Hagar, Sarah, and Their Children

I am inviting the community to read and comment on the book Hagar, Sarah and Their Children in preparation for a set of discussions and presentations taking place this October. The book is edited by Phyllis Tribble and Letty Russell. Phyllis will be speaking in the Twin Cities on Thursday, October 18, 2007, 7:30 p.m. On Friday October 19th 9am-noon she will be part of a panel discussion which will include scholars from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions:Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Dr. Corrine Carvalho, Dr. Ingrid Mattson.

The book is a compilation of thoughts, essays and studies written by Phyllis and Letty and scholars from the three Abrahamic traditions. The first chapter orients the reader to the three traditions which claim the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. A piece that intrigued me in this overview was thinking about what it would be like to be identified with Hagar instead of Sarah. How would that play out in my own faith journey? What attitudes would I develop as the outcast one's daughter?

Reading the accounts of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar (or lack of accounts of Sarah and Hagar) in the writings of the three faiths was fascinating. Is it just a matter of patriarchy that makes the writings all but silent on the full stories of Sarah and Hagar?

Reading the non-canonical sources of the families reminds me again that history is not made up of cold hard facts but of our perception of facts which usually support our own agenda. This sort of 'historical record' can be very damaging to the human family. How do we guard against such historical writing and thinking?