The Three World Religions

THE 3 RELIGIONS OF

EUROPEEurope is home to many religions. There are three main

religions, however. These are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These religions have some similarities and even a common history. They are also different in their beliefs about God and man. Sometimes these beliefs cause disagreements between people. Disagreements can even happen between people of the same religious group.

Religion has been very important in the history of Europe. Wars have been fought, and government leaders have been changed, because of religious issues. Today, most Europeans have the legal freedom to choose their religion. Most Europeans recognize and respect the rights of others to choose their own religion.

Three World Religions

MAIN IDEA: Three major world religions began in Southwest Asia.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have become major world faiths. All three religions are examples of Monotheism, or the belief in one God.

Judaism Oldest of the three Religions

Founded by Abrahamtraces its heritage to the covenant God made with Abraham that God would make them a sacred people and give them a holy land.

Called Jews/Jewish

Believes in 1 God- Monotheistic

Holy book- Torah

Worships in a synagogue with a

raabi

Founded in Caanan – present day Israel

Judaism

Southwest Asia

Judaism The Torah is the most important

Jewish scripture – Holy Book

It contains the basic laws of Judaism.

Talmud is the written version of the Oral Law

Judaism

Today there are over 15 million followers of Judaism scattered throughout the world.

A large number of those people live in the Jewish nation of Israel. Over six million live in the United States.

Judaism

Symbol – The Star of David

Judaism

Additional Facts Matrilineal - anyone with a Jewish mother also has

irrevocable Jewish status; in other words, even if someone with a Jewish mother converts to another religion, that person still is considered Jewish.

Prays 3 times a day

Observes /Celebrates - Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah

Does not eat pork – Kosher Diet

Jews in Europe were nearly wiped out by Hitler and Nazi Germany

Judaism

The Wailing Wall

JerusalemPlace of prayer and pilgrimage, sacred to Jewish people – they

go here to weep for the destruction of their temples…they leave prayer notes in the cracks

Christianity

Judaism gave rise to another monotheisticreligion-Christianity.

Founded in Southwest Asia

Patriarch/Founder – Abraham/Jesus Christ

Followers – Christians Worship in a church with a

priest/minister/pastor

Holy book- Bible

More than 2.1 Billion followers today

Christianity

Additional Facts

Largest religion in the world

Based on teaching of Jesus Christ

Special rituals- baptism, Holy Communion

Celebrate Christmas and Easter

22,000 Christian groups called

denominations

• Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, ect.

Christianity

Symbol - Cross

Church Of The Holy Sepulchre

Jerusalem

marks the spot

where Jesus was

crucified, buried and

resurrected. It’s one

of Christianity’s most

important religious

sites.

Islam

Southwest Asia

Islam The holy book of Islam

is the Koran or Quran.

Allah, is the Islamic God.

Place of worship is called a Mosque.

It has about 1.3 billion followers, most of them in the region north and east of the Mediterranean Sea.

Islam

Additional Facts Must complete the 5 Pillars of Islam

• Declaration of faith• Pray 5 times a day• Give to the poor• Fast during Ramadan• Pilgrimage to Mecca

Over several centuries, Islam spread into areas of Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe.

Diet – No Pork

Spread by conquest

The two largest groups of Muslims are the Sunnis and the Shiites; the Sunnis account for 90% of the world’s Muslims

They believe Abraham and Jesus were prophets, but Muhammed was the last prophet

Islam

Symbol – Crescent Moon

Islam

Islam

Islamic shrine in Jerusalem contains the Foundation Stone and marks the spot where Muhammed ascended to heaven

The Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem

Jerusalem, holy to all three

religions…