Selected Book
Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths (P.S.)
- Paperback
- Author: Bruce Feiler
- Publisher: Harper Perennial
- Release Date: August 2005
- ISBN-10: 0060838663
- ISBN-13: 9780060838669
- List Price: $12.95
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Summaries and Customer Reviews provided by Amazon
SummaryAt a time when conflicts among three of the world's major religions--Islam, Judaism, and Christianity--are in the global spotlight, Bruce Feiler offers a stunning biography of the one man who unites all three religions: Abraham. "The most mesmerizing story of Abraham's life--his offering a son to God--plays a pivotal role in the holiest week of the Christian year, at Easter," writes Feiler. "The story is recited at the start of the holiest fortnight in Judaism, on Rosh Hashanah. The episode inspires the holiest day in Islam, 'Id al-Adha,' the Feast of the Sacrifice, at the climax of the Pilgrimage. And yet the religions can't even agree on which son he tried to kill." Herein lies the irony and perfection of Feiler's timing. As we struggle to find a path to peace among these three religions, all warring in Jerusalem, near the stone where Abraham brought his son for sacrifice, this captivating biography speaks to Abraham as the metaphor he is: the historically elusive man who embodies three religions, a character who has shape-shifted over the millennia to serve the clashing goals and dogma of each religion. Anyone seeking to understand the roots of tension in the Middle East need look no further than the final half of this book, where Feiler interprets the meaning of Abraham as seen through the prism of each religion. Surprisingly, the book is as entertaining as it is thoughtful: Feiler is a masterful writer with a warm, humorous voice, a dazzling way with metaphors, and an underlying intelligence that comes through in every passage. Abraham deserves the highest of recommendations. --Gail Hudson |
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Understanding Abraham
Rating:
Feiler, Bruce. "Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths", Harper Perennial, 2002.
Understanding Abraham
Amos Lassen
Bruce Feiler is something of an expert on the land of the Bible. An expert, however, is not necessarily a scholar and his study of Abraham has several inaccuracies. Nevertheless it is a fascinating read and despite the title, it leans quite heavily on the Judaic interpretation of Abraham. What Feiler does add goes beyond the Biblical text and Feiler states that the depiction of the Old Testament Abraham was modified and shaped and then reshaped by members of the three major religions. Feiler regards the "akeda" (the near- sacrifice of Isaac) as the pivot around which the story of Abraham revolves. He then looks at the relationship of Abraham to Isaac who both Christians and Jews regard as the favorite son while Muslims accept Ishmael as the favored. Feiler's conclusion is that there were actually several Abrahams so that they could fit the historical, political and social situations of the times. He also shows that there is no proof whatsoever that Abraham actually ever existed. Feiler's goal seems to be to find some kind of common bond between the monotheistic religions and a way to reconcile them. Since Abraham is a central character in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, he comes across as quite unique. Feiler met with representatives of the three religious branches and he finds it interesting that each has little tolerance for the other but all three shares a common area in Abraham.
I did not approach the book as a way to answer any questions I might have but rather as a way to increase my own knowledge about the man that so many revere. I did not learn a great deal but I did have an interesting read. Feiler provides a balance and he does not hide his own feelings. It is interesting that a Jewish author is not swayed by his own background and is somewhat at home dealing with all three areas of faith.
excellent objective view
Rating:
I thought the book was very well written. The first half of the book gives a very nice history of Abraham. The next chapters look how Abraham is linked to each of the three major religions while the last chapter or two show how each of the religions are different yet so much alike and through both of these we could all be at peace. I really enjoyed the objective viewpoint of the writer and will read more of his books
A lesson
Rating:
This book helped to confirm my belief that the history of religious thought, Christian, Jewish or Muslim, is not much more than a lot of baloney. The theologians have simply been making up divergent stories to satisfy their pulpit needs as the centuries passed. How foolish the whole process has been. Abraham might have been no more than a delusional shepherd wandering in the desert heat. I wonder what Christopher Hitchens would have to say about this book.
Sun, Sagittarius A, Obilish, and Kolob
Rating:
Jehovah promised Abraham four things. For the book of Abraham 2:9 : "I will make thee a great nation", "I will bless thee about measure", "and make thy name great among all nations", "that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations."
Abraham 2:10, "And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father."
Abraham 2:11 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee" suggesting blessings associated with beening Abraham's seed. The seed of Abraham encompassing those who accept the gospel and many of the literal descendants of Abraham. "All the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are blessing of salvation, even of eternal life" with Eternal life being the final inheritance, the entry into the land of inheritance, and a choice joint heir ship with God.
Abraham 2:19, " Unto thy seed will I give this land"
1. The blessings of Abraham move from the specific to the Universal.
2. Jehovah the creator will make Abraham a creator. Abraham moves from being childless to receiving Ishmael and Isaac and blessed through these sons with a great posterity. Abraham worships Jehovah, seeks the priesthood of his fathers, strives to keep commandments, and turns away for false idols Gods of Pharaoh. Abraham was rescued by Jehovah from the priests of Elkanah who wanted to make him a sacrifice to their false Gods.
Pharaoh descendant of Egyptus, daughter of Ham did not receive the priesthood. Pharaoh preserved many of the traditions and customs of his fathers. Pharaoh seems to honour Abraham and Abraham shares knowledge with him.
3. Abraham will receive glory from Jehovah and God election of Abraham comes at the risk of Abraham's mortality
4. Man has dominion over the animals but not over man. Abraham is called to preside over his seed, a prince of peace. Abraham receives an elevated status and receives important power and revelation from God. Abraham acts for God. Abraham is chosen by God too bless the inhabitants of the earth. God extends mercy and blesses through Abraham benefitting the inhabitants of earth. Abraham's seed turn their devotion too God by living the laws of God. God then pours out blessings from heaven upon them. The seed of Abraham becomes a covenant people, a people of God.
5. The favoring of Abraham's seed creates a tension between Abraham's seed and everyone else. God resolves the problem. Those who access the gospel are accepted as the seed of Abraham and entitled to the blessings of Abraham. The tension is resolved.
6. Being a descendant of Abraham is a journey of faith through morality, with the eventual destination being a land of inheritance given by God that encompasses attributes, such as, a celestial land, eternal life meaning the dwelling with God in everlasting joy, exaltation with divine partnership, and increase.
7. Did God initiate the covenant with Abraham or did Abraham? Abraham 3:22 states, "Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones." And 23: "And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou was chosen before thou wast born." This scripture implies that Abraham was chosen to be a spiritual leader by God before he was born. Isaiah and Nehemiah, also make reference to Abraham being chosen before he was born.
8. "Go to yourself" represented the spiritual journey for the Jews. David Willna explained, "As Jews we have to be committed to movement and growth, but it has to be for the right reasons. God doesn't need our help. We have to be doing for ourselves." Islam stresses Abraham's submission to God and viewing the call as a reward for devotion. Islam describes Abraham as an upright man obedient to God. The Koran suggests that is was recognition of these traits that God chose Abraham and made him a great nation. Islam calls the moment of selection a covenant and the start of a nation of Muslims that reaches fruition in Muhammad, a collective consciousness achieved by surrender to God. Abraham is regard as the founder of Islam. Sheikh Abdul Rauf states, "Abraham's idea is the same as that of the constitution, `one nation under God'." Islam also being like Abraham, as much an inward journey, as outward. "I will worship you as my God and you will take care of me." The Jews believe in knowing oneself on the deepest level with the primary objective of the religion to know God within ones consciousness. Christians believe that knowing Abraham starts with the notion of faith. Paul taught faith by referencing stories about Abraham. "To be a child of Abraham is to respond to God's call, to start a journey, to become a stranger." The journey is to risk all and follow and trust God. John Lyons, said, "The bottom line is if you're too comfortable, or too secure, or too into having control, then you won't be willing to trust God." And replacing with "I'm prepared to do your will." Father John believes "the message of Abraham is to be alone, to be quiet, and to listen." Rabbit Arnie Belzer describes child to parent transition analogy, stating, "Part of the inheritance of Abraham, I was discovering, was coming from a cozy place but also being prepared to leave that place. The only way to achieve your own family someday is first to depart the family you grew up with, which invariably brings you closer to the family you left behind." "It was my father himself, who said, `Go forth'".
9. Jah-oh-eh=Earth, Olea=Moon, Shinehah=Sun, Floeese=Solar System, Kokaubeam=Stars
10. Enish-go-on-dosh=Energy medium that powers the solar system, Kae-e-vanrash=Energy that powers different solar systems with Sagittarius A at the center, Kli-flos-is-es=Energy medium that power Kae-e-vanrash hierarchy level with Oliblish at center, and Hah-ko-kau-beam=Energy medium that powers Kli-flos-is-es hierarchy with Kolob as center.
Abraham was show the four spheres of order: Kolob governing the cosmos, obiblish governing the galaxies, Sagittarius A governing the milky way, and the sun governing the solar system. Scientist look at Sagittarius A East/West as a strong source of radio waves. Sagittarius A East could be the remnants of a supernova but "it would take 50 to 100 times more than a standard supernova explosion to create a structure of this size and energy". The second idea is Sagittarius A East was the remnation of the explosion of a star that "gravitationally compressed as it made a close approach the central black hole." A black hole can have hundreds of thousands too tens of billions of solar masses.
Only two spheres of the energy medium and governing levels are known to man. Kolob and Olibish are not currently known and provable because they reside outside of human knowledge to explore or discover.
A true scientist must advocate faith. The Quantum capability to grasp the governing levels of Kolob and Olibish are impossible to the secular mind.
Abraham comprehended the governing levels through the Urim and Thummin. The fact surround Kolob and Obilish existence is not a debatable because man has no capacity to disprove their realty.
God governs all galaxies, stars, and planets in the cosmos. God's light and power radiant to all his creation.
God powers the sun through the other three energy levels. Kolob is the governing star near Kolob.
Secular knowledge limitations has limitation and because of these limitations is only seemly wise too admit that divine power and knowledge is better.
Secular knowledge is limited by power, capacity, and time. Light and Truth eminate from God and power man's reasoning and rationale. Man is nothing without God.
A claim to secular sourcing for truth is an arrogant dismisal of the influence of God. God's pure power and capacity are beyond human comprehension and can only be understood by the power of God.
Therefore, when a person claims secular knowledge only to find the truth, they are only an attempting to steal God's glory.
WHAT A HORRIBLE DISAPPOINTMENT.
Rating:
Oh my, did I mess up when I check this one out. I have seldom been as disappointed in a work as I was this one. I like facts. I enjoy knowing bits of this and bits of that. I very much enjoy historical biographies. I enjoy travel books. I enjoy books of individual spiritual searches. I enjoy books written my competent archeologists and historians. I enjoy speculative fiction and non fiction. Sadly to say, this one, for me, missed the mark on just about ever one of these counts.
Basically, the author writes of and about Abraham, who, no question, is a central figure in three of our great religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The author attempts to define the differences between these three religions, using Abraham as the central figure. How does this one man, Abraham, hold so much power, and have so much influence over the teachings of each of these religions? This is also something of a spiritual journey for the author, a kind of "lets find my roots" sort of thing. The author dashes here and there, interviewing various church leaders, asking their opinions about this and that. The basic, overlying questions is...Did Abraham exists or did he not exist? I am sorry to tell you that the author has come to the conclusion that it really does not matter; it is sort of the thought that counts. I am sorry, but for me, this conclusion just does not work. If the author was unable to find out one way or the other, and I can see why as there is little physical evidence one way or the other, then that is fine. The author should just say so. As another reviewer put it, "it does not matter, just is not acceptable!" Now don't read into this that I am anti- religious. I am not. I am sure that Abraham, if he did exist, was a pretty good old boy and certainly did the right thing under the circumstances of the time.
I really did not find anything new in this work. There was very little I was not already aware of. I did read the opinions of some high-up religious officials, of whose opinion I could care less about (as if one of them is not going to follow the "party line"). For the most part I found many of the author's "facts" just a bit questionable and most of it completely hearsay and speculation. When all is said and done,there was not much which I have not already heard and read many times before in other works. Also, to say that to understand the conflict in the Middle East at this time, a reader needs look no further than the last portion of this book, is the biggest bunch of bunk I have read for sometime now. Folks, it is much, much more complicated than that.
Now I will give the author credit. He can write, ergo, the two stars. His descriptive prose is quite nice. I might suggest he try travel books or something like that. On the other hand, the author is not a theologian, historian, archeologist or educational expert. This is all too apparent quite quickly after reading a few chapters. I am not real sure what he is, other thana young man in search of something that he probably does not even understand. I feel some might enjoy this sort of thing. I did not, and certainly cannot recommend reading it. I suppose if you feel you must give it a shot, I suggest you check it out at your library before you plunk down the hard cash. Like a previous reviewer, I am not at all sure why in the world I finished this thing.
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