Abrahamic Religions On the Uses and Abuses of History [Hardcover]

Recently, the term Abrahamic religions has been used with exceeding frequency in the academy. We now regularly encounter academic books, conferences, and even positions (including endowed chairs) devoted to the so-called Abrahamic religions. But what exactly are Abrahamic religions ? Although many perceive him as the common denominator of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Abraham remains deceptively out of reach. An ahistorical figure, some contend he holds the seeds for historical reconciliation. Touted as symbol of ecumenicism, Abraham can just as easily function as one of division and exclusivity. Like our understanding of Abraham, the category Abrahamic religions is vague and nebulous. InAbrahamic Religions, Aaron Hughes examines the creation and dissemination of this term.

Usually lost in contemporary discussions is a set of crucial questions: Where does the term Abrahamic religions derive? Who created it and for what purposes? What sort of intellectual work is it perceived to perform? Part genealogical and part analytical, this book seeks to raise and answer questions about the appropriateness and usefulness of employing Abrahamic religions as a vehicle for understanding and classifying data. In so doing,Abrahamic Religionscan be taken as a case study that examines the construction of categories within the academic study of religion, showing how the categories we employ can become more an impediment than an expedient to understanding.

Introduction
Chapter One: What Are''Abrahamic Religions''?
Chapter Two: My Abraham is Better than Yours
Chapter Three: From Supersessionism to Ecumenicism
Chapter Four: Modern Usage
Chapter Five: On Words
Chapter Six: On History
Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index

With his customary clarity and force, Aaron Hughes shows how the term 'Abrahamic religions' does not pick out any naturally shared element in monotheistic religions, but is a term of art tl³6