The Abrahamic faiths consist of the world’s three main monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all of which view Abraham as their patriarch. Abraham is the ancestor of the Hebrew nation, through his son Isaac, and the Islamic faith, through his son Ishmael. Both Jesus and Mohammad are among his descendants. All three faiths are linked together in this common ancestor and a view of God as Creator and source of moral law. The scriptures of all these faiths feature many common prophets and historical narratives such as those of Noah and Moses. “There can be quite a gulf between neighbors in terms of their lifestyle, their political opinions, and religious observances. And yet if they are real neighbors, their respect for each other, their conversation, and their sharing of what is really important will enhance and enrich their experiences of the God whom all Abrahamic religions regard as the source and lawgiver for their lives.” says Father Joseph Hilinski, a panelist for “Who is My Neighbor?”
In this time of conflict within the Abrahamic faith communities, cooperation is increasingly necessary. To combat the growing tensions rooted in a lack of understanding and respect for differences in faith communities, there must be willingness to work together to overcome a history of violence, Islamaphobia, and anti-Semitism. “People of good will in every religion need to speak up about the elements in their own tradition that sponsor respect.” says Rabbi Joan Friedman, another panelist for “Who is My Neighbor?” The panel discussion will explain how the Abrahamic faiths are similar, and in what ways they are different. How can we acknowledge our differences without turning them into reasons for hate and fear? How can we work together against a history of violence committed in the name of religion? How can we better understand the Abrahamic faiths and their place in a cooperative society? The panelists will address these pressing questions and share their faith’s particular approach to each. “Every culture defines its citizen’s responsibilities differently, usually by the influence of the subcultures that define it, and religion is one of those subcultures,” says panelist David Sherwood. “Thus, every religion produces a set of values about how people are to be treated, and these are passed into every culture’s obligations with different levels of influence.”
