PygmyPlaidGiraffe
Graduate Poster
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2003
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Why G-D and not Ra, Baal or Asherah?
I just took in a session during a mandatory "Spiritual Development Day" that was interesting. I teach in a Catholic school district. The department head of Religion Studies presented an intriguing look at the development of religion in Isreal. He is involved in archeological digs in Isreal and is a student of the discipline.
The first religious objects discovered in Isreal come from small settlements founded 8000 BCE. Religion developed in several directions and a monotheistic belief system eventually formed in the region. Presented was a theoretical framework of a variety of fertility cults, borrowed gods and deities, reforms, backsliding, and new reforms that resulted in the formation of the worship of G-D.
The Habiriu were a diverse group of peoples, and those that had a special covenant with Yhwh and settled to form Isreal were just one of many Habiriu groups.
Of interesting note was Hezekiah's reforms. He removed a deity called Asherah from Hebrew literature, and removed references to her from Temples and moved to remove her from the theology alltogether. He forbade women making offerings to Asherah to ensure a safe and healthy childbirth and for children to survive birth and there infant years.
Asherah was Yahweh's mate. Prior to the reform oblisks or large stone pillars were placed in temples. A large one represented Yahweh, a smaller more humble one, Asherah. Yahweh divorced Asherah, and Asherah married Baal, bearing Baal children (monsters). Yahweh and Baal were at war.
Hezekiah made moves also to prevent contamination from other favoured deities like Astarte (which resembled Isis).
Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, usually attributed to Moses, were likely written during post-reform after a period of backsliding (treacherous apostate Manasseh) and then a conservative response later to the backsliding (by Josiah, Hebrew leadership, and the Levites). Deuteronic reform entrenched during Babylonian captivity.
The story of Elijah (Yahweh camp) vs Jezebel (Baal camp) in 1Kings illustrates a power struggle. There is a show-down at Mount Carmel, where the lone Elijah faces down and obliterates hundreds of Baals prophets.
Why G-D and not Ra, Baal or Asherah?
I just took in a session during a mandatory "Spiritual Development Day" that was interesting. I teach in a Catholic school district. The department head of Religion Studies presented an intriguing look at the development of religion in Isreal. He is involved in archeological digs in Isreal and is a student of the discipline.
The first religious objects discovered in Isreal come from small settlements founded 8000 BCE. Religion developed in several directions and a monotheistic belief system eventually formed in the region. Presented was a theoretical framework of a variety of fertility cults, borrowed gods and deities, reforms, backsliding, and new reforms that resulted in the formation of the worship of G-D.
The Habiriu were a diverse group of peoples, and those that had a special covenant with Yhwh and settled to form Isreal were just one of many Habiriu groups.
Of interesting note was Hezekiah's reforms. He removed a deity called Asherah from Hebrew literature, and removed references to her from Temples and moved to remove her from the theology alltogether. He forbade women making offerings to Asherah to ensure a safe and healthy childbirth and for children to survive birth and there infant years.
Asherah was Yahweh's mate. Prior to the reform oblisks or large stone pillars were placed in temples. A large one represented Yahweh, a smaller more humble one, Asherah. Yahweh divorced Asherah, and Asherah married Baal, bearing Baal children (monsters). Yahweh and Baal were at war.
Hezekiah made moves also to prevent contamination from other favoured deities like Astarte (which resembled Isis).
Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, usually attributed to Moses, were likely written during post-reform after a period of backsliding (treacherous apostate Manasseh) and then a conservative response later to the backsliding (by Josiah, Hebrew leadership, and the Levites). Deuteronic reform entrenched during Babylonian captivity.
The story of Elijah (Yahweh camp) vs Jezebel (Baal camp) in 1Kings illustrates a power struggle. There is a show-down at Mount Carmel, where the lone Elijah faces down and obliterates hundreds of Baals prophets.
