From vaine sights turn away mine eyes, and quicken me in thy ways ...

That's how Psalm 119:37 reads in The Bay Psalm Book, the very first book printed in what is now the United States, in a printing house that later would be called Pilgrim Press. I came across this verse in this book when visiting the exhibition entitled "Three Faiths" at the New York Public Library.

Intellectually stimulating and visually stunning, the exhibition presents the three Abrahamaic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, with a focus on their commonalities: Abraham, Monotheism, Revelation and Scriptures.

  Islamic miniature depicting the sacrifice of Abraham's son

It is a good and timely thing that the exhibition turns us (who belong to these three faiths) away from "vaine sights" that divide us, toward the things that unite us. The vision of unity will always remain: "My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations" (Isaiah 56:7).

"Three Faiths" (see their website) was inspired by the British Library's 2007 exhibition entitled "Sacred: Discover what we share". The British site (here) is rather more sophisticated than the New York one, and truly eye-opening in its interactive displays; I recommend it.