Prelude to Fear and Trembling
The Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, used the story of Abraham and the binding of Isaac as starting point for his classic work. Read how he reimagines the story in four different ways.
Children of Abraham
February 8, 2007
The sacred story of Abraham traverses the geography of the most bitter political conflict in the modern world — beginning in what is now southern Iraq and ending in the West Bank city of Hebron. Yet Abraham is the common patriarch of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. We explore the story of Abraham in several traditions and why he might be important for people in our time. The hour also includes readings from the Bible and the Qur'an as well as music from the likes of Bob Dylan and Benjamin Britten on the figure of Abraham.
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Highlighted Story
Songs of the Abrahamic Story
Aunt Hagar's Blues
from Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy
performed by Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars
Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac, Op. 51
from Benjamin Britten: The Five Canticles & 3 Purcell Realisations
performed by Anthony Rolfe Johnson et al.
Highway 61 Revisited
from Highway 61 Revisited
written and performed by Bob Dylan
Featured Maps
The World of Abraham
View a larger map of the region Abraham traversed and lived.
The Biblical Iraq
View an annotated map of the biblical history of the area rich in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, and where the fabled Tower of Babel was located.
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Voices on the Radio
Feiler is a journalist and author of several books, including Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths.
Production Credits
Host/Producer: Krista Tippett
Managing Producer: Kate Moos
Senior Producer: Mitch Hanley
Consulting Editor: Bill Buzenberg
Producer: Colleen Scheck
Associate Producer: Jody Abramson
Online Editor: Trent Gilliss
Like-Minded Conversations
Religious fundamentalism has reshaped our view of world events. In this show, host Krista Tippett explores the appeal of fundamentalism in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, as experienced from the inside. Three accomplished men, who were religious extremists at one time in their lives, provide revealing insight into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of fundamentalism. They also discuss religious impulses which counter the fundamentalist world view and helped them break free.
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