| CHRISTIANITY 33 CE |
| ISLAM 622 CE |
| * Holy Book - Qur'an. * Founded by Muhammad, when the Angel Gabriel spoke to him and reavealed to him that "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet." (the Shahadah) * Muhammad believed that the God that spoke to him was the same God as the Christians and Jews, and that he was the last and greatest of his prophets. * Muhammad took his message to Jews and Christians, but was rejected. Even the people of Mecca rejected him. (Allah is the Arabic word for God.) * In 622, he was forced to flee to Medina, in what is called the Hegira (flight). This marks the beginning of Islam. * In Medina, Muhammad gained acceptance and followers. In 630, Muhammad and 10,000 followers took over Mecca. Mecca (and the KAABA) became the center of the Islamic faith. * Muhammad died in 632, and the Dome of The Rock was built in Jerusalem to mark the place where he ascended to paradise. * Within 100 years of his death, nomadic Bedouins had spread the religion from Morroco to India, by force. Muslim Beliefs and Practices: * Muslim means "one who submits himself to the will of God" * A mosque is an Islamic place of worship * Arabic is the language of Islam. * 5 Pillars of Islam: 1. Recite the Shahadah - "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet." 2. Pray 5 times a day (Salat) - Morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and before bed. 3. Give alms to the poor (Zakat). 4. Fast during the holy month of Ramadan. 5. At least once in your lifetime make a pilgrimmage, or Hajj, to Mecca. * The sabbath is Friday. * Strict monotheism - no false idols are allowed. (statues, carvings, amulets, etc.) * Respect for other prophets - Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. * Muhammed is the last of the prophets * Believe in Satan that drives people to sin - must repent * Believe in Heaven (Paradise) and Hell. * No alcohol, gambling, drugs, pork, racism, etc.. * Jesus is a prophet not the son of God. They believe that he was not executed, but escaped and returned later. His disciples believed he was resurrected.) * A man can have up to 4 wives - must be able to support them. * Many restrictions on the rights of women. (in orthodox countries) * Jihad - A stuggle for the faith,which is misenterprested to mean "Holy war". To die in holy war, it is believed by some, that you go to directly to paradise to be with Allah, along with 67 virgins for yourself. |
| * Holy Books - The Old and New Testaments. * Over 1000 denominations - Baptist, Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness, 7th Day Advantist, Mormons, Methodists, etc.. * By definition, a Christian is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. * Jesus Christ was from NAZARETH, born to a virgin mother (The Immaculate Conception). He was a preacher who appealed to the poor and dispossessed. He began his ministry when he was 30 years old. He was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. (Baptism is to be cleansed of sin by water.) * Jesus preached about the 10 commandments and that God would establish the kingdom of God for those who repented. * Jesus was called Christ (or Messiah, which means savior), by his 12 Apostles. (Or disciples, meaning followers.) * Jesus' teachings worried Roman officials. They had him arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. The crime was blasphemy (contempt for God). The Roman Senate, which consisted maily of Jewish men, and the ruler Pontius Pilate, executed him. * According to his disciples, Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. He was resurrected (rose from the dead) 3 days later, at age 33. * Paul was considered the first Christian, and along with the other disciples, spread his message all over the Roman world. * In CE 64, the emperor Nero ordered the first persecutions of Christians. This lasted on and off until 312 CE when the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Christian Beliefs and Practices: * Christians beliefs are the same as the Jews up until Jesus Christ and his resurrection, as the son of God. * Sunday is a day of rest, or the Sabbath. * Christians believe in Original Sin (from Adam and Eve defying God.) * The Holy Trinity - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - (3 separate persons, all eternal, all omnipresent, who form a single, unified diety.) * Believe in heaven and hell. * Must follow the 10 commandments * Jesus spoke Aramaic. |