NaturaNaturans

Sure. He is an author i see, anything you would like to reccomend? searched him up on YouTube, and started this: havent finished, but the point that Yahwe and NT God is not the same? Yes i would agree.

In her book by that very name, Francesca Stavrakopoulu argues that the biblical God is very much a flesh and blood human, some sort of a king-priest. Gen 18:1-2 is a good example: Or Gen 1:26-27, showing that either God is man like or man is God like: Even more direct: «a likeness with the appearance of a man” (Ezekiel 1:26). Later on, editors and translates would clean up the language, making (what she claims is) straight forward physical descriptions sounds more like metaphors. «Walking with God» for example, means in her opinion, exactly what it says. Yahwe would, according to her, would be one of many in the region, and each time a city or people fell or got conquered their god would be «dethroned.» I am no expert, and i will not do her book, or the bible, any justice. She covers body part by body part in her book. 800bc, Sinai, Kuntillet Ajrud Belived to depict Yahwe, his staff and wife, the godess Ashera. https://www.amazon.com/God-Anatomy-Francesca-Stavrakopoulou/dp/0525520457

That was based on the excerpt exclusivley. But that religions have been used as a tool for controll is not a revolutionary concept, is it?

Thank you, very interresting. It makes me wonder… that it kind of looks like a conciouss hoax/social engineering and a tool for control. What do you think?

But Daniel, how can i tell myself something i dont allready know?

I love that author. I think he has an amazing ability to create an immersive world. Me myself, am now reading meditations (Aurelius), and am planning on rereading "Steppenwolf" (Hesse) and "the alchemist" (coehlo). Came to think about it, I might want to read Siddharta as well (also by Hesse). In addition to that, I ordered a version of the poetic Eddas (Norse poetry about gods, heroes, creation, and proverbs among other things).

I agree, it is fine. It is the case for all religions and myths, and they can still carry great depth and value. But think about it. Judaism didnt evolve in a vacuum. The region was dominated by Persia and hellenistic kingdoms for centuries before and while the torah was put together. Monotheism predates judaism. Greek philosophy was dominant in the eastern mediteranian. Genesis and the flood myth dates back to sumeria. Why are you so opposed to judaism being influenced by other traditions? No culture exists in a vacuum. The people who became jews where ones polytheistic. If your argument is that they werent yet jews because of that, then i can accept that argument.

Do you belive in «the chosen people»? Do you think judaism is special? If so, how?

@Daniel nothing personal, but i wonder, do you belive everything in jewish scripture is historically correct?

Also, in «the immorality key,» the authors argues that the wine or blood of Christ, refers to the wine of dionyousus and his cult. Furthermore, If you look at the first paragraph of John: The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. It becomes way more «mystic» if you keep in mind that it was written in greek, and «word» would be replaced with logos. To the greeks, logos was some sort of divine reason, a cosmic law that guides all things.

I am not sure exactly what occult entails, but i know there are some speculation about the gospel of mark involving a mystery tradition: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00393389508600159 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Gospel_of_Mark

What are they, then?

I often ponder about how strange thinking is. This inner monologeu. Why would there be a need to talk to oneself? Are we the thinker, or the observer of thoughts? i am strugling expressing my self, but i just find it bizarre. Any thoughts?

Im not big into meditation and mindfullness, allthough i see its value. I heard a definition of it once, that i quite liked: «paying attention to attention.»