First of all, d'abord, as they say in France, the acronym definition of B.C. means "before Christ" and A.D. means "in the year of our lord, Anno Domo" with both referring to Christian time. But the most of the world calculates time according to C.E. –"common era" and B.C.E.–"before the common era." The later method is universal and includes all people, not just one biased persuasion, what indicates a cultural lag in culture to this day.
Now for the history of the three related Abrahamic religions in a gun shell.
Dear Ones,
The father of Hebrews, Christians and Muhammadan was Abraham who in 2000 B.C.E. lived in Babylonia (meaning gods of gods), and its capitol being the city of Babylon. Here King Nebuchadnezzar built the beautiful Hanging Gardens one of the ancient world wonders, for his wife. Today this ancient kingdom is Iraq, Mesopotamia in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It was bombed in 2003 by as administration behaving uncivilized for zealot control of its natural resources, mainly oil.
Abraham and his wife Sarah had a son, Isaac. After he was born Isaac almost became a burnt offering sacrificed for ancient gods since the primitive religion was based on fear and superstition/. Later Abraham had a son. Ishmael, to a concubine (hand maid) named Hagar. Meanwhile Sarah proclaimed "No son of Abraham will ever inherit his land." At this time men in a paternalistic world society would never take serious the words of a woman–unless it was to their advantage.
Meanwhile Pharisee Paul of Tarsus in Asia Minor (now Turkey) founded his new faith, Christianity, that the Hebrew people rejected since they were looking for a Jewish Messiah (even though Jesus was Hebrew). They were looking for some future prophet to lead them in the first century. Jesus was believed to have said, "You can't be a prophet in your own land." Paul later addressed people in Antioch, Syria, (now being blow apart with refugees fleeing by the thousand) where Christians got their name in derision. Paul, a Jew (meanimg Judah) founded his new religion years after the death of peacemaker Jesus, who he never knew. Gentiles became his followers. In 60 C.E. Roman soldiers beheaded Paul for being the founder of a new religion not allowed by the emperors. This event was after Jesus of Nazareth was crucified for preaching peace among men. Paul's letters and texts now make up most of the New Testament, tacked onto to the ancient Hebrew Bible, what traditional Jews still resent.
Now back to Sarah, Abraham's wife. Her vehement claim that no one could inherit Abraham's land, greatly affected the founders of Islam. The Promised land of Israel involved other regions and their shared holy sites such as Philistine, Canaan land of milk and honey, what is still Palestine after all these years.
All three original Semite religions claim Israel (named for mythological Noah's grandson) on Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Temple Mount and other holy sites as there own–common sites as many of the inhabitants continue to shed over them. This alone makes it quintessential for law religion being restricted from governments of people representing every nationality and faith. Non law religions do not have problems for the most part.
Believe what you want, but don't let ingrained rival dogmas rule state affairs, governments by the people. These wars now are serial killers, proxy aggression with arms exported and imported around the world. God only knows where they end up as they cause genocide and contaminate Earth with accumulative lethal toxic greenhouse emissions. Religious war departments also mess with nature causing the worst hurricanes, earthquakes and drastic climate changes in the history of the third planet from the sun.
If these three related religions persist in blowing each other up, all the multitudes caught in the fire,will continue to suffer and die, too. Wars cause the most carbon and are the grossest gas guzzlers. Lighten up and save Earth and all forms of life!
Helene Smith (Mame)
World Enlightened News (W.E.N.)
