We've more in common than you think

Judaism, Christianity and Islam have much more in common than many of us may know.

All three are adherents to the one God of Abraham. "Abrahamic" religions make up more than 50 percent of the world's religious population. The Arab and Jewish peoples are bonded by blood to Abraham and to one another through his sons Ishmael and Isaac. Abraham, by all accounts, had eight sons by three women. A family then became divided by differing accounts of those unions, treatment of Hagar and Ishmael and the status of first born.

It is not simple to digest these complicated accounts. However, we can simplify to a general point of "a beginning" in an attempt to promote understanding and discussion.

«Judaism: Abraham's wife Sarah gave her Egyptian servant Hagar to her husband to bear him a child. Sarah did not believe she would bear him a child in her old age as God had promised. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Years later, Sarah did give birth to Isaac. Isaac was the son God commanded Abraham to sacrifice. Isaac is the direct descendant from Abraham for Judaism. Jews await the coming of the Jewish Messiah.

«Christian: Basically the same as Judaism relative to Hagar/Ishmael and Sarah/Isaac. Jesus is the direct descendant of Abraham through his son Isaac and through Mary. They await the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

«Islam: Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Ishmael was the son God commanded Abraham to sacrifice. Muhammad is the direct descendant of Abraham through his son Ishmael for Islam. They await the coming of Mahdi.

Although differing accounts of these Abrahamic religions, all three believe in the same God. All three have sects and denominations from within that vary in beliefs, interpretation, culture and traditions. All three have a small minority of radical fringe extremists who want to control through division, violence and hate. The overwhelming majority of the people of all three religions are good and loving people who have lived together in peace and want to live in peace.

The greatest threats to our collective humanity, however, are those who escalate, exploit and use the divisions these minority extremists evoke as a diversion to covet their thirst of greed and power.

Whether our religion be Judaism, Christianity or Islam, we are first and foremost united by our religions as children of God of Abraham.

Please do the research for yourself.

Jean E. Winkler is a Windsor resident and occasional writer to the Windsor Tribune.