Combining the Sects of Abraham

[Bishadi]

Since each of the main branches of Abrahamic religions could be described as Judaism, Islam and Christianity, then what are the unifying beliefs over and above monotheism?

What combines them and then what are the prophecies that each share?

Meaning what is the missing link to combine the beliefs/people?

[Faithfulservant]

Christianity - Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the Son of God

Islam - Jesus is a prophet

Judaism - Jesus as a teacher

[dauer]

That's misleading. Judaism doesn't have any particular religious view of Jesus. He's not an important figure in the Jewish religion, just an historical figure like Napoleon, Einstein and Charles Manson.

[wil]

Well off to a darn good start discussing similarities

[dauer]

It's not very helpful to discuss those similarities that don't exist. It is better to have an honest view of each other.

[Dream]

Bar-chart?

All three believe Moses is a prophet, and the emphasis on Moses can be increased leading to a new unity. Thats a very simplified version of the idea.

[dauer]

Abraham's earlier :P

[lunamoth]

All have a strong ethical foundation. Love God and neighbor. Take care of widows and children. Seek justice. Forget evil and learn to do good.

[Bishadi]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

All have a strong ethical foundation. Love God and neighbor. Take care of widows and children. Seek justice. Forget evil and learn to do good.

there are many with the same but then some simply don't care.

maybe another day

[seattlegal]

What's with all the calls for unity?
To me, a call for unity is a prelude to an attempt at mass manipulation.

[Netti-Netti]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

What's with all the calls for unity?
To me, a call for unity is a prelude to an attempt at mass manipulation.

Calling for opposition to a call for unity may be propagandistic as well.

Indeed, from the standpoint of power politics, attempts to create or highlight in-group/out-group differences may be forms of mass manipulation. A common technique is to portray the out-group as being a threat to the in-group's cultural norms or economic welfare. Stereotypes may be involved.

Speaking of stereotypes, it's interesting that Islam is considered by some to be a religion of militant evangelism. Yet The Prophet said that religious differences should not be taken very seriously.

Hyping group differences - even when they have little intrinsic practical significance - can serve to increase cultural or ethnic tensions and conflict. Differences that should have minimal significance are sometimes exaggerated in order to faciliate intolerance, social exclusion, or religioethnic discrimination. At times it's done to herd people into war.

This kind of thing is hard to distinguish from crude dime store social psychology. Yet it often appears in real life attempts at ideological manipulation and provocation. I'm aware of several right wing websites where it seems the idea is to emulate emotional presence by means of this kind of weird paranoid, xenophobic, separatist propaganda.

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Netti-Netti

Calling for opposition to a call for unity may be propagandistic as well.

Indeed, from the standpoint of power politics, attempts to create or highlight in-group/out-group differences may be forms of mass manipulation. A common technique is to portray the out-group as being a threat to the in-group's cultural norms or economic welfare. Stereotypes may be involved.

Like the Chinese are saying that the Tibetan protesters are "dividers?"
(Sorry for the seemingly off-topic drift.)

Speaking of stereotypes, it's interesting that Islam is considered by some to be a religion of militant evangelism. Yet The Prophet said that religious differences should not be taken very seriously.

Hyping group differences - even when they have little intrinsic practical significance - can serve to increase cultural or ethnic tensions and conflict. Differences that should have minimal social significance are sometimes exaggerated in order to faciliate intolerance, social exclusion, or religioethnic discrimination. At times it's done to herd people into war.

Agreed. Making a big deal out of cultural differences, rather than human rights violations, has taken on the political significance needed to manipulate people. Those who want to homogenize people with the ideal of peace and unity in mind will find themselves with a bigger mess on their hands than they have now, imo.

[Dream]

Its difficult to accept our own deaths with a sense of humor, but that is what it takes. Individuals just aren't all that important, but they should be to each other.

[Dream]

and I agree with you Seattlegal about the mass manipulation thing.

[wil]

[quote=Bishadi]Since each of the main branches of Abrahamic religions could be described as Judaism, Islam and Christianity, then what are the unifying beliefs over and above monotheism?

What combines them and then what are the prophecies that each share?

Meaning what is the missing link to combine the beliefs/people?[QUOTE]Namaste all,

Now I could be wrong. I have been before and am used to it. But unless I choose to read into the situation I don't see where Unity is proffered, simply what unifying beliefs do we have?

As Dauer indicated it does no good to see similarities where they don't exist. And as FS pointed out we differ greatly on what Jesus was. Although I do run into a number of Jews who state that Jesus was one of the many prophets running around at that time, just not worthy for a book like the minor or major prophets in their books.

So if one were to create a chart similar to those of the gospels, where they agree on various portions of Jesus's life. We could contemplate where two of the three agreed and where all three agreed on some tenent, event or aspiration.

Is there a harm in that?

Originally Posted by SL

Like the Chinese are saying that the Tibetan protesters are "dividers?"

I don't think so, that doesn't sound like a commonality.