The conflicts between the religions that have a common origin, i.e. the religions in the tradition of Abraham define our contemporary world to an unprecedented degree. In his essay, Peter Sloterdijk initially inquires into the politico-social and psychodynamic preconditions under which monotheism arose.

While in Judaism the religion remains confined to the one people, Christianity unfolds its apostolic message as universal in thrust and revelation. Islam takes this notion of a universal mission and renders it even more acute through military-political expansion.

What forms of conflict are conceivable between the three forms of monotheism? Sloterdijk describes the lines drawn, the fronts and the campaigns in a system of different preconditions, from the constellations of anti-paganism, anti-Judaism, anti-Islamism and Anti-Christianism, added to which are the internal schisms. The responses to their attacks on one another and those from outside differ: Judaism came to be shaped by a separatism that is defensive in character, Christianity endeavored to spread through missionaries, and Islam opted for the Holy War.

By means of a new interpretation of Lessing’s “Ring” parable, Sloterdijk shows how at present all three religions are challenged to switch from peaceful coexistence to dialog, and how collective religious zealots must become partners in one and the same civil society.

Modernity’s Enfants Terribles