Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are in many ways exclusive religions that have a powerful focus on the rejection of others.
In Christianity, it is a common belief that God will ultimately reject many people, which is supported by NT passages, such as the one that says, ""Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" - Matthew 7:13-14. Those who are deemed worthy will be welcomed into heaven, but many more will be rejected. The basis of that rejection is that people did not have faith in Jesus, or if they did, that they were not good enough anyways. Thus, God would reject most people. But this rejection is only that which comes from the very top of Christian hierarchy. The rejection that occurs on earth is also very significant. Numerous groups are rejected by various churches, for reasons such as sexual orientation, lack of faith, that they aren't doing enough good deeds. Many Christians are very much focused on rejection, and the persecution of others is a common theme not only in practice but also in conversation, where homosexuality, abortion, and inter-denominational squabbles always seem to be hot topics of conversation.
Islam has more or less the same story. Those who don't accept Muhammad as the last prophet of God are rejected by God, and they are also rejected on earth. The persecution that occurs in Islamic countries is generally of a much more hostile nature than in Christian countries against those who are supposedly rejected by God. Apostates, homosexuals, even good Muslims who question Islamic teachings are at risk of persecution, if not death. Islam has a hell too, and half of humanity will be rejected by God and given a one-way ticket to the fiery place of eternal torture.
Judaism has a different story. Jews don't believe in hell, so God won't torture people. According to many popular writings, everyone will eventually be accepted by God. However, the rejection of others still plays an important role. Specifically, the idea that Jews are the chosen people opens up a broad avenue for rejection. On the plus side, the element of rejection seems to me to be far weaker than it is in Christianity and Islam.
Finally, the three Abrahamic faiths have a long tradition of hatred, violence, and rejection towards each other.
So, here are the questions. Is the rejection of others a cornerstone of Abrahamic religions? Is it fair to say that rejection is one of the defining characteristics of the Abrahamic God, as well as most of the adherents of Abrahamic religions? Is Judaism the exception, where rejection does not play a central role?
In Christianity, it is a common belief that God will ultimately reject many people, which is supported by NT passages, such as the one that says, ""Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" - Matthew 7:13-14. Those who are deemed worthy will be welcomed into heaven, but many more will be rejected. The basis of that rejection is that people did not have faith in Jesus, or if they did, that they were not good enough anyways. Thus, God would reject most people. But this rejection is only that which comes from the very top of Christian hierarchy. The rejection that occurs on earth is also very significant. Numerous groups are rejected by various churches, for reasons such as sexual orientation, lack of faith, that they aren't doing enough good deeds. Many Christians are very much focused on rejection, and the persecution of others is a common theme not only in practice but also in conversation, where homosexuality, abortion, and inter-denominational squabbles always seem to be hot topics of conversation.
Islam has more or less the same story. Those who don't accept Muhammad as the last prophet of God are rejected by God, and they are also rejected on earth. The persecution that occurs in Islamic countries is generally of a much more hostile nature than in Christian countries against those who are supposedly rejected by God. Apostates, homosexuals, even good Muslims who question Islamic teachings are at risk of persecution, if not death. Islam has a hell too, and half of humanity will be rejected by God and given a one-way ticket to the fiery place of eternal torture.
Judaism has a different story. Jews don't believe in hell, so God won't torture people. According to many popular writings, everyone will eventually be accepted by God. However, the rejection of others still plays an important role. Specifically, the idea that Jews are the chosen people opens up a broad avenue for rejection. On the plus side, the element of rejection seems to me to be far weaker than it is in Christianity and Islam.
Finally, the three Abrahamic faiths have a long tradition of hatred, violence, and rejection towards each other.
So, here are the questions. Is the rejection of others a cornerstone of Abrahamic religions? Is it fair to say that rejection is one of the defining characteristics of the Abrahamic God, as well as most of the adherents of Abrahamic religions? Is Judaism the exception, where rejection does not play a central role?
