Abraham

It has been thought by some scripture scholars as the symbolic end of human sacrifice among the early Hebrew people. It is also dangerous to put our mindset and thus our judgement on a situation that may have occured about 4000 years ago. lets not forget that the Celts burned their captives alive in wicker horses and many american Indians ate the hearts of war prisoners. Of course you can fast forward to the Nazi death camps. if we had nothing to be ashmed of perhaps we could blame Abraham

Some good points, Dan.

The point I would make, and that I think Dan would agree with is not so much that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son to an "almighty god," but that the same mindless theological beliefs are rampant today, 4000 years later! John's point is well taken, but why are we still celebrating those things which happend so long a go and were in a better context with people who lived then than with people who live now?

Had Abraham or someone like him performed that act of attempted murder, abduction, and assault today, even though the son was not killed, he would be put away in prison or in a hospital for the criminally insane, as should be the case.

My personal feeling is that the Biblical story, like all the other stories in holy books of all religions, is allegorical. These stories are myths to teach us spiritual truths (truths within that particular religion, mind you).

John D.
I am not trying to condem Abraham. In all likelyhood if such a person ever actually existed and he were around today he would be flabergasted at this riduculous story being told about him. What I am condemning is the mindset that says his willngness to do this despicable act was a 'good thing'. And that is not occurring 4000 years ago, it is occuring right now.

The figure of the biblical Abraham serves as the founding father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The story depicts the seprateness of the Hebrew and the bond between man and God which inherantly comes from such a horrific test. If the believer accepts God as omipotent, what choice did Abraham have? His faith enabled, according to the bible, the foundation of Judaism.
Take or leave it, the bible and its moral codes are shot through our daily lives, government and personal relations. The roots are deep. Perhaps someday we will mature enough to achieve an Aristole-like humanism, but don't hold your breath.

Sam Again I must say I am well aware of the Abrahams place in the religions mentioned. His apparent willingness to do something disgusting because his 'God' says to is still not an example any sane person would say to emulate. If he had no choice because his God was omnipotent then his willingness is non-existent and the story meaningless except to point up the petty visciousness of his God. If his God actually left him a choice then he is a coward who would rather kill an innocent then risk harm to himself. In any case there is nothing to emulate about the man in the story. Acceptance of this nonsense is the problem not any part of the solution.

Dan,
you are free to accept or reject God. You are free to believe or not believe the Holy Bible.

I won't hold your choice against you. Please don't persecute me or hold my choice against me. But please allow me the free expression of my faith, for my faith in God is not just what I believe. It is a part of who I am.

I don't know what kind of experiences you have had with other Christians or religious people. Being a minister's wife, I have met some Christians that would turn anybody away from the Christian faith. I have met some Christians who didn't act very Christian at all.

I don't want to beat people over the head with my faith, but I do want the freedom to express and share it. I would hope that people would listen politely and indulgently to me, then go off and make up their own mind as to what they choose to believe.

I feel your article on this website is somewhat inappropriate, and is a personal attack on me for a simple comment that I made.

I apoligize Jacqueline I did not need to make it seem so like a personal attack and that was not the intent. And please don't ake it to personally. I would try to make the same point to anyone who suggested that that particular fable (or true story, if that is what you choose to believe) was an edifying one. Truth of the story aside, the Abraham protrayed is a dangerous and cowardly man.

Jacqueline, as Patrick Henry said, "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to death your right to say it." Faith or faithlessness is part of our nations heritage and the debate is eternal.

I don't wish to come to the defense of Abraham or God. The premise throughout the bible is God's continuing drive to purify his chosen people. Why send an entire generation of slaves to wander in the desert till they die and leave their children to achieve the promised land? Why deny Moses, a guy who went through quite a bit of trouble, entry into the promised land because he spoke to a rock and not strike it? (Or vs, I don't remember). A little harsh. But that is the structure of a faith which distains man's ability to profitalbly regiment his life and seeks to impose a moral and personal code that hinges on worship of a unchallangable God. You have to admit, we don't have a good track record of self-restraint. There is an obvious argument that mankind could profit from some moral code.

It's wonderful Dan how our minds are tuned alike on Abraham's story! A year back my poem Lambs are given no more was published in Seeker magazine (January 2005). Perhaps you wuold visit the url http://www.seekermagazine.com/v0105/poems_v0105.html and see what I wrote.
The absurdity of the story is manifest. Even if it's symbolic, it's symbolism is gruesome and rustic. I wonder why the Lord never knew that Abraham feared Him (a male God?) and was he playing mouse and cat with a person he made a prophet (if there is something like this)?

The Bible started from Adam. The Patriarch in the old testament. It was to Abraham that God made a covenant that a nation will come from his descendants. It was a real encounter with the Creator. His obedience to God's call made him an important figure in the old testament. The same is True - those who were called by His name - The Christians has increased in number - It was a covenant that God made to Jesus. "I will be with you to the Ends of the World." " Go to the world and Preach the Good News to All Men." Eternal Life is offered to all.