DISCUSSION TOPIC: ABRAHAM AND THE MONOTHEISTIC TRADITION

 Some Questions To Consider

What is the story of Abraham?

How is Abraham similar and how is he different in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions?

What roles do Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael play in the three different religions?

How is the binding of Abraham's son interpreted in the three different religions?

What has been the history of the Tomb of the Patriarchs and the history of Hebron?

Bruce Feiler, author not only of Walking the Bible but also of Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths, asks whether Abraham can save the world.  How would you respond to his question?  What is Abraham's legacy to the world today?

Possible Starting Places

Abraham -- BBC Religions:  A very brief description that highlights Abraham in his role as Jewish patriarch.

Ibrahim -- The Muslim View Of Abraham, BBC Religions: A concise introduction by Mona Siddiqui.

   David Van Biema, "The Legacy Of Abraham," Time, September 30, 2002.

  Bruce Feiler, "Children Of Abraham," On Being, APR, February 8, 2007.

  "Sarah And Hagar: A Tale Of Two Women,"  Spirit Of Things, ABC, December 13, 2009:  An interfaith audio exploration from Australian public radio of the two most prominent women in the Abrahamic tradition.

Abraham In Judaism, Christianity And Islam

Abraham -- A Journey To The Heart Of Three Faiths:  A 86-minute 2004 University of Santa Barbara Humanities lecture by Bruce Feiler about his book-length study of Abraham.

"Abraham -- One Man, One God," Mysteries Of The Bible:  A very basic short documentary.

Abrahamic Religion -- Wikipedia:  A brief comparison of the three Abrahamic religions from the on-line encyclopedia.

  Abraham -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

  Abraham In Islam -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

  Imam Kamil Mufti, "The Story Of Abraham," IslamReligion.com, January 4, 2015.

Message Of Ibrahim:  An overview from EMuslim.

Abraham - Jewish Virtual Encyclopedia:  A brief sketch.

Abraham -- Catholic Encyclopedia.

  Ishmael -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

  Ishmael In Islam -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

"Prophet Isma'il," Islam 101.

Ishmael -- Jewish Virtual Library.

  Ishmael -- First Son Of Abraham, Father Of Arab Nations -- Thought.co:  A short introduction by Jack Zavada from a Christian perspective.

  Hagar -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Jonathan Kirsch, "Book Review: 'The Woman Who Named God,'" TruthDig, October 23, 2009.

Charlotte Gordon, "Hagar: Palestinian Heroine Or Israeli Sister?," January 28, 2009.

Sarah -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Sarah -- Jewish Virtual Library:  A short sketch by Shira Schoenberg.

Jane Williams, "The Book Of Genesis, Part 6: Patriarchs And Others," Guardian, January 18, 2011.

  Isaac -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Binding Of Isaac -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Michael Eric Dyson, "Abraham, Isaac, And Us (And Hagar And Ishmael And Trayvon And Michael Brown, Too," On Being, March 28, 2017.

"Abraham's Story: Foundation Of Judaism, Islam And Christianity," ABC News (December 21, 2012):  A 9-minute video clip from a longer documentary by the American broadcaster.

Place Of Abraham In Islam, Christianity, Judaism:  A brief comparative introduction from WhyIslam.org.

'Abraham Our Father' -- And Theirs?:

  Kevin Rushby, "Eastern Turkey's Ancient Wonders," Guardian, December 21, 2012.

:  A selection of images from Bible Art.

"Was Isaac Or Ishmael To Be Sacrificed?," Islam 101.

The Sacrifice Of Abraham -- Isaac Or Ishmael:  A short analysis by Muhammad Ghoniem and M.S.M. Saifullah for Islamic Awareness.

Rabbi Mishael Zion, "Isaac And Ishmael: A Rereading For This Jewish New Year," Huffington Post, November 24, 2014.

Bruce Feiler, "Where Was Abraham Born," Slate, April 21, 2003.

Tad Szulc, "Abraham: Journey Of Faith," National Geographic, 200 (December 2001).

  Patriarchs And The Origins Of Judaism:  A description of the traditions associated with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from a web-site that highlights the basics of Judaism.

  "Abraham: A Journey To The Heart Of Three Faiths," Talk Of The Nation, September 2002.

Jane Lampman, "Exploring The Power Of Abraham's Legacy," Christian Science Monitor, October 17, 2002.

Robert Wright, "One World, Under God: Those Pragmatic Abrahamics," Atlantic (April 2009).

  Abraham Path -- A Walking Trail Across The Middle East :  A new tourist route organized around the stories associated with the journeys of Abrham/Ibrahim around the Middle East.

  "The Abraham Path," PRI's The World, September 29, 2010.

  Abraham Path -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Jess Lee, "Echoes Of An Ancient Land Along Turkey's Abraham Path," BBC Travel, April 15, 2013.

  Daughters Of Abraham:  The web-page for a Texas-based interfaith group organized after the September 11, 2001 bombings.

  Hagar Australia:  A Christian aftercare agency that works with women and children who have survived trafficking and severe abuse in Cambodia, Afghanistan and Vietnam.

Hagar -- Jewish-Arab Education For Equality:

  Neve Gordon and Catherine Rottenberg, "Why Would Bigots Attack A Jewish Arab School In Israel That Teaches Tolerance And Mutual Respect?," Nation (June 5, 2014).

"To Jerusalem," ABC Encounter, April 27, 2008:  An Australian public radio audio documentary that uses the figure of Hagar to explore relations between secular and orthodox Israeli Jews in Jerusalem.

Hebron And The Tomb Of The Patriarchs

  Cave Of The Patriarchs -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

  Tomb Of The Patriarchs, Hebron:  The site described by Sacred Destinations. 

  Cave of Machpelah, Tomb of the Patriarchs:  A concise description from the Jewish Virtual Library.

Cave Of The Patriarchs Massacre -- Wikipedia:  An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

  "Unesco Declares Hebron's Old City Palestinian World Heritage Site," BBC News, July 7, 2017.

Peter Beaumont, "Unesco Makes Hebron Old City Palestinian World Heritage Site," Guardian, July 7, 2017.

  Raffi Berg, "Israel Heritage Plan Exposes Discord Over West Bank History," BBC News, April 15, 2013.

  Ben Lynfield, "Israeli Government To Organize School Field Trips To West Bank," Christian Science Monitor, February 16, 2011.

Isabel Kershner, "More Clashes Over Israeli Claim To Shrine," New York Times, February 25, 2010.

  "West Bank Strike Over Israeli Tomb Heritage Claim," BBC News, February 23, 2010.

"Riots Over Israeli Claim To West Bank Heritage Sites," BBC News, February 22, 2010.

  Diana Newman, "Long Shadow Of 1929 Hebron Massacre," BBC News, August 26, 2009.

  Heather Sharp, "Mixed Emotions On Hebron Tour," BBC News, October 17, 2008.

  Aaron Klein, "Passover Party At Tomb Of The Patriarchs: Holiday Festivals, New Housing Units Solidify Jewish Presence In Ancient Hebron," World Net Daily, April 27, 2005.

  "Hebron: City Of Strife," BBC News, July 16, 2001.

Virginia Quirke and Ewen MacAskill, "Abraham's Sons Still Feud," Observer, May 13, 2001.

  Gideon Levy, "Twilight Zone," Ha'aretz, March 16, 2001.

Deborah Sontag, "A Biblical Patriarch's Tomb Becomes A Battleground," New York Times, October 4, 2000.

  Amy Wilentz, "Battling Over Abraham," New Yorker, September 16, 1996.

Joel Greenberg, "West Bank Massacre; Biblical Tomb Long A Site Of Arab-Jewish Conflict," New York Times, February 26, 1994.