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Monotheistic Religions
Herb Silverman
https://secularhumanism.org/2025/01/monotheistic-religions/
Free Inquiry, February/March 2025. V45/No.2
First there were Jews, with their holy book. Then there were Christians, with their holy book. And then there were Muslims, with their holy book. Today they form the three major monotheistic religions, with lots in common and lots not.
The Jewish holy book was called the Hebrew Bible, or Torah. Christians gave that book a new name (Old Testament) because their holy book (New Testament) superseded the Old Testament.
Christianity was originally a Jewish cult that eventually had enough members to rise to the status of sect, and then became a religion that worshipped Jesus. However, Jesus said he did not come to change one jot or tittle of the old law (Hebrew Bible). Christians argue that Jesus is somehow the god of the Jewish Old Testament. Christians also believe that God is three people at the same time—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Muslims much later added their own holy book, the Quran, with the contents revealed by Muhammad in the 7th century CE. Muslims also consider the Jewish and Christian bibles holy, but not as holy as the Quran.
In addition to having holy books, here’s what else these three religions have in common. If you can find an interpretation in one so-called holy book to justify an atrocity, then you can find a comparable interpretation and justification in the other holy books. These atrocities include genocide, holy wars, slavery, misogyny, and death for crimes like blasphemy, homosexuality, and worshipping the wrong god or even the right god in the wrong way.
I’m not interested in trying to decide the best and worst “holy” books because all contain both reasonable and ridiculous passages. Adherents can quote portions to justify loving your neighbor or killing your infidel neighbor.
For atheists, it’s easy to read ancient books written by fallible humans and follow only what makes sense. Most biblical scholars say that Noah, Abraham, and Moses never existed, that Jesus probably existed but did not say most of the things attributed to him, and that Muhammad did exist, but no angel named Gabriel revealed the Quran to him. There is also no evidence that any human ever died and was resurrected, or that anyone traveled up or down to an imagined heaven or hell.
Today, we see more Muslims than adherents of the other monotheistic religions invoke their holy texts to justify violence. Often these atrocities are inspired or justified by passages in the Quran that are similar to those from Judaism or Christianity.
For instance, Islamic militants ransacked Mosul’s central museum in 2003, destroying priceless artifacts because Muslims said they represented idols. That reminded me of the biblical story of a young Abraham who smashed the idols his father was selling because, at the time, buyers were worshipping those idols instead of the one “true” God. And when the Islamic State indiscriminately kills innocent people, I think of the quote from a Christian abbot in the midst of a Crusade: “Kill them all, and let God sort it out.”
Fortunately, the Christian Crusades ended in the thirteenth century. Most Christians today have learned to become more tolerant and secular, and I hope most Muslims will eventually accept an updated enlightenment. Then again, Christians in previous generations (and some today) hate the Jews for allegedly killing Jesus, even though Jesus supposedly came to Earth for the purpose of being killed so that his blood could somehow “save” Christians.
Go figure.
I’m not so concerned about people with ludicrous religious beliefs as long as their beliefs don’t interfere with those of us who don’t share such beliefs. I’m more interested in behavior than belief.
I won’t even get into what is now happening in the Middle East, where there are an incalculable number of murders because God promised all three monotheistic religions the same territory, and is now letting his people fight for dominance. Don’t hold your breath until there is a peaceful settlement.
On the bright side, countless numbers of religious adherents don’t believe the major tenets of their religion. For instance, most Jews don’t believe in God. See https://www.simpletoremember.com/artis/a/jewsdontbelieve/
Lots of Christians brought up in the faith don’t want their families to know how their beliefs have changed. These “cultural” Christians may no longer believe in a resurrection or other foolish doctrines they were taught. Yet they remain Christians and often go to church with their families to maintain a tradition and a sense of community.
Even many born into the Muslim faith no longer believe the doctrines. But it is much harder for them to criticize the religion because fervent devotees often respond with violence to any criticism. A brave organization is Ex-Muslims of North America. (https://exmuslims.org) Understandably, its members are reluctant to come out of the closet. The organization advocates for freedom of conscience and expression in a world where all can speak freely, live freely, and pursue the truth irrespective of any authority or dogma.
A lesser known monotheistic religion is the Bahá’í faith. I learned about them when I traveled to India in 1997, and visited their House of Worship in New Delhi. They told me that their priorities are to work for world peace and eliminate racism and poverty. They are required to abstain from partisan politics. They can’t endorse candidates or run for political office. (Thought experiment: How would our country change if Christians imposed on themselves a 10-year moratorium on running for public office?)
As I left the Bahá’í Temple, I offered a small donation, and heard something I never expected to hear from any religious (or secular) organization: “I’m sorry. But we can’t accept money from you. We consider it an honor to contribute, and only members of the faith are afforded this privilege of donating.” No wonder they stay out of politics.
Surprisingly, there are more Bahá’ís in South Carolina than Jews or Muslims. They became popular in South Carolina because of Louis Gregory, born in 1874 and raised in Charleston, who was one of the founders of the Bahá’í Faith in America. After this grandson of a slave became a Bahá’í in 1909, he travelled the country promoting racial equality. Gregory married a white Bahá’í woman in 1912, a crime at the time in many parts of the country.
I attended a Bahá’í meeting in Charleston, and their reflections on the faith described the unity of God, religion, and humanity. They focused on respect for and equality of all human beings. Diversity of race and culture was praised. Racism, nationalism, social class, and gender-based hierarchy were seen as artificial impediments to unity. The participants at our service were white and black, male and female, young and old, rich and poor. In answer to a question I asked, I was told unequivocally that their faith is more about deeds than religious belief. I agreed with just about all their messages, except for the God parts.
In conclusion, I’m happy to live in a country where people can choose to be Jews, Christians, Muslims, Bahá’ís,atheists, and any other religion or non-religion, without being persecuted or prosecuted as a heretic. May separation of religion and government in the United States remain as long as we have a country.
Monotheistic Religions
Herb Silverman
https://secularhumanism.org/2025/01/monotheistic-religions/
Free Inquiry, February/March 2025. V45/No.2
First there were Jews, with their holy book. Then there were Christians, with their holy book. And then there were Muslims, with their holy book. Today they form the three major monotheistic religions, with lots in common and lots not.
The Jewish holy book was called the Hebrew Bible, or Torah. Christians gave that book a new name (Old Testament) because their holy book (New Testament) superseded the Old Testament.
Christianity was originally a Jewish cult that eventually had enough members to rise to the status of sect, and then became a religion that worshipped Jesus. However, Jesus said he did not come to change one jot or tittle of the old law (Hebrew Bible). Christians argue that Jesus is somehow the god of the Jewish Old Testament. Christians also believe that God is three people at the same time—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Muslims much later added their own holy book, the Quran, with the contents revealed by Muhammad in the 7th century CE. Muslims also consider the Jewish and Christian bibles holy, but not as holy as the Quran.
In addition to having holy books, here’s what else these three religions have in common. If you can find an interpretation in one so-called holy book to justify an atrocity, then you can find a comparable interpretation and justification in the other holy books. These atrocities include genocide, holy wars, slavery, misogyny, and death for crimes like blasphemy, homosexuality, and worshipping the wrong god or even the right god in the wrong way.
I’m not interested in trying to decide the best and worst “holy” books because all contain both reasonable and ridiculous passages. Adherents can quote portions to justify loving your neighbor or killing your infidel neighbor.
For atheists, it’s easy to read ancient books written by fallible humans and follow only what makes sense. Most biblical scholars say that Noah, Abraham, and Moses never existed, that Jesus probably existed but did not say most of the things attributed to him, and that Muhammad did exist, but no angel named Gabriel revealed the Quran to him. There is also no evidence that any human ever died and was resurrected, or that anyone traveled up or down to an imagined heaven or hell.
Today, we see more Muslims than adherents of the other monotheistic religions invoke their holy texts to justify violence. Often these atrocities are inspired or justified by passages in the Quran that are similar to those from Judaism or Christianity.
For instance, Islamic militants ransacked Mosul’s central museum in 2003, destroying priceless artifacts because Muslims said they represented idols. That reminded me of the biblical story of a young Abraham who smashed the idols his father was selling because, at the time, buyers were worshipping those idols instead of the one “true” God. And when the Islamic State indiscriminately kills innocent people, I think of the quote from a Christian abbot in the midst of a Crusade: “Kill them all, and let God sort it out.”
Fortunately, the Christian Crusades ended in the thirteenth century. Most Christians today have learned to become more tolerant and secular, and I hope most Muslims will eventually accept an updated enlightenment. Then again, Christians in previous generations (and some today) hate the Jews for allegedly killing Jesus, even though Jesus supposedly came to Earth for the purpose of being killed so that his blood could somehow “save” Christians.
Go figure.
I’m not so concerned about people with ludicrous religious beliefs as long as their beliefs don’t interfere with those of us who don’t share such beliefs. I’m more interested in behavior than belief.
I won’t even get into what is now happening in the Middle East, where there are an incalculable number of murders because God promised all three monotheistic religions the same territory, and is now letting his people fight for dominance. Don’t hold your breath until there is a peaceful settlement.
On the bright side, countless numbers of religious adherents don’t believe the major tenets of their religion. For instance, most Jews don’t believe in God. See https://www.simpletoremember.com/artis/a/jewsdontbelieve/
Lots of Christians brought up in the faith don’t want their families to know how their beliefs have changed. These “cultural” Christians may no longer believe in a resurrection or other foolish doctrines they were taught. Yet they remain Christians and often go to church with their families to maintain a tradition and a sense of community.
Even many born into the Muslim faith no longer believe the doctrines. But it is much harder for them to criticize the religion because fervent devotees often respond with violence to any criticism. A brave organization is Ex-Muslims of North America. (https://exmuslims.org) Understandably, its members are reluctant to come out of the closet. The organization advocates for freedom of conscience and expression in a world where all can speak freely, live freely, and pursue the truth irrespective of any authority or dogma.
A lesser known monotheistic religion is the Bahá’í faith. I learned about them when I traveled to India in 1997, and visited their House of Worship in New Delhi. They told me that their priorities are to work for world peace and eliminate racism and poverty. They are required to abstain from partisan politics. They can’t endorse candidates or run for political office. (Thought experiment: How would our country change if Christians imposed on themselves a 10-year moratorium on running for public office?)
As I left the Bahá’í Temple, I offered a small donation, and heard something I never expected to hear from any religious (or secular) organization: “I’m sorry. But we can’t accept money from you. We consider it an honor to contribute, and only members of the faith are afforded this privilege of donating.” No wonder they stay out of politics.
Surprisingly, there are more Bahá’ís in South Carolina than Jews or Muslims. They became popular in South Carolina because of Louis Gregory, born in 1874 and raised in Charleston, who was one of the founders of the Bahá’í Faith in America. After this grandson of a slave became a Bahá’í in 1909, he travelled the country promoting racial equality. Gregory married a white Bahá’í woman in 1912, a crime at the time in many parts of the country.
I attended a Bahá’í meeting in Charleston, and their reflections on the faith described the unity of God, religion, and humanity. They focused on respect for and equality of all human beings. Diversity of race and culture was praised. Racism, nationalism, social class, and gender-based hierarchy were seen as artificial impediments to unity. The participants at our service were white and black, male and female, young and old, rich and poor. In answer to a question I asked, I was told unequivocally that their faith is more about deeds than religious belief. I agreed with just about all their messages, except for the God parts.
In conclusion, I’m happy to live in a country where people can choose to be Jews, Christians, Muslims, Bahá’ís,atheists, and any other religion or non-religion, without being persecuted or prosecuted as a heretic. May separation of religion and government in the United States remain as long as we have a country.