EARLY MONOTHEISM The worlds three largest monotheistic religions

EARLY MONOTHEISM

The world’s three largest monotheistic religions share similar origins. All of their stories begin in Ancient Mesopotamia…

Prior to the beginning of monotheism, Mesopotamia (and most other regions) were predominantly polytheistic, with various traditions and forms of worship. With the patriarchs Abraham and Moses, Judaism is the first of the monotheistic traditions to emerge. This early beginning is characterized by the belief that only one God exists.

Creation Story: Adam and Eve God creates man. God creates woman out of man’s rib. God forbids Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Wisdom. Eve is deceived by the serpent. Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. God curses Adam and Eve to suffer as humans: suffering, sickness, childbirth, and death. This is ORIGINAL SIN.

He told him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. ” The snake replied, “That’s not true, you will not die. God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad. ” And he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat… You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again. ”

Story of Abraham God tells Abraham he has chosen him. Abraham’s descendants are to form God’s people. Abraham has a child with his slave Hagar, named Ishmael. Mother and child are sent away, promised to greatness by God one day. God gives Abraham and his wife Sarah a child after many years of barrenness. They name their child Isaac.

The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, your father’s home, and go to a land that I am going to show you. I will give you many descendants, and they will become a great nation. ” God said to Abraham, “You must agree to keep the covenant with me, both you and your future generations. ”

Abraham’s Sacrifice God tells Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac to a mountaintop, where he is to sacrifice him in the name of God. Abraham does as God requests. Before Abraham is to slay Isaac, an angel appears to him. Because Abraham has proved his loyalty to God, Isaac is spared, and God promises Abraham he will have a great legacy.

“Take your son, ” God said, “your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. There on a mountain that I will show you, offer him as a sacrifice to me. ” Then he picked up the knife to kill him. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!. . . Don’t hurt the boy or do anything to him, ” he said. “Now I know that you honor and obey God, because you have not kept back your only son from him. ”

Early Judaism is Born And so the seeds of monotheism are planted: • “Dust to dust” • Miracle of birth • Covenant (promise) with God • Circumcision • Chosen People