01.02 Monotheistic Religions
Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
● discuss the major figures associated with the three monotheistic religions
● identify the major belief systems associated with the world's three monotheistic religions
● compare the major beliefs and principles of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
S.P.R.I.T.E. Focus
Religious:
● Religion and belief systems
● Expansion of religion
● Founder
● Rituals
● Doctrine
● Social and political role
Intellectual:
● Arts and architecture
● Education systems
● Philosophies
● Values
● Achievements
● Writing Systems
● Academic breakthroughs

Common Roots, Roots of Conflict
● Vocab ­ Kinship: a relationship or connection between two parties that share a common biological, cultural, or historical origin
Disagreements Between Groups Around the World:

Jerusalem
Israeli soldiers stop Palestinian school children in the town of Hebron. Religion has been part of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis for more than 1,000 years.
Conflict in Sudan
A volunteer takes care of children displaced by the 21­year civil war in South Sudan. The conflict erupted between Christian Sudanese in the south and Muslim Sudanese in the north.
A peace treaty was signed in 2002.

Lodz, Poland
A woman reads the transport lists of Jewish people who were deported from the ghetto at
Lodz, Poland. During World War II, more than 100,000 people of Jewish descent were taken from Lodz to Nazi death camps.
NYC Islamic Center
Protesters stand in front of the proposed site of an Islamic center in New York City. The center caused a public outcry because of its location near the World Trade Center. On
September 11, 2001, Islamic extremists flew two airplanes into the World Trade Center, killing thousands. ● Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the world's three major monotheistic religions, and all three faiths have common roots. They each began in Southwest Asia, where cities holy to each religion still exist. Over the course of history, however, differences and competition among their followers have led to conflict.
● Vocab ­ Monotheistic: referring to the belief in one, and only one, god

Holy City, Holy World
● The modern city of Jerusalem is home to holy sites that are sacred to Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. The city contains many houses of worship including Jewish synagogues, Christian churches, and Muslim mosques. It is also the source of ongoing tension among religious and ethnic groups.
● Israel, the new state of Palestine, and the city of Jerusalem sit on ancient lands considered holy to all three of the major monotheistic religions.
● The Holy Land, as the area around Israel and Palestine is known, is a relatively small geographical space. Despite being small, the Holy Land's influence on the world is evident when you consider the vast number of the world's people who follow one of the religions that originated there.
● More than 50 percent of the world's population follows Christianity, Judaism, or Islam.

World Religions
Christianity
● Christianity has approximately 2,286,000,000 followers worldwide. This is 33 percent of the world. Christians are concentrated in North and South America, Europe,
Sub­Saharan Africa, and Australia.
Islam
● Islam has approximately 1,524,000,000 followers worldwide. This is 22 percent of the world. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, are concentrated in North Africa,
Western and Central Asia, and Indonesia.
Hinduism
● Hinduism has approximately 901,000,000 followers worldwide. This is 13 percent of the world. Hindus are concentrated in South Asia.

Buddhism
● Buddhism has approximately 484,000,000 followers worldwide. This is 7 percent of the world. Buddhists are concentrated in China, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,
Thailand, Korea, and Japan.
Judaism
● Judaism has approximately 15,000,000 followers worldwide. This is less than 0.25
percent