(The Binding Of Isaac/ Ishmael)A Question for All people of Abrahamic Religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism?
The tale of the binding of Isaac/ Ishmael is present in many world faiths and holy books (Bible, Quran and Torah)
My question, being an atheist (Try to refrain from any foul language), is that if you believe in an Omnipotent (All powerful) and Omniscient (All Knowing) God/Allah/Yahweh (Future References will only say "God") then why would he put Abraham to the test?
If God is both all powerful and all knowing, then surely he would have know of Abraham's (and in some faiths his son's) complete devotion to god and so he would know that Abraham would willingly sacrifice his son. So why would God do this only to glorify his ego which would have obvious consequences as Isaac would be tormented and have gone through OBVIOUS child abuse and attempted murder.
To me it seems like another logical argument for why God doesn't exist, but I would like to hear your opinions.
dewcoons2015-01-05T11:44:42Z
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If you look at the cultures of that time period, human (especially child sacrifice) was very common and practiced by every culture that we know about. Abraham was raised in such a culture until he was in his 50s.
Abraham marks the beginning of the monotheist religions, of which Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the largest and best known. He is considered the founder of all three of those religions.
According to their scriptures (with Judaism and Christianity sharing the same set of scriptures), God called Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice. However before he could complete the act, God stopped him and had him substitute a ram in his place. All three of those religions see that acts as God's way of prohibiting human (and especially child) sacrifice. None of those three religions have ever included human sacrifice as part of their doctrines.
Whether you look the idea or not, apparently it was successful because these three religions, which make up more than half of the world's population, have never practiced human sacrifice. There is no real way to estimate how many millions (probably billions) of lives have been saved because of the one event.
God was looking for a way to impress on those religions that they were NOT to practice human sacrifice, and found it in that one single act.
Whether you read the story as a "faithful" or "secular" person --
If you understand the context of the story, then the binding of Isaak is a story of fundamental (even primary) importance to the development of "modern" morality.
Not just at the time of Abraham, but well over a thousand years after him, the primary "religious ethics" of the Middle Eastern region included human sacrifice -- and quite commonly child sacrifice.
...and worldwide -- human sacrifice persisted far far longer - it was practiced by the peoples of Britain when the Romans came, it was practiced by Norse peoples and Turkic peoples until less than one thousand years ago, and the British dealt with normative human sacrifice cults in 19th century India (not just that -- but today women's rights activists must still contend with wife-sacrifice in rural India !!!) ....and lets not forget the Aztecs, the Caribes, and other American nations
Now -- read The Binding myth --
Abraham is a clan leader in this society where the pious clan leader is expected to sacrifice his first born child. And (this is quite clear in a close reading of the text) Abraham experiences substantial negative social impact when he fails to do so with weaning having come and gone.
Now, we can get into the details of a religious reading of the story -- But a close analysis would take too long and you may tune out - Instead - Lets read "secularly" -- Abraham takes the child and goes away. He then returns and declares -- "I have had a revelation experience of the Almighty God -- and he has forbidden this practice!"
This is the story that does it.
Ironically -- This is the story that subverts human social morality and transforms it so that you now think that human sacrifice is fundamentally wrong -- and condemn this story on a shallow understanding of its meaning!!!
Jesus Made Me Kosher, He Is The Rock Of Israel2015-01-12T10:56:05Z
God asked a faithful man at that time to do something as a foreshadowing of what He Himself would do one day.
In Genesis 22: Messiah is the fulfillment of the binding of Isaac.
We have a father (Abraham) offering his ONLY son (Isaac.) (Just like the Messiah)
Notice, the text calls Isaac Abrahams ‘only’ son, even though he did have Ishamel. And Isaac carries the wood. (Just like the Messiah)
He willingly lays down on the altar and is about to be slain. (Just like the Messiah)
At the last minute, a ram is found in the thicket and is sacrificed instead. (God never intended for Isaac to really be sacrificed so he stopped it at the last possible moment).
On the very same mountain (Mt. Moriah is same area where Jesus died) Yeshua (Jesus) also is the Son of God and carried His wood to the sacrifice. He willingly laid down His life and instead of finding a substitute for Him, He was OUR substitute.
It seems Isaac the son of the promise had no problem with His father. As Abraham told Isaac that God would provide the sacrifice when Isaac asked him about this and Abraham trust and hope in the Lord was not in vain as the Lord did provide the sacrifice. We also have to trust the Lord completely, and put all our hope and trust in Him.
Well, the story is in place to show that you should follow Gods order despite what you feel AND in defiance of popular opinion. It is also told to explain why Abe is the Father of the Jewish Tribes.
God may know what we will do, true, but WE don't always know what we are capable of until we are faced with the choice. THAT is the point of telling the story.