History of Christianity
Christianity originated with the ministry of Jesus, a Jewish teacher and healer who proclaimed the imminent kingdom of God and was crucified c. AD 30-33 in Jerusalem in the Roman province of Judea. His followers believed that he was the Son of God, and died for the forgiveness of sins and was raised from the dead, and will return soon at the inception of God's kingdom.
The religious climate of first century Palestine was diverse, with numerous Judaic sects. The ancient historian Josephus describes four prominent sects: Pharisees; Sadducees; Essenes; and an unnamed one. Jewish messianism and the Jewish messiah concept has its roots in the apocalyptic literature of the 2nd century BC to 1st century BC, promising a future "anointed" leader (messiah or king) from the Davidic line to resurrect the Israelite Kingdom of God, in place of the foreign rulers of the time.
The main sources regarding Jesus' life and teachings are the four canonical gospels, and as a lesser extent the Acts of Apostles and the Pauline epistles. According to the gospels, Jesus was a Jewish healer and teacher who was crucified.
In the early Middle Ages, missionary activities spread Christianity along the west amongst the German people. During the High Middle Ages, the eastern and westerns Christianity grew apart, turning to the East-Western Schism of 1054. The growing criticism of the Roman Catholic ecclesiological structure led to the Protestant movement in the 16th century and the split of western Christianity. Since the Renaissance Era, and with colonialism inspired by the Church, Christianity has expanded across the world.
To this day, there are over two billions Christians worldwide, and it has become the world's largest religion. Within the last century, the influence of Christianity has waned down in the West, but has rapidly grown in the East and the Global South; in China, South Korea, and much of sub-Saharan Africa.
History of Islam
The history of Islam concern the political, social, economic, and cultural developments of Islamic civilization. Islam originated in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century. Muslims regard Islam as a return to the original faith of the prophets: Adam; Noah; Abraham; Moses; David; Solomon; and Jesus, and the submission to the will of God.
According to the tradition, in 610 CE, the Islamic prophet Muhammad began receiving what the Muslims consider to be divine relations, calling to the submission of one God, the expectation of the imminent Last Judgement, and the caring for the poor and needy.
Muhammad's message won a handful of followers, and was met with an increasing opposition from the Meccan notables. In 620, after losing the protection of his influential uncle, Abu Thalib, Muhammad migrated to the city of Yathrib, now known as Medina.
Following Muhammad's death in 632, a disagreement broke out over who could succeed him as the next leader of the Muslim community during the Rashidun caliphate.
During the 19th to 20th century, most of the Islamic world fell under the influence of the European "Great Powers". Their efforts to win independence still continue to the present days, as well as fuel the conflict-zones in regions such as: Palestine; Kashmir; Xinjiang; Central Africa; and Myanmar.
Islam being an Abrahamic religion traced back to Abraham and his first born son, Ishmael (whilst Christianity and Judaism traced back to his second son, Isaac).
According to tradition, Abraham found God himself and accepted all sacrifice for Him. He also rebuilt the Kaaba, the holiest place of the faith with his son, after the first prophet Adam.
The main sources regarding Muhammad's life and teachings is the Quran. According to the Quran, Muhammad is the last and final messenger of mankind, who was sent by God to preach the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Solomon, and the other prophets.
History of Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism (or Mazdayasna) is one of the world's oldest continuously practiced religions, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster.
Zoroastrianism has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil as well as an eschatology which predicts the ultimate conquest of evil by good. Also, exalts a benevolent deity of wisdom, Ahura Mazda, as its supreme being.
The unique thing is that its historical features, such as its monotheism, messianism, judgement after death, heaven and hell, and free will belief may have influenced other religious and philosophical systems, like the Second Temple Judaism, Greek philosophy, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
The roots of Zoroastrianism are thought to lie in prehistoric Indo-Iranian religious system dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. The prophet Zoroaster himself, though traditionally dated back to the 6th century BCE, is thought to be have been a reformer of the polytheistic Iranian religion that was in the 10th century BCE.
Zoroastrianism was a religion that was not yet established until centuries later. It also enters recorded history in the mid-5th century BCE.
According to the later Zoroastrian legend, Denkard, and the Book of Arda Vidaf, many of the sacred texts were lost when Alexander The Great's troops invaded Persepolis and destroyed the royal library.
Based on one archaeological examination, the ruins of the palace of Xerxes bear traces of having been burned. Whether a vast collection of (semi-) religious texts "written on parchment in gold ink", as suggested by Denkard in the legend, actually existed still remains as a matter of speculation, but is highly unlikely.
Ohh, just some fun fact which I discovered from Google, there are only three people are required to form a new religion! But, keep in mind, it's a MUST for those three agree with the belief they're about to create.
Reference:
- website Wikipedia. ZOROASTRIANISM. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism. (Accessed in July 22, 2021)
- website History. ZOROASTRIANISM.
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/zoroastrianism. (Accessed in July 22, 2021)
- website Wikipedia. ISLAM. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam. (Accessed in July 8, 2021)
- website History. ISLAM. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/islam. (Accessed in July 8, 2021)
- website Wikipedia. HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity. (Accessed in July 15, 2021)
- website nationalgeographic.grid.id. Mengenal Zoroastrianisme. https://nationalgeographic.grid.id/read/132196422/mengenal-zoroastrianisme-agama-monoteistik-pertama-di-dunia?page=all. (Accessed in July 30, 2021)
- website Wikipedia. The Renaissance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance. (Accessed in July 25, 2021)
- three photos in Canva: - infopena.com
- worldhistory.org