World History Essay Example for Free

World History Essay 1. What do you already know, or think you know, about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? They had a lot of wars and disagreements. 2. In what parts of the world are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam dominant today? Christians are dominant in north South America; followers of island dominate north Africa, western and central Asia, and Indonesia. Followers of Judaism can be found most everywhere but are concentrated in Israel and North America. 3. How are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam related? They began in Southeast Asia. All three religions claim they began with Abraham. 4. How are the stories of Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad alike and different? Moses andJesus, are considered the founders of Judaism and Christianity respectively. Muslims of Arabic descent however, trace their roots, to Abrahams other son, Ishmael. His descendent Muhammad founded Islam. 5. After reading these excerpts, how do you think these religions compare? 6. What are the primary differences and similarities among the three religions? Why? Jewish people do not believe that Jesus was the messiah or the son of God or that he was resurrected. 7. Why are some sites considered sacred in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? The holiest site in Islam, the Kaaba, stands at the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca. The mosque known as the Dome of the Rock sits where the temple once stood, the place where Muslims believe that Muhammad rose into heaven. 8. Why do divisions occur within as well as among the three major monotheistic religions? More than 50 percent of the worlds population follows Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. 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, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia. 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. Judaism has approximately 15,000,000 followers worldwide. This is less than 0.25 percent of the world. Followers of Judaism can be found most everywhere but are concentrated in Israel and North America. 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. Hinduism has approximately 901,000,000 followers worldwide. This is 13 percent of the world. Hindus are concentrated in South Asia. Jewish people do not believe that Jesus was the messiah or the son of God or that he was resurrected. Muslims follow the Five Pillars of faith. These are the declaration of faith (shahada), prayer (salat), almsgiving (zakat), fasting (sawm), and the pilgrimage (hajj). Followers of all three religions practice some type of fasting Sabbath All three religions honor a weekly holy day, typically involving prayer and worship with other followers. Christians believe in the sacraments as a process for preparing each believer to join God. Among these are baptism, by which people agree to worship God and become Christian. All three faiths hold that humans have a soul that will be judged when their bodies die Neither Jews nor Muslims are permitted to eat pork. They also have certain processes for preparing food properly, called kosher in Judaism and halal in Islam. Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in one, and only one, god The Star of David, also known as the Shield of David, has stood for Judaism from as early as the 11th century. The star has 12 sides for the 12 tribes of Israel. Jewish congregations are led by rabbis. in Christianity, the cross became a sacred symbol when Jesus was crucified. Its a symbol of his sacrifice and the resurrection. Christian congregations are led by priests, minister, or pastors. The star and crescent has roots that reach back to pre-Islamic times, but today it is a symbol of Islam. Muslim congregations are led by imams. n the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, a cenotaph, or empty tomb, stands over the place where Abraham is believed to have been buried. Also in Old Jerusalem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is believed to be the location of Jesus crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. One of the oldest churches in the world, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem marks the location where the gospels of Matthew and Luke indicate Jesus was born.