"Abrahamic religion" has long been a buzzword in ecumenical discourse. It is the notion that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, despite their profound differences, are united in their reverence for Abraham-not just as the progenitor of Israel, but as a universal father in the faith. Abraham's Ashes offers a forceful critique of the biblical and Qur'anic views of Abraham, showing how at the heart of all prophetic religions lies an untenable myth of suprarational magical thinking about "revelation." This myth involves communiqués to a privileged male from a mysterious patriarchal God who demands, and in the case of Jesus, actually receives the tribute of human sacrifice. This cruel story proves to be an apt introduction to the bizarre, contradictory, and oppressive fantasy known as monotheism.

Peter Heinegg holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Harvard University. He is a professor of English at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. A former Jesuit seminarian, he has published a wide variety of translations, essays, and reviews on the subject of religion, including Good God! (And Other Follies), Hamilton Books, 2007.