Judaism
By Lauren Burroughs
Origin
Eastern Canaan, present day Israel and parts of Palestine.
How did this spread?
The Hebrew people were the first to be brought up into is religion. Judaism doesn't have missionaries like other religions such as Christianity. Many Jews were brought up into a Jewish family rather than being converts. One main way that Judaism spread was through Jewish people being pushed out of their territory and into other places. This resulted in the influence of their culture and beliefs on other people groups and did result in converts.
Where is this most influential?
Judaism is most influential today in Israel and parts of Middle East and the U.S.
How many adherents?
About 14 million
Monotheistic or polytheistic?
This is a monotheistic religion
Major deities
They have one, Yaweh
Founder and time
Judaism is believed to had started when God made a covenant with Abraham in 2000 B.C.
Text
The Torah, Talmud, Tanakh
Religious leadership
There is no hierarchy leadership in present day Judaism. The religious leaders are all part of a community of rabbis. In ancient times religious hierarchy was based off of the teachings in their bible.
Beliefs
Jews believe in one god and that he has promised a messiah to come in the future and that he will descend from King David. They believe that through good works and deed that they can receive salvation. They are to recite three mandated prayers each day, and recite blessings after awaking before meals and before sleep. All new born Jewish boys are required to be circumcised eight days after birth, they believe that anyone who isn't, is not accepted. They strictly go by ancient Jewish laws and rituals.
Sects
Orthodox
Reform
Conservative