Monotheistic Religions

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• Monotheism believes in one and only single God, unlike religions that believe in multiple gods. The three monotheistic religion that are widely practiced and believed in are; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 

1. Judaism

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   • An ancient monotheistic religion, the first religion of believing one God that was developed by ancient Israelites.
   1. Abraham

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      • - The Father of the Hebrews - Abraham introduced the belief of single god, (while in the ancient Ur, they believed in many gods) that there is only one true God. This made Judaism special from other religions. - God talked to Abraham when he was 75 years old and promised him to become the father of a great nation of people.  - Judaism began from a special covenant between God and Abraham, where God would love and protect his descendants and Abraham and his people would always dedicate themselves to God in return. - For the complete note, visit the document; https://docs.google.com/a/kas.kh.edu.tw/document/d/1X2rAG7daKYORFH45TZIt5QBAguFUqVOjKeG07fR5_Vo/edit?usp=sharing
   2. Moses

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      • - Leader of the Israelites  - He was known as prophet Moses, where he spoke for God.- When Hebrews became slaves in Egypt, God told Moses to let his people free. When the pharaoh denied, God punished Egypt with 10 terrible plagues.  - With the plagues and Moses, Hebrews were free from Egypt and the Torah calls this Exodus.  - God gave Moses the laws and teachings that eventually became the basic and the foundation of Judaism, called the Ten Commandments.  - Moses also united the Israelites to devote and believe in single god. 
      1. The Ten Commandments

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         • - Ten laws and teachings engraved on tablets - Given from God to Moses on Mount Sinai  - Some included Israelites duties for God, such as promising to worship only one God. - Other included basic moral teachings, such as no stealing, lying, and murdering.  - Stated Judaism's basic teaching. 
   3. King David

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      • - King of Israel - During the war between Philistines, David stepped up to fight their warrior, Goliath, with his sling. And he successfully won over Goliath. - His bravery and faith was rewarded and he became the king of Israel. As a king, he defeated their enemies, united Israelites into one kingdom, and created a strong stable government. - Jerusalem was the capital of his kingdom, and this holy city became the center of Israel's political and religious life. - David brought the Israelites a sacred object, the Ark of the Covenant, to Jerusalem. 
   4. King Solomon

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      • - Son of King David, and became the King of Israel as well.  - His greatest achievement was that he built a temple in Jerusalem, the First Temple, for the center of Jewish worship.  - He also strength the kingdom by increasing treaties and trade, and also developed industries.  - He was famous for his wisdom.
   5. Torah

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      • - Written records and teaching of Jews that also included hundreds of commandments. - Also included history of Jewish people, and traditions.- Jew's most sacred text - Includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. 
2. Christianity

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   • Also a monotheistic religion that focuses on the teaching and life of Jesus Christ. It all began in Jerusalem in 1st century and spread throughout the Mediterranean world by the effort of Jesus's chosen disciples such as Peter and Paul.  Form the Roman Empire, Christianity survived and is growing still growing today, as it marks the world's largest religion with 2.4 billion followers around the world. 
   1. King Herod

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      • - Became the king of Judea sent by the Romans in 37 B.C.E. (When Judea was under Roman rule) - He was not Jewish but he practiced the Jewish religion - Helped rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem- Although many Jews distrusted him believing that he was just another Roman ruler, Jews rebelled against the Romans several times.- He died at 4 B.C.E.    - Kingdom got divided into 3 of his sons    - To carry on the ruling, Romans replaced his sons with military governors (who collected taxes for Rome).
      1. Messiah

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         • With military governors allowing council of Jews ruling their holy city Jerusalem, Judea became extremely peaceful during their rule.  However, many Jews still did not like the Romans as they were still in control. They wrote in their sacred writing that God would one day send a savior, named "Messiah" meaning "anointed one" that was specially chosen by God  that would bring back the kingdom of Judea.  When Jesus was about 30 years old, a teacher known as John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the savior the Jews were waiting for. 
   2. Jesus

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      • -Where the religion Christianity is based on his life and his teaching. - A man that lived from about 6 B.C.E. to 30 C.E.  - Christians believe the he is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, or the Messiah. - He was Jewish from birth 
      1. Teachings

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         • - After getting recognized as the Messiah, Jesus went out praying in the wild for 40 days, and started preaching in Galilee.  - He asked small number of people to become his followers, or disciples, where a person helps spread the teaching of a religion. His disciples were mostly laborers and fisherman since he spend more time on the poor and sick people instead of wealthy and powerful people.   - His teaching was based on basic Jewish beliefs. However Jesus emphasized more on two points: love and mercy. 
      2. Birth

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         • - No one really knows when exactly Jesus was born, but it is estimated that he was born around 6 B.C.E. in Bethlehem. (During King Herod's rule) - The Gospel of Luke describes Jesus's birth, how angel appeared in front of Mary, also how Joseph and Mary travelled back to Bethlehem from Nazareth.  - Had splendid knowledge on Jewish law and impressed rabbis and his teacher with his wisdom. 
      3. Writings

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         • - Very few historians wrote about the Jesus during that time - So most information is written by his followers.  - These writings makes up the New Testament of the Christian Bible.  - Gospels are records of life and teaching of Jesus written after his death. Four of them are included in the New Testament, which are his followers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  
      4. The Resurrection

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         • -Rise from the dead of Jesus - According to the Gospels. Jesus preached around for one to two years and went back to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover (where God rescued the Jews out of slavery from Egypt thousands of years ago). Jesus said that his enemies would come together and kill him. - With the betrayal of one of his disciples, Jesus was captured by the Romans and was demanded to put to death by getting nailed on the cross. - The Gospel also says that after three days from getting buried in the stone grave by his followers, Jesus appeared in from of his disciples once again. This encouraged his disciples that he was the Son of God. - When Jesus went to join his father up in heaven later, his disciples spread the news about Jesus's life and his teachings. 
   3. Paul

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      • - Known as one of the important people in Christianity. - He spent all of lis life on spreading Christianity and the teaching of Jesus.  - It was from that day, when he saw a blinding bright light (while he was travelling), and heard Jesus's voice, this vision changed his life.  - He started practicing and taking in the Christian belief and became a missionary, who tries to converts others to a specific religion.  - By going around Greek-speaking countries and around the empire, he was successful to make new converts and build new churches.  - He made a clear point; that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus was the Christ, God's chosen one, and the Messiah for everyone.  - His preaching came to an end when we was captured by the Romans and got beheaded and killed on 65 C.E. by the Romans. 
   4. Emperor Constantine

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      • - Was the first Roman emperor to become a Christian. - Ruled from 280 to 337 C.E.  - From his stunning victory from a battle encouraged him to understand and take in the religion.      - The day before the battle, he saw a vision of Jesus's words and had a dream about Jesus in the night. He took this as the sign that he would win if he believed in the Christian belief. And so, he did. - In 313 C.E., he announced the Edict of Milan, which let all Christians practice their religion freely and openly.- Emperors that followed after him also accepted Christianity and made the rules beneficial for the Christians.- Soon, by 380 C.E., Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.