The Abrahamic Religions, Charles L. Cohen
The Abrahamic Religions, Charles L. Cohen
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The Abrahamic Religions
A Very Short Introduction

Author: Charles L. Cohen

Narrator: Jim Denison

Unabridged: 4 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/14/2020


Synopsis

In the book of Genesis, God bestows a new name upon Abram—Abraham, a father of many nations. With this name and his Covenant, Abraham would become the patriarch of three of the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Connected by their mutual—if differentiated—veneration of the One God proclaimed by Abraham, these traditions share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions, from the emergence of Christianity and Islam to the violence of the Crusades and the cultural exchanges of al-Andalus.

Each religion continues to be shaped by this history but has also reacted to the forces of modernity and politics. Movements such as the Reformation and that led by seventh-century Kharijites have emerged, intentioned to reform or restore traditional religious practice but quite different in their goals and effects. Relationships with states, among them Israel and Saudi Arabia, have also figured importantly in their development. The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction brings these traditions together into a common narrative, lending much needed context to the story of Abraham and his descendants.

About Charles L. Cohen

Charles L. Cohen is E. Gordon Fox Professor of American Institutions, emeritus, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He served as the founding director of the university's Lubar Institute for the Study of the Abrahamic Religions. His scholarship has included work on Puritanism, Mormonism, and various aspects of interreligious relationships. He sits on the Religious Practices Advisory Committee, Department of Corrections, State of Wisconsin.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Andsworth on March 01, 2021

What can be gained from viewing the three Abrahamic religions as intertwined in a historical lens? This is the question Charles Cohen explores within his text The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction. Some modern religious studies have tended to approach the study of a religion by investig......more

Goodreads review by Steve on April 23, 2021

I enjoyed this book as it was a very good synopsis of the history, similarities, differences,schisms within,and the integration and relationships in the secular political world of Judaism,Christianity and Islam.......more

Goodreads review by Robert on January 03, 2020

This is what it claims to be -- a short introduction to the three Abrahamic religions, sharing their story over time, along with the interactions for good or for bad. It is a very useful intro, that I think gets most things correct. It doesn't go into depth, but it is informative. It is accessible b......more

Goodreads review by Zack on August 21, 2023

A pretty good introduction to the three religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and their interactions. Seemed to take some detours here and there and abandon the general premise of the book, but the detours were interesting, so I didn't mind too much. It is always a bit jarring to hear your o......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on November 26, 2022

Chapter 1: The Jewish matrix (1200 BCE-70 CE) Chapter 2: Jews, Gentiles, and Christians (200 BCE-200 CE) Chapter 3: Constructing Judaism and Christianity (70 CE-1054 CE) Chapter 4: Islam: Religion, politics, and the state (600-1258) Chapter 5: Medieval interactions (700-1500) Chapter 6: Reform and Enligh......more