Abraham and Frued

Let’s take a look at Abraham’s psychological analysis.

Resume

Name: Abraham

Age: 75

Marital status: Married to his niece Sarah.

Children: None.

Siblings: Brother Nachor, who was also his brother-in-law through marriage. Second brother, Haran , committed suicide.

Relationship with parents: Rebellious adolescence. Was caught smashing his father’s idols. His distressed father reported him to the government which condemned him to death. Miraculously he escaped unscathed.

Friends: Um, has no friends, shunned by society.

Country of residence: None. He’s a nomad, traveling constantly from place to place.

Mission statement: To convince the world of the existence of a Divine Creator.

Boy, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to come up with a serious analysis of this resume. The man has no family, has suicidal genes, has not had the parental opportunity for emotional growth, and lacks stability due to constant travel.

Freud would have a field day with this guy. This is prime show ‘n tell for the effect of environment and nurture. This guy is a born loser.

But history is witness to the irony of fate.

The man who changed the world more than anyone else in history – by founding monotheism, fathering the Jewish people, and providing a true example of courage and defiance – is, surprisingly, the destined unfortunate: Abraham.

Was Abraham crazy?

Well, here are the facts. He went against everyone. He circumcised himself at age 99. He believed in G-d when He promised that Abraham would father a child in his old age. He fought a one-man war against the mightiest alliance of kings.

He kicked his own son out of his home because G-d said so. He almost slaughtered his second son. And there’s more.

By today’s standards, he was crazy. And many a thinker would blame his “quirks” on his tough childhood. If his handwriting would be analyzed by a graphologist… what would it tell?

Our history is full of the “psychological unhealthy”: From Noah the loner to Abraham the rebellious, from Isaac who was emotionally abused by his brother, to Jacob who competed with his murderous twin-brother for their father’s love. Joseph was sold as a slave by his very own brothers. And the list goes on.

Face it: We are a nation of crazies.

That’s if being different and passionate defines craziness.

So dear friend: Do you have issues? You’re in good company.

Welcome to the club.