After reading chapter 25:
*While Moses was on the mountain, Yahweh told him that the Israelites were to make offerings of rich materials that would be used to construct an ephod, a breast-piece, a tabernacle and furnishings.
*Then, instructions were given in how to make a fancy golden chest, with a lid that has one cherub at each end. This chest is called an ark in English, but it just means chest. Inside the chest, something called "The Testimony" was to be placed. When it was closed, Yahweh would be hovering over the top, between the cherubim. So, when God was there, does that mean he was not anywhere else?
* Instructions were also given for the construction of a special golden table and dishes of pure gold. Something called "the bread of the presence" was to be on the table, set in front of Yahweh, who would be over the ark.
*Next, we have instructions for a fancy lamp stand of pure gold, seven oil lamps to put on the stand, and golden wick trimmers and trays, all to be made according to a specific pattern. Pure gold, being a very soft metal, would be very impractical for these uses. but maybe God is more into aesthetics and an appearance of wealth than practicality.
*The question I have is, why? All this stuff seems to be needless, and needlessly complicating god's relationship with the people. An all powerful God certainly wouldn't need these things. If it is just as a test of obedience, that seems rather petty and controlling. It would make more sense if such a display of wealth were the priests' idea. Plus, other ancient gods had similar implements used in their service.
Showing posts with label cherubim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cherubim. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Genesis chapter 3, part 1
After a plain reading of chapter 3:
*Need I say it? Snakes don't talk.
* Notice that nowhere in this chapter is the snake associated with Satan. In fact, Satan is not mentioned anywhere in Genesis, in any way. Ancient legends say that the serpent was the first wife of Adam named Lilith. She was supposedly deposed because she refused to submit to Adam in proper womanly fashion. Then she decided to exact revenge. These stories persisted into the Middle Ages, check it out for yourself.
* The snake did not tell an outright lie. Adam and Eve didn't die, right away. A plain reading of its punishment is clearly talking of how snakes and people actually treat each other. This was not turned into a prophecy of Jesus until Christianity came on the scene.
* One wonders how a spiritual being (God) talks without vocal chords, not to mention walks without feet or legs, and hears without ears. He also apparently does not posses the ability to see people who are hiding.
*Woman's pain in childbearing is the result of an evolutionary shift in human physiology to an upright stance. These shifts in the positions of the spine, hips, and legs, made child birth more difficult. Plus human brains and skulls are larger than thier primate ancestor's, taking more effort to push a baby through the birth canal.
*Adam's curse of working the ground was actually a boon for humanity. The development of agriculture improved health and longevity, gave people more leisure than hunting and gathering did, and contributed to population growth and the development of civilizations.
*Verse 16 is the real curse, the introduction of patriarchy as God ordained and sanctioned.
* Notice that there is no mention of any kind of afterlife, a heaven or hell. In fact, they are conspicuously absent in the book of Genesis.
*So, Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, and cherubim plus a flaming sword were placed on the east side to keep anyone from getting back in. Cherubim are Sphinx like creatures. They have animal-like bodies and wings. Usually they come in pairs, one placed on either side of what they are guarding. No live ones have been spotted, yet, but multiple examples have been found carved in stone. We've searched the world over and still haven't found the garden of Eden. Maybe it's been transported to another dimension.
*Need I say it? Snakes don't talk.
* Notice that nowhere in this chapter is the snake associated with Satan. In fact, Satan is not mentioned anywhere in Genesis, in any way. Ancient legends say that the serpent was the first wife of Adam named Lilith. She was supposedly deposed because she refused to submit to Adam in proper womanly fashion. Then she decided to exact revenge. These stories persisted into the Middle Ages, check it out for yourself.
* The snake did not tell an outright lie. Adam and Eve didn't die, right away. A plain reading of its punishment is clearly talking of how snakes and people actually treat each other. This was not turned into a prophecy of Jesus until Christianity came on the scene.
* One wonders how a spiritual being (God) talks without vocal chords, not to mention walks without feet or legs, and hears without ears. He also apparently does not posses the ability to see people who are hiding.
*Woman's pain in childbearing is the result of an evolutionary shift in human physiology to an upright stance. These shifts in the positions of the spine, hips, and legs, made child birth more difficult. Plus human brains and skulls are larger than thier primate ancestor's, taking more effort to push a baby through the birth canal.
*Adam's curse of working the ground was actually a boon for humanity. The development of agriculture improved health and longevity, gave people more leisure than hunting and gathering did, and contributed to population growth and the development of civilizations.
*Verse 16 is the real curse, the introduction of patriarchy as God ordained and sanctioned.
* Notice that there is no mention of any kind of afterlife, a heaven or hell. In fact, they are conspicuously absent in the book of Genesis.
*So, Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, and cherubim plus a flaming sword were placed on the east side to keep anyone from getting back in. Cherubim are Sphinx like creatures. They have animal-like bodies and wings. Usually they come in pairs, one placed on either side of what they are guarding. No live ones have been spotted, yet, but multiple examples have been found carved in stone. We've searched the world over and still haven't found the garden of Eden. Maybe it's been transported to another dimension.
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