Please read some of the selections from the Tanakh (Old Testament) in the Novak anthology (pp. 176-212). In my opinion, Novak has done an excellent job in highlighting some of the most important passages in the three major sections of the Hebrew Bible, the Torah (law), Neviim (prophets), and Kituvim (writings). What do you see in these passages that helps explain why the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob eventually led, not to just one, but to three "world" religions?
Ethical monotheism -- the melding of two ideas: the idea of One God who is transcendent but loves His creation, and the idea of human dignity: respect for life and importance of justice, help us to find meaning in life. Judaism gave birth to Christianity and Islam. (Novak, p. 176) Abraham is called the Father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (Novak, p. 180) This is why Abraham's faith in God led to three religions. I love the Scriptures he chose.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Barb, I really liked the passages that were chosen here. Judaism was already in practice with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but from what I understood was that the beginning of a split off into other versions of Judiasm (Christianity and Islam) was Abraham’s sons Isaac and Ishmael. God made them both into great nations because they were Abraham’s sons and He fulfilled his promise to Abraham. When I was in Indonesia last year we were taught that Muslims believe it was Ishmael that Abraham was going to sacrifice and that Jesus was just a prophet, but Mohammed was the messiah. As Abraham’s line kept going through Isaac, Jacob/Israel, ... David, et cetera we come to Jesus and those who follow his teachings which lead us to Christianity.
ReplyDeleteI think Aleya has correctly assessed that the main thing dividing the three religions is the belief about the Messiah. Obedience to the prophets and the law of Moses (see Deut. 18:18-19) make it impossible to remain one faith while following a different messiah or believing He has not yet come.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing unique to Judaism that caused its separation (which would not have been necessary in Hinduism or Buddhism) is its claim that its written teachings are binding, eternal absolute truth emanating from God Himself (see #24, The Inestimable Value of Studying Torah; also Deut. 6:4-9, which Prothero references on p. 252, and Psalm 19:7-9). The acceptance of the Talmud, New Testament, or Koran as authoritative scripture makes three distinct groups form when in one of the eastern religions it would not have mattered.
The explanation is in the scripture describing the sons of Abraham (Isaac : Judaism, Ishmael : Islam) and the fulfillment of prophesy of the Messiah ( Christianity).
ReplyDeleteI think one reason they are "world" religions is because there is a personal connection when you are a descendant of Abraham. If it is your lineage, it is personal. You follow the customs of your ancestors. Later, Christianity came out of Judaism, so the connection remains. Then, gentiles were invited to follow Christ and many of today's Christians of non-Jewish descent (myself included) are welcomed into Christianity.