Comparative Religion For Dummies

Understand the beliefs, customs, and rituals of each faith

The fun and easy way to know the common elements of these
widespread religions

Want to know more about the faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam? This plain-English guide traces their evolution from their
commonorigin - Abraham - and explains their different, yet linked,
beliefs.You'll see how each religion developed, endured setbacks,
and became a fixture in modern society - and you'll learn how
members havedeveloped similar approaches to worship.

Discover:

• How the belief in one God originated

• The roots of Abraham's family tree

• The sacred texts of each faith

• Major similarities and differences

• How these religions influenced the world

Auteur

William P. Lazarus has taught religious history courses for 14 years. Mark Sullivan is a writer and editor who has studied comparative religion and philosophy extensively.

Résumé
Understand the beliefs, customs, and rituals of each faith The fun and easy way to know the common elements of these widespread religions

Want to know more about the faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? This plain-English guide traces their evolution from their commonorigin - Abraham - and explains their different, yet linked, beliefs.You'll see how each religion developed, endured setbacks, and became a fixture in modern society - and you'll learn how members havedeveloped similar approaches to worship.

Discover:

• How the belief in one God originated
• The roots of Abraham's family tree
• The sacred texts of each faith
• Major similarities and differences
• How these religions influenced the world

Contenu

Introduction 1

About This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

Conventions Used in This Book 3

How This Book is Organized 4

Part I: History is a Happening Thing 4

Part II: The Development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 4

Part III: Shared Aspects of the Faiths 5

Part IV: Shared Ideas Among the Faiths 5

Part V: The Part of Tens 5

Part VI: Appendixes 5

Icons Used in This Book 5

Where to Go from Here 6

Part I: History is a Happening Thing 7

Chapter 1: One God, Three Faiths 9

Holy Toledo! How Many Gods are There? 9

Monotheism Develops 10

Egypt tries the one-god concept 11

Yahweh steps down from the mount 12

Following Abraham's Lead: Judaism 13

Josiah and his faith: The beginnings of Judaism 13

God becomes universal 14

God provides protection and an identity 15

Christianity: Crossing in a New Direction 16

Paul finds a way to link beliefs 16

The Christian message spreads through the empire 16

Islam: Submitting to God 17

Chapter 2: Following Abraham's Path 19

What We Do and Don't Know about the Historic Abraham 19

Taking a tour of Father Abraham's neighborhood 20

Following the laws of Abraham's time 21

Speaking Abraham's language 22

Practicing religion before Abraham came on the scene 22

Abraham's Early Years 23

The Beginnings of Judaism 24

Agreeing to the covenant 25

Isaac's close call demonstrates Abraham's love for God 25

Following the family tree 26

In Islam, Ishmael Finds a New Way 27

Jesus Joins the Genealogy 28

Three Faiths: One Founder 29

Part II: The Development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 31

Chapter 3: Judaism: Oy Vey, What a History! 33

From Abraham, Judaism Takes the Long Road 34

Like father, like son: The leaders after Abraham 35

Over the river and through the desert, to Pharaoh's land we go 35

Moses, Receiver of God's Laws 36

Relying on plagues and walls of water to escape slavery 37

Counting on the Ten Commandments 38

Joshua takes control 38

The Days of the Judges 39

The Time of Kings 39

David starts a dynasty 40

Solomon rules wisely 40

Splitting into two kingdoms 40

Getting Conquered: The Jews Find Themselves in Hot Water 41

Monotheism arrives 42

Living under foreign rule 42

Christianity's Emergence Puts the Jews on the Defensive (Yet Again) 43

How Jews Have Influenced Society 44

Emphasizing education 45

Inventing languages 46

Jewish humor: The joke's on everyone 46

Fulfilling their dreams in America 48

Dominating the silver screen 48

Flying the Blue and White Banner of Israel 49

Chapter 4: Judaism Finds God in Everything 51

A Little of This, A Little of That 52

Maintaining Daily Practice 52

Let us pray 53

Exploring the worship wardrobe 54

Keeping kosher 55

Remembering the Sabbath 57

Observing Jewish Holidays 58

High Holy Days: Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur 58

Passover: Recalling the great escape 59

Planting and harvesting holidays 61

Purim: A great reason to party 62

Hanukkah: In praise of victory and light 62

Other holidays 63

Understanding Jewish Rituals 64

Circumcision: No getting around it 64

Bar mitzvah: All grown up in God's eyes 65

Mazel tov! Celebrating a Jewish wedding 66

Understanding Jewish Symbols .67

The menorah 67

The ark 68

The Jewish star 69

Chapter 5: Jesus and the Origins of Christianity 71 Jesus...