abraham and isaac Essays

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Abraham & Isaac The story on a decision that one man must make on his own that could potentially destroy what he has waited for his entire life has made me question myself more than any other. Growing up a catholic I always found myself questioning everything in the bible. You’re taught to pray to a person that holds the answer to your future. Not knowing if you will even be satisfied with his answer. The journey within Abrahams mind and the conversations he has with God had me questioning what would I do in Abraham’s shoes throughout the entire reading. Although Kierkegaard doesn’t leave you with a straight answer on whether or not Abraham made the right decision, he talks about how difficult faith can be while trying to make an ethical decision. Years go by after Abraham married Sarah and tension rose year after year for her to give birth to their first born. Many prayers fell on deaf ears until Sarah encouraged Abraham to sleep with their maid giving Abraham his first son. At an old age God came to the couple and answered their prayers giving them their first born child Isaac. The couple couldn’t have been happier. Abraham grew a strong loving bond toward his son just like majority of fathers do. One day God came to Abraham asking him to do the unthinkable. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at a place of Gods choosing. Facing the decision of being faithful toward God and making an ethical choice to save his son, Abraham was in a tough spot. Being given this command he refused to tell anyone about his dilemma because of the fact that he has to make the decision. Abraham realizes that his personal relationship with God or otherwise known as “blind faith” overtakes his love for his son. Abraham decides he is to sacrifice his son to God praying God will resurrect him and not let him die. By making this decision to go through with the sacrifice Kierkegaard raises some challenging questions. Kierkegaard talks about how Abraham’s decision to sacrifice his son is morally revolting and ethically wrong but the strength of his faith aided him in making his decision. He alone made the decision therefore he must accept the consequences of making that decision. A wise philosophy professor once said, “One is free to do and believe as they please but is not free from the consequences.” If I were in Abraham’s shoes I do not think I could kill my son. It is harder for me to say I would when I have doubted who God really is my entire life. Having gone to a Catholic school since first grade and learning all about the different stories of Jesus and God the more I did not believe in such a person. It’s hard to believe a book that was put together from multiple stories passed down many generations and actually stayed the same story of the centuries. When I think of how these stories were passed down all these generations I automatically think of the game telephone that I played when I was in grade school. One person would whisper something into someone’s ear and pass it on throughout the entire class. By the time the last person received the message it was totally different from what was originally said. Although I don’t believe in God doesn’t mean I don’t believe in a higher
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