One of the primary reasons the world is always in such dire straits is the attitude the majority of people have towards other people. Rather than look for common ground between different ethnicities or religions (or even such relatively minor differences as social strata or political viewpoints), people tend to dwell on each other's differences, and use those differences as reasons to mistrust, dislike, or even hate other people.

Belonging to a different religion is a major excuse people use to distrust each other, and it is especially glaring with regard to three religions which all have the same basic foundation. Jews, Christians and Moslems all hark back to the prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim) who offered to sacrifice the life of his only son to God. Abraham was a very important prophet of all three religions, and Moslems are currently remembering his sacrifice in their feast of Eid ul Adha (the festival of sacrifice).

The fact that all three major religions have roots in Abraham’s sacrifice makes them sister religions. All three consider Moses a great prophet as well, and both Christianity and Islam honor Jesus Christ. These are not competing religions; in fact, they are sister religions having the same ancestors and many of the same core beliefs. Anybody who has studied the teachings of Moses, Christ and Mohammed realizes the truth of this.

I am not sure why Christians do not honor Abraham who might have been the founder of monotheism in ancient times, and whose historic sacrifice should be an example for all modern people. Isn't it a shame that sacrifice is the farthest thing from the minds of most people who are primarily concerned with their personal rights and other people's differences while totally ignoring our obligations and commonalities?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all three religions would honor the sacrifice of Abraham simultaneously, and use that occasion as a way to emphasize our similarities and as a bonding among believers in the same God? Focusing on our commonalities and ignoring our differences for four days per year might be an important start in abandoning millennia of selfishness and hatred which has been the bane of humanity since long before Abraham’s historic sacrifice.