Revelation in Religious Formation

Revelation is a concept central to the history of many religions and peoples around the world. In the West, it is known primarily as it pertains to the Judeo-Christian tradition, in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. According to the biblical history of the people of Israel, the land of Canaan was given to the descendants of Abraham in a revelation made to him. Other important revelations were made to Jacob, enabling him to prosper. The revelations given to Joseph allowed the rest of Jacob's tribe, now legitimately called the people of Israel, to come to Egypt to survive during the years of the famine. When the Israelites became slaves and needed to leave the chaffing rule of the pharaoh, it was God's revelation of himself to Moses, and though the plagues to the Pharaoh, that the Hebrews were allowed to leave.

One need not skip this far ahead in the Bible to see the influence of revelation, however. Revelation also plays a major part in many creation myths, including the story of the Garden of Eden. God first reveals the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil to man, then forbids him from eating its fruit. After, it is God's revelation of himself to Adam and eve that makes them ashamed.

Religions of the Judeo-Christian religion are not the only ones that have a reliance on revelation, however. Zoroastrianism, which developed earlier than Christianity, grew out of other ancient religions with similar beliefs. It was God's revelation to Zoroaster that he was the one Uncreated Creator, however, that sparked this movement of monotheism. Revelations made to individuals played an important part in many religions, and in this instance it sparked the creation of a new one. According to Zoroaster's revelation, the powers of good will eventually demolish the powers of chaos, much as in the Judeo-Christian mythology. Though revelations may not lead to any sort of objective truth, it can easily be seen from the comfort such beliefs convey why revelations are so popular.