The Question is...?

Question

QUESTION, Are we ready to look at and deal with, the beginning, THE VERY BEGINNING of the division between Jew and Muslim . Abraham, Sarah, Hagar Isaac and Ishmael.
Acknowlegment, forgiveness,the meeting of minds, a hand shake, an embrace, Ye, release from the terrible bondage of pain and hatrid and hardness of mind . Thank you everybody, your answers are deeply appreciated. David Sampson,New Zealand

Answer 1

Care to try that again, perhaps in plain English this time?

Answer 2

According to the Hebrew scriptures, Abraham's first son (by Sarah's maid Hagar) was not G-d's choice to inherit the divine promise, but only because G-d had intended a more miraculous birth. Hagar and Ishmael were exiled on the excuse that Ishmael was teasing and threatening baby Isaac. But God's mercy was demonstarted when a spring appeared to keep Hagar and Ishmael alive in the desert. Genesis 21:18 clearly states that G-d intended for Ishmael to become "a great nation", just like Abraham. But at this point, the Hebrew scriptures say no more of Ishmael and his mother.

Muslims regard themselves as Ishmael's descendants and therefore heirs of Abraham (Ibrahim) as much as the Jews. In fact, they proclaim that it was Ishmael who was nearly sacrificed by Abraham, while Jews and Christians proclaim it was Isaac.

Purists in each religion look upon the younger faith(s) as a distortion of their own, and upon the elder faith(s) as an incomplete revelation. Often they comb the scriptures, theirs and others, for weapons to prove their own virtue and the corruption of the others. Unfortunately, they are so intent on arming themselves for battle, they have no time to actually read the scriptures, to consider the message of compassion and humility contained in each. Far more important it is to defend the faith than to practice it!

There is a verse in the Quran that intriques me, Sura 37: 112-113, spoken by G-d as Ishmael is saved from sacrifice: "And we gave him [Abraham] the good news of Isaac-- a prophet-- One of the Righteous. We blessed him and Isaac; but of their progeny are those that do right, and those that do wrong, to their own souls." The Quran proclaims no animosity to the Jews, only a warning that Jews and Muslims alike have a duty to following G-d's will.

And there is the problem, determining God's will. Some think it is to be found in counting dead bodies or hectares of land, moving lines on a map, recounting stories of victory and treachery, without preserving their deeper meaning. Jews and Muslims have no monopoly on this. Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, and many others are susceptible to scorekeeping, triumphalism and the blood and ash that clings to them.

Imagine, just for a moment, G-d looking down on all the sad battles of history and thinking: "They're fighting for me. They're ALL fighting for me! How ridiculous!" There is an evil, hate-filled air blowing through the "Holy Land" and even the entire Middle East these days, but it wasn't blown there by G-d. For that matter, it wasn't produced entirely by the centuries of animosity between two otherwise noble and accomplished cultures. Pull back the curtain and you will see the entire world rooting for one side, the other, or even both.

True peace will occur when everyone everywhere learns to allow others to live as they wish. It can't be imposed. It won't happen all at once. It can only happen one person at a time.

Thank you for the question, David.

Answer 3

Yes, that it what I believe that we need to go back and discuss what Abraham did and what he could have done better....I know I would have not wanted to send my son out to the desert to die, and maybe Abraham could've asked God if perhaps there was a better way to solve the tension in the home at that time....Interesting though, both Isaac and Ishmael buried their father together.

Answer 4

You have to remember what God said about Ishmael. "And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him."
Genesis 16:12
This pretty much describes all Ishmael's descendants. In my opinion.

Answer 5

Sadly not at this time. All we do is shake our heads in shame and denile.
As long as religions teach fear and shame as their centeral themes things will not change. nobody will want to stand up and say. Sorry.

Answer 6

Quran (5: 82) .......; and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, "We are Christians": because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

Answer 7

just looking for the soft spot to put the knife

Answer 8

Excuse me.........Are you a Christian?
If not, I understand your question.

If you are, why do you have this question?

.

Answer 9

i dont understand your question

Answer 10

i didn't even read that