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Polytheists in the Abrahamic DIR? Why?
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Why Is Christianity "Abrahamic"?
- Thread starter Eddi
- Start date
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
It really isn't that different as Jesus was basically a liberal "rabbi" who narrowed the 613 Commandments as found in Torah down to Two Commandments. It's not that the others were wrong but that he felt the Two captured the essence of the 613.
Hillel the Elder, who slightly predated Jesus, felt much the same way but still felt that it was necessary to follow the others, albeit in a more flexible way.
But surely this constitutes a massive and significant break from Judaism?
I mean, getting rid of over 600 commandments seems like quite a break to me
Especially when combined with a new way of thinking about God - the trinity
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Not really, as Judaism has for well over 2000 years a commentary system, thus Jesus was largely on the far left-wing of that.
No, it's not "getting rid" of them but seeing that they're incorporated into the "Law of Love".
So, you'd deny that there has been a split that now separates Christianity and Judaism?
Because they look like separate religions to me......
I'd say that the relationship between the two is unlike the relationship between Catholics and Protestants, who both share a common Christian tradition
That's what I'm asking myself.
It has nothing to do with the Trinity, it's because they all trace their lineage back to Abraham and the God who revealed Himself to him. That's it. It's not hard to understand.
Also, Christianity was a Jewish sect and regardless of how the religions have gone their own ways, Judaism will always be the root.
Also, Christianity was a Jewish sect and regardless of how the religions have gone their own ways, Judaism will always be the root.
I'm not sure why the focus is on Abraham... Why not Adam? Or Eve?
But to an outsider, it seems Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have a lot of the same 'players'. Adherents to all three of those faiths will know who Abraham is, at the very least. Mention him to someone outside of those faiths(that was never a part of those faiths), and they likely won't know who you're talking about.
Same with Adam and Eve, or Jacob, or... heck, I'm pulling at names, because I don't know very much, but I hope you get where I'm coming from.
But to an outsider, it seems Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have a lot of the same 'players'. Adherents to all three of those faiths will know who Abraham is, at the very least. Mention him to someone outside of those faiths(that was never a part of those faiths), and they likely won't know who you're talking about.
Same with Adam and Eve, or Jacob, or... heck, I'm pulling at names, because I don't know very much, but I hope you get where I'm coming from.
Probably just erase the main Abrahamic DIR. Keep the three religions separate.
Sounds like a plan!
Yes, all part of my secret plan to take over RF until I'm stopped by the RFRF (RF Resistance Force).
For the same reason that gorillas, chimps, and man are classified with orangutans as great apes. They share a common ancestor from which the newer iterations branched.
Or, if it helps, you can look at the other the Abrahamic religions (apologies to the Jews who object to that usage) as spinoffs of Judaism. Judaism could be Happy Days, with Christianity, the first spinoff, being Laverne and Shirley. By this reckoning, Islam, the second spinoff would be Mork and Mindy, and Baha'ism is Joanie loves Chachi.
Colt
Well-Known Member
Because Gods agreement or covenant with Abraham was in anticipation of the incarnation of the Son on earth among a monotheistic people. Also, Israel was the crossroads of the world in the age of Jesus on earth. It was a good place for the message to go out to the 4 corners of the earth.
Colt
Well-Known Member
Yes, that's true, but that's also Judaism's problem. The holy men came up with all those compulsive obsessive rules not God. The basic spiritual truths taught by Jesus have always been there, but religion tends to add all sorts of overcomplicated stuff! Judaism and Christianity have both done this.
It's a historical reality that Christianity was created by Jews, Christ Himself, all of the apostles and the vast majority of disciples, under the conviction that they were properly following their obligations to God, the one God of Israel.
For many, that's a convenient talking point, but I doubt that it's much more than that, particularly since a far more accurate framing might have been:
as Jesus is oft portrayed as a liberal "rabbi"
After all, when you have folks promoting him as a liberal rabbi while others suggest him to be some Essene sectarian, what is for sure is that the marketing gloss is far more substantive than is the historical certainty.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Why pretend that there's no connection, derivation, or overlap? Abraham is an integral figure in all three faiths.
JDMS
Academic Workhorse
Second major in religious studies here.
Abrahamic religions (also known as Abrahamic Traditions by some) are called that because they all recognize Abraham as their first prophet. He is also the patriarch of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the first to create a covenant with God. This is why he's considered to be the "link" as opposed to Adam or Noah or any other character in the Bible. The religion (not the story) started with him, and Christianity and Islam branched from it.
The Abrahamic religions title carries more significance to an academic study of religion, so adherents to those religions needn't fret the small stuff. Whether or not they are the same now, they are the same family if religions. And unfortunately its not up to the religions to decide how they are grouped together by academia or anyone else.
The term has been challenged but it still stands strong in the study of religion.
Abrahamic religions (also known as Abrahamic Traditions by some) are called that because they all recognize Abraham as their first prophet. He is also the patriarch of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the first to create a covenant with God. This is why he's considered to be the "link" as opposed to Adam or Noah or any other character in the Bible. The religion (not the story) started with him, and Christianity and Islam branched from it.
The Abrahamic religions title carries more significance to an academic study of religion, so adherents to those religions needn't fret the small stuff. Whether or not they are the same now, they are the same family if religions. And unfortunately its not up to the religions to decide how they are grouped together by academia or anyone else.
The term has been challenged but it still stands strong in the study of religion.
Exaltist Ethan
Bridging the Gap Between Believers and Skeptics
I believe Christianity is lumped into Abrahamic religions like Judaism and Islam because Jesus himself was in Judaism, he was part of that religion for much of his life before dissecting into his own Christianity. You worship Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the laws of the Old Testament, according to him, which includes the laws and ordinances of that Abrahamic concept of God. Everything else that came after that, including trinitarian doctrine, is just adding towards the past religion that came before it. Most Christians own Bibles, which include Old and New Testament scripture, not just New.
Suppose you want to classify not merely 3 religions but 350 religions or a thousand. You use a hierarchical classification system. It just so happens that Jews, Muslims and Christians all have a character called 'Abraham' in them; and the classification people find it convenient (least controversial) for sorting the religions hierarchically. Try finding some other key term instead of 'Abraham'. Most other recognizeable words would offend one group or another. Suppose they were all categorized under "Jesus-related?" That wouldn't work at all. 'Abrahamic' is a decent choice for hierarchical classification.