Most Christians never question the Abrahamic sacrifice, because I don’t think very many really ponder this seemingly contradictory command. I suspect few Muslims really consider the ethical contradiction in this story. Do you know if any Muslim scholars question whether this was an Allah-given command? Given that child sacrifice was a common practice during Abraham’s lifetime, it seems to me that Abraham’s imagination could have led him astray; but Jews, Muslims, and Christians generally use this story for purposes that God was involved and intervened at the appropriate time. Yet it seems to me that theologians neglect the historical context of the story.

I must say that I am fascinated with the Muslim interpretation of this story, but I find the same ethical problems exist: why would God command Abraham to sacrifice his own child? The command seems incongruent with a God who commands us not to kill. Does Islam attempt to answer this apparent paradox?

I need to do a post on Judas. That’s a real interest of mine, and is on my “to-do” list for future posts.

Thanks for the Book of Judas references. And thanks for the blog. I enjoy reading all of your comments!

I am aware of some of the authenticity problems, but have not studied it well. Do you have some sources that you find compelling?

I will say that soon after the Gospel of Judas was discovered, someone published a fragment of the book on the internet, and at the time, it was widely considered a fraud, because the fragment displayed had nothing to do with Judas.

Ancient books were often combined with other books. Often there was no relationship to each other. So, when this fragment was published, the conventional wisdom was that the Gospel of Judas had never really been found.

However, the book has been found. The story of its’ discovery is a real “cloak and dagger” story. I’ve read 2 books on Judas, and I can’t remember if it is found in Randolph Kasser’s book, or Bart Ehrman’s book. (Perhaps the story is in both, as they both participated in the translation.) The first book contains the actual translation, which I found interesting (and is a short read). Bart’s book provides some excellent commentary.

Anyway, I know that Hugh Nibley speculated that the funeral scroll which was found and discovered to be different than the Book of Abraham might have come from another scroll. At first, I thought this idea was crazy, wishful thinking on Nibley’s part, but after I read that a similar scenario happened with the Gospel of Judas, then I realized that Nibley’s scenario is quite legitimate.

“When I make intentional sacrifices in the name of God, should I get blessings?”

That’s a really interesting question. Sacrament talks often say “yes”, and often it’s true. But on the other hand, it has to be God’s will, and sometimes it isn’t. I guess we need to be open to the possibility either way, but usually we only want a “yes” answer.

I’m also interested in the broader idea of sacrifice. I believe that sacrifice strengthens our souls, but does intentionally giving something up or putting ourselves in a challenging situation in the name of God, purchase blessings? Did Abrahams willingness to put himself in a challenging situation purchase blessings for him and his future family/nations? When I make intentional sacrifices in the name of God, should I get blessings?

p.s. I take most scripture stories with a grain of salt because I don’t think the true story has made it through the miriad translations that the bible has been through. Plus, every event, even a recent event can be interpreted differently by every participant. That said, I do enjoy the discussion!

This is very similar to the promise given to Isaac in Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him.

Even between the mothers, there is an obvious tug of war over who is the “chosen” son. The fact of the matter is that God loves Isaac and Ishmael equally. To infer God loves one over the other makes God partial in a stupid sibling rivalry.