Contemporary Issues in Western Religions

Christianity has been championed as a great religion in comparison to other Western Religions by its followers. The Three Western Religions are the only monotheistic religions. Christians, Jews and Muslims believe that the Creator (God, Yahweh, Allah, the Holy Trinity) is the origin of all that exists. The origins of Christianity, as well as Judaism and Islam come from the Middle East. Christianity, Judaism and Islam are collectively known as “Abrahamic religions” because they can credit their origins to the Covenant God made with Abraham in the Old Testament. "Now the Lord said to Abraham, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'" (Gen. 12:1-2). "Then the Lord appeared to Abraham, and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.'" (Gen. 12:7).

Abraham had two sons who were named Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael, the first born, was not of his wife, Sarah but rather and Egyptian slave girl (Hagar) who Sarah hired because she could not conceive. Ishmael is recognized as an important prophet of Islam. Muhammad, as taught by the Qur’an, is believed to be the last of the 12 prophets of God and the descendant of Ishmael that he promised in the Old Testament would establish a great nation. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of 12 rulers, and I will make them into a great nation.” (Genesis 17:20).

Isaac, Abraham’s second son, was the only son that he had with his wife, Sarah. After the birth of their son, Sarah became very jealous of Ishmael, Abraham’s son with Hagar, she asked Abraham to send them both away. Seeking the counsel of God, Abraham was reassured that both of his sons were eligible for the birthright of the covenant. "But God said to him, ‘Do not be so...