Islam

Islam is the last religion we are going to talk about. People that believe in Islam are called Muslims. They believe that Muhammad was the last of series of holy prophets that include Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims believe that Allah is the only god and that Muhammad was his messenger. Here are some history facts:
570 CE Birth of Muhammad.
610 CE Muhammad receives first vision in a cave near Mecca.
610-22 CE Muhammad preaches in Mecca.
622 CE Hijira - Muhammad and followers flee to Medina.
Islamic calendar (AH, Anno Hegirae) begins.
632 Death of Muhammad. Abu Bakr chosen as caliph.
633 Muslim conquests (Futuhat) begin.
late 600s Ruling classes in East and West Africa convert to Islam.
732 Muslim empire reaches its furthes extent. Battle of Tours prevents further advance northwards.
1453 Mehmet Fatih (rules 1451-81) conquers Constantinople. The two halves of the Ottoman Empire are united and the sultan becomes Byzantine emperor.
1912 Founding of Islamic Union (Sareket Islam), a modernizing movement in SE Asia.
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. They believe that the only true version of the Quran is written in Arabic. Many people gather in mosques on Friday afternoon for prayers. Muhammad taught that believers should pray five times every day. Mecca is a holy city because it is the site of Kabba which is a small shrine that is believed to be the most sacred spot on earth. Ramaden is a holiday in which belivers fast between dawn and dusk. Ramadan will begin on November 17, 2001.
Site Used:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/timeline.htm

Christianity

Christianity is also very popular. It is based off of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of god. In early times Christians were taught that the sins of the people would be forgiven if they became Christians. Here is somethings you mite want to know about Christen History:
4 BC Birth of Jesus
30 AD Crucifixion of Jesus
313 Edict of Milan establishes official toleration of Christianity
325 Council of Nicea
380 Christianity made official religion of Roman Empire
1054 Great Schism between East and West
1483 Birth of Martin Luther
1505 Luther becomes a monk
1517 Luther posts 95 Theses
1611 King James (Authorized) Version of the Bible produced

There are four books known as Gospels. The holy book for Christians is called the Bible which is split into two parts the new and old Testament.
Half the worlds Christians are Roman Catholic. The pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Christens that live in eastern Europe belong to Eastern Orthodox Churches. European leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin protested against the pope and started churches that were called Protestant sects. Many Protestant sects in America today are baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Pentecostals. The main Holidays for Christens are Christmas, Easter, and Lent.
Sites Used:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/timeline.htm

Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest religions. Some of their major beliefs is that god exists, god is one and unique,god is incorporeal, god is eternal, Pray in congregation three times a day, the words of prophets are true, Moses was the greatest prophet, and his prophecies are true, the Torah was given to Moses, There will be no other Torah, god knows the thoughts and deeds of men, god will reward the good and punish the wicked, the messiah will come, the dead will be resurrected and those are 13 major beliefs of Judaism. History also is a big part of Judaism here are 10 major events in Jewish history:

1.During the 1870s and 1880s the Jewish population in Europe started to discuss more about immigrating to Israel and to establish a national home to the Jewish nation.
2.1933 world war II Began
3.In 1945 the Jewish resistance organizations in Palestine unified and established the Jewish Resistance Movement.
4.Though persecution still existed, emancipation spread throughout Europe in the 19th century.JEWS were aloud to live in ghettos in Europe
5.During the period of the European Renaissance and Enlightenment, significant changes were happening within the Jewish community. The Haskalah movement paralleled the wider Enlightenment.
6.During the the European Renaissance, the worst of the expulsions occurred following the reconquista of Andalus, as the Moorish or Arab Islamic government of Spain was known.
7.By and large, Jews were heavily persecuted in Christian Europe after 1300
8.During the Middle Ages, Jews were generally better treated by Islamic rulers than Christian ones.
9.As part of the diaspora a large number of Jews had taken up residence in the Arabian peninsula,
10.Many of the Judaean Jews were sold into slavery while others became citizens of other parts of the Roman Empire. (these events are not in order)

The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism. The Torah is also holy to Christians, who include it as old testament of their Bible. The Talmud is another holy book in Judaism.

From tradition, Jewish pray in Practices congregation three times a day. The study of Torah, the revealed will of god, also is considered an act of worship. The Torah is read religiously each Sabbath. The Sabbath is spent in pray, study, rest, and family feasting. Over The course of a year, the entire Torah will be read on Sabbath and Festival days. The Jewish year includes five major festivals: Passover, Shabuoth, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur and Two minor ones: Hanukkah and Purim.
Sites Used:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/timeline.htm