The Abrahamic religions claim descent from Abraham, also known as Avram or Abram, the common patriarch of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the Covenant, the special relationship between the Jewish people and God. In Christianity, he is the prototype of all believers, Jewish or Gentile. In Islam, he is a link in the chain of prophets that begins with Adam and flows to Muhammad. Of the major Abrahamic religions, Judaism was founded in the 7th century BC, Christianity in the 1st century AD, and Islam in the 7th century AD. Abrahamic religions with fewer members include Yazdânism, Samaritanism, Druze, Bahá'í , and Rastafari. More than half the world's population are adherents of one of the Abrahamic religions. Abraham is recorded in the Torah as the ancestor of the Israelites through his son Isaac, who was born to Sarah, the fulfillment of a promise made in Genesis 17:16-17. The Christian Bible includes the Old Testament, which is derived from the Jewish Bible. In Islamic tradition, Muhammad is descended from Abraham's first son Ishmael, born to Hagar, his wife's handmaiden. Jewish tradition also considers the Arabs to have been descended from Ishmael. Bahá'í traces its line through Muhammad, who was descended from Ishmael. Although the Abrahamic religions share a common history, the religions are far apart. Judaism holds to a strict monotheistic view of God, while most of Christianity, although it began as a sect of Judaism, has a Trinitarian view of God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, which is also monotheistic, in that Christians believe that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are separate yet one, in a way that can be difficult to understand. Like Judaism, Islam also holds to a strictly unitary view of God, but considers the Qur'an to be the ultimate authority. Even within Judaism, Christianity and Islam, there are sharp differences in doctrine.
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Recommended Resources
Abrahamic Alliance International
AAI was established in Alexandria, Egypt during the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon, and it now headquartered in San Jose, California, from where it works to united Jews, Christians and Muslims everywhere to cooperate and collaborate in bringing peace through seminars, programs for the poor, mentoring peacemakers, and various poverty programs. Its history, missions, programs, and a calendar of events are posted to the site.
http://www.abrahamicalliance.org/
Abrahamic Faiths Peacemaking Initiative
The AFPI consists of clergy and religious activists from Judaism, Christianity and Islam, who are united in their advocacy for peace between the three faith traditions. Several discussion guides are available here, along with video and other resources for preaching, prayer, and activism. Available in PDF or Kindle format is its "Interfaith Curriculum for Peacemaking." A calendar of events is included.
http://www.abrahamicfaithspeacemaking.com/
A project of the Esalen Institute Center for Theory and Research, the AFR project offers ways in which psychological and spiritual approaches can be used to reconcile differences between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the United States. An overview of the project is given, an interfaith guidebook is presented, along with other articles about common ground which can be found between the three faith systems.
http://abrahamicfamilyreunion.org/
The Abrahamic Reunion is made up of religious and spiritual leaders in the Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze community who are dedicated to building peace in the Holy Land. Its founding principles are stated, and its board members are highlighted, with biographical data. Information on becoming involved in the organization's work, a calendar of events, news and updates are included, and contributions may be made online.
https://www.abrahamicreunion.org/
Also known as the World Peace Religion and the Temple of 10ve, the Temple of Love seeks to bring world peace through uniting Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and everyone else, and through an environmental, anti-war agenda, and a particular interest in peace in the Middle East. Several position statements are featured, and the site examines the holy books from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Several pages examine and question the Biblical record of the death of Christ.
http://www.thetempleoflove.com/
Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths
As an umbrella organization for the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations and the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations, the Woolf Institute is focused on teaching, research, and dialogue as a means of improving relations between the Abrahamic faith traditions, offering a wide range of educational opportunities, including e-learning and postgraduate studies. Its courses, events, and reports are schedule or made available here.
http://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/
