One of the most powerful areas of human life is found in religion. As we become more aware of this, we can readily understand why the vast majority of people have become so hostile and confused over issues such as whom or what to follow? Let us carefully look into the situation.

Religion defined by Webster's dictionary:
1. The service and worship of God or the supernatural.
2. Commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.
3. A personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices.
4. A cause principle or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.

Most obvious of course, is that God and the supernatural are mentioned first. Then two views follow that may include someone or something other than God as people normally would understand. Finally comes a view that can easily deny any form of a Deity or Supreme being or beings. It will be necessary for us to utilize the various uses of Holy Scriptures to understand more. We will use the Bible we are most familiar with, for clarity.
The most common denominator we can reference as a beginning, is the Book of Genesis, since it is here that the most concise and lucid evidence comes to us. The explanations are simple, and show the great contrasts that exist and separate Judaism, Islam and Christianity, from all other religions. Only here do we clearly see monotheism. (El, Elohim, El Allah, Allah, Yahweh)
Here we read "In the beginning God created . . . ," and we first encounter the necessity for faith. It is no different from a person who would lead a life without God, making their stand for placing their faith elsewhere. Can you see that? Perhaps it would be good to remember how the Bible has defined faith.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Does this definition coincide perfectly with meaning # four that Webster offered?
Now we must come to realize that people fall into a triune system of religion. That is, they either believe in God, disbelieve in God, or have yet to make a choice for one of the other two.
Can the Bible provide acceptable answers? But of course, as you will see in continuing with this study.

EDEN:

So far as this earth is concerned, God's last acts of creation, were to form a man from the dust of the ground, and a woman from the body of the man. This was the genesis of human life, and the resultant choice (To believe or not to believe in Him) that would set the standard for all humans from then on.
Let us examine this with care, as it is the most necessary point of reference we can have.
The persons involved become God, Adam, Eve, and the serpent (Lucifer/Devil). The scenario is of the all knowing, all-powerful being who has the ultimate control or "say so." We have a man, Adam, who is God's responsible representative for the nurture and care of Eden's inhabitants, including the woman (wife if you will) Eve. Last but not least we have the serpent, who will represent the adversary of God - the fallen angel Lucifer. What follows is the root cause of all that we view as religion and religious! See the text that makes it clearly an issue of choice.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,  knowing good and evil.

We can see that there was a prohibition set by God concerning eating something - the "forbidden fruit."  We can also see that a choice of whom to believe is involved. Should Eve place her faith in what to decide in God, Adam, the serpent, or herself? As we know, she chose incorrectly. What is so important here, is that for an undisclosed amount of time, Eve had a godlike power that was lacking in her husband - that of knowing the difference between good and evil - and we also see how she chose to use evil to wield power over her husband, just as had been done to her, as she faced, and then succumbed to temptation.

From then on, the way for much of humanity became a faith system of human demigods (little gods), leaders who would depart from what is Godly and true, to alternative forms of living and religious practice.  We can see that as early as the difference in the offerings of Cain and Able, to the myriad of religious practices of today.

BEYOND EDEN:

As we continue a perusal of the Genesis accounts, we see how people continued to choose against Godly principles, and opted to make their own rules concerning morality and religion. Cain can be seen as the first of the founders of a closed (cult) society in that he "built a city . . . " that would be the forerunner of mankind's arrogance and control over others.

Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us
make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Please realize, this also accounts for any "human gods" if you will. It is also found in the New Testament

1 Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

You have just read one of the most important scriptures concerning choices that include:

1. 1. Secularism's establishment of an earth based materialistic religion.
2. 2. Technology applied to raise up the status of humankind to Godhood.
3. 3. A continued awareness of Godly reality.
4. 4. Continuously challenging of God's proper status.
5. 5. The furthering of mankind's attempts to be their own masters.
6. 6. The further evidence of how rebellious people can be against themselves as well as God.

JUDAISM:

From the time of Eden up to the time of Abram, there is no traceable formal name for a religion mentioned in the Bible. A person was either a God fearing person or a pagan per se. However, the day came when God decided to provide a standard, by which one group would have some specific identification as opposed to any others. Today we know these people as Jews. The covenant was made through one man, just as it had been with Adam and then later, reestablished through Noah. But this time there would be a ritual formality. Now came the ritual named circumcision. See the texts below.

Genesis 17:
11. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

There was now established, a clear, physical sign of a covenant of faith. By the rite of circumcision, a man could be proved to be of a specific religious group. The Jews alone, were established as people who believed in Almighty God, the creator of the Universe, and all it contains.

A SEPARATION:

As the Jewish people thrived, so too did these people show their weaknesses and bigotry. The chosen people had a great deal of contempt for nations other than themselves. There came the continual interactions which included the taking of slaves, concubines and also foreign wives. As a result, the time came when a most notable confrontation took place.

Genesis 16:
5.  And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that
she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6.  But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt
hardly with her, she fled from her face.
11. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his
name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall
dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
15. And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

God had promised Abram and Sarai his wife, a child of a covenant.  A lack of faith set the stage for a confrontation that still exists today. But see also how God, in loving patience and wisdom handled the situation.

Genesis 17:
5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have
I made thee
11. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
12. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born
in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
13. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant
shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

Please note how thorough God is as He continues:

Genesis 17:
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt does not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her
name be.
16. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations;
kings of people shall be of her.
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.

Now we must face an important lesson. Before the covenant of circumcision was initiated, the man Abram/Abraham fathered a son by someone other than his wife. This was done in opposition to what God had told this man was to take place. And in doing so, while God was true to His promises, Abram (Abraham) in his weakness, laid a foundation of trouble and a future religion, which continues to his day. While Judaism had its roots of continuity through the boy, Isaac (Isaac= "he laughs"), Islam would have its roots through the boy Ishmael (Ishmael = "God will hear"). Let us examine this in more detail.

1. A great rivalry had developed between Sarah and Hagar.
2. The half brothers grew up in this atmosphere of hostility.
3. The man Abraham had to "hearken to the voice of his wife" in order to make a form of peace, and the result is cataclysmic even today.
4. Hagar and her son were removed from the camp and nearly died in the desert, but God provided for them.
5. There exists the enigma of common blood yet separate religion, and claims religious as to whom God is, and who is the true believer.
6. While both Judaism and Islam have a kinship, the rivalry will only ever be resolved by God Himself.
7. From this common heritage, will Christianity be born!

ISLAM:

This is the religion which began in the Arab world. One must know that the Arab world is traced through the lineage of Abraham (Abram) having fathered Ishmael (Ishmael = "God will hear")

Genesis 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will
multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

One must reflect most carefully on the attitudes that would have developed amongst the peoples from this branch of Abram's seed. While there is a distinctly traceable blood line, a tremendous gap exists, that separates the Jewish and Arabic people both politically and religiously. Do you see the irony of the situation?
In our contemporary times, Islam has grown to become one of the world's greatest expressions of faith. The exact date of its founding may not be traced perfectly, but about 595 A.D. would be reasonably accurate. For our purposes in this study, the main point is to see the competition (for want of a better term) in the Middle east, between Judaism, Islam and Christianity, (and of course the sectarian and denominational considerations.)
Could it be that even today, we see the remnants of an animosity which began in Eden, between Cain and Able? Shall we consider "blood feuds?" And what of "Jihad," the Holy War(s) that we hear so much of today? Within the religion of Islam, does the Muslim (Moslem) peoples have a loving relationship between an Almighty God and His people, or do we see anxiety and fatalism? Do we see rituals and sacrifice, or grace?

HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM:

While we must be careful not to eliminate these religions from our study - it must be seen that the foundations are vastly different from those already mentioned. That is, these faiths have no common ground in their creation accounts or acknowledging Almighty God. Rather, they teach a methodology of quite a different nature, the foremost being the teaching of reincarnation, and no ultimate judgment. Yet they do embrace the concepts of peaceful living too.

THE COMMON GROUND:

Let us take a moment now, to make an overview of humankind's religious expressions. As far as we can trace our history, one thing, religion, is always at the core of our lives. That is to say, that from our earliest experiences, there has been a continuous religious expression! While these expressions certainly differed, they all began with an explanation of how the cosmos was created, and by whom. In other words, a higher power(s) always predated mortal man. The accounts are at times astounding, and perverse in their sexuality, but this is to be expected when considered in the sense of a "fallen" human nature. Nevertheless, from all accounts, the established tradition of historical records, is that some sort of supernatural being(s), rather than a spontaneous set of circumstances (taught by Evolutionists) has been the norm.

CONTEMPORARY TIMES:

Today we find ourselves having come very much "full circle. That is to say, alertness will prove some very important things. People want to be gods unto themselves. They insist, through personal and educational channels to rebel against adhering to rules and regulations. People who profess religion are some of the most extremely negative groups. When they do not agree on a religious doctrine, they gather to themselves others (of like mind), and form yet another expression/doctrine, and the recycling continues.

PLEASE CONSIDER:

1. Are the Biblical accounts an accurate historical record we should pay attention to?
2. Can we simply dismiss the Bible's accounts as archaic "folklore?"
3. Are we truly, "liberated" people or do we show the very decadence Biblical prophecy predicts?
4. Do the secular and scientific discoveries of today enhance or disprove the Bible?
5. Is there any difference in human nature from our predecessors, or do we prove commonality?
6. Will we halt progressive degeneration, or see its fulfillment?
7. Will we, "get right with God" or join the opposition?

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.