1. Do now: Belief Answer the following question in 3-5 sentences:
Do religious beliefs affect society's laws? Explain your answer.

2. Judeo-CHRISTIAN TRADITION
Objective: Identify & describe judeo-christian tradition’s influence on democratic ideas

3. Greco-Roman Beliefs
Greeks and Romans believed in polytheism – worship of many gods/goddesses
Their gods and goddesses were everywhere
They had human emotions
Zeus, ruler of the gods & god of weather
Athena, Goddess of wisdom and war

4. Monotheism Monotheism: Belief in one god 3 dominant religions: Judaism
Christianity
Islam

5. Influence on Democracy
Several beliefs of these three religions helped to shape democratic ideas.
These beliefs included:
The duty of individuals and the community to help oppressed people
The worth of the individual
The equality of people before God

6. Religion Presentations

7. Name
Symbol
Essential Beliefs & Values
Areas where predominant
Influence over other
religions
Influence on democratic ideas

8. Judaism Leader: Moses Followers of Judaism: Hebrews or Jews
Holy Book: Torah—Hebrew bible (Old Testament to Christians)
Follow Ten Commandments
Written code of law that focused on morality & ethics
Emphasized the worth of the individual & importance of social conscience
NOTE: moral laws are another component of democracy

9. Modern Day Jerusalem

10. Christianity Leader: Jesus Christ
Holy Book: Bible—Believe in Old & New Testament
Followed Ten Commandments
Christianity spread across the Roman Empire & stressed equality for all human beings
NOTE: equality & human natural laws are a key component of democracy

11. Role in Spread 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.

12. 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

13. Islam People: Muslims Leader: Muhammad
Holy book: Qur’an—containing the teachings of the prophet Muhammed
Laws focused on unity of all people
Tolerance for those who are different

14. 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.

17. Summary Paragraph
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.