Judaism, the religion of the Jews, is one of the oldest religions in the world. Judaism in fact, is the oldest of the three major religions that believe in a single God. The other two, Christianity and Islam have been strongly influence by Judaism, which is a big part of western civilization today. In the beginning, Jews were a tribe, a band of nomads, more than likely shepherds that may have died out if they would have remained merely shepherds. Jews were one of many “nations” to be found in the ancient Near East. Jews became more than shepherds. Unlike people before them that were polytheistic, the Jews were bearers of a concept of ethical monotheism that became the basis for a new kind of religion, Judaism. The religion that marked by a new relationship between people and God. The relationship with God and people started almost four thousand years ago with Abraham. Abraham was born in about 1800 B.C. in Mesopotamia, in what is now central Iraq. His father was a maker of idols, which were statues of gods, such as mountain gods, fire gods, or sun gods. The people where Abraham lived worshipped many gods. Abraham questioned the belief of worshipping these gods. He did not think there were many gods, but to go against his people in this way was not normal. Still Abraham decided that only one God made the universe, and that one God should be honored with prayer. Abraham would start to gather small groups around him who believed as he did. One day, Abram had a vision. In the vision God tells Abram to leave his father’s house which is today’s Iraq, and travel to a place that God will show him. God said that if Abram who becomes Abraham obeyed this command, his descendants would become a great nation, and that he will bless thee,... ... middle of paper ... ...red through taking your class how little I knew about my own religion. I learned how the Jews were force to scatter because they did not have a home. I also learned that though the Jews were persecuted over years Judaism survived today because of the shard beliefs, and spirit of God. One of the main lessons I learned was, for years people have been using religion for some type of power, financial gain, land or just control over people by just taking some verses in a text and not interpreting properly. I believe that the Jew had most of the things right in how they believed because they were so discipline, we have watered down religion today trying to make everyone feel a certain way instead of just telling the truth. I believe without the truth we are going to continue to put man over God instead of like the Jew in Judaism put God over everything.
The big lesson that I will take away from everything that I have learned about the holocaust is that everybody has hard times. The Jews though, they were tortured and were like nothing to the germans and were treated like animals. I am just glad that we don’t have to go through that. I realized that everybody during that time had to stay strong and try to stay alive and hope to see their family again.
Judaism, like all other religious traditions, did not have specific moments in time when they came into being. Instead, cultures had traditions and rituals that were influenced by others and then diluted and influenced
Egyptian religion is polytheistic. The gods are present in the form of elements of life – natural forces and human condition. Greek religion is also polytheistic. Like Egypt, the Greek gods exist to represent different aspects of life, but they also play an active social role in the people’s lives. In Greek mythology, the gods have feelings and flaws as the normal people do. Greek Gods have even had children and committed adultery with people. The Egyptian gods interact more with each other than with the people. They interact with the people more on a supernatural level. Osiris, the Egyptian god of agriculture and afterlife, judges people when they die. Amon, the king of gods, is hidden inside the ruler (This “king of gods” title was not always so as the popularity of Aton, the sun-disk rose through the reformation of Pharaoh Akhenaton in 1369-1353 BC). Hebrew religion, being monotheistic, had only one all-powerful god. Instead of being believed by the people to be somewhere in the world, the Hebrew god was completely separated from the physical universe. Abraham in Canaan (about 1800 BC) is the first known practicer of monotheism. As for monotheistic resemblance in other cultures, the Greek god Zeus is seen as a leader of the other gods, but not independent of them. Akhenaton’s short-lived reform of Egyptian religion reveres Aton as the source of all life. This is the earliest religious expression of a belief in a sole god of the universe. Akhenaton’s challenge to the power of the priests did not last beyond his own lifetime.
Along the way Jewish religion took on new teachings and practices. But with the lengthy development of Judaism and its many changes it is incorrect to posit, as some have done, that Jewish history produced two separate religions: an OT religion of Israel and the postexilic religion of Judaism. Despite the shifting phases of its history, the essence of the religious teaching of Judaism has remained remarkably constant, firmly rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures (OT). Judaism is a religion of ethical monotheism. For centuries many Jews have sought to distill its essential features from one biblical verse that calls Israel "to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:8). The Babylonian exile brought certain modifications in Jewish religious life. Deprived of land, temple, and cultic priestly ministrations, Judaism began to adopt a nonsacrificial religion. Jews began to gather in homes for the reading of Scripture, for prayer and instruction. Here may be traced the earliest roots of the synagogue. Now "lip sacrifice" (prayer and penitence) rather than "blood sacrifice" (sheep and goats) became central to the life of piety.
Judaism was formed around 2000 B.C.E. when Abraham, a shepherd from Canaan, received the word and blessings of God (“Judaism Origins” 1). God told Abraham that he would bless him and his followers, and would ordain him as the leader of a great Jewish nation (Morris and Brown, 9). Jews believe that Abraham and other prophets, such as Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, were selected by God to deliver his message and teaching to others (Morrison and Brown, 10). Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, fathers 12 sons who become the head of the twelve tribes of Israel (“Judaism Origins,” 2). Later, Moses, a prophet of the Lord, received Gods law in the form of the Thirteen Principles of Faith and ...
People must believe that God is merciful and loves them as well. As a reflection of God’s love, people must also love other people (and the whole humanity in general) and forgive there enemies. Judaism traces back from the times of Abraham when God made a covenant with him and promised him to make his lineage a sacred people and give them a holy land. From Abraham, the children of Israel were born; the other patriarchs of Israel being Isaac and Jacob. They adopted the Jewish religion all through up to the time of Moses when the Torah was given to him and continued with the religion.
The Nation of Israel, specifically Abraham, has been credited with the birth of the first monotheistic religion; however, monotheistic principles were present in other ancient civilizations before the creation of the chosen people of Israel, specifically with Zoroastrianism and ancient Egyptian religions.
Judaism is one of the most widely practiced religions in the world. It is also the oldest monotheistic religion, originating at least 3,000 years ago. There are three different kinds of Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. Orthodox is the most traditional and had changed very little over the years. Conservative has changed to fit the times without losing much tradition. Reform Judaism is most modern of the three. No matter which kind of Judaism someone practices, in order to be considered Jewish they must practice Jewish traditions, observe Jewish law, and believe in God.
Unique favor to Abraham’s offspring: According to the Book of Genesis it is indisputable how God vowed to make a great nation out of Abraham, which turned out to be Israel. (Christian, Messaianic, and Jewish Research into Israel’s Two Houses) It has been christened as Kingdom of God or Christendom. The earth multiplied and even today many descendants of Abraham exist.
The beginning of Judaism is written in the books of Genesis. Judaism history was originated by Abraham and the Hebrews. Under god command, Abraham migrated in the region of Canaan and during that time Hebrews lived in Egypt, and then after sometime they returned to Canaan. This ancient Hebrew people were semi-nomadic herdsmen and farmers, who lived in Mesopotamia. Judaism history was appointed by some historians in the form of ‘Biblical Judaism’. It is a period of time covered by the narratives of Tanakh. As we know that the history of Judaism is based on Hebrew’s Bible known as Tanakh, which tell the story about Ancient Hebrews. Tanakh also contains laws of discipline which are followed by Hebrews so they can be known as God’s people. Specifically Biblical history begins with Abraham, actually he does not discov...
Judaism as a Way of Life Judaism is a way of life. It is a religion that goes beyond the normal boundaries and reaches deep into daily life. " To be Jewish is to live a certain way before God, not to hold to a specific creed or confession" (Rousmaniere, 128). The laws of the Torah, its interpretations in the Mishnah and the Talmud teach a Jewish person how to live and what rules to follow. Being Jewish means more than just going to a synagogue and praying.
The Jews were divided into factions. The Pharisees emphasized oral law. The Sadducees stressed the importance of the temple and priests. There was also the Essenes, the Zelots, and the Herodians. Jewish leaders were called rabbis. Rebellion broke out against the Romans in 70 C.E. Troops laid waste to the city and destroyed the temple. Jerusalem was declared of limits to Jews. The Sadducees were thus wiped out without the temple.
Although both religions believe in monotheism, Judaism is based on an absolute deity called Yahweh. The beginning of the Jewish religion and the creation of the world is told throughout the Tanakh or the Hebrew Bible. And the Jewish teachings are known as the Torah. However, the five books of Moses are taught to be the most sacred books of all the scriptures. Just like Muslims, Jews believe that there was prophets that God sent to spread his word, but they do not stand on the belief that just one prophet heard revelations. They belief that all the prophets heard them and there teachings can be found in the Bible. The Jews feel that history begins the same way as the Muslims with the creation of the world by God, but after this they tend to veer off from the Islamic beliefs. They believe that God sent “patria...
God calls Abram while he is in Ur. He commands him to leave the country with his family to a land God has chosen. He promises to bless Abram and make his descendants form a great nation. This promise will be fulfilled in the Mosaic Covenant. God makes a promise to bless Abrams personally, and also promises that his name will be well known. This promise will later be fulfilled in the Davidic Covenant. God will bless anyone who blesses Abram, but will place a curse on anyone who attempts to cur...
Judaism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Abraham, his descendants, and Moses are believed to have been the founders. According to Jewish beliefs until Abraham man worshiped many Gods. The story begins with Abraham and his wife Sarah trying to conceive a child. When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 God came to Abraham and told him they would have a son. After the child was born God again came to Abraham and tested his beliefs by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Isaac willingly went with Abraham to be sacrificed. Before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac God sent an angel down to stop him. As a reward for his faith God made a covenant with Abraham that he and his descendants would be protected as long as they continued to show faith in him and live a life that was wholesome. Also from this it is said God blessed Abraham with many children. His son Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau, Jacob who changes his name to Israel had twelve sons. Israel’s had twelve sons they are the “12 tribes of Israel” and their descendants are later known as the Israelites also called Hebrews.