The History Of The Conceptualization Of “Abrahamic Religions"

The term “Abrahamic religions” is a classification created by including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which has accepted Abraham as an ancestor. In the sacred books of these religions, which are accepted as Abrahamic religions, there is no expression or description in the form of “Abrahamic religions”. Eventhough there were various references about characterisation of Abrahamic that composes the first section of conceptualisation of “Abrahamic Religions”, and to Abraham in the sources before 20. century that belong to three religions, “Abrahamic Religions” was not used as distinct expression. Before 20. Century, the words “Abraham” and “Abrahamic” were only applied by a religion as a way of proving that “their rivals, in the sense of religion”, were in the wrong direction and alleging that there was only one right and unique way of comprehending Abraham. It has been applied to describe “Abraham” not by an objective approach, but always with a religious and theological view. “Abrahimic Religions”, in the meaning that we understand today, is a conceptualisation whose intellectual frame came into be drawn by Catholic Orientalist Louis Massigon just after World War II. Louis Massignon played an extremely active role in the emergence and development of the “Abrahamic religions” with the ideas he put forward. Massignon is one of the first people to apply directly to Abraham in the desire to facilitate good relations between Christians and Muslims, with the words “Abraham” and “Abrahamic”, although they are emphasized by Christianity. Eventhough characterisation of Abrahamic had been used in a exclusivist manner in greater part of the history, great changes has been witnessed since the second half of the 20. Century. World War II happened before Vatican Council II and the establishment of state of Israel has had impact as event and process on that change. Forasmuch as the state of conflict that the war brought about and Jew-Muslim conflict that potentiated its severity with the establishment of state of Israel has helped to “Abrahamic” and “Abrahamic Religions” approach in the sense of “Universal” to be revealed. In the context of individuals, L. Massignon’s ideas can be regarded as one of the factors that brought about this change. The Vatican Council II that was carried out between the years of 1962-1965 constitutes a turning point in the history of the conceptualization of “Abrahamic Religions”. While the words “Abraham” and “Abrahamic” had been applied within the context of debates between religions and fighting for supremacy untill that Council, with