1. European Religions Three major religions in Europe
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
All 3 are monotheistic

2. Judaism… Major Beliefs
In one true god, God that is all- knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere
They are God’s “chosen people”
God will send a Messiah, or savior to save them
Sometimes called the “children of Israel” in the Bible

3. Judaism… Holy books
Torah or Pentateuch the Five Books of Moses (what Christians call the Old Testament)
Within the Torah, God gave the Jewish people through Moses the Ten Commandments (The laws of God)

4. Judaism… Houses of Worship
Jewish people worship in a synagogue (means meeting place)
Prayer is lead by a rabbi, or teacher
The Sabbath for Jews begins at sundown on Friday night

5. Jewish people living in Europe in 2005
Top countries in 2002:
France UK
Russia
Ukraine
Germany
Belarus
Belgium
Hungary
Spain

6. Judaism… Founder Founder of Judaism is Abraham
Lived in what is now known as Iraq
According to Jewish belief, God told Abraham to leave his homeland and mover where God told him. He would also make Abraham the father of a great nation
Abraham then traveled to what is now known as Israel

8. Islam… Major Beliefs One god, Allah Muhammad is the Islamic prophet
A person who practices Islam is a Muslim
Five Pillars of Islam
Profession of faith (there is only one god, Allah)
Prayers (5 times at certain times towards Mecca)
Giving of alms (charitable giving)
Fasting (during Ramadan)
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

10. Islam… Holy Books Koran or Quaran
However, view Torah and New Testament as holy books too

11. Islam… Houses of Worship
Mosque
Friday is the Sabbath day
Religious leaders- imams

13. Islam… Founder Muhammad- the last and greatest prophet
Also view Abraham, Moses, and Jesus as great teachers BUT Muhammad is the greatest (closest to perfection)!
Received revelations from Allah through an angel, Gabriel the arch-angel
Put the revelations in the Koran

14. Islam… Location(s) in Europe
Russia
The Balkans (close to the “Middle East”)
 Albania
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 Bulgaria
 Greece
Kosovo (disputed independence)
 Macedonia
 Montenegro
Croatia
 Serbia
 Slovenia
 Romania
 Turkey

15. Christianity…Major Beliefs
Second oldest religion
Only one god, God sent his son, Jesus who Christians call Messiah or Christ
Only way to get to heaven is through Jesus
Christians and Jews share many of the same beliefs
Early Christians were Jews, as was Jesus

16. Christianity…Holy Days
Easter- celebrates the resurrection of Jesus (celebrated about the same time as the Jewish Passover)
Christmas- celebrates the birth of Jesus
Sabbath day is Sunday

17. Christianity… Holy books
The Bible- both the Old and New Testament
New Testament- are the teachings of Jesus and his followers, the Disciples

19. Christianity… Houses of worship
Place of worship is called a church
Person who leads the congregation is called a pastor, priest, or minister

22. Christianity… Founder
Jesus is the true founder
Paul of Tarsus– transformed the faith from a branch of Judaism into a full-fledged religion
Helped spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire

23. Christianity… primary locations in Europe
Largest religion in Europe
Mainly divided into 3 different sects:
Roman Catholic or Catholic
Eastern Orthodox
Protestant

25. Catholicism Largest branch of Christianity
The Pope is Christ’s representative on Earth
Center of the Catholic church is in Rome and it is called the Vatican

26. Eastern Orthodox
Officially split from Roman Catholicism in the 11th century
Found mostly in Greece, Eastern Europe, and Russia
Do not follow the Pope or his “rules” but have their own leaders called Patriarchs

27. Protestant
Began in the 16th century with Martin Luther nailing his 99 theses on the door of the Catholic church (he was a Catholic monk)
Many churches are included in this group: Baptist, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Quakers, Calvinists, and others
Do not follow the Pope’s leadership or a patriarch