monotheistic religions

Abraham

father of Israelite people, born in Ur present day Iraq, og covenant

Jacob

Abraham’s grandson later named Israel, had 12 sons each Israel tribe originate from

Diaspora

Jews left Canaan and moved to different parts of the world, Jewish communities that do not live in Israel are part of this

covenant

promise or agreement

Canaan

Jewish promised land

Messiah

earthly king anointed by god

Ten commandments

basic code of law, delivered by Moses

Torah

holy Jewish book (first five books of Hebrew Bible), revealed to Moses

genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, deuteronomy

Talmud

written from of oral tradition, book of laws and customs

Moses

renewed covenant with God, delivered Israelites from egyptian slavery, made 10 commandments

prophets

spiritual leaders (interpret the will of God)

sabbath

holy day of rest (saturday)

new Testament

apostles, record of life and teachings of Jesus, Christian Bible

parables

short stories with moral lessons

jesus

jewish man believed to be son of god, died for sins; crucifixion and rebirth

apostles of jesus

12 total, responsible for accounts of Jesus

priest

mediates between God and man

pastor

priest in charge of a parish

reverend

generic title given to any ordained person

bedouins

nomadic herders moved through the desert to reach seasonal pasturelands for camels goats and sheep

kaaba

ancient temple that housed statues of pagan gods/goddesses

islam

submit to god

hijra

journey that muhammad and followers took when they left mecca for yathrib

yathrib

medina (city of the prophet)

umma

community that Muslim converts developed in Medina

quran

teaches that god is all powerful and compassionate/people are responsible for their own actions, direct and unchangeable word of God

sharia

body of law that includes interpretation of the Quran, eg of Muahmmad’s life and muslim traditions

sunni

caliph should be chosen by leaders of muslim community, viewed as leader not religious authority 90% of muslims in most muslim countries

shiite

true successors were descendants of muhammad’s daughter, divinely inspired, 10% of muslims in Iran, Iraq and Yemen

shahada (belief)

no god but god and his prophet Muhammad

salat (worship)

muslims must pray 5 times a day facing mecca, on friday muslims attend mosque

zakat (alms giving)

give to the less fortunate and share wealth with muslim community

saum (fasting)

during ramadan (holy ninth month in islamic calnder) muslims must fast from dawn to dusk with exceptions

hajj (pilgramage)

all able muslims must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives, should visit the Kaaba and walk around it 7 times, pilgrimage occurs in the 12th month of Islamic calendar