Abraham’s Religion Before Judaism
The Patriarch Abraham is an iconic figure in three of the world’s major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. In each of these beliefs, Abraham is held in extremely high esteem, revered as a symbol of monotheism, faith, and dedication. He is a major religious figure to the religions of Islam and Christianity, having a significant role in their religious principles, but quite surprisingly, earlier in his life, he held an entirely different religious belief. Before Abraham was a follower of Judaism, what was his faith?
Abraham was born into a polytheistic family, likely worshipping a variety of Mesopotamian gods and goddesses descended from the ancient Sumerian religion. His grandfather Terah was an idol-maker, and though Abraham is never explicitly stated to have participated in this profession, it is very likely that he at least had a basic understanding of the polytheistic religion his relatives embraced.
These gods were not just arbitrary figures or unimportant idols, they were essential pieces of the social and political fabric. These powerful gods and goddesses were responsible for the order of the universe and maintained many aspects of life, from procreation to the seasons and harvests. This belief system was adopted by the cultures of Canaan and Mesopotamia, where Abraham comes from, and continued up through the time of his father Terah, who named him Abram at his birth.
At the age of 75, Abram was called by God to a mission of pilgrimage and faith, to which he and all his family responded eagerly. This mission was to move from their hometown of Ur of the Chaldees, to the Promised Land. We know from this passage in the bible that Abram was not monotheistic at this stage in his life. He believed in the gods of his culture, and worshipped them.
God’s instruction to Abram changed that drastically: Abram was told to forsake the gods of his homeland and to make a great journey to a new place. This is an amazing detail, and it essentially marks the beginning of Abram’s monotheism. This instruction, however, was not completely new to Abram, as it is highly likely that he had an awareness of the notion of one god due to the Mesopotamian religious beliefs. The focus of these beliefs was on a particular god or goddess-Anu, Inanna or Enlil – as opposed to a single, all-powerful deity.
Abram made the journey to the Promised Land to live and observe the worship of the one God his own way; he refused to adopt any nearby idolatrous practices and continued in his dedication to this new figure in his life. This move to the Promised Land marked the end of Abram’s polytheistic religion, which had been his belief since birth, and marked the beginning of his journey into the world of one God worship.
From this point forward, Abram continued to observe the one God, receiving divine instruction and vowing never to turn back to the idolatrous practices of his earlier life. He eventually changed his name to Abraham, an honor from the Lord, and is credited with the founding of Judaism and the religious line of the Abrahamic faiths.
Role of Abraham in Judaism
Abraham is widely regarded as the founding father of the Jewish people and the religion of Judaism. It is believed that he founded the religion by his commitment to God and his decision to follow the one God and leave his polytheistic beliefs behind. The religious and cultural history of Judaism are inseparable from the story of Abraham and his commitment to the one true God.
The book of Genesis in the Old Testament contains a narrative of Abraham’s life, which is highly regarded as an example of faith and obedience by the Jewish faith. In the narrative, God speciallly chose Abraham from among the nations of the world as a chosen individual of true faith. His commitment to the one God and his devotion to his monotheistic beliefs can be seen in his willingness to leave his home in pursuit of the Lord.
In addition to being beloved by the Jewish community and honored in the Old Testament, Abraham is held in equal esteem by the Muslim religion. Muslims believe that Abraham, who was known as Ibrahim in Arabic, lived a lifestyle that would be a great example for all throughout history.
He is also considered key to Islamic faith in the notion of the oneness of Allah. Muslims hold Abraham in high regard as the example of being righteous and unswerving in faith despite the difficulties that arise in following the true path.
Role of Abraham in Christianity
In Christianity, Abraham is considered key to the belief of salvation. The salvation comes through Abraham’s willingness to trust and believe in God, and by following God’s divine plan and path. By trusting in God and seeking His will, Abraham represents a model for a life devoted to trusting in and following God, as well as demonstrating faithfulness to him and a lifestyle of righteous living.
In the Christian narrative, Abraham is seen as a figure of faith who, trusting in God and His Word, was able to move forward in life and make the right decisions. Abraham, like in Judaism, is also seen as an example of obedience as he was willing to peacefully and obediently leave his parents’ home and travel to Asyria in response to God’s instruction.
Throughout the narrative of Abraham’s life in the Bible, he is consistently portrayed as a man devoted to God, who had faith in His Word and was obedient to His will. Abraham’s trust and loyalty is demonstrated in his willingness to sacrifice his only son Isaac on the altar, representing a powerful faith and trust in God.
Role of Abraham in Islam
In the Islamic faith, Abraham, or ‘Ibrahim’, represents a great example of loyalty and commitment to a single God, as well as a symbol of faith and obedience. According to the Quran, Abraham was dedicated to the worship of Allah and devoted to his path, despite the confusion and chaos of his time.
In the Islamic faith, Ibrahim is seen as a messenger of Allah, sent to the people of his time and all mankind. In the Islamic narrative, he embodies a sense of determination and courage against all odds, demonstrating a perfect example of faith and devotion to Allah. Abraham is also seen as a humble figure, willing to trust in Allah and accept His decisions and revelations.
He also represents a brave figure as he was willing to be a source of strength in the face of persecution. In Muslim culture, Abraham is upheld as an example of wisdom and humility, and a great example of the courage and commitment to faith that is required to succeed in life.
Conclusion
Abraham is an iconic figure in the history of religion and a revered symbol in three of the world’s major monotheistic faiths. While he is known for his commitment to Judaism, Abraham was born into a polytheistic family and grew up believing in the gods of his culture. This faith remained with him until he began his mission of pilgrimage and faith at the age of 75, at which time he was instructed to forsake the gods of his homeland and to make the journey to the Promised Land. From this point onwards, Abraham was a follower of the one God, the core belief of the religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. He is a figure of faith, courage and wisdom, and an inspirational example of commitment and devotion to the one God.
