The Abrahamic Faiths and the Ancient Order

While there are many religions in the world, several trace their beginnings to Abraham—a man revered across centuries as a patriarch, prophet, and friend of God. These are known as the Abrahamic religions, and though they differ in belief and practice, they share a common ancestry in the covenant first made between God and Abraham.

The story begins with Judaism, which holds that God called Abraham out of Ur and made an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob. This covenant was renewed generations later through Moses at Mount Sinai, forming the foundation of Israel’s faith and identity. In Judaism, Abraham stands as the first patriarch—the father of the nation and the example of obedience and faith. The Hebrew Scriptures, especially the early chapters of Genesis, record his story, and Jewish tradition continues through many branches today, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

Centuries later, from within Judaism, arose Christianity, a movement centered on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, whom believers recognize as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. Christians revere Abraham as the model of faith—one who believed God and was counted righteous not through the law, but through trust and obedience. The Apostle Paul declared that all who share Abraham’s faith become his spiritual children, regardless of bloodline. Christianity spread throughout the world and formed three great streams—Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant—each drawing from the same ancient Scriptures while interpreting them through the revelation of Christ.

In the seventh century, Islam emerged in Arabia through the prophet Muhammad, who proclaimed a return to the pure worship of the one true God. Muslims honor Abraham—whom they call Ibrahim—as a prophet and as Khalil Allah, “the friend of God.” They believe he and his son Ishmael built the Kaaba in Mecca as a house of worship and a symbol of complete submission to God, which is the very meaning of Islam. The Qur’an and the Hadith preserve his legacy, and Abraham remains a unifying figure of faith among Muslims, whether Sunni or Shi‘a.

Beyond these three great faiths are smaller traditions that also look to Abraham as a spiritual forefather. The Baha’i Faith, born in 19th-century Persia, teaches that Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and Bahá’u’lláh all belong to a single chain of divine messengers sent by the same God through progressive revelation. The Druze, an offshoot of Isma‘ili Islam, regard Abraham as a prophet and honor his role within their mystical monotheism. The Rastafarian movement, rooted in Christianity, recognizes God’s faithfulness to His chosen people through the covenant with Abraham. Even the Samaritans, who preserve an ancient form of Israelite religion, maintain their lineage through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though separate from mainstream Judaism.

Yet there is a growing recognition among scholars and seekers alike that these many religions, though distinct in form, may all be branches from a single, far more ancient root—what I call the Ancient Order.

As the philosopher René Guénon wrote, “There is but one unique tradition from which every orthodox traditional form is derived.” This insight points to the idea that all true religions are expressions of one divine wisdom, revealed in different times and languages according to God’s purpose.

A modern exploration of this idea can be found in The Ancient Tradition podcast, which draws upon the research of many scholars who trace humanity’s earliest spiritual heritage back to a single source—the wisdom of the Ancient Order.

While this site focuses on the teachings of Abraham, it does so with the understanding that Abraham was not the beginning of God’s dealings with His children, but a restorer of that original divine order. He stood in a world darkened by idolatry and called mankind back to the knowledge of the true and living God.

The following articles will explore the doctrines Abraham taught—truths he recovered and re-established from that eternal foundation known as the Ancient Order.