Children of Abraham

2004, Religion  -   6 Comments
Ratings: 6.05/10 from 38 users.

Global acts of terror in our post-9/11 world have catapulted the issue of religious intolerance to the forefront. Can we ever achieve reconciliation between each religious sect, and avoid the bloodshed that arises from the most radicalized interpretations of their beliefs? Even among the most modest believers, the clashes between religious affiliations too often inspire division, conflict, and incivility. The riveting three-part documentary series Children of Abraham travels the globe to speak to various figures in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, and attempts to find common ground within the gospels they live by.

The film's host, a devout Catholic named Mark Dowd, attempts to construct this reconciliation by calling upon the lessons of a religious icon shared by all three faiths: the prophet Abraham. Deemed by Dowd as an "inter-faith superstar", Abraham was anointed by God as the uniting leader of all nations of the world for his unfailing faith. Conversely, Abraham's story may also point to the current scourge of violent extremism. For these terrorists, violence represents the ultimate act of devotion. From their perverted mindset, justification for the carnage they inflict can be found in God's command that Abraham sacrifice his only son.

These concepts and many others are explored in this wide-ranging documentary. The first section traces the origins of Abraham and the ambiguous passages of religious text that allow for such discrepancies in belief. Part two opens in Jerusalem, and tours the sacred sites where all three religions often converge and fight for access. This final part of the film is perhaps its most compelling as we're placed inside the confined walls of a state prison. There, a convicted killer outlines his reasons for targeting a Mosque.

The filmmakers do not focus solely on the differences that continue to divide persons of various faiths. It also offers inspiring portraits of those who work to foster welcoming environments of harmony and integration.


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6 Comments / User Reviews

  1. Recee Rushing

    I wish the images and description of the people of the bible were reflected correctly. They are black unto the ground.

  2. Aftab Sikandar

    A documentary that would unravel certain aspects of religious harmony especially in the current turmoil of intolerant society.

  3. Dave Sansone

    The US' military and financial support of the nation of Israel is what allows their illegal occupation of Palestine. Without that brute force, hardliners have no one to back them up. The US/England have been pitting Middle Eastern countries/cultures to ensure constant cheap oil.

  4. Soeren

    But it was elements from within the american government that did 9/11

  5. Paul Hodge

    A very thought provoking and balanced documentary covering the enigmatic failure of the Children of Abraham to put aside their differences and to cooperate and live in harmony. It left me thinking that civilisations have become so divided because of theological argument there has to be a direct intercession by a Divine Agent to correct the untruths on all sides of the discourse. There were times in the Bible when God gave up on his chosen people and allowed them to choose their own erroneous ways. However, in all cases mankind learned a valuable lesson when their self-imposed suffering became intolerable.

    1. Sully

      There are those in this world who are blessed and of God’s promise, and there are those who are blessed but not of promise—those born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8) and those born of the flesh. The children of promise were foreknown from the foundation of the world, being chosen of God (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-14). So it is clear that people are not born of promise based on their race or good works. Many from Ishmael’s line are believers in Jesus Christ, yet many from Isaac’s line have not only rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah but will never receive Him as Lord. Abraham, however, was prophesied to be the “father of many nations” (12:2-3)—the spiritual father of people from all races and nationalities, not just the Jewish people.