Shaping World History

I recently read Edward Rothstein’s article, “Abraham’s Progeny, and Their Texts,”¹ about a New York Public Library show of sacred texts from the three Abrahamic faiths. In it, he wrote:

“And while the three [religions] share many traits — these are not primarily meditative or contemplative religions, after all, and they are indeed historical faiths, concerned with action, even with mission — their commonalities also lead to profound contrasts. . . . all three religions saw themselves as shaping world history [emphasis mine].”

We all have probably thought about how these religions have roles in “shaping world history.” I’m reminded how often we’re admonished to “be the change we want to see,” and where else are we taught how things “should be” than in our religious schools and services? Our contemporary American press often speaks negatively about what Madrassas might be teaching young Muslim children. But we’ve always had those sorts of teachers. What Christian child has not heard or sung, “Onward Christian Soldiers?”

Christian believers certainly have helped to “shape history.” Read about the Crusades, wherein Christians went to the Holy Land to liberate it from the Muslims. Or, read about how the European colonists brought Christianity to the Native peoples of North and South America through conquest and conversion. Read about the various inquisitions:

“. . . .1578 handbook for inquisitors spelled out the purpose of inquisitorial penalties: ... quoniam punitio non refertur primo & per se in correctionem & bonum eius qui punitur, sed in bonum publicum ut alij terreantur, & a malis committendis avocentur. Translation from the Latin: "... for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified [emphasis mine] and weaned away from the evils they would commit.”²

We don’t know much about the Jewish people as evangelists, but, like the Christians, they too conquered, and inflicted all the terrors of war we can imagine. Read books of Judges, Kings and Samuel to understand the role these people played in shaping history. For example, read Judges 3:12-30. The story tells us that, because the Israelites “did evil in the eyes of the Lord,” the king of Moab, with the help of the Ammonites and the Amalekites, subdued Jericho, and ruled there for 18 years. But Ehud, one of the Israelites, assassinated the king; and then Ehud led the Israelites in killing 10,000 Moabites. “Not a man escaped.” (The New Student Bible, New International Version)

In the very next chapter of Judges, we read how Deborah had sent for Barak to lead an army against Sisera, the commander of the Canaanites’ army. Barak’s army defeated the oppressors: “At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword. . . Not a man was left.” There follows a graphic description of how a woman killed Sisera, after she’d agreed to hide him. In almost all of the examples of the Jews’ warlike actions found in the Old Testament, the terrors inflicted by those people were done with the help or leadership of the Lord.

These are but a few examples of how the Abrahamic faiths have played important roles in shaping world history. What other examples can you think of?