INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

Judaism - Ancient Israel

Judaism - an ancient monotheistic religion that traces its origin as an organized belief system
during the Bronze Age in West Asia. The religion of the Jewish people, Judaism is one of three
Abrahamic religions that also include Christianity and Islam.

ORIGINS OF JUDAISM
● Judaism is also associated with ethnic identity. Originally, the word “Jew” refers to the
“Jewish Identity” rather than a belief.
● According to Jacob Neusner, a Jewish scholar, the use of the word Jew means two
things: an ethnic group and a religious people.
● Judaism identifies itself with the biblical “Israel” which started during the time of Abraham
and Sarah more than 4000 years ago.

Abraham - he is believed to be the founder of Judaism. He became the forefather of the

Israelites.
Moses - he is a descendant of Abraham who became God’s messenger and helped liberate the
Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians.
● Part of God’s covenant to his people was to bring them to the Promised Land of Canaan.

THE THREE NOTABLE FOUNDING FIGURES OF JUDAISM:

These biblical patriarchs are the physical and spiritual forebears of the Jewish people,
and their narratives can be found in Genesis:
1. Abraham
A covenant has been established between God and Abram, and Abram must
prove his worth to this agreement by way of tests of faith throughout his lifetime.
While Abram and his wife Sarai were initially childless, Abram bore a son to
Sarai's Egyptian handmaid, Hagar. He was named Ishmael who is considered as
the ancestor of the Arabs. However, Ishmael was not the heir to God's promise.
God changed Sarai's name to "Sarah,” meaning "princess" or "noblewoman.”
2. Isaac
3. Jacob

As centuries passed and the descendants of Israel grew in number, the alarmed
pharaoh decreed that all male children be put to death by throwing them to the river. A woman
from Levi's tribe, Jochebed, secretly placed her youngest child in a woven basket and sent him
down the Nile River.
In its early years, the teachings of Judaism are transmitted from one generation to
another through oral tradition. Around 400BCE, authors from different traditions and groups
compiled different stories and narratives that became the first five books of the Hebrew Bible,
collectively called the Torah("Teachings”). This was followed by the books of Nevi'im
(“Prophets”) around 500BCE, and the Ketuvim (“Writings”) during the first century CE.
 The Hebrew Bible starts with the creation story, the narrative on the origin of sin, and the
calling of Abram (Abraham). Exodus tells the story about the plight of the people of Israel from
Egypt. During 1200BCE, the new pharaoh of Egypt condemned all Israelites to slavery. Moses
helped liberate the Israelites from oppression and slavery with God's help. Today, the Jews
celebrate this dramatic exit from slavery and the memorial of God's love to his chosen people in
a feast called the Passover.

Another important figure Judaism is David, who is known in his epic fight against Goliath.
He ruled for 40 years and was considered as the greatest ruler in Jewish history. His son,
Solomon, was known for the construction of the first temple in Jerusalem. His death caused
division and dispersal of two kingdoms: Judah in the south and Israel in the north. In 720BCE,
Israel lost to Assyrians and Jews were dispersed and diffused in various parts of the Assyrian
empire and eventually became a weak kingdom.

Judah was conquered when the Babylonians overtook the Assyrian Empire. When the
Persians defeated the Babylonians, King Cyrus the Great allowed the return of the Jews to
Judah and the rebuilding of the first temple in 515BCE, while other Jews remained in Babylon.
The internal division among the Jews persisted and was aggravated by the conquest of
the Greeks under Alexander the Great in 330-320BCE. Greek customs were integrated into
Jewish norms and practices, and led to a split between the supporters and the proponents of
the integration of Greek practices into Jewish customs.

When Romans gained control of Israel, King Herod was declared a Jewish King. This
time, he built cities, monuments, and reconstructed the Second Temple.

SOURCES OF BASIC TEACHINGS AND DOCTRINE OF JUDAISM:

● Hebrew Bible
● The Mishnah

1. Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim) is a collection of historical
narratives, myths, poems, laws, genealogies, sayings, live songs, prophecies, and
prayers. It is divided into three major sections: Torah, which is composed of the first five
books and is considered the most authoritative among the three; the Nevi'im, or the
Prophetic Books or simply Prophets: and Ketuvim, or the writings.

Torah
● Genesis - tells us the creation story, the origin of sin, the account of Adam and Eve, and
the story of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
● Exodus - the dramatic story of the Israelites deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the calling
of Moses, and the detailed account of meeting at Mt. Sinai.
● Leviticus - contains the detailed laws and commandments of God as implied by the Ten
Commandments.
 ● Numbers - accounts the rules for and the obligations of the twelve tribes. It also tells the
story of the Israelites’ journey in the desert.
● Deuteronomy - composed of Moses' reflective speeches, which summarized the
meaning of the events in Exodus and journey in the desert.

Prophetic Books (“Nevi'im”)

● It features stories and narratives on the plight, sufferings, exploitation, and other
encounters of the Jews under the hands of their conquerors.
Sacred Writings (“Ketuvim”)
● It is the storehouse of literary genres such as poetry and metaphors.

2. The Mishnah
A compilation of the Rabbis' teachings of the Torah that were collated in 200CE. It
records teachings, insights, and ideas on how to live according to the Torah. Two
important documents:
● Halakhah - deals with the judicial matters
● Aggadah - contains stories, moral teachings, and theological discussions.

THE BASIC TEACHINGS AND DOCTRINE OF JUDAISM:

1. The belief in God's existence
2. The belief in His unity
3. The belief in His incorporeality
4. The belief in His timelessness
5. The belief that He is approachable through prayer
6. The belief in prophecy
7. The belief in the superiority of Moses to all other prophets

THE GOD OF JUDAISM: YAHWEH/JEHOVAH

Judaism follows a monotheistic worldview, or having the basic belief that there is only
one god. This is affirmed in the Hebrew and in the other sacred Jewish writings. This kind of
God made the Jews feel they are not alone in their sufferings and pain, struggles and torments,
and happiness and joy. God personally takes an initiative to reveal himself to his chosen people.

MORALITY IN JUDAISM
Morality in Judaism means doing God's will, which can be found in the Torah. In this
sense, what is moral—meaning what is desirable or undesirable action, or what is good or evil is
entirely dependent on the commandments of God. If the action is in accordance to God's will,
the act is considered moral. If the act violates the will of God, it is then deemed immoral.

WOMEN IN JUDAISM
Women in Judaism In classical Judaism, women were confined to household work and
they participated less in public rituals of prayer and worship. Women are not expected or
required to participate or engage in activity in synagogue. Developing a woman's personal
character is a form of piety in traditional Jewish society.
 A pious woman in classical Judaism is someone who is modest, is a devout wife and
mother (if married), a good household keeper, and is prayerful by reading passages from the
Psalms, most especially for the sick.

THREE COMMANDMENTS RESERVED FOR WOMEN

1. Hallah - refers to the knowledge of Jewish dietary laws. This commandment expects
women to know how to burn some dough to be used for baking the Sabbath loaves.
2. Niddah - regarded as vital to marriage life. It refers to women's obligation to separate
herself from the husband during her menstrual, post-menstrual, or post-partum period
prior to her ritual cleansing.
3. Hadlaqah (kindling) - refers to women's obligation to participate in domestic rituals to
mark the coming of the Sabbath or festivals and holy days of the Jewish calendar.

JEWISH CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

● Sabbath-the rest day of the Jews. It begins before sundown Friday night and ends at
Saturday nightfall.
● Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year or the Day of Memorial or Resemblance. It is
characterized by The blowing of shofar.
● Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement. It is considered the holiest day of the year of the Jews.
● Hannukah- the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication.
● Shavuot - The “Feast of Weeks”. Rabbinic traditions suggests that the Ten
Commandments were given on this day.
● Yom HaShoah - the “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day”
● Sukkot - "Feast of Booths or Tabernacles," it is a seven day festival and is one of the
three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Torah. It commemorates the years that the
Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.
● Pesach - also known as the Passover. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites
who were led by Moses, from Egypt.

JUDAISM AND WORLD ISSUES TODAY

Jewish people have learned many things from the atrocities brought about by the
Holocaust in the 1930s. Today, there are various social issues in which Jewish communities are
actively involved in, such as protecting the environment, empowering women, promoting peace,
valuing the sacredness of life, and spreading communal care.

The Jews condemn peace and aggression. They are people who see peace as desirable
because it is what God desires or wills for them.
INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY
Christianity is a religion that is very familiar to Filipinos because the Philippines has
become predominantly Catholic since the Spaniards occupied the country from the 16th to the
19th centuries, with the spread of Catholicism as one of their enduring legacies to the Filipino
people.
It is considered the world's largest religion, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus
Christ who is considered the Son of God and the Messiah or Savior.
Christianity, according to the latest survey of Pew Research Center, has the largest
number of adherents around the globe. You may ask, what is so stunning, attractive, and
exceptional about Christianity that it grew an astonishing number of adherents? There may be
diverse reasons as to why these billion people choose to be Christians, but one thing is
sure-they all believe in Christ.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Judea, the mountainous southern part of Palestine, was the home of Christianity. During
that time, Judaism was the dominant religion in Palestine and it was considered by the Jews as
land promised to them by God. However, historical developments in the region we now call
West Asia have shown that successive powers have dominated Mesopotamia and nearby
territories, including Palestine which is considered to have a desirable location.

Thus, it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, then by the Babylonian Empire which
enslaved the Jews, then the Achaemenid or Persian Empire under Cyrus, who permitted the
Jews to return to their land. Soon the Greeks under the leadership of Alexander the Great
conquered West Asia including Palestine around 400 B.C. Then the Romans conquered
Jerusalem in 63 B.C. When Jesus was born, Palestine was still under Roman rule.

Christianity was born in an era when Palestine was ruled by a foreign power, the
Romans. Conditions were ripe for the beginning of a new religion. Since the concept of Messiah
proved to be very attractive for a group of people being colonized by a foreign power. The birth
of a man who was considered as the fulfilment of the prophesy among the Jews that God will
send His Son to liberate the people from sufferings and sins paved the way for the development
and spread of a new religion called Christianity.

THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIANITY

The origin of Christianity is traced in a life of a Jew named Jesus of Nazareth, who was
raised during the reign of King Herod in Palestine at around 6BCE. Christians believe that Jesus
is the Son of God and that he was born through immaculate conception.

Narratives on Jesus' life resumed only when He began His ministry and with His Baptism
in River Jordan by John the Baptist, a wandered prophet. Within His three years of public
ministry, He spent many of His time in Galilee-preaching and giving sermons to those who
gathered before Him. He performed miracles before the hostile and antagonistic Jewish
authorities, who regarded him as a threat and demolisher of Jewish legalistic teachings.
 The teachings of Jesus Christ is centered on the proclamation of the “Kingdom of God."
He compared the people in the kingdom to children who are free spirited and who have
child-like faith. His teachings came from neither from a rigid intellectual training nor a formal
study of the Torah, but from His own. Despite this, He impressed many people with His down-to
earth teaching and was called Rabbi or "teacher."

Christianity started with a prophecy in the Old Testament: that God will send his only
begotten Son to save humanity from eternal damnation. Jesus was seen by his followers to be
the Messiah they were waiting for. Meanwhile, Jews did not accept this to be true; instead, they
are still waiting for the promise to be fulfilled.

SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Bible is considered the sacred scripture of Christianity. It is a collection of songs,
stories, poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. It is composed of two books, the Old
Testament and the New Testament

The Old Testament, also called the 'Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books which are
arranged in three parts: The first five books '(Genesis to Deuteronomy) are considered "The
Law" or Torah which may refer to guidance or instruction. Later these books were called the
Pentateauch, which were attributed to Moses.

The New Testament is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E. and is
composed of two sections: The Gospels which tell the story of Jesus (Matthew. Mark, Luke, and
John); and the Letters (or Epistles), written by various Christian leaders to serve as guide to the
early Christian communities. They were written to tell the life and teachings of Jesus.

SYMBOLS
The cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ's victory over sins when He died on the
cross for humanity's redemption and salvation. Christ died on the cross and the cross serves as
a reminder of the sacrifices made by God in order for humanity to live.

The fish symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it was used by persecuted Christians
as a secret sign when meeting other Christians. The word "fish" also has a secret meaning, for
Christians made an acrostic from the Greek word for fish, which is ichtys: Iseous Christos Theou
Yios Soter, meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

SOURCES OF CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS: THE SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION

Common among Christian denominations such as Roman Catholic Church, the Greek
Orthodox Church, and Protestant Churches, is the importance they put on the Sacred Scripture
or the Bible, particularly the New Testament. It is one of the main source of the Christian
Teachings. Tradition is considered another major source of Christian teachings. By tradition, we
mean the collection of practices and beliefs that are formed and developed for centuries, which
played an important role in the formation of Christian Teachings.
 For Christians, the books that composed the New Testament today-most especially the
Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and Johnare the only authoritative books that serve as the
basis for their faith and belief in Christ.

The word testament means "covenant" or "agreement." The adjective new before the
word testament says something obvious-God's new covenant. The new covenant was Christ. If
the Old Testament centered on the life of the people of Israel and their covenant with God, the
New Testament centered on the life of Jesus Christ and how He fulfilled the new covenant
through His death and resurrection.

The New Testament that we know today, is composed of 27 books and letters written by
different authors several years after the death of Jesus Christ. The first four books are called the
Gospels (good news), written thirty years after the death of Jesus.

BASIC TEACHINGS OF CHRISTIANITY

Christianity without Christ is no Christianity at all. It teaches the love of God through
Jesus Christ has redeemed humankind from damnation.

There are three affirmations at the heart of Christianity, namely, God, the Bible, and
Jesus. Judaism affirms God's revelation through the Torah, while Islam affirms God's revelation
through the Qur'an. Unlike these religions, Christianity affirms God's revelations in the person of
Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is the revelation, not His teachings.

With new developments in biblical scholarship, new approaches and methods enriched
our knowledge of Jesus which opens us to new perspectives. One of these approaches is the
historical-metaphorical approach. It distinguishes two periods: Pre-Easter and Post-Easter.

JESUS IN THE PRE-EASTER PERIOD

In this period, Jesus is depicted as a Galilean Jew, a teacher without a formal training
from Jewish rabbis:

Five Remarkable Portraits of Jesus:

1. A Jewish mystic, who frequently experienced God. He spend His time in prayer and
talking to God, receiving visions, and having a direct access to God.
2. A healer, who performed extraordinary and paranormal healings.
3. A teacher, who himself was both the medium and the message.
4. A prophet, who had been radical in denouncing social, economic, and political injustices
and systems of dominations.
5. An activist, who initiated a movement that led to a division of and separation from
Judaism.
 Jesus in the post-Easter period is characterized by what He became after His death. It
points to the Christian experience of the early Christians and how such experience of Jesus
developed a distinctive Christian tradition.

CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
1. Christian Celebrations and Feasts
a. Easter
b. Christmas

2. Christian Liturgy and Sacraments

a. Liturgy - an expression of faith of any Christian Church.The Orthodox calls it
Divine Liturgy, while Catholics call it Mass.
b. Sacraments - the experience of receiving blessings and grace from God and a
sign of acceptance to the community. For the Catholics it carries the grace of
God even though the person receiving it maybe quite apart from the effects of
that grace. Lutheran Church believes that a sacrament carries the grace of God,
but only if man receives it in faith.

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Christians have certain religious observances in which they commemorate particular
events in the history of Christianity.

Advent – refers to the season of waiting for the birth of the Messiah, hence its
celebration lasts for four weeks, beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on
Christmas eve. It is meant as an opportunity to reflect on the significance of the birth of Jesus
who was sent by God the Father to restore 'humanity's relationship with God.

Lent – refers to the season observed by Christians in preparation for Easter, a celebration of the
resurrection of Christ. Ash Wednesday signals the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40
days before Easter. It is a time for Christians to prepare for Easter by following certain rituals,
such as fasting, repentance, moderation, and selfdiscipline.

Pentecost – is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the
early Christians. Thus, Pentecost is also celebrated as the birthday of the Church. The word
Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekostos, which means "fifty," pertaining to the
Jewish holiday celebrated every fifty days from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next
holiday (also known as Shavuot).

In the Philippines, some Catholics observe Lent with a ritual called "penitensiya," which
means self-flagellation, meant to depict the suffering of Christ. In this event, Catholics who
practice penitensiya march on the streets and whip their backs until blood comes out of their
wounds, which is believed to cleanse their sins and cure their sickness
SUBDIVISIONS
Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire and sought to
end all doctrinal arguments on Christianity. In 325 C.E., Abrahamic Religions convened the First
Ecumenical Council at Nicea in Asia Minor, which was attended by bishops from the eastern
and western regions of the empire. Then, in 330 C.E., he transferred the capital of the Roman
Empire from Rome to Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) and renamed it Constantinople.

The "Great Schism" which divided the Western Latin Roman Christianity from the
Eastern Greek Byzantine Christianity happened in 1054.

WORLD ISSUES
A. Ecological Issues
Earth has been deteriorating fast and becoming an inhabitable place for mankind. While
humans have totally developed to become better, Earth has been used as a sacrifice. In
response to this pressing issue, Pope Francis, the highest leader of the Roman Catholic
Church, published the encyclical Laudato Si' in 2015.

B. World Peace
The world is suffering from war and violence because of the self-centeredness of other
people. Some of these people think that they are solely powerful in the world.

C. Ecuminism
Christianity recognizes that other religions also possess truth about salvation. These
kind of attitude toward other sects in strengthening and complementing its own religious
beliefs. The ecumenical gatherings of religious leaders emphasize commonality among
them which becomes a bridge that solves the gap between one another.
● Ecumenism refers to the effort of the Catholic Church to sponsor activities and
initiatives to promote mutual understanding and unity among all Christians.
Ecumenism can also be described as the promotion of worldwide Christian unity
(Brodd 2003).

D. Sexuality
The issue of sexuality has always been controversial for the Catholic Church. Due to its
conservative view of human sexuality, it has often found itself in conflict with progressive
and liberal ideas with regard to certain issues connected to sexuality such as artificial
contraception, abortion, and homosexuality. In general, sexuality refers to sexual
orientation, sexual activity, and sexual feelings. Christianity advocates that the goal of
sexual union between men and women is procreation, thus anything that might hinder
this is considered immoral.