Abraham CD : A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths

Rating:
Summary: Masterful job!
Review: I got so much out of this book! Bruce Feiler challenges his readers to understand how the three monotheistic faiths that grew out of the revelations of Abraham developed their beliefs and used Abraham's story to further their own causes. I found it especially interesting to see how each religion tweaked Abraham's story, and in some cases changed it wholesale. Yet I don't think (and I think Feiler doesn't think) that diminishes the power of what Abraham brought to the table. Abraham gave to the world the idea of a loving, portable, all-powerful God that roughly half the world celebrates in some form or fashion. Now if only we could all come together and find peace through this one God that Abraham, in essence, discovered for us!

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Summary: An appetizing introduction to the stor(ies) of Abraham
Review: Feiler has traveled and written about life in Japan, the circus, England, and the Biblical Middle East. In this post-9/11 book, he returns to Israel from Manhattan and explores the history and lore, from the perspective of three monotheistic faiths, surrounding the patriarch of ABRAHAM. Maybe Feiler was destined to write this book. His mother's maiden name means "House of Abraham", and the Bar Mitzvah parshat of both Feiler and his brother was "Lech Lecha", the biblical story in which Abraham is told by god to "go forth" and be himself. Coincidentally, or eerily, I read this slim book on a flight in which I, a Jew, sat between a Muslim and a Catholic nun. And like the mixed nuts that were served on the jet flight, this book is a nice appetizer to further, deeper study -- it is a brief, light, enjoyable, comforting, hopeful, and even humorous read. Feiler tells the reader that The Akkedah story is read at both Rosh Hashana as well as the Eid al-Adha. And obviously a father sacrificing his son is critical to Christian liturgy as well. To Muslims, Abraham is the first Hanif, and to Christians he is the father of faith. In this book, Feiler explores how three faiths invented stories around Abraham to reinforce their worldviews and to reflect upon their times; they even swapped stories, like the story about how Abraham visits Ishmael in his later life. I found the chapter on Christianity most enlightening, especially Feiler's quick discussion on St Augustine's views on Abraham and the Jews.

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Summary: A Must Read!
Review: Living in this post 9/11 world, this book has the potential for bringing people from different religious backgrounds together at last. For all people to read so that everyone will understand finally why the three great religions believe the way they do.
With understanding will come peace.
If you loved the adventure of "Walking the Bible, you will not be disappointed in "Abraham". I couldn't put it down and finished it in two sittings. Run, don't walk to you nearest bookstore and pick up this very timely and important book. Bravo Mr. Fieler, you did it again! Hope this is a smash hit around the world.

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Summary: Very refined study.
Review: To study Abraham as such is absolutely enlightening concerning the three directions. In a completely unbiased approach I am convinced from this book Abraham would be shocked himself at the various interpretations, especially Islam and the one major holiday they celebrate over his ultimate offering God had asked him for. This is a book that you should find a quiet place to read, it is easy to read but demands complete attention as details grow. A very educational work, from the time of Abraham to current faith. A must have if you are a believer or an Atheist. I wish to recommend a book that carries on from here in a very similar theme but with Moses and Christ, title is SB: 1 or God by Karl Mark Maddox

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Summary: Loved it
Review: Feiler's study of Abraham and his legacy is a fairly quick read, which is good, because I'm about to read it again. I like his style, and I like his message. I'm particularly interested in the suggestions in the final chapter for opening dialogue--and maybe some minds. (Unfortunately, the people who are willing to put aside long-held hatred in the interests of peaceful co-existence are probably already open-minded.) The idea of Abraham as a common ancestor is one that is new to me, and I want to explore these ideas in greater depth.

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Summary: An Intro to Abraham
Review:

This book offers a nice introductory text to Abraham and his role in the development of three religions. While the book makes no earthshattering theological revelations, the generally concise text poses some important questions about Abraham is an engaging style that mizes interviews, historical travels and author commentary and observation.

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Summary: A wonderful book for any Sunday School class
Review: This is a wonderful Sunday school book, an easy breezy amble through the origins of three great modern religions that's as comforting as a back rub and about as useful as a placebo.

Early in the book, Feiler stumbles across a relevant fact that might have produced a great book had he cared to pursue the idea; primarily, that to succeed Abraham "must leave his native land and his father's house." In other words, grow up, go out on your own, and accept personal responsibility for what happens on this earth. It's an idea expressed in Genesis XII; Abraham understands what God has told him, Feiler treats God's gift of individualism to Abraham as a Club Med travelogue.

For tribal people, before the time of Abraham and still valid for those who need the comfort of group-think, identity is defined by the clan, tribe, cult or ideology. Abraham is the first to endorse the idea of individual identity, not in terms of personal hedonism and irresponsibility but as responsible to God for the basis of a moral life. It's an idea that has yet to be widely adopted; "born again" fundamentalists of many faiths believe they can do whatever they like because they "accept" God or Jesus or Allah who forgives them all their sins. It reflects the modern attitude, "Jesus paid for our sins, so let's get our money's worth."

This contrast between mass identity and personal individualism has been often explored; a classic example is "Escape from Freedom" in which Eric Fromm says people who cannot live with freedom will invariably turn to fundamentalism of some kind. The fault with the three great religions Feiler portrays as having grown from Abraham is not their common origin, but the fundamental fanaticism of modern followers who willingly submit to totalitarian faiths.

Feiler ignores the contrast between tribal or group comforts, and the individualism of Abraham which gave birth to societies where individuals feel isolated, dehumanized and alienated. The result is often blind devotion to a cult, abject submission to a Leader and barbarous policies of suicidal mass murder. The individualism of Abraham is like the Ten Commandments of Moses -- great ideas from the very Highest and Best of Authority -- but how many people are willing to accept the full reality of such wisdom?

Instead, Feiler limits himself to a Sunday School recitation of nice but conventional ideas about Abraham. He ignores the basic lesson God applied to Abraham, "Okay, Bro, you're on your own . . . . take responsibility for your own actions and you'll be okay." Instead, this book is written in the image of Big Daddy looking after all of us, if only Big Daddy can figure out why we're fighting among ourselves.

It's a great read, but that's almost a foregone conclusion when you consider the basic source of the original material. It could have been much better. Today's deadliest conflicts are not the product of Abraham or God, they occur because we expect God to look after us instead of accepting what Abraham learned -- accept responsibility for yourself.

Buy it, then read it as a springboard to enable your mind to leap into the future. It doesn't offer answers from the past; but, as individuals, there's nothing like a nice review of the status quo to serve as an incentive to leap into the future.

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Summary: Who is Abraham?
Review: Bruce Feiler's "Abraham" is not a travel book as such - that is, there's no journey through the Middle East trying to unearth traces of Abraham. Rather, it's an examination of the meaning of Abraham in the Bible and the Koran, and in Jewish/Christian/Islamic tradition. Feiler does go to Israel, but mainly to discuss Abraham with representatives of the three faiths.

Feiler writes in an lively and inquiring style, and is not afraid to confront the fact that all three religions have reinterpreted the story of Abraham to fit in with their own aims. As times moved on, the figure of Abraham mutated. What is left is a mixture of text and interpretation - the latter often seeming more influential than the former. I learned much about the differences between the three faiths, but I was not in the slightest bit surprised to find that more often than not Abraham was evoked by one of the religions as proof of its superiority over the others.

Feiler recognises this, but tries to counter it with the argument that the figure of Abraham provides a link between the three faiths that can be used to foster mutual understanding and tolerance. I would not disparage that laudable aim. However, for someone approaching this book from a non-religious angle, I couldn't help thinking that he has a large task ahead of him. Feiler's examination of the way the three faiths have used Abraham seems to me to be a classic example of why religion has been rejected by so many: my God is bigger than your God; we are the only ones who are favoured by God, the rest of you are condemned; believe in the same God as us or else....

This is a puzzling and repugnant side to religions. There is perhaps a bigger gap to fill: the one between an irreligious West and religions which are intolerant of any belief outside their own. Feiler did find adherents to all three faiths who sought understanding and reconciliation. He also found chilling examples of religious fanaticism.

I hope Feiler's optimism is well-founded.

G Rodgers

Rating:
Summary: Interesting - will give food for thought
Review: This is certainly an interesting read and an easy one. I thought the author did an excellent job of providing three points of view from the three major faiths that each claim Abraham. More importantly, he provided an insight to the factthat Abraham is a different person to each of the faiths, or that he is a composite of many individuals, or questions if he actually existed at all. The end notes, questions, and readings provided at the end were helpful.

The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star was a note of flippancy that I detected some time. Spending paragraph space on why Hollywood hasn't depicted Abraham, referring to the average individual as "joe sixpack", and some what I would call "cute" phrasing seemed to take away from the significance of the book. This is definitely not a reference for someone working on a doctorate in theology, but it does provide a good overview for those of us who just want to "get an idea" of who Abraham was and the often conflicting views of his story.

Lastly, the appeal for understanding between the faiths is commendable, but it seems to provide a feel of "grasping at straws." Sadly, however, that may be about all we have to even begin to bring an end to the huge chasm between the three faiths.

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Summary: The Right Questions
Review: By Joe Thomas, from http://www.ragingliberal.org

This is a book that sat on my shelf for almost a year. I got it through one of those paperback book clubs when I forgot to tell them I didn't want the selection of the month, and when the cover said it was by the author of Walking the Bible, my own prejudice about titles like that gave me an excuse to hold off on it for a while. But recently, as I was trying to minimize my possessions through some donations, I figured I'd read it quick before turning it in. It didn't seem long so I thought I could get through it quickly and besides, I have a strange psychotic disorder that makes me feel odd about giving up a book that might have a little merit without having read it. All those brave people who tried to instill in me a love of reading did their job, maybe a little too well. The bottom line-after reading it, this book didn't go on the donation pile. 

Feiler begins his book with typical vignettes of Jerusalem: trains of people separating into groups of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, wending their way to some of the holiest sites of their respective religions. He quickly moves into a narrative of his personal journey to discover who Abraham really is, and what he can do to bring peace to his descendants who have become not a great nation, but several rival states. 

While Feiler's knowledge and use of the religious texts from all three traditions is appealing to thinking religious person and those interested in learning more about the world's three most populous monotheistic religions, his descriptions of the current state of affairs in the Middle East are most interesting to the student of politics. The interviews with individuals and the discussion of the larger issues involved bring the situation to life like nothing else I've read or seen. All the usual suspects are present. The Israeli who believes peace will never come without compromise. The Jewish settler who has every wall and window in his home sandbagged to prevent his family's being shot. The Muslim imam if a mosque in Palestine who calmly tells Feiler the attacks of September 11 came from God. And the "radical" Muslim cleric, who while preaching a hard line on issues such as the right of return, can still come to the conclusion that, "If we look beyond the details, which we may disagree about, and follow the principles of Abraham-truth, morality, and coexistence-then most of our problems will disappear." 

This book doesn't have the answers, but it is an insightful journey that could help us find the right questions.