Abraham: Difference between revisions

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imported>Ro Thorpe
m (hence > thence)
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(A little neutralizing; I don't think we have ledes describing any active religion as a mythology. Clarified Abrahamic/Judaeo-Christian, move monotheism to talk page)
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'''Abraham''' is a figure in [[Bible|Biblical]] [[mythology]] considered to be the patriarch of the world's three great Western religious traditions; [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]. He is also regarded by historians as the founder of [[monotheism]]. According to the [[Books of the Bible#Tanakh|Book of Genesis]], [[God]] sent Abraham on a mission to heal the divisions between men.  His message was that, regardless of differences in language or culture, all men where to be considered as belonging to one human family, dwelling before one God, who sustains all of Creation.
'''Abraham''' is a figure in the [[Old Testament]] considered to be the patriarch of the world's three great Western religious traditions; [[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]], called the '''Abrahamic religions'''. The '''Judaeo-Christian''' religions exclude Islam.  
According to the [[Books of the Bible#Tanakh|Book of Genesis]], [[God]] sent Abraham on a mission to heal the divisions between men.  His message was that, regardless of differences in language or culture, all men where to be considered as belonging to one human family, dwelling before one God, who sustains all of Creation.


Abraham’s wife, [[Sarah]], was unable to bear children, so he took a second wife; Hagar, an Arab maidservant.  [[Hagar]] bore Abraham a son, [[Ishmael]].  Thirteen years thence, Sarah bore Abraham another son, [[Isaac]].  After Abraham’s death, Sarah banished Hagar and Ishmael, and it is at this point that the [[Semitic]] race was split into [[Arab]] and [[Jew]].
Abraham’s wife, [[Sarah]], was unable to bear children, so he took a second wife; Hagar, an Arab maidservant.  [[Hagar]] bore Abraham a son, [[Ishmael]].  Thirteen years thence, Sarah bore Abraham another son, [[Isaac]].  After Abraham’s death, Sarah banished Hagar and Ishmael, and it is at this point that the [[Semitic]] race was split into [[Arab]] and [[Jew]].

Revision as of 19:02, 5 February 2010

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Abraham is a figure in the Old Testament considered to be the patriarch of the world's three great Western religious traditions; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, called the Abrahamic religions. The Judaeo-Christian religions exclude Islam. According to the Book of Genesis, God sent Abraham on a mission to heal the divisions between men. His message was that, regardless of differences in language or culture, all men where to be considered as belonging to one human family, dwelling before one God, who sustains all of Creation.

Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was unable to bear children, so he took a second wife; Hagar, an Arab maidservant. Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael. Thirteen years thence, Sarah bore Abraham another son, Isaac. After Abraham’s death, Sarah banished Hagar and Ishmael, and it is at this point that the Semitic race was split into Arab and Jew.

Division

The division between the three religions was compelled by squabbling over which of the various sects, all believing in the same God of Abraham, existed as the truest representation of God’s tradition. The Jews, as a people, traced their traditions back to their prophet, Moses, and, through him, to Abraham and Isaac.

Several hundred years later, Jesus of Nazareth presented his interpretation of the teaching of Abraham, which, while closer to the original message Abraham intended, diverged considerably from the Jewish tradition. As Jesus’ status among his followers developed from Teacher (Rabbi) and prophet to Savior, this division only grew more distinct, and Christianity began to take shape.

A few hundred years later, Muhammad, identifying himself as God’s one true messenger, denounced his predecessors, and proclaimed a return to the foundational teachings of Abraham, as traced to Ishmael. It was with these words that Islam was born.