Response to Chapters 10-13

I am not feeling well (asthma ugh) so I probably will not be in class, but I still wanted to contribute to the discussion of chapters 10-13. I find it interesting that at the heart and foundation (literally) of all the monotheistic religions was understanding and inclusiveness and was conditioned and manipulated by people to exclude. It also is astonishing how the disadvantaged are at the core of the foundation and edification of the three religions. As with Judaism and Christianity, Islam was also clouted by power and wealth. The most interesting aspect of Christianity that I approached in the reading was the grave importance of "historical artifacts" drawing divinity from the presence of such relics and building monuments in respect to this it. This actually was a similar complex that Jews had holding divinity in the land of Jerusalem instead. By putting divinity in items that can be seen and held it gives Christianity something that people can physically link between to holiness, while also providing a historical edge to the religion. Islam is interesting because it traditionally respects the existence of the other two monotheistic religions and references them in the Koran. This is something that I did not quite understand but through this reading greatly appreciate, as it is an inclusive text amongst the exclusive. Reading this has given me great insight to the many facets of religion and how not everything is how it seems.