Willravel

I am of the personal belief that Judism, Christianity, and Islam are following the same God. Why has one religion become so many? Is this what God wants? Of course you don't have any more answers to this than I do, but it's nice to write thoughts out for others to see from time to time.

Abrahamic religions are derived from Judism that was practiced in the Middle East at around the beginning of the European iron age (around 1000 BC). Judism changed a bit, but basically has been the same since the 6th century BC when it was reformed by the priest Ezra. Christianity grew from Judism during the life of Jesus Christ. Christianity became known as Catholosism, and split. A lot. In the 6th century, when the Qu'ran was given to Muhammad. Islam believes Muhammad to be the final prophet of God (Allah).

No one can say who's right. No one can say who's wrong. There are millions upon millions of people in each religion, and each religion plays a huge part in several world governments. Great wars are fought over these religions. Six million Jewish people died in the holocaust. Countless people have died because of Abrahamic based wars. Countless people devote their lives to the following of these religions.

What are your thoughts:
On Abrahamic religions? About the seperations? About the similarities? About the wars? About the great acheivments?

jorgelito

Sometimes I think or feel like we (humanity) are all the "same"(or similar).

For example, despite our differences, we really are more alike than we realize.

In religion, I believe they are essentially the same; just different intrepretations, mutations etc. Sometimes we get so caught up in our focus or "narrow" views that we fail to see the similarities.

With regards to the Abrahamic religions, it seems to me to be more like a "family squabble, he-said-she-said" type of thing. The Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, they believe he hasn't arrived yet. Muslims believe Jews and Christians messed it up and that Mohammed is the last prophet and last chance for us humans to get it right. Amongst the three there are still more differences of opinion, dogma, intrepretations, splits and denominatoins etc. etc.

At the end of the day, we are still "mankind": fallible, weak, 'sinful', imperfect, etc...

I don't know much about other religions, especially Eastern ones (we live in a Westerncentric world) but I do know there are some similarities. Concepts of heaven and earth, deities, morality. I think there is even a saying in either Taoism or Confucianism: "Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you." Sound familiar? A bit reversed but basically the same as the Gospels right?

Even in Greek and Roman mythology there was a "creation", a flood, Zeus sends his son Hercules to earth to help man and do good deeds etc.

I think that it is rather sad that we war so much in the name of our religions, especially when we are supposed to be peaceful (I know I'm making genralizatons, but I'm not a religious scholar). It seems ironic to me that we kill our fellow man because he doesn't follow or believe the same way we do. Or that we treat our "brothers" so poorly just because they are "savages" or different skin color etc. Doesn't seem very Christ-like or Godly to me. Hypocritical even. That's what gets me the most.

In regards to achievments: Art.

I am absolutely stunned at how religion touches the arts. It affects me sometimes I fall to my knees. I can't explain it: Whether a painting or requiem, divinely inspired arts really move me.

I think someday we'll get it it right, and maybe G*d or Jesus will come back and say, "Finally!" and applaud.

Squishor

I agree with you that these three religions are basically of the same origin. From my perspective, they are three different takes on the same religion. That's why I am stunned when I hear some say that catholics are "not christians" - this baffles me to no end. I take a much broader view, and I'm sure they would be equally stunned if they realized I consider them to be not much different than the followers of judaism or islam. It's ironic that the members of these three particular religions have had so much acrimony and disagreement between them, considering that they spring from the same source.

Cynthetiq

National Geographic did an issue on the Abrahamic faiths, it was very refreshing to see as I recall this from my bible study and comparative religions in my youth.

There's far more similarities than there are differences, but people tend to witness only the diffferences and stay focused only differences.

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Zeraph

I think it's silly some people think there is right and wrong to religions. It's like saying french is somehow more "right" than english. It just doesn't make sense to make a statement like that. There is no right or wrong, just a different way of going about the same thing, communication.

Mbwuto

Except that for the people who believe, being wrong means eternal damnation or something along those lines. Whereas speaking english in france will just get you dirty looks.

The stakes, I think, are a bit higher for those actually inclined towards real religious fervor.

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Willravel

How many Muslims have lost their lives over the dispute between the Sunni and Shiite sects? I've read the Qu'ran several times, and the morals they should be following include being peaceful to all people espically other Muslims. When in the Bible did it say "Thou shall go after Israel and kill many people."?

Squishor

Well exactly, and it's kind of like the disagreements between the catholics and protestants I brought up. Folks can't see beyond their own sleeve as they raise their hand to kill their own brother. I don't know what it is about humanity that we are always in such a hurry to shrink our worlds, rather than expand them. Perhaps if they realized how closely related they are, it would change things? Then again there are plenty of family feuds to be found, or take gang wars for example - as important as they might feel their differences are, take a couple steps backwards and all you can see is the same type of people killing each other.

My view, in a nutshell (since you asked), is kind of like this: Some warlike, conquering tribes came into the desert and set up their supremacy there. They had a god modeled after their own warlike nature, who condoned and encouraged it (after all, you can't conquer and allow people to keep their own culture). They spawned a couple of offshoot sects, whose followers are determined to kill each other to this day. There will never be peace in this region of the world. Somehow people around the world have been talked into buying into the offshoot religions, perhaps because they are so aggressive and self-righteous. They say their god is peaceful, yet where they go, they bring conflict and war with them. Although all three of these traditions have been involved in great achievements, this cannot change the history I am aware of, such as the treatment the native americans suffered at the hands of the conquistadores. I encounter a fair number of neo-christians (at my workplace, mainly) who put forth the view that their religion is one of love, peace and acceptance - they seem unaware of history, or perhaps they don't think it matters. Personally, I see no reason to buy into this religion because, a) it is based on a set of codes for living for nomadic middle-eastern tribes in ancient times (has very little to do with my life today), and, b) it has a lengthy history of destructive behavior (see above).

asaris

Besides, Zeraph, the three monotheistic all make claims of fact. It's either P or not-P.

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zen_tom

One (sometimes overlooked) aspect of these faiths is the notion of authority, that God/Jehova/Allah looks down on his creation from an aspect of ultimate power and wisdom. The suggestion is that if we want a share of wisdom, we need to look upwards.

There are of course exceptions to this (The Kabbalah, and many Christian - and I guess Moslem sects and branches) who prefer a more natural, flatter approach - but these are not the norm here in the West.

Zenir

Just as most things there is specializations in theology also. As more people entered into the faith, they found more people who shared their individual philosophies and characteristics and so they decided to have a unique branch for their own sect. It may seem minor in some cases, but if there are enough people who agree on the difference, then they can form their own branch.

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dlish

its a shame that when some people study 'comparative religion' its usually to try to pick faults and prove that their religion is supreme over all religions. and that goes with all religions.

any religion can be interpreted in any way u want it to be..look at the case of the Da Vinci Code.. you wouldnt think that such a ficticious book could cause such a stir, even though people knew it was ficticious...but yet people still saw conspiacies and secrets in the church. goes to show that people can be swayed any way u want, given the circumstances.

as for the 3 arbrahamic faiths, id agree that they are all of the same origin..islam stems from chrsitianity, and certainly uses chrsitianity and judaism as its base. it claims jesus as a man, but also a prophet rather than a God, son of God, God Incarnate, or heretic as the jews thought. it also shares the stories of moses, abraham, adam and of past prophets. its also worthy to note that under islamic principles, to be a follower of Islam, the confirmation of those past prophets is a must in order to be accepted into the fold of islam.

so id say that yes all 3 have some sort of bond

but to say that all wars or most wars start becaus eof religion is a little far fetched in my book. most wars are started by greed, politics and colonial conquest.. only then is religion brought in as a by-product of those actions. (iraq would be a prime example in this day and age, but there are many others)

as for achievements, i think religious intelectualism has provided much to the world. especially as a base. one needs only look at islamic Spain (Andalusia) where muslims and jews lived in harmony with one another. is was during this period that the golden age for thought, philosophy and science nourished.. i think it was also a golden age for jews during this time, as well as for the muslim empire.

fast forward a few hundred years, and look at the jewish/muslim mess... it begs the question...why?

my answer? british colonialism in the mid east..fast forward another 50 years.. the US meddling in mid east political fray.. seems like dejavu all over again...

anyone agree or disagree? id be happy to hear your thoughts

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