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Religion/spirituality

Abrahamic religions

(179 Posts)
varian Wed 11-Oct-23 18:54:23

Abraham is traditionally considered to be the first Jew and to have made a covenant with God. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as their first prophet, they are also called the Abrahamic religions.

So the Jews, Christians and Moslems all believe in an omnipotent deity - the same omnipotent deity fostering good, not evil.

So why do they hate each other enough to kill each other?

And why does this omnipotent God allow it to happen?

vampirequeen Sun 22-Oct-23 07:55:07

Most people of all religions or no religion have no wish to kill anyone. Religion is just a reason given to excuse their behaviour.

Mind you, God isn't exactly the most peace loving creation. He has a tendency to be cruel and heartless even to those who follow him. He destroyed the world with a flood because he didn't like the way his creation was living, he divided humanity with different languages, he created a rule that allowed for a father to sell his daughters into slavery (Exodus 21;7) and he impregnated a 13/14 year old girl without her consent and, if that wasn't bad enough, at a period in history when the punishment for unmarried pregnant women was to be stoned to death.

Perhaps humans are just following his lead.

Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Oct-23 08:47:59

Christmas and Easter existed before Christianity half-inched these festivals and stuck new names on.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Oct-23 09:42:24

Historically the Christian religion has been the most violent religion of any.

maddyone Sun 22-Oct-23 09:44:55

Well then I sincerely hope that anyone who thinks Christmas and Easter are heathen celebrations that have no basis in Christianity don’t take part in these festivals.

maddyone Sun 22-Oct-23 09:53:56

Whitewavemark2

Historically the Christian religion has been the most violent religion of any.

Really?
In recent history (less than the last hundred years) thousands of people have been killed by other religions!

9/11, 7/7, the Manchester arena bombing, several terrorist attacks in London, Nice, Paris, Brussels, Christians slaughtered in churches in Pakistan. I could go on but you get the picture.

I’m rather more concerned that terrorism is a daily threat to us today than what happened five hundred years ago. Have you got on a plane recently? Gone through the extensive security needed just to board a plane? Why is that needed?

The Jewish population has been persecuted for all time, leading to the horrific events two weeks ago.
I’m afraid your bias is showing.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:04:05

I think that the Jewish religion is one of the least violent religions, and although not entirely blameless is responsible for the least amount of deaths.

BigBertha1 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:04:53

What Terrribull said!

nanna8 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:07:38

It’s people who are violent, not religions. Certainly not faith which should not be confused with ‘religion’.

Callistemon21 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:10:34

Whitewavemark2

Historically the Christian religion has been the most violent religion of any.

No, the Christian religion itself has not been violent.
Christianity does not teach violence.

It is the blind adherence to faith, any faith, and the belief that only their own faith is the right one by certain groups, that brings about violence.

Callistemon21 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:11:17

nanna8

It’s people who are violent, not religions. Certainly not faith which should not be confused with ‘religion’.

X post

Callistemon21 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:12:48

Callistemon21

nanna8

It’s people who are violent, not religions. Certainly not faith which should not be confused with ‘religion’.

X post

Yes, and where I wrote faith perhaps I should have written religion.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:18:04

Callistemon21

Whitewavemark2

Historically the Christian religion has been the most violent religion of any.

No, the Christian religion itself has not been violent.
Christianity does not teach violence.

It is the blind adherence to faith, any faith, and the belief that only their own faith is the right one by certain groups, that brings about violence.

Yes I should have said more violence has been carried out in the name of the Christian faith etc….

Callistemon21 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:22:39

Yes - in the name of religions.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:30:10

It is good to agree🙂

Callistemon21 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:36:27

Whitewavemark2

It is good to agree🙂

Yes

And if only the world could agree to disagree ☹

Luckygirl3 Sun 22-Oct-23 10:44:40

maddyone

Well then I sincerely hope that anyone who thinks Christmas and Easter are heathen celebrations that have no basis in Christianity don’t take part in these festivals.

I do celebrate them and have the grace to tolerate the imposition of Christian symbolism ! smile

maddyone Sun 22-Oct-23 10:46:59

if only the world could agree to disagree

Indeed.
I still maintain, that with the exception of Northern Ireland, recent history has shown Christianity to be a peaceful religion/faith.
In fairness, today, wars/fights in the name of religion are often, but not always, more about politics than religion or faith.

nadateturbe Sun 22-Oct-23 11:00:10

Maddyone In Northern Ireland Christians are peaceful too. All Catholics and Protestants aren't Christians.

nadateturbe Sun 22-Oct-23 11:08:55

They don't "believe ", they are British.
I am Northern Irish. I have a British passport.
The border is a complex issue, pretty unsolvable at the minute. Perhaps in the future...

maddyone Sun 22-Oct-23 11:10:05

I know nadateurbe, but thank you for pointing it out to me. I thought if I didn’t mention the recent troubles in NI, someone would jump on me and point out recent history. I think you’re right because any true Christian could never contemplate the violence that raged between the two communities.

Farzanah Sun 22-Oct-23 11:18:56

Prehistory the Spring Equinox has been celebrated long before the advent of Christianity. It was a celebration of renewal and new life. This period then became known as Easter by Christians and associated with the resurrection of Christ. It is easy to see why this festival was appropriated by Christians.

Society is in a constant state of flux of course, and the festival has now been appropriated by Consumerism.

Christmas has similar pagan roots celebrating winter
solstice.

I don’t mind what the origins are, but we are now at a stage where these celebrations are largely secular, and celebrated as a family and feast time for those of many religions or none. As a humanist I’m happy to join in..

nadateturbe Sun 22-Oct-23 11:30:17

Maddyone thank you. As Callistemon pointed out when people talk about the violence caused by religion, they are talking about religions not Christianity. Jesus did not condone violence.
If people followed Christ's teaching we would have a better world.

maddyone Sun 22-Oct-23 12:01:43

nadateturbe smile

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Oct-23 12:12:43

nadateturbe

Maddyone thank you. As Callistemon pointed out when people talk about the violence caused by religion, they are talking about religions not Christianity. Jesus did not condone violence.
If people followed Christ's teaching we would have a better world.

That is also true of other deity religions. They all advocate peace.

nadateturbe Sun 22-Oct-23 12:40:23

Christianity does not advocate violence in any circumstances.