Abie's Choice

Is it possible that Abraham — "father" of Judaism, Christianity and Islam — actually killed son Isaac? According to Bruce Chilton, author of Abraham's Curse, some ancient accounts of the story of a father ordered by his god to sacrifice his son actually "graphically" described the killing, rather than relate the tale as it is more generally known with Abraham pulling back his knife in time so that God has spared Isaac/Ishmael.

We know a dad can be the editor of a parenting magazine. And, in a recognizably low comedy event, it seems a given that a bunch of fathers could come up with the plan to "spray fart gas" at the target of their protest, as did two members of a British father's rights group.

But could a dad really sacrifice his son? Should said dad really receive great honors? Trying to puzzle out the answer practically guarantees head, heart and soul ache. It is much easier to conceive of the story of Abraham as an ancient, fictional tale rather than the true life event that sparked civilization. Maybe we'll go with that.