Abraham: Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths - Book Report/Review Example

? Abraham: Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths In the book “Abraham: Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths”, the author Bruce Feiler attempts to provide extensive details regarding Abraham who is considered to be history’s first monotheist. The book consists of five parts that are; Rock of Abraham, God of Abraham, Children of Abraham, People of Abraham, and Children Blood of Abraham. In all these parts, the author attempts to provide the readers with extensive insight regarding Abraham and his significance in the three most dominant religions in the world, i.e. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the part ‘Children of Abraham’ there are three separate chapters for each of these religions that provide comprehensive detail to the reader regarding the relation of Abraham with each of these religions. One of the strong points of the author is the clarity of his pose and his straightforwardness. The combination of words and the sentence structure used in the book makes the reader be amazed by both; the information being provided by the author and the way in which it is provided. The following paper includes a summary of all the parts of the book along with the critical analysis of the chapters. Rock of Abraham This part of book consists of one chapter called ‘Home’. The author starts the book by describing how individuals belonging to the three religions initially move together in one direction in Jerusalem and after reaching a point, they divide and move in different directions. Following is an excerpt from the book: “Christians turn north. Today is the last Friday before Christmas, and this afternoon monks will lead a somber procession carrying crosses down the Via Dolorosa. Jews turn south. Today is the last Friday of Hanukkah, and at sunset rabbis will hold a jubilant ceremony lighting six candles at the Western Wall. Muslims turn east. Today is the last Friday of Ramadan, and at noon clerics will hold a massive prayer service with two hundred thousand bending as one.” (Feiler, 4) This excerpt from the book explains a number of things. It explains one of the major themes of the book, the ability of the author to provide the readers with serious information in a very interesting manner, and the comprehensiveness of the text without being overly long. Further in the chapter, the author describes the significance of Jerusalem, i.e. “Home” for all the religions. According to the author, Jerusalem is the touchstone of the faith. The author then explains his experience in the city which is burdened with conflict among the people from different religions. People are really worried as everything seems to be a potential threat to them. Anything can go wrong anytime and there is no certainty about the continuation of the peacefulness. A fight can erupt anytime. The author explains the scenario to be in the month of Ramadan which is the Holy month for Muslims. Ramadan is considered to be the most sensitive time as the religious enthusiasm of the Muslims is at its peak and any provocation from the Israeli police can result in the eruption of a huge fight. Soon afterwards, the author explains the situation of complete chaos. There were multiple explosions and the sense of fear spreading everywhere. The author explains about Abraham who was the origin of these religions but the people following their respective religions cannot maintain peace. Following is an excerpt from the chapter: “Despite countless revolutions in the history of ideas, Abraham remains a defining figure for half the world’s believers. Muslims invoke him daily in their prayers, as do Jews. He appears repeatedly in the Chris-tian liturgy. The most mesmerizing story of Abraham’s life—his offering a son to God—plays a pivotal role in the holiest week of the Christian year, at Easter. The story is recited at the start of the holiest fortnight in Judaism, on Rosh Hashanah. The episode inspires the holiest day in Islam, ‘Id al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, at the climax of the Pilgrimage.” (Feiler, 10) The author tries to explain that Abraham is one of the figures who are common to all the dominant religions. Thus, Abraham holds a very high significance with regard to these religions. Further, the author explains more of his experience in the city and creates a strong foundation for the rest of the book. It is important for the readers to understand the current situation of the major religions in order to understand their points of inception. God of Abraham This section of the book consists of two chapters, named; Birth and Call. In the first chapter, the author attempts to find explanations regarding the early years of Abraham. The author unfolds his arguments in a unique manner by describing his conversation with his professor on this subject. Initially, the author talks about the existence of Abraham. He points towards the lack of archeological evidence regarding the existence of Abraham. With the conversation with his professor Avraham Biran, the author is curious to know more about Abraham. Following is an excerpt from the book: ““So, Professor, what do we know about Abraham?” I ask. “All we know about Abraham is in the Bible,” he says. “In the ground, there’s nothing.” (Feiler, 17) The author presents that there is no evidence on the ground regarding the existence of Abraham and he only exists in the biblical teachings. The conversation continues in the chapter and the author asks further questions out of curiosity. The way the author has presented this conversation is very natural and it invigorates a natural curiosity among the readers as well. Thus, the book is very interesting along with being very information as well. Further, when the author argues about the existence of Abraham, his professor responds that “archeology cannot prove or disprove the Bible”, as Bible needs no proof. The only evidence of Abraham’s existence is the culture he came from and the text that represents him. The author further explains that there is no explanation regarding Abraham’s mother, his past or his personality. Abraham appears in the text all of a sudden without any details regarding his childhood or past. The author explains this argument in the book as follows: “The man who will redefine the world appears suddenly, almost as an afterthought, with no trumpet fanfare, no ?uttering doves, in Genesis 11, verse 26: “When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” (Feiler, 18) And after this detail, the texts presents that Abraham went on to abandon his father at age 75, left his homeland, moved to Canaan, and other details that are presented in the Bible and hold significant religious importance. However, the author initiates a skeptical tone and questions the authenticity of the representation of Abraham in the text. According to the author, the representation of Abraham in the texts are believed for four thousand years but for the past two years, a number of skeptical souls demand proof of his existence. Archeologists have responded to this skepticism and they have dug-in modern day Iraq, where it has been suggested that Abraham was born. They have excavated southern Turkey where he is said to have lived before departing to Canaan. They have also looked into a number of other places where the text suggests that Abraham was present at one point of time or the other. After such attempts to look for evidence, some hints were uncovered that suggested that customs that have been told in the story existed at that time and that mass migrations took place from Mesopotamia to Canaan around 1800 B.C. Thus, the precise evidence of Abraham’s existence has not been found but there are hints that corroborate with the story provided in the text. Another skeptical question that has been highlighted is that Abraham became a notable figure after living half of his life. All other historical figures have a well preserved childhood explained in the respective texts, but Abraham’s childhood has not been noted anywhere. The author provides examples of Jacob and Esau, Joseph, Moses, and David; all of whom had a childhood that has been represented in the texts, but there is no such story regarding Abraham. In the next chapter, Call, the author explains the Call from God that made Abraham leave his native place and follow God’s commands. This was the point in Abraham’s life that made him the sacred starting point, and the navel of the world. The author provides his interpretation of the God’s words that require Abraham to do certain tasks. God requires Abraham to do two things. First, Abraham must leave his native place and his father’s house. Second, Abraham “must accept the legitimacy of the party offering the deal”. These things are hard for Abraham for he has no prior knowledge regarding the party he is dealing with. The author explains this situation in the following words: “However he understood the voice, the Call is still a monumental test for Abraham. With no knowledge of its supernatural source, no childhood spent studying its history, no attachment to it in any way, Abraham is forced to express superhuman devotion to this abstract request.” (Feiler, 41) Thus, in this chapter, the author describes the devotion of Abraham towards God. He was so devoted that he followed God’s commands without raising any questions. The author presents his conversation with one of the Muslims in which he describes being Abrahamic in life. In order to be Abrahamic, one must have complete devotion towards God, even if it requires leaving one’s hometown and family. On another level, one can be Abrahamic by making his own contractual agreement with God. An individual can ask God to take care of him and he will worship God in return. The author also explains that the Call of Abraham is critically important in all the dominant religions. In the words of the author, “If Jews and Muslims view the Call as important, Christians view it as the defining act of Abraham’s life.” (Feiler, 47) Children of Abraham This section of the book consists of two chapters regarding Ishmael and Isaac. In the chapter “Ishmael”, the author initially provides a brief description of Abraham’s experiences in Egypt. He then presents the details of his conversation with Rami. The author shows his skepticism regarding the extensive role of Abraham’s children in the story. The author is told that in a desert, a person has nothing but his family therefore a person must connect with his family. Further in this chapter, the author describes how Ishmael was born in extensive detail. The author has included all the circumstances that led Sarah to let Hagar have Abraham’s child. The author describes all the situations that arise from the point Hagar becomes pregnant till Ishmael is born. Once again, God commands Abraham to let go of Ishmael and therefore, Ishmael was later relocated to Mecca along with Hagar. Following is an excerpt from the book in this regard: “The biggest contribution the Koran and its interpreters make to the life of Ishmael involves relocating him to Mecca. Instead of banishing Hagar and Ishmael to the Negev, Abraham actually takes them to Mecca, settles them there, then returns home. Left alone in the desert, Hagar runs seven times between two rocks looking for water before an angel appears and saves her. A vital shift is under way, moving the locus of the story away from the Fertile Crescent to Arabia, where Ishmael grows up to become a prominent Arab. Abraham even visits Ishmael in his new home.” (Feiler, 77) Thus, Ishmael resided in Mecca and became an Arab. He had repeated visitations by his father but they were for a very short period of time. Ishmael holds great significance in the Muslim history as Islam also originated from Mecca. There are certain contradictions in the stories of Ishmael presented by Muslims and Jews as well. In the next chapter which is about Isaac, the author explains the story of the second son of Abraham. This chapter holds significant importance because it features the most celebrated episode of the life of Abraham, i.e. binding of his favored son. This event is hailed by all three religions as the “ultimate expression of Abraham’s relationship with God.” At the inception of the event, Abraham is once again called by God. Following are the words of the author in this regard: “In the opening words of Genesis 22, God once again suddenly and without preamble calls to his chosen one, “Abraham.” This time, however, in a sign of Abraham’s growing voice, the patriarch speaks back, “Here I am.” “Take your son,” God says, “your favored one, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights which I will point out to you.” (Feiler, 85) Thus, God once again commanded Abraham to make a huge sacrifice. Even though it would be one of the most difficult things to do for a man but Abraham continued to have faith in the legitimacy of the party he was dealing with and he “went forth” with this act. This episode also explains the faith of Isaac who did not protest the God’s command as well. Abraham was ready to follow God’s command when at the last moment God sent an angel to stop Abraham. Abraham spots a ram and offers the ram to God in lieu of his son. This episode holds great religious significance for all the three major religions. According to the author, “Christians picked up this view of the binding and transformed it even further: into the centerpiece of an iconic link between Abraham and Jesus.” The author further explains that, even though the story is of central importance to all the religions, it is Abraham’s life that compels us to think one of the hardest questions of our lives: Will we kill for God? People of Abraham This section of the book is divided into three chapters, each devoted to one of the three major religions. The first chapter in this section is regarding Jews. In this chapter, the author presents that before Muslims and Christians started to reinterpret Abraham, it was the early Jews that did so. The author describes the development and the subsequent fall of the early Israelites in comprehensive detail. Abraham held great significance in the early scripture of Judaism. The importance of Abraham developed throughout ages. By the Middle Ages, Abraham had acquired the status of a saint in Judaism. At one point, Abraham was considered to be a figure that sent his blessings exclusively to the descendants of Isaac. The author explains the perspective of Jews regarding Abraham in this chapter as well. In the second chapter, Christians, the author explains how Abraham was included in the teachings of Christianity. According to the author, the disciples of Jesus needed a figure in order to attract non-Jews towards Christianity, and in order to do that, they started telling the story of Abraham along with the message of Jesus. Following is an excerpt from the book in this regard: “In the fourteen letters of Paul included in the New Testament, Paul refers to Abraham a total of nineteen times, more than to any other ?gure except Jesus. Paul refers to Abraham more than twice as often as all the prophets in the latter half of the Hebrew Bible refer to him. We are clearly seeing an increase in Abraham’s importance. Paul essentially chooses Abraham in the same way the rabbis chose him. Why?” (Feiler, 140) Thus, the author claims that the inclusion of the story of Abraham in the teachings of Christianity was for the purpose of attracting more and more followers. The philosophy of Abraham regarding following God’s commands irrespective of the hardships to be faced, helped in setting the foundations of the church. The teachings of Christianity also create numerous similarities between Abraham and Jesus as well. At one part in the chapter, the author presents that each religion has tried to claim dominance over other religions, and in order to do that, religions try to claim Abraham for themselves in order to establish concrete authority. In order to show that a religion has always been there, Abraham is a great way to do so. The last chapter in this section, Muslims, shows the significance of Abraham for Muslims. According to the author, Abraham is a major figure in Islam. Everything in Islam is somehow bound to Abraham. Abraham is an example every Muslim is required to follow. Following is an excerpt from the book in this regard: ““God didn’t just choose Abraham,” he said. “He tested Abraham. Abraham had problems with the king who worshiped idols, he had problems with his wife, he was old before he had children, God asked him to sacrifice his son. And every time he submitted to God. He was completely devoted to God. This is an example we all have to follow.” (Feiler, 162) Thus, Abraham’s story holds great significance for Muslims because Muslims are taught to be inspired from the acts of Abraham. Abraham followed God’s command without raising a single question and this is a level of faith which cannot be held by everyone. Islam teaches Muslims to have such faith in God. The author also provides the teachings of Islam regarding Abraham. The author also presents the story of the construction of holy Ka’ba by Abraham. Blood of Abraham In this section, the author argues the contradictory nature of the stories he encountered while his conversations with Jews, Christians and Muslims. Further in the chapter, he explains how the sons of Abraham, who were adversaries of each, reconciled at the time of death of Abraham. In the words of the author: “Abraham achieves in death what he could never achieve in life: a moment of reconciliation between his two sons, a peaceful, communal, side-by-side flicker of possibility in which they are not rivals, scions, warriors, adversaries, children, Jews, Christians, or Muslims. They are brothers. They are mourners.” (Feiler, 208) Thus, the author presents that Abraham did not specifically belong to any of the three major religions, but he plays a major role in all the three religions. Abraham’s legacy lives in all the major religions in one way or the other. Conclusion After the summary and review of the book, it can be concluded that Bruce Feiler has provided comprehensive information about numerous aspects regarding Abraham. With analysis from the perspective of the three major religions, Feiler has attempted to include all the aspects of the story of Abraham in this book. The overall structure of the book and the tone used is very friendly for the readers as well. However, at certain points, harshness of the tone can be observed but otherwise the author has kept the matter so light along with making it rich with primary and secondary sources. Works Cited Feiler, Bruce. Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths. Harper Collins, 2004. Print. Read More