Informative Speech
Who was Abraham and What was his Effect on Religion Today?
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Informative Speech
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Kelton Campos
The natural inclination of individuals to share ideas is widely seen in religious belief. However, why do these ideas string people together, and, more importantly, what exactly is religion? That question may be answered differently depending who you ask but, according to the Brittanica.com article “Religion,” religion is “human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. In other words, religion is the belief and faith held among individuals. These like-minded people hold common and possibly authoritative beliefs that passively govern their lives, choices and morality. Religion is undeniably a major part of people’s lives today. Throughout the ages and a lustful and evergrowing search for answers, the beliefs held among individuals in different places in the world have shaped modern day religion. Some religions, however, are founded or based on a specific concept. Whether people are Christians who lead their lives strictly by the Bible, Muslims who lead their lives strictly by the Quran, or Jews who lead their lives strictly by the Tanakh, they all share something in common. This special commonality between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam lies in the foundation of each religion, dealing with monotheism and the religious character Abraham.
Who is Abraham? Abraham, also known as Avraham, Abram, Avram, and Ibrahim through multiple Jewish, Christian, and Islamic texts is the patriarch of three major religions. Abraham is revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. In turn, the three religions are known collectively as the Abrahamic religions. However, Abraham is recognized differently between the three religions, mainly dealing with not only his role but also the roles of his sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Still, all three religions portray him mainly as a man of unyielding faith who, despite opposition against God in his society, persevered. Through a covenant with God, Abraham embarked on a journey to the promised land where he and his descendants would mold a great nation. Abraham, in a sense, is a paragon of faith, encouraging an individual to use motivation, courage, and faith to be a good and tenacious person. Abraham’s covenant with God involved that he and his descendants would commit to the belief in one god, leading to the eventual growth of the Abrahamic religions (“Abraham”).
Despite being an important religious figure for Muslims, Jews, and Christans, what makes Abraham so important? Before Abraham and the major religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, polytheism, or, according to the Gale.com article “Polytheism,” “the worship of several gods,” was majoritively seen in early religion. Whether it be the Greeks, the Scandinavians, the Mesopotamians, or the Ancient Egyptians, each group of people worshipped many gods, with each representing a key aspect of the natural world ("Polytheism"). For example, the god Helios was the Greek god of the sun, and was said to, according to the Gale.com article “Greek Gods,” “cross the sky each day in his solar chariot.” The people worshipped these gods and erected massive temples and statues in honor of them. Despite majoritively dominating religious ideals, polytheism would be challenged throughout history, with the most influential being Abraham’s ("Greek Gods").
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Monotheism, or, according to the Brittanica.com article “Monotheism,” the “belief in the existence of one god, or in the oneness of God,” is the fundamental concept that the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are based on. Abraham’s impact on religion can be summarized as a shift from polytheistic to monotheistic ideals as, according to religious tradition, Abraham challenged the Mesopatamian tradition of polytheism, claiming to have received a revelation that there is one god who is transcendent, omnipotent, omniscient, and infinitely good. Abraham’s story led to the forming of numerous monotheistic religions, the largest being Judaism, Islam, and Christianity (“Abraham Fathers Three Religions”).
Today, the most dominant systems of religious belief are built upon monotheism, a concept popularized and influenced by the religious character Abraham. The story of Abraham is significant because it forms the basis of the widely accepted religious concept of monotheism that is seen in religions today. Additionally, Abraham’s impact stretches far beyond monotheism as the ideals spawned from his bravery and audacity are deeply rooted in today's society. For example, people raised in a Christian household tend to carry on the traditions and beliefs of their parents, leading their life according to the attitudes and morality shaped by those views. These beliefs tend to have a passive command on a person’s life, causing a person to live a life influenced by the parameters of goodness and evil and the punishments or purity of afterlife.
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Bibliography
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Baaren, Theodorus P. van. "Monotheism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2019. Accessed 9 October. 2021.
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Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Religion". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Feb. 2021. Accessed 9 Oct. 2021.
"Greek Gods." Gale In Context Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 9 Oct. 2021.
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"Polytheism." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, edited by William A. Darity,Jr., 2nd ed., vol. 6, Macmillan Reference USA, 2008, pp. 367-368. Gale In Context: High School. Accessed 9 Oct. 2021.