Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions (PDF)

Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Lesson 7.2 Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Contents Introduction 1 Learning Objectives 2 Explore...

Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Lesson 7.2 Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Contents Introduction 1 Learning Objectives 2 Explore 2 Discover 5 Judaism 5 The Chosen Race 6 Theology 7 Concept of the Afterlife 8 Jewish Messianism 9 Christianity 11 Resurrection of Jesus Christ 11 Trinitarian Dogma 12 Purgatory 13 Priestly Celibacy 14 Islam 14 Etymology 15 Hagar and Ishmael 15 The Quran 16 Islamic Influence on Civil Affairs 17 Impact of the Abrahamic Religions’ Uniqueness on the 21st Century 18 Wrap-Up 20 Try This! 20 Challenge Yourself 21 Reflect on This 23 Photo Credit 23 Bibliography 23 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Lesson 7.2 Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Introduction In the previous lesson, the similarities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam were tackled. Evidently, these Abrahamic religions are interconnected in many aspects of their customs and traditions. It was a great discovery that these religions are associated with each other despite many years of growing apart on their respective paradigms. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 1 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions In this lesson, the focus will be on the uniqueness of these religions. This topic can open many inquiries on each belief system. Moreover, questions can be asked to investigate further this uniqueness, such as: What other characteristics set them apart from each other? How does this uniqueness affect the interaction of these religions? Are there any positive impacts of this uniqueness on their respective relationship and on the rest of humanity? Without a doubt, this is an exciting journey of learning the peculiarities between these Abrahamic religions. Learning Objectives DepEd Learning Competencies At the end of this lesson, you should be able to do In this lesson, you should be able to do the the following: following: Identify the uniqueness and similarities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Understand the uniqueness of (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIi-7.1). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Justify that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as monotheistic religions, have Explain the importance of this largely influenced the world today uniqueness to the life of their (HUMSS_WRB12-I/IIIi-7.3). respective followers. Analyze the positive and negative impacts of this uniqueness on these religions and society in the 21st century. Explore The Abrahamic Word Search 15 minutes Instructions 1. Find in the puzzle the words specified in the list. 2. The words may be hidden in all directions. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 2 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions K I N G C Y R U S Q P L E A M H S I H Q U U C H O S E N R A C E R N A R U Q C X G D Q G I W F V V U S A U L A V L I R B I J R M N T I L H E R E T I C S O N S S H E O L P M J R J U J C E L I B A C Y Y N O D E C L A H C J 1. celibacy 4. Hagar 7. Jibril 10. Quran 2. chalcedony 5. heretics 8. King Cyrus 11. Saul 3. chosen race 6. Ishmael 9. purgatory 12. Sheol 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 3 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Guide Questions 1. Choose one word from the list and explain it based on your prior knowledge. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 2. How do these words differ from each other? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the importance of knowing these different words that are related to the Abrahamic religions? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 4 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Discover From the deserts of West Asia, the Abrahamic Words to Remember religions have flourished with the number of dogma – theological adherents and the customs and traditions that enrich declaration attested their lives. These religions' interconnectedness is by the religious undeniable, but the uniqueness is the defining authority as an character of these religions that set them apart from accepted belief of the each other. On the exterior, the difference of the faith beliefs can easily be observed. These differences heretic – an paint a colorful canvas to world history that enriches individual who claims the faith of its members and the story of humanity. erroneous and wrong beliefs about faith At first, it seemed that this uniqueness is a threat to judges – ancient society's general order and harmony. Still, without Jewish tribal leaders studying these religious peculiarities, the unknown that defend the will continue to sow disagreement among people. It is community from beneficial to learn the uniqueness of Judaism, foreign invasion and Christianity, and Islam, hoping to see the bigger unite the people in picture that all these religions only seek the order, times of turbulence beauty, and truth in our existence, which can be found in the Divine. What makes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam unique? Judaism Among the Abrahamic religions, Judaism is the oldest, dating back many centuries before the common era. The history of the religion is intertwined with the formation of Jews as a people. Therefore, this can be one of the essential and unique qualities of the religion—its 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 5 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions long history. The detailed history has posed challenges to Judaism and its followers, but this history can still be considered one of the religion's unique features. Judaism and the Jews survived the challenges of time. Though the other Abrahamic faiths are an offshoot and assimilate some significant philosophical and Jewish theological concepts, Judaism remains sturdy with its beliefs and traditions. The religion has continued to safeguard Moses's laws and the rich history of the patriarchs so that the lineage from these ancient religious individuals remains unbroken and continued by its current adherents. The Chosen Race Jews, as a race and as a follower of the faith, claim that God chose them. They believe that they were set apart from the rest of humanity as a people of God. This claim is unique compared with other Abrahamic religions as this belief can be traced to God's promise to Abraham. One of the covenants given to him by God is to be the father of the nations. This claim is the basis of Judaism to consider themselves as the direct descendants of this covenant. Fig. 1. Crossing of the Red Sea led by Moses The divine interventions, miracles, and special favors that God bestowed upon Jews throughout history strengthen their claim as the chosen race. Their captivity by the Egyptians was one of the defining historical moments of Jews that highlights their claim. God 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 6 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions elected Moses to liberate the people. The difficult desert journey from captivity to the Promised Land was a grace period to Jews as God never left His people. The divine intervention in selecting worthy Jews to be the judges in turbulent times helped the early Jewish community settle in the land. Then, God's hand was also witnessed in the selection of several kings to rule the united kingdom of Israel. The first king of Israel was King Saul. He was followed by the mightiest and greatest king of the Jews, King David. Many stories were written showcasing his strength and leadership. One of the well-known stories is his triumphant defeat of a huge detractor named Goliath. But, aside from that, he won a special favor from God to rule His people. According to the Jews, these victories are proof that the race has a special place in God as a chosen people. Theology Judaism has a straightforward theology. Its customs and traditions are based on the letters of the law, which can be found in the first five books of the Bible. Hence, it can be said that religion is faith based on the book. Muslims even call the Jewish faithful "people of the book." This characteristic shaped the faith as a religion that strictly follows the laws. Fig. 2. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, an important Rabbi in the 21st century Judaism rejects many theological claims of Christianity and Islam. These claims will be further discussed in the sections on Christianity and Islam. However, one of the theological beliefs rejected by Judaism is that both Christianity and Islam agreed upon is Mary's role in 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 7 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions the faith. Judaism does not recognize Mary as a special being chosen by God, unlike in Catholic theology where Mary is considered a special person because she was chosen to bear God's son. In Islam, she is also mentioned in the Quran as a woman favored by God. Judaism views Mary as an ordinary Jew who lived in a small town in Galilee. Lastly, the most critical theological distinction of Judaism from other Abrahamic religions is its rejection of Jesus as the son of God and Muhammad as the greatest prophet. Judaism claimed that both are heretics. Jews view Jesus as a radical that divided the people of His time to the teachings of Judaism. He was a threat to the peace between the Roman Empire and the Jewish nation. His crucifixion and death were executed because His claim that He was the King of the Jews was understood by the high priest as a political stand. He was also accused of blasphemy because he claimed that he was the son of God. On the other hand, Jews see Muhammad as an Arab who wrongly interpreted Jewish theology and scriptures. Many Jewish scholars of medieval times considered him as a madman and a false prophet (ha-meshuggah). Jews believe that there are no other prophets outside the Jewish race. These theological rejections are a unique stand of Judaism. As the other two branched out and formed separate theological doctrines, Judaism safeguards its teachings by rebuffing claims of Christianity and Islam. Concept of the Afterlife Another unique theological concept of Jews is the afterlife. Unlike the other two religions, Judaism does not have a well-established theology about the afterlife. Jews across the sects believe in the afterlife or olam ha-ba. Translated as "the world to come," the concept only points out the possibility of a next life. It also indicates that the sufferings, strife, and difficulty from this world will come to an end, in which Jewish theology is unique as well. There are two concepts of the Jewish afterlife. First, the afterlife is a world where the dead go. The term used by the Jews is Sheol. This was mentioned in the Bible, such as in Numbers 16:33, Psalm 6:6, and Isaiah 38:18. The story of Enoch suggests the existence of such a place in Genesis 5:24: "walked with God, and he was not; for God took him." Also, Elijah's story reflects that after a person dies, one will go to a certain place (2 Kings 2:11). 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 8 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Fig. 3. An illustration entitled “Rapid Transit to Sheol” The second concept of the Jewish afterlife is the world's renewal from destruction. Many prophets mentioned this as an event that will take place once the Messiah comes. The destruction of the second temple in 70 CE by the Roman Empire clamored for this afterlife version. Again, the noticeable characteristic of Sheol is the vague theological definition of the place, which can be seen in both perspectives. Jewish Messianism One of the concepts of the afterlife is the reinstatement of order from the destruction of this world. It can only happen once an anointed one arrives, who is called the Messiah. The term comes from the Hebrew word mashah, which means "to anoint." This Jewish belief of a person that will redeem the order of the society is called Jewish Messianism. Though Christianity claims that Jesus is the Messiah that the prophets have mentioned in the Old Testament, Jews believe that the Messiah is not a God but rather a normal human being. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 9 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Throughout the history of Jews, there are several Messianic Jews who rose above social challenges, helping the Jews be alleviated from strife and suffering. One of the great examples is King Cyrus of Persia. According to the written account from the Bible, he liberated the Israelites who were imprisoned in Babylon and helped them build the Temple in Jerusalem. It was one of the best chapters of Israel in ancient times. The Jews considered this as an answered prayer by God to their century-long suffering in exile. Fig. 4. King Cyrus of Persia liberated Israelites and helped to build the Temple in Jerusalem. This concept of a Jewish Messiah is one of the distinct characteristics of Judaism. Every Jew is defined by this projection of anticipation for the coming of a redeemer. They are people who have faith and hope for the arrival of the Messiah. Check Your Progress What are some unique features that set Judaism apart from Christianity and Islam? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 10 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Christianity Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, is a unique claim of Christianity. Though Islam recognizes the importance of the life of Jesus, Muslims believe that He is just a prophet, not the Son of God. The very foundation of theological, liturgical (worship rituals), and moral aspects of Christianity is based on the life of Jesus. Without him, there is no Christianity. Throughout history, his followers explained the Christian faith's intricacies given Jesus' short life on earth. Resurrection of Jesus Christ For Christians, the most important part of Jesus Christ's life is His resurrection. This theological event is not just resuscitation from being dead but instead coming back to life into a divine state. His resurrection proves His divinity according to Christian theology. His preaching, healing of the sick, and miracles culminated in this event of the resurrection. Fig. 5. The most important event in the life of Jesus Christ, the resurrection 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 11 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions According to the Bible's New Testament, Jesus Christ rose from the dead after three days of death. After being proclaimed dead in Golgotha, He was transferred to a cave owned by a wealthy Jew where He received a proper Jewish burial ceremony. On the following Sunday's dawn, some of the disciples visited the burial site and found out that the body was missing. Accounts of the sighting of Jesus were recorded as well as His eventual ascension into heaven. This unique claim of Christian proves that Jesus was not just an ordinary man but rather an incarnation of God. Trinitarian Dogma The fundamental belief of Christianity about God is monotheistic. Unique to the view of Catholic Christianity is the three persons in one God. The idea holds that though there is one perfect being (God), three persons can be defined as acting differently in the life of faith. The three persons are the Father (Creator), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (the one that empowers and gives life). This theological principle is one of the most controversial dogmas of the Catholic Church, wherein both Judaism and Islam claim that Catholic Christianity does not subscribe to monotheism. However, many Catholic theologians have defined and explained the dogma, hence enriching the faith of the faithful. Fig. 6. The Catholic Church’s Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit The Catholic Trinitarian dogma's theological explanation can be found in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed. In the creed, the Father and Son have been defined as consubstantial. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 12 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions It means that the Father and Son are both having the same substance and having a distinct role. The dogma was described in the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE. The distinctiveness of this dogma is both a source of controversy and enrichment of faith. This uniqueness can only be found in the Catholic Church's teachings that have been enriched for many centuries by religious scholars. Purgatory Another concept that is unique to Catholicism is the belief in purgatory. The term comes from the Latin word purgatorius, which means "to purify." The term refers to a stage or place in the afterlife where the dead stay before going to heaven. The theological principle is part of the eschatological view of Catholicism about the afterlife. Eschatology is the part of theology concerned about life after living on earth. Catholic religious scholars have theologically defined the belief of purgatory as a place of purification of the soul. It is a place where the soul of the departed stays while waiting to be cleansed before going to heaven. Dante Alighieri, an Italian poet of the 14th century, wrote an epic poem called The Divine Comedy, which tackles purgatory. In this literary masterpiece, he vividly pictured the afterlife wherein purgatory has been depicted as seven stages of the purification process. Though it is not the Catholic Church's official teaching, the description captivated the hearts of many that allowed many people through centuries to reflect the meaning of life. Fig. 7. The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 13 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Priestly Celibacy One of the unique practices of Catholic Christianity is the celibacy of the priests. In Judaism, the rabbis are obligated to be married as they believe that marriage completes the person. In Islam, there is no concept of celibacy. Imams are not restricted to be married. Celibacy means restricting to enter marriage or sexual relations. It is a state wherein a person will not commit emotionally and physically to another individual but instead put and entrust one's life to God. It is believed that the practice started as early as the second century CE. Still, the practice of priestly celibacy appeared in Catholic Church documents during the fourth century, during the Council of Ancyra in 314 CE. The practical principle behind priestly celibacy is a person cannot serve God fully unless one’s life has been dedicated entirely to God. Pope Paul VI in 1967 wrote an encyclical letter entitled Sacerdotalis Caelibatus, which mentioned reasons for priestly celibacy. Some of the reasons cited are Jesus' example as an unmarried man, fullness of love or undivided attention to the community, and the Church as the priests' spouse. This practice aims to enrich the community's life through the dedication of a priest's life to the people of God. Check Your Progress Why are Catholic priests expected to adhere to celibacy? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Islam Islam is the youngest among the three religions that originated from Abraham, but it does not mean it has less distinct features than Judaism and Christianity. Islam is extra rich with unique traditions, forms of worship, and theology. The long history of interactions between Christianity and Judaism has allowed Islam to grow as an independent system of belief despite integrated theological doctrines from the Abrahamic faith. Islam does not lack the unique qualities that enrich the lives of its adherents. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 14 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Fig. 8. Islam has many unique customs and traditions. Etymology The first unique feature of Islam is its name. Compared to Judaism and Christianity, whose respective names originated from a person or place, Islam's etymological origin came from the Arabic word aslama, which means “submission.” Hence, the religion's name is unique as it connotes the central tenant of the faith, the total submission to Allah. Hagar and Ishmael In the book of Genesis, the story of Hagar is mentioned wherein she was introduced as the handmaid of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Because of old age, Abraham and Sarah (Abram and Sarai, their old names) were having difficulty conceiving a child. Sarah convinced her husband to take Hagar so he could have offspring. Abraham agreed, and Hagar conceived Ishmael. The story was followed by many interactions between Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham. After Isaac was born to Sarah, she asked Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Then, Hagar and Ishmael parted ways with Abraham’s family. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 15 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Fig. 9. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away by Abraham. In Islamic tradition, Ishmael is considered the firstborn of Abraham. He is regarded as the forefather of Adnan ibn Adad, an ancestor of Muhammad. Adnan ibn Adad was born in Hejaz (Hijaz), Western Arabia. These patriarchs are important to Islam as they connect the great prophet Muhammad to Abraham. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam is unique in its claim to the importance of Hagar and Ishmael. Islam puts significance on the two figures' story as it emphasizes the Abrahamic origin of Islam and God's promise to make a nation out of Ishmael (Genesis 16:10; 21:18). The Quran The sacred book of the Quran is a unique feature of Islam as it is independent of the Hebrew Bible. Though there are many theological similarities with the discussion in the Quran and the Hebrew Bible, Islam's sacred book was independently written. Revealed by the Angel Jibril, the Quran was written by Muhammad in 23 years. It is composed of 114 surahs (chapters). Unlike the Hebrew or Christian Bible, the Quran is believed to be Allah's literal word. It has one genre, or style of writing, compared to the Bible that has multiple literary genres. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 16 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Fig. 10. The Quran is shorter than the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Islamic Influence on Civil Affairs Unlike Judaism and Christianity that have minimal to non-existent influence on civil affairs, Islam maintained its heavy influence on many states worldwide. Islam's impact on political, civil, and governmental affairs varies from state to state, but it points to the reality that the religion's influence has been preserved until today. Several Islamic states adhere strictly to Islamic laws or Sharia, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Islamic laws heavily influence the constitutions of these states. Some states have a moderate influence of Islamic laws, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Lebanon, and Turkey. The impact on these states is minimal, such as the Islamic educational system's inclusion in the state's curriculum, Islamic banking system, Islamic judicial process, and the likes. Moreover, Islam influences international politics as states recognize each other's affiliation through the religion. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is a group that caters to the particular needs of the Islamic states. Second to the United Nations, the group comprises several Islamic states that address the challenges of the member states in the 21st century. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 17 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Check Your Progress How is the term Islam unique to the religion? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Impact of the Abrahamic Religions’ Uniqueness on the 21st Century The importance of recognizing these religions' uniqueness is not to create disagreement between their respective adherents. Throughout history, these religions have been entangled with many unpleasant encounters. There were several waged wars on behalf of religious beliefs that we learned from our past. Religions are also to blame for some systemic inequalities in society because of different religious affiliations. But this uniqueness can also be the very foundation of cooperation between them. It is a matter of opening the eyes of many to see the bigger picture that distinctiveness is not a curse but a gift that humanity should enjoy. Cultural, traditional, and theological diversities of the Abrahamic religions are noticeable impacts of this uniqueness. As the 21st century is an era of globalization and free flow of ideas, these religions' colorful and historical traditions put depth to the existing culture of the world. This uniqueness allows society to grow in uniformity and develop into a community with a plethora of beliefs. If appropriately harnessed by society's leaders, this distinctiveness can be a source of passion, life, and productivity among the citizens. Moreover, the uniqueness of each religion offers unity, not only uniformity. The term uniformity refers to having the same character that negates the possible distinction. However, the term unity speaks about wholeness, interconnectedness, and oneness without repudiating an individual's possible unique quality or entity. Putting it from the religious perspective, the uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam offers unity in the world order. These religions are looking at the same truth from different perspectives. It is pressingly crucial as today's world is slipping into the danger of negative pluralism wherein individuals or entities are embracing too much disconnectedness in society. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 18 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions In Philippine Context The Traslacion of the Black Nazarene every January 9 is a unique celebration of the Philippines' Catholic Church. It is an annual event that remembers the suffering of Jesus Christ in His way to crucifixion. The main characteristic of the celebration is the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene within downtown Manila. According to tradition, the image was transported by a galleon ship that plied between Acapulco, Mexico and Manila, Philippines. The color of the image is believed to be the result of an accidental fire on the ship. Fig. 11. Many devotees join the annual celebration of Traslacion. This popular piety is a remarkable characteristic of deep Filipino devotion. Over the recent years, millions of devotees have joined the event. The whole procession starts at dawn on January 9 and usually ends at midnight or early morning the next day. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 19 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Wrap-Up _____________________________________________________________________________________________ As the oldest among the Abrahamic religions, Judaism has unique religious customs, theology, and traditions, and many of those are rejections from the beliefs of Christianity and Islam. The main religious distinction of Christianity from the other Abrahamic religions is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God. Though the youngest among the Abrahamic religions, Islam does have a lot of uniqueness that enriches its followers' lives. The identity of each Abrahamic religion provides color to the beautiful tapestry of 21st-century society. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Try This! A. Identification. Determine if the term or phrase is associated with Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Put your answer on the space provided. ________________ 1. the building of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Cyrus ________________ 2. Holy Trinity ________________ 3. the revelation of Angel Jibril for 23 years ________________ 4. ha-meshuggah ________________ 5. aslama ________________ 6. judges ________________ 7. Adnan ibn Adad ________________ 8. priestly celibacy ________________ 9. King Saul, as the first King ________________ 10. purgatory 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 20 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions B. True or False. Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write false. ________________ 1. The term Islam is unique as it refers to the central tenet of the religion. ________________ 2. Islam considers Isaac and his descendants as the most important figures in the faith. ________________ 3. The Council of Chalcedon mentioned the practice of priestly celibacy in the fourth century. ________________ 4. Purgatory is an eschatological view that explains reality after death. ________________ 5. Messiah comes from a Hebrew word that means “to anoint.” Challenge Yourself Answer the following questions. 1. How does Judaism view Jesus Christ? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why is Jesus Christ’s resurrection important to Catholic Christians? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 21 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions 3. How does Islam influence 21st-century society? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Suggested Rubric for Grading The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify it based on your needs. Consult your teacher for the final rubric. Performance Levels 1 2 3 Suggested Criteria Score Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight Proficiency Proficiency Content The answers are The answers are clear The answers are unclear and but barely sufficient. clear and sufficient. insufficient. There is a There is a minor flaw The argumentation ×3 major flaw in the in the argumentation. is excellent argumentation. Organization The answers do not The answers flow The answers flow flow logically, and the logically, but the parts logically, and the ×2 parts are not clearly are not clearly parts are clearly structured. structured. structured. Mechanics and There are major There are minor There are virtually errors in sentence errors in sentence no errors in Language Use construction, construction, sentence ×1 grammar, and/or grammar, and/or construction, spelling. spelling. grammar, and/or spelling. Total Possible Score 18 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 22 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Reflect on This Answer the following question briefly. How can the uniqueness of the Abrahamic religions help in maintaining unity in today’s society? __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Photo Credit Feast of Black Nazarene, Quiapo, Manila by Jsinglador is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Bibliography Arguetta, Amanda. "The Reimagination of Hagar in the Hebrew Bible and Islamic Scripture," Say Something Theological: The Student Journal of Theological Studies: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 2. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/saysomethingtheological/vol2/iss2/2. 2020. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 23 Unit 7: Comparing Monotheistic Religions Boyd, SL. “Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: The problem of “Abrahamic religions” and the possibilities of comparison.” Religion Compass. 2019; 13:e12339. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec3.12339. Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. 2nd ed. NY, NY: IVP Academia, 2013. Kalin, Ibrahim. “Religion, Unity and Diversity.” Reset Dialogues on Civilization, August 29, 2012. https://www.resetdoc.org/story/religion-unity-and-diversity/. Novak, David. “Judaism.” In Britannica. Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2021. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Judaism. Schimmel, Annemarie, and Muhsin S. Mahdi. “Islam.” In Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., August 15, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islam. Stefon, Matt, and Sidney Spencer. “Christianity.” In Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., November 26, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity. Vitkovic, Scott. “The Similarities and Differences Between Abrahamic Religions.” IJASOS- International E-journal of Advances in Social Sciences 4, no. 11 (2018): 455–62. https://doi.org/10.18769/ijasos.455673. 7.2. Uniqueness of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 24