But you simplify the narrative of the divine demand for sacrifice.

Abraham will kill his son on God’s command and is just about to execute the order (as shown in one or two of the greatest visceral masterpieces in art) when divine intervention intercedes and a substitute is allowed by God.

But what is this ‘mercy’? An arbitrary inhuman command is followed by the slaughter of the innocent animal.

As an atheist, I find it profoundly disturbing that Abraham is rewarded for almost doing the same to his son as had been done to Jesus the other Son.

It is arbitrary Authority flexing its power.