ABC Article on “Abrahamic Dialogue” presents Islam as an Abrahamic religion, which it is not

On June 26, 2025, ABC Australia published an article titled “If we can think together, maybe we can live together,”celebrating the history of philosophical collaboration among Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

At CSPII Monitor, we welcome any effort to foster honest and respectful exchange. However, we also believe that the public deserves accurate information — especially when it concerns political ideologies embedded in religious frameworks.

Unfortunately, the article:

• Refers to Islam as part of a shared “Abrahamic tradition,” without acknowledging that Islamic scriptures — unlike Jewish or Christian ones — explicitly declare Judaism and Christianity to be corrupt, and that Islamic law does not tolerate doctrinal equality with non-Muslims.
• Mentions “Islamophobia” alongside antisemitism, ignoring the weaponization of this term to silence doctrinal critique (see our Islamophobia Report).
• Misrepresents the nature of “Islamic philosophy,” omitting that leading Muslim philosophers were often condemned by Islamic authorities.

We contacted ABC and the article’s authors with a request for clarification. As of today, we have not received a response.

We urge media outlets to ensure that goodwill is matched by rigor and that public understanding of Islamic doctrine is not compromised for the sake of idealistic narratives.

— CSPII Monitor Team

↓ Read our full response and documentation here ↓

From: CSPII Monitor <[email protected]>
Date: Oct 3, 2025 14:36
Subject: Philosophical Dialogue & Interfaith Harmony – Request for Clarification and Amendment

Dear Authors,

We commend your article, "If we can think together, maybe we can live together" (June 26, 2025), for its call for philosophical engagement and interfaith understanding. The history of dialogue between intellectuals of different traditions is indeed a rich and often inspiring one.
(https://www.abc.net.au/religion/history-of-philosophy-judaism-islam-christianity-coexistence/105465482)

However, we would respectfully like to raise several concerns:

1. The use of the term "Abrahamic religions" implies an equivalence in theological foundations and doctrinal goals that does not exist. Islamic scriptures, unlike Jewish or Christian ones, explicitly declare Judaism and Christianity to be corrupt, and Islamic law does not tolerate doctrinal equality with non-Muslims. Please see the attached article [Why Islam Is Not an Abrahamic Religion]
   
2. The invocation of "Islamophobia" alongside antisemitism erases important distinctions. Antisemitism targets ethnicity and often predates Jewish religious identity. In contrast, "Islamophobia" has increasingly been used to suppress valid criticism of Islam's political doctrines. We encourage you to read our [Islamophobia Report] which documents this in detail.
   
3. The portrayal of Islamic philosophy as doctrinally supported omits the reality that many Islamic thinkers like Avicenna and Averroes were either condemned or marginal within Islamic orthodoxy, which has historically rejected philosophical reasoning as dangerous or heretical.
   

In light of these issues, we kindly request:

• A clarification or follow-up article that distinguishes Islamic doctrine from philosophical traditions developed under Islamic rule but often in conflict with it.
• A review of the use of "Islamophobia" in ABC editorial standards to ensure the term is defined when used.

We believe your readers would benefit from a more accurate portrayal of Islamic doctrine and history.

Please find the following report on the many issues with the term "Islamophobia" and the loaded assumptions it raises:

Islamophobia: A Political Shield to Silence Legitimate Criticism of Islamic Doctrine
https://www.cspii.org/learn-political-islam/new-articles/islamophobia-a-political-shield-to-silence-legitimate-criticism-of-islamic-doctrine/

Why Islam Is Not an Abrahamic Religion: A Critical View from Islamic Sources
https://www.cspii.org/learn-political-islam/new-articles/why-islam-is-not-an-abrahamic-religion/

About CSPII Monitor
https://www.cspii.org/learn-political-islam/new-articles/announcing-cspii-monitor-promoting-accurate-and-objective-discourse-on-islam/

We would be happy to provide additional sources and references upon request.

Sincerely,

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