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Othodox Judaism vs. Sunni Islam
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Orthodox Judaism vs. Sunni Islam I have chosen to compare and contrast Orthodox Judaism and Sunni Islam. This topic is of interest to me because of the way Religion affects political affairs, especially in the Middle East. What I found most interesting was the amazing similarities and shared values and history in these two religions that seem so irrevocably at odds politically. I am far more knowledgeable of both and feel that more people should learn about these two religions in particular as they both play an important part of our lives as a global community. General Definition of Judaism Judaism is considered to have no single founder nor a central leader or group making theological decisions. It is more like a vast tradition associated with the Jewish people of the semi-nomadic tribes of Israel. An interesting aspect of Judaism is that it can be a religious group as well as an ethnic group. In a religious sense “Israel” refers to all those who answer God’s call, through the Torah or “teaching” given to the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets. As a nation “Israel” is a people that have been dispersed and oppressed. Currently some Jews have founded a homeland in Israel while other Jews live in communities around the world. Judaism begins with the Tanakh (“Old Testament”) which consists of recounted stories. The Pentateuch (“Five books of Moses”), which are the first five books of the Old Testament or Tanakh, are held most sacred. The Pentateuch is responsible for explaining Creation, telling various legends of God, and telling the story of the “matriarchs” ( Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel) and the “patriarchs” (Abraham - the first patriarch of the Israelites, Isaac, and Jacob) . According to Judaism, God is said to have given the people a set of rules through Moses, which outlined a way of righteous living; later to be called the “Torah”. Among these are the Ten Commandments. The major themes of Judaism can be realized from the Torah, which is the Pentateuch and the whole body of Jewish teachings and laws. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, with a belief in one creator-God. The essential commandment to humans is to love God. One is expected to study the Torah and obey its laws out of pure love of God. Jews feel very strongly that humans mirror God’s qualities and therefore human life is sacred.. The Torah contains 613 commandments known as the Mitzvat that are an ancient covenant with God. These laws concern all aspects of life and should all be followed. Judaism emphatically believes that in all circumstances God will bring good out of evil. And a final main element in Judaism is the Faith that when the world is at peace and harmony, the Messiah will come and repair all Creation. There are some sacred practices the Jews take part in that primarily derived from the Torah. - Prayer and keeping the commandments is emphasized. Rites - Males are to circumcised 8 days after birth to honor the seal of God’s commandment to Abraham. - Dietary Laws put forth by the Torah are to be followed to the letter (all things Kosher). - The Sabbath (sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday) must be observed and kept holy. - A “coming of age” is recognized by age 13 with one being able to read and recite portions of the Torah. For boys it is called the “Bar Mitzvah”, “Bat Mitzvah” for the girls. General Definition of Islam Islam is also a monotheistic religion and also traces its ancestry to the patriarch Abraham.
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