Semitic Religions of West Asia

Study Notes

Important Religions of the World

Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam are important religions that originated in West Asia and are known as Semitic religions.
These religions are spread across many countries worldwide.

Characteristics of Religions

A religion is a set of rules that includes:
- Belief in one God
- Belief in a messenger of God
- A holy book written by the messenger
- Following specific do's and don'ts
- Conducting mass prayers in a specific place

Judaism

Judaism is a religion with followers called Jews, and their language is Hebrew.
Abraham was the forefather of Judaism, and Moses was their messenger.
The history of Jews dates back to around 3000 years ago in Israel, where ten to twelve tribal groups engaged in continuous fights.
David defeated Goliath and became the ruler, and his son Solomon built a huge temple in his kingdom.
The kingdom was split into two after King Solomon's death in 931 BCE: Israel and Juda.
Jews faced invasions from Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, leading to their dispersion across the world.

History of Jews (continued)

In 538 BCE, Cyrus, the Achaemenid of Persia, gave Jews back their kingdom and allowed them to live in peace.
Jews rebuilt their temple and wrote their religious texts, Torah, during this period.
Jews faced further troubles, including invasions by Alexander, the ruler of Macedonia, and later, Adolf Hitler, who killed 60 lakh Jews during World War II.
After World War II, the UN formed Israel as a separate nation for Jews, giving them their homeland after 3000 years.

Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

The Hebrew Bible has three divisions: Law, Writings, and Moses' writings.
Christianity and Islam adopted many of these writings.

Ten Commandments of Judaism

Do not have any other gods.
Do not make or worship idols.
Do not disrespect or misuse God's name.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Honour your mother and father.
Do not commit murder.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal.
Do not tell lies.
Do not be envious of others.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism was founded by Zarthustra in 6th century BCE in Persia.
Parsis, as they are called, settled in India during Muslim invasions and are more in number in India compared to other parts of the world.
Zoroastrianism has influenced India, and Parsis have made significant contributions to the economy, army, and freedom movement.
The holy book 'Zend Avestha' contains Shlokas called "Gatha".

Description

Test your knowledge of Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam, four major religions that originated in West Asia and are practiced globally. Learn about their history, scriptures, and key tenets.