The association drawn between the leader's teachings and the principled disposition of his followers appeals to a modern Judeo-Christian vantage as well. As the documentary proceeds to its discussion on figures such as Jesus and Mohammed, the constancy of world religion becomes that much clearer. In many ways, Jesus and Muhammed may be perceived as twin pillars on a single continuum. Indeed, "Muhammed regarded himself as the last prophet of the Judaic-Christian tradition. He adopted aspects of these older religion's theologies while introducing new doctrines." (Katz, 1) Thus, it is not surprising that upon its inception into the world at around 570 CE, the Islamic religion produced a legal code which was monotheistic, centered on the prescription of ethical law and applicable in both the theocratic and civil arenas.
This law would likewise predispose the Muslim people to many rituals which echoed those of the Judeo Christian ethic. Like Jesus Christ before him, Muhammed was fundamentally a reformer of theological law, and thus, the first prophet to a new religious entity. As a result, many of the laws contained in the Shariah are more conservative variations on existent Christian and Jewish law, such as with the practice of worship. One of the most well-recognized feature of the Islamic religion to the outsider is this practice.
For all intents and purposes, the documentary is concerned with the work of prophets....
The individuals represented, seen by some as divinity incarnate and by others still as spiritually inspired men, reflect a singular tradition that is concerned with providing ethical grounding to the difficult challenges of human existence. Whether concerned with government, family or personal moral hygiene, the purposefulness of a faith is found in the way that those beliefs are applied.
This is an important resolution as delivered by an ambitious film that nonetheless clocks in at just under an hour. Primarily, the film becomes relevant today, a decade past its production and release, as part of an empirical and rational response to the unfounded violence which persists betwixt each of these faiths. The current War on Terror pits Islam against all of these forces, with Confucian ideology reflected in the troubling border skirmishes between such diametrically opposed neighbors as Pakistan and India. The outcome is a sense of sharp philosophical divergence which is irreconcilable. A closer consideration of the men who inspired the devotion of their followers, as demonstrated by Three Pillars, will show that it would have been their collective ambition to seek peace and common ground with their counterparts.
Works Cited
Films Media Group (FMG). (1998). Three Pillars: Confucius, Jesus and Mohammed. Films for the Humanities & Science.
Katz, J. (2001). The Prophet Mohammed. Eretz Yisroel.
