Democracy Continues To Spread Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Greco-Roman Beliefs Greeks and Romans believed their gods and goddesses to be everywhere They had human emotions Zeus, ruler of the gods & god of weather Athena, Goddess of wisdom and war

Monotheism Belief in one god 3 dominant religions moved away from the worship of many gods or deities: Judaism Christianity Islam

Judaism Leader: Moses Book: The Torah Written Code: Ten Commandments These laws focused on moral behavior rather than political behavior Note: moral laws are another component of democracy

Christianity Leader: Jesus Christ Book: The Bible Written Code: Ten Commandments Stressed equality for all human beings. Note: equality and human natural laws are a key component of democracy

Judaism and Christianity taught individual worth, ethical values, and the need to fight injustice. These values are at the center of the democracy that developed in Greece and in Rome.  

The Ten Commandments are the ten laws given by God to Moses on Mt The Ten Commandments are the ten laws given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. These orders serve as the basis for Jewish laws. Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any grave image Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Honor thy father and mother Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness about thy neighbor Thou shalt not covet…anything that is thy neighbor’s Deuteronomy 5:6-22

Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make unto thee any grave image Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Honor thy father and mother Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness about thy neighbor Thou shalt not covet…anything that is thy neighbor’s Discuss your answers to these questions with a classmate: Do the first four commandments concern themselves more with the Hebrews’ relationship with God or with one another? What do the last six commandments have in common that distinguish them from the first four?

Islam Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam have democratic ideas at the very core of its religion.

Islam People: Muslims Leader: Muhammad Written Text: The Qur’an Laws focused on unity of all people. Tolerance for those who are different.

Democratic Ideas Within Islam Rulers had to obey the same laws Duty of the individual to his/herself and the community. The worth of the individual Equality of ALL people before God.

Summary Paragraph Under your notes, write a summary paragraph that illustrates how Judeo-Christian views of reason and faith, and the duties of the individual and community contributed to the development of democratic thought.