MIDDLE EASTERN RELIGIONS

ZOROASTRIANISM
I. HISTORY
 Zoroastrianism was founded by Zoroaster in 6000 BC in Northeastern Iran,
then the Persian Empire.
 It became the state religion of Persia during the reign of Cyrus the Great
 But when Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquered Persia, the
Zoroastrians were persecuted, their Magi(wise men) killed.
 Then when the Parthian peoples arrived, they revived the religion.
 Unfortunately in the 7th century, when the Muslims governed most of
Middle East including Persia, they drove out the Zoroastrians to India.
 In India, the remnants of Zoroastrianism are preserved by the Parsis people.

II. CORE BELIEF

 Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion in a sense that it believes in one
God, Ahura Mazda, the source and creation of goodness.
 But is is also dualistic for its belief in a conflict of two eternal forces: Good
from Ahura Mazda, and Evil from Ahriman, Father of Destruction

III. SACRED TEXTS

 Its teachings are preserved in 17 Gathas/hymns in the text called Yasna

IV. CONCEPT OF AFTERLIFE

 Body
 As dead bodies are considered corrupted by Ahriman, these are
unworthy to disposed in good creations like body and water. So, the
bodies are placed on top of a tower called the Tower of Silence where
the dead are exposed to be eaten by the vultures.
 Soul
 Now the soul goes to a place called the Bridge of Judgement. There, the
good souls are sent to the Abode of Bliss, while the evil souls are to be
guests in The House of Lie, where there are rotten food and smells, and
long torments and woes.

Reference mostly on the book Beliefs that Changed the World by John Bowker
 MIDDLE EASTERN RELIGIONS

ISLAM
I. HISTORY
 Islam was founded by Muhammad, in Mecca during the 7th century
 Mecca was then a pilgrim place of polytheism. The Ka’ba, believed to be
built by Abraham and his son Ishmael, housed a collection of idols. The clan
of Muhammad were the caretakers of the building.
 Unlike most of Muhammad’s family, his uncle, Zayid Ibn Amr, “followed
the religion of Abraham.” He influenced his nephew to denounce idolatry
and the practices in Mecca.
 From there, Muhammad usually spent his spiritual time in Mt. Hira. On a
particular night, it was believed that the angel Gabriel appeared to
Muhammad on that mountain urging him three times to read the scriptures
that was to become the Koran.
 On leaving the mountain, Muhammad, the “Seal or Last of the Prophets”,
began his preaching on Islam.
 After a series of persecutions and exiles, he succeeded in converting most of
the people in Mecca , destroying the idols in the Ka’ba, and establishing what
was to become the second largest religion of the world

II. CORE BELIEF

 As Islam is an Arabic word for “surrender”, its aim is to surrender to the
will of Allah (God in Arabic)

III. SACRED TEXT

 All of Islam’s teachings are contained in their sacred book the Koran /
Qu’ran. It is also the book where the will of Allah is known.

IV. 5 PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM

1. Shahada - profession of one’s faith in Islam.
 lā ʾilāha ʾillā llāh muḥammadun rasūlu llāh (There is no god but
Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah)
2. Salat - to pray 5 times a day.
3. Zakat - almsgiving
4. Sawm - fasting from dawn to dusk during the month of Ramadan

Reference mostly on the book Beliefs that Changed the World by John Bowker
 MIDDLE EASTERN RELIGIONS

5. Hajj - obligatory pilgrimage to the Ka’ba in Mecca once in a lifetime.

V. TWO MAJOR DENOMINATIONS OF ISLAM

 Although there are other sects of Islam, the two prominent sects are the
Sunni and Shia Muslims.
 There are many factors that divide the two, but it all began with the selection
of the Caliph (khalifa in Arabic meaning representative), which is also
considered to be Muhammad’s successor.

a) Sunni
 The Sunnis believed that the successor of Muhammad was to selected by
electing the one most capable of leading.
 Abu Bakr was recognized by the Sunnis as the first Caliph. He was
chosen as likely successor perhaps because he was also the first
non-relative of Muhammad to become Muslim.
 Then the next three were: Umr, Uthman, and Ali.

b) Shia/Shiites
 The Shiites on the other hand, believed that selecting Muhammad’s
successor was through inheritance, the one closest to him by blood.
 Therefore the Shiites recognized Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law
Ali as the first Caliph (also the fourth Caliph of the Sunnis). He was the
closest descendant as there were no sons of Muhammad who survived.

JUDAISM
I. HISTORY
 Understanding the Jewish civilization is key in understanding their religion.
 Their race, Hebrew, are believed to be traced by the patriarchs Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob who believed in a single God.
 Jacob’s 12 sons were to be progenitors of 12 tribes.
 After _ years of slavery in Egypt, the Hebrews led by Moses began a journey
back to Canaan. Bringing with them are laws given by God through Moses.
 Apart from the 10 Commandments (10 Articles in Judaism), there are ___
other minor laws that make up Jewish norms.

Reference mostly on the book Beliefs that Changed the World by John Bowker
 MIDDLE EASTERN RELIGIONS

 In order for the Jewish people to be reminded of the laws: priests, prophets,
judges, and and to some extent kings served as such.
 In New Testament times, the Sanhedrin or council of Jewish priests acts as
the judicial government of Jews.
 As Judaism spread due to persecutions, Jewish norms are being taught by
rabbis (teachers)

II. SACRED TEXT

 The sacred book of the Jews is called the Tanach, which constitutes the Old
Testament of Christians. It comprises the Torah (five books of Moses),
Ketuvim (historical books), and Nevi’im (writings of the prophets)

Reference mostly on the book Beliefs that Changed the World by John Bowker