Question: Why do religions divide humanity?
It started with Judaism. Jews were chosen by the god whose name is Jealous. True to that name, he wanted to be worshipped and followed to the exclusion of all other gods. Those other gods were more-or-less explicitly acknowledged as real and present, but their worship was forbidden to Jews.
Hinduism, by contrast, retained the knowledge that the source of all being can take any face, any persona necessary to interact with individual worshippers fruitfully. As far as I can tell, this conflation of one rigidly conceived, personal god with the source of all existence is found exclusively in Abrahamic faiths. All others allow for more flexible and personal paths to approaching divinity. This tolerance allows people to unite despite, and sometimes because of, their diverse religious traditions.
Under Rome’s oppressive thumb, self-proclaimed messiahs began to emerge amongst Israeli Jews. While none fulfilled the prophecies as the Jews understood them, one spawned a sect that put a new, more human face on YHWH. They claimed this man was god incarnate, and that he became man to spread this doctrine across the globe, to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Now, for the first enduring time in history, we had a god refusing to tolerate worship of other gods who actively sought converts. Religious intolerance was created when Constantine gave that sect control over his Empire’s religion.
Both Christianity and Islam acknowledged the existence of other gods as readily as Judaism did, and the pagan upbringing of many Christians made this teaching a good deal more literal than it was for many Jews of the day. Unfortunately, both religions cast these gods as demons unworthy of worship from anyone. Both religions sought to eradicate this blasphemy; neither hesitated to kill people who worshipped these other gods.
A god named Jealous caught an emperor and a warlord in his pocket, and blood spilled worldwide as cultures were compelled to forsake their gods for the one who wanted everyone in the world exclusively for himself. Before that point, religion united rather than divided humanity.
ANSWER:
The comment by Melinda, whilst entertaining, is only partially there. IMO, the origin to see, is not “Jealous”, as referring to the “Abrahamic God”, but applying that Name to a Challenger called Satan (see Link).
The major Work which our Lord and Saviour has been Commissioned to “complete”, is that posed by the “mystery of Iniquity”, as stated by the great Paul of Tarsus!
As is well known, Satan (Lucifer) challenged Almighty God, as to His Position as Supreme God, and graciously God has allowed him to attempt to usurp Him, within the Rules of engagement, to become “as God”(Isa.14:12–14); the major stipulation between Satan and God, is that Satan will not be allowed to destroy Israel!
As current events show; that battle is well under way!
Eventually, the “finished Work” will be handed to the Father by Christ Jesus (1Cor.15:24–25); and Satan’s demise will be sealed!
That event will give understanding to “the Mystery of iniquity”, (Mystery of Iniquity!).
See: Satan's Origins; (Study)
Satan's Purpose (extracts from www.revelationsmessage.co.uk)
Satan's Motivation: (Study)
Satan's Contest with God (Study)
Satan's Demise! (Study)
Satan's Final Destruction (Study)
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