* religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Control over the region has exchanged from one religious group to another over the years, bringing battles both political and religious that continue to this day. *belief in one god  Religion has always been an important factor in the history of the Middle East. It is holy to the three largest monotheistic* religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Control over the region has exchanged from one religious group to another over the years, bringing battles both political and religious that continue to this day. *belief in one god

Old Jerusalem

Judaism  1300 B.C.E.  Palestine/Israel  Abraham, Moses  Torah (Old Testament)  Talmud ( Laws: 10 Commandments)  Yahweh, Jehovah  Monotheistic

 Jews over the ages have built a series of temples in Jerusalem  They are the focus of Jewish practices and beliefs  Western Wall: (Wailing Wall) symbolizes the site of ancient temples  Jews say prayers to this stone wall, and write prayers on small pieces of paper left in the cracks of the wall

Judaism  Worship in a synagogue, temple  Rabbi’s, Cantors  Religious day: Saturday

Major Branches  Orthodox  Conservative  Reform

Religious Holidays:  Yom Kippur: Atonement  Chanukah: Festival of Lights  Rosh Hashanah: Happy New Year  Hebrews /Jews  Challah bread

Christianity  30 C.E.  Palestine/ Israel  Jesus, Peter, Paul  Bible:(Old Testament)+ New Testament  Ten Commandments  God

Christianity  Church, Chapel, Cathedral, Basilica  Priest, Pope, Pastor,Minister, Deacon,Preacher  Religious day: Sunday

Christianity Religious Holidays :  Christmas, Lent, Easter  Protestant, Catholic  Christians

Islam  Began in 622 C.E.  Saudi Arabia  Mecca  Medina  Jerusalem  Founder:Muhammad

 Qu’ran /Koran: religious text  Allah: supreme being  Sharia: religious Law  Qu’ran /Koran: religious text  Allah: supreme being  Sharia: religious Law Islam

Five Pillars Of Islam  Prayer: 5 times a day facing Mecca  Pilgrimage: Hajj  Alms/Charity  Fasting during the month of Ramadan  Confession of Faith  Prayer: 5 times a day facing Mecca  Pilgrimage: Hajj  Alms/Charity  Fasting during the month of Ramadan  Confession of Faith

Islam  Mosque  Minarets, Muezzin  Imams  Religious day: Friday

Islam  Mecca: Hajj: pilgrimage

Islam  Kabba: This place is considered to be the center of the earth. It is the world's first and oldest worshiping place since the times of Adam and Eve. All of the Allah's Prophets have come and prayed here, one time or another. Its known as Kabba, meaning square or four sides, East West North South, probably the modern English word "cube" is derived from it. You can be any where in this world, face towards Kabba and pray, because Allah is everywhere.

Dome of the Rock  The sacred rock over which the Dome of the Rock is built was considered holy before the arrival of Islam. Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.

 In addition, the Dome of the Rock is believed by many to stand directly over the site of the Holy of Holies of both Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple.  The Dome of the Rock was built by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik from 688 to 691 AD. It was not intended to be a mosque, but a shrine for pilgrims.  According to tradition, the Dome of the Rock was built to commemorate Muhammad's ascension into heaven after his night journey to Jerusalem.

Islam  Ramadan: holiest month in Islam  Can eat after sun down-sun up  Moslems/Muslims  Sunnis: more orthodox- traditional beliefs  Shi’ites: Believe to be direct descendants of Muhammad  Ramadan: holiest month in Islam  Can eat after sun down-sun up  Moslems/Muslims  Sunnis: more orthodox- traditional beliefs  Shi’ites: Believe to be direct descendants of Muhammad

Religion in the Middle East  Jerusalem is holy to the three largest monotheistic religions in the world: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Many of the holiest places of Christianity are found in present-day Israel. Christianity spread out towards Western Europe where the majority of Christians lived by the Middle Ages.  Islam flourished in the Middle East in the 800’s and Arabic became the official language of this region.  Except for the Crusades, the Middle East has been dominated by Muslims for almost 1400 years.  WWII: Jewish claims to the region, especially the land of Palestine; the creation of the State of Israel has brought religious tension to the region and the continuous fight over who rightfully owns the land.  Jerusalem is holy to the three largest monotheistic religions in the world: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Many of the holiest places of Christianity are found in present-day Israel. Christianity spread out towards Western Europe where the majority of Christians lived by the Middle Ages.  Islam flourished in the Middle East in the 800’s and Arabic became the official language of this region.  Except for the Crusades, the Middle East has been dominated by Muslims for almost 1400 years.  WWII: Jewish claims to the region, especially the land of Palestine; the creation of the State of Israel has brought religious tension to the region and the continuous fight over who rightfully owns the land.

 Dominance over the region has shifted from one religious affiliation to another over the years, bringing battles both political and religious that continue to this day.