this thread is related to a very interesting article, which should challenge the dogmatic beliefs of everyone who is a fundamentalist follower of one of the Abrahammic religions:
Abraham and Brahma: Part I Divine Covenants of Common Origin While I had not considered that Sarah had been derived from a common source for Saraswati, a Hindu personal name that is linked to a female deity, I had very much considered the origins of the name 'Abraham' came either from Brahma, or Brahman. If I recall correctly Abraham and Sarah came from the east through Persia. India is east of Persia.
There is another important term that appears in the Bible that may have common roots with Hinduism. It is the term ‘Shekhinah,’ which you may know is the Hebrew term for the “holy spirit.’ As you may also now the Hebrew term ‘Shekhinah’ is feminine , and refers to the direct experience, or presence, of the holy spirit. It just so happens that there is a Sanskrit term ‘Shakti’ which means the same thing, and is feminine. So, I do not think that this is a coincidence.
This suggests that the Eastern and Western religious traditions have a lot more in common, than many of us are willing to consider. Who is to say which religion “corrupted” the original message more?
Islam wishes to claim that their prophet, Mohammed, was the last prophet. While I find I have much to agree with in the Koran; however, postulating that any prophet was the "final" prophet only kills one's religion, because as long as humans live, there will always be prophets sent to guide them back to the one.
