Abrahamic Tradition and Three Monotheistic Religions

Abstract

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are three major monotheistic religions in the world. They are also known as Abrahamic religions because they share the patriarch Abraham as a common heritage. Based on textual analysis of Genesis, rabbi literature, the New Testament, and Qur’an, this article explores the different constructions and interpretations of Abraham among these three religions. On the themes of God, promise, covenant, circumcision, and sacrifice, these three monotheistic religions have their own theories, present three different portraits of Abraham, and express their own cognitive histories of religion. The Jewish people regard Abraham as a father who made covenant with God; the Christians see him as a father in faith; whereas for the Muslims, he is an important prophet. For these three Abrahamic monotheistic religions, there is a possibility of dialogue, which has significant practical implications for our understanding of the mutual learning among world religions.