1.02 Monotheistic Religions

Step 1: Answer the six questions using three to four sentences each. Use what you learned in the lesson to guide your response.
• In what ways is the Holy Land an important site for all three monotheistic faiths? – The Holy Land is an important site for all three monotheistic faiths because it is home to holy sites that are sacred to the religions. The city contains Jewish synagogues, Christian churches, and Muslim mosques. It is also the source of tension among religious groups.
• The three major monotheistic religions are sometimes described as branches of the same family tree. If this is true, how would you describe the trunk of the tree? – I think that the trunk would be Abraham. All three religions descended from Abraham. Judaism and Christianity claim that their founders descended from Abraham’s son Isaac. Islam descended from his other son, Ishmael.
• How are the three major holy books of the monotheistic faiths both similar and different? – The three major holy books of the faiths have many similarities and differences. The similarities are that all of the books command to do good and avoid evil, and each book is associated with only one God. A difference between the books are the way in which they preach their beliefs.
• How are the basic beliefs of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike? – First, the three religions each believe in only one God (monotheistic). Next, all three religions have Jerusalem as a holy place. Lastly, they all have prophets although they don’t all accept the same prophets.
• What types of internal differences and divisions exist within each religion? – Christianity has many divisions within the religion, but the largest branches are Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Judaism sects are defined by the ways in which they practice the religion. The greatest Jewish sects are Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. Islam is divided between two major groups, Sunni and Shi’a Islam.
• What characteristics and beliefs of the three religions make them different? - Their opinions on Jesus is the major issue that separates them. Judaism believes that Jesus is not the savior, the savior has not come yet. Christianity believes that Jesus is the savior that came to forgive our sins. Islam believes that there is no savior, they were all prophets of God.
Step 2: After you have explained the answers to the six questions above, it's your turn to write two questions of your own that you would like to ask any of the religious figures discussed in the lesson (ex. Jesus, Mohammad, Moses). You should also write sample answers to the two questions you create. Your questions and answers should address one of the following topics from the lesson, but should not repeat answers already discussed in this assessment:
• how the three religions are alike and different
• what perspective each religion has on the prophets discussed in the lesson
• what basic beliefs each religion follows
• what revelations the holy books of the three religions provide and how they relate to one another Question 1 to Jesus: How did it feel to be hated upon by so many people such as Egyptians and some Romans who thought you were a want to be God king?
Sample Answer: I did not gain any hatred toward them at those times. I love all of my creations as one, and I will never show any negative love towards them.
Question 2 to Moses: What was it like experiencing Gods voice commanding you to do his will and obtain the 10 commandments?
Sample Answer: It was heart lifting, although at first I was kind of scared.