Children of Abraham offers an excellent jumping off place for thinking about human behavior.  Check out the discussion regarding the 7 Deadly Sins and their antidotes by clicking here.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      Capt. Nadav is ordered to destroy an enemy headquarters, in spite of collateral damage.  Is such a reprisal morally defensible?  Spiritually defensible?  What is the Jewish position on self-defense?  Does it differ from Christian or Muslim philosophy?

2.      Would God approve of warring between the children of Abraham?  Between any groups?  Where does the Biblical/religious/spiritual justification for war come from?  Did Jesus change any philosophy derived from the Old Testament?  Did Muhammad?

3.      The word Jihad has different interpretations.  Some Muslims believe it means taking up arms for a Holy cause.  Others believe the word refers to the inner struggle between conscience and temptation—right and wrong.  What does the Qur’an actually say about Jihad and how do people arrive at the different interpretations?

4.      Contrast the life experiences of a Palestinian living in Gaza and an Israeli living in Tel Aviv.  Is it possible for two peoples to believe the other is the aggressor?

5.      Does Al-Khalil’s decision to become a suicide bomber make sense, considering his experience?  Was he crazy?  Consider watching the Palestinian made movie Paradise Now.

6.      How would you react to a news report that God had left a message on the electronic news ticker on television?  Why would such a message be inconsistent with Muslim belief?

7.      How does the Jewish history of slavery, oppression, and genocide affect their world view?

8.      Of hatred, greed, sloth, anger, pride, envy, and lust—which are the most susceptible to redemption?  Which the least?

9.      What would be the legal implications if God’s existence became a matter of fact rather than faith?  How would it affect the separation between church and state?  The first amendment rights of free speech and assembly?

10.  When Tillie Clidson hears about the God messages she is not at all surprised.  To her, God has always been known.  Do you think her response is more typical or atypical of those who say they are people of faith?  What does that say about faith?

11.  Whether sex, drugs or gambling—what is the nature of addiction?  How can it produce such self-destructive behavior?  Does intelligence have any effect on addiction?

12.  Do the issues that show up in the relationship between Tomás and Claire reflect issues within themselves and within their relationship with God?  Can relationship be a path to self discovery?  Does your relationship with a loved one teach you about your relationship with God?

13.  Tomás seems to be most offended by those flaws of Claire that most closely mirror things he objects to within himself.  Is this common for most human beings?

14.  Tomás grew up in Chile during tumultuous years.  The United States through the CIA contributed to the chaos that imprisoned his father and led, indirectly, to his mother’s suicide.  Is such involvement in other sovereign countries morally defensible?  Spiritually defensible?  Would God approve?

15.  In Tomás’s first fist conversation with Johnny there seems to be much innuendo and conversation about skirting the law.  Did Tomás act properly and legally?

16.  Claire has difficulty with confrontation.  How powerful is the issue of confrontation to women’s experience?  Is it different for men?

17.  Does chaos in early life, whether caused by circumstances or parents, affect men and women differently?

18.  Clay McRae witnessed members of Congress making arguments that the God messages supported their particular political agendas.  Do you think politicians would make such arguments?  Do you think that once the proof became irrefutable they would become more solemn or respectful?

19.  Are the actions of families, communities and nations governed by the same moral, ethical, and spiritual principles as individuals?  Do nations reap what they sow?

20.  Do you think that today God would choose one branch of the children of Abraham over another as his favorite?  As his chosen?

21.  Does redemption require that amends be made?

22.  Claire seeks out the advice of a therapist.  Is self-discovery circular—that is, can secular insight lead to a spiritual epiphany, and vice versa?

23.  Joe and Lori both are beset by pride.  Does pride present both a problem and a solution?  Is there a difference between pride in yourself and pride in your relationship with God?  How can pride sometimes keep you from healing and other times bring about healing?

24.  Why was Pastor Abrahms the perfect person to help Joe reach his epiphany?

25.  How does the advice given by Father Fitzgerald, Pastor Abrahms, Angie Gibran, and Mark Jacobs dovetail with the principles enumerated in Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life.

26.  How do you discover your purpose in life?

27.  Mark Jacobs described God as demonstrating the kind of parenting skills we should adopt in our own families.  Considering the pain humans experience and the free choice we are allowed, was Mark correct?

28.  Clair was highly impressed by Pastor Abrahms.  Was he truly an extraordinary person?  Why?

29.  Angie counsels Al-Khalil from the Qur’an.  Is her counsel different or similar to Christian or Jewish advice?

30.  Did any, or all, of the characters get their just comeuppance?

31.  Is it possible for the world’s faiths to come into an accepting harmony?

32.  Is Children of Abraham, ultimately, a novel of despair or hope