Adoption is part of our spiritual heritage as Christians. We are steeped in adoption culture, whether we are fully conscious of it or not. Our faith teaches Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and since we are also His children, this makes all of us His adopted sons and daughters. We know we are loved by our Father and He equally loves all His children. Jesus is His  son, but we are co-inheritors of the kingdom as well.

Contrast this theology with other faith traditions*:

In Judaism, the teaching is if you save one person, it is the same as saving an entire universe. This speaks to the idea that one individual as valuable as an entire universe and also when you save one person, you also save their children and future progeny as well. The Jewish faith also teaches tikun olan; we are responsible to repair and heal this broken world wherever possible.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote: Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.    Isaiah 1:17

When a Jewish family adopts, there are additional steps that must be taken for the child to be considered fully Jewish. Depending on the birthparent’s religion (the birthmother must be Jewish for the child to be born Jewish), there is a conversion ceremony, including a circumcision for a boy and ritual bath (mikvah) for a girl. If the birthmother was from one of the priestly tribes, there are additional rules for her children to follow that might differ from those of the adoptive family.

Adoption in Judiasm is a great blessing, but comes with some complications.

In Islam, legal adoption is prohibited. However, caring for an orphan and raising them in your home is considered a good and admirable deed.  The Prophet Muhammad once said that a person who cares for an orphaned child will be in Paradise with him, and motioned to show that they would be as close as two fingers of a single hand. An orphan himself, Muhammad paid special attention to the care of children without parents.

However, the Qur’an gives specific rules about the legal relationship between a child and his/her adoptive family. The child’s biological family is never hidden; their ties to the child are never severed. The Qur’an specifically reminds adoptive parents that they are not the child’s biological parents.

“God did not make your adopted son as your own sons. To declare them so is your empty claim. God’s word is righteous and constitutes true guidance.”  (Qur’an 33:4)   The guardian/child relationship has specific rules under Islamic law, which render the relationship a bit different than what is common adoption practice today.

Adoption in Islam is considered a foster-parent relationship.

 

Here is where all faiths can possibly agree:

 

*Please do not misconstrue any comments I make as derogatory of other faiths. I respect all religions and am only comparing the religious view of adoption from other belief traditions. Christianity is uniquely positioned to champion adoption because of our theology, but I also know people from other faiths adopt children lovingly and enthusiastically. And bless them for it.