“Whoever wants to lie must first speak a word of truth in order to lend credibility to their claims.”
— Zohar III 161 a
The Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are built upon significant untruths, cloaked in layers of truth and wisdom. A critical examination reveals that these religions rely on fundamental myths that have shaped human history, often at great cost. For instance, the notion that God handed the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai is not supported by any historical evidence. In fact, many scholars argue that Moses, as a historical figure, never existed. The same can be said for Jesus, whose life story shares striking similarities with older mythological figures, making him a symbolic amalgam rather than a real historical person. Similarly, the Quran, claimed to be the direct word of God delivered to Muhammad, was written long after Muhammad’s supposed lifetime, leading some to question whether he, too, was a myth.
To propagate these grand narratives, the Abrahamic religions cleverly embedded their teachings with universal truths—moral guidance, philosophical insights, and ethical principles that resonate with the human experience. This mix of truth and fiction has allowed these religions to exert a powerful influence over the course of history, for both good and ill.
The impact of Abrahamic religions on humanity has been, at times, devastating. Their doctrines have often been used to justify wars, suppress knowledge, and promote intolerance. Yet, these same religions have also offered frameworks for meaning, community, and morality. Their teachings, when stripped of dogma and viewed with a critical eye, can still inspire positive change. The key is in maintaining a critical mindset, discerning between universal wisdom and the myths that serve as their foundation.
The revelation of a “New Torah”—a new, revolutionary understanding of truth—cannot occur without a radical shift in consciousness. Such a shift is unsettling because it requires dismantling the very foundations of the Abrahamic traditions. To arrive at new truths, we must be willing to question the old, no matter how deeply entrenched they are in human culture and history. Only by doing so can we transcend the limitations of these ancient narratives and build a more enlightened future.