Posted on 09/18/2013 12:19:58 PM PDT by the scotsman
'Female figurines and inscribed prayers to a "divine couple" found in temples in Israel suggest that the “one God” of the Bible may not have been entirely alone.
A recent excavation in Tel Motza, not far from Jerusalem, found what archaeologists believe to have been a ritual building - with clay figures of animals and men from the time of the First Temple, according to Israel's Haaretz news site.
The find suggests that Iron Age religion in the area around Jerusalem may not have been monotheistic just before the time the Hebrew Bible – the basis of the Old Testament - started to be written.
Now experts are increasingly suggesting that far from there being “one God”, there were many.
One expert, Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou of the University of Exeter, says there is “increasing evidence” of Israelites worshipping several gods - including one who may have been seen as Yahweh’s “wife”.'
(Excerpt) Read more at uk.news.yahoo.com ...
Right, but I meant that Asherah was the female deity they worshipped.
Ah, no. No it doesn't. The Holy Spirit is never referred to as a mother anywhere in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is spoken of with a masculine pronoun whenever the pronouns are used for Him. See John 16:13 for instance.
Further, theologically the metaphor doesn't hold. Jesus is eternally generated by the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. That obviously destroys the metaphor.
Who did you think was the first to say: “Take my wife. Please!” ?
Seven will do just fine, dear.
Mormon archaeologists?
Old news.
As others point out, the Levant and Mesopotamia and Egypt and Turkey had all sorts of gods and all sorts of variations, and the Israelites/Hebrews were seduced by many of them at one time or another. This is the OT in a nutshell.
And, by the way, we still believe that God has a wife. Two actually. One is named Michelle. The other, Valerie.
Oh right.
Of course.
When Frasier found out he ran, fast as he could.
Well, you know, when they're not writing up news stories about assault rifles, their editors send them off writing stories about the Bible. So they run off to Barnes & Noble, soy latte in hand and become instant experts...
“Didn’t I tell you not to do the Panda? Didn’t I tell you it was a stupid idea, and the darned things would just end up going extinct?”
“let Us make man in Our image” and similar verses are in reference to the Trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
One God, in three Persons.
Look at a big summer thundercloud. We perceive it as composed of three different things:
Water Vapor (invisible to the eye)
Condensed Water (the tiny, visible Droplets & Rain)
Ice Particles (at higher altitudes) and often Ice pellets (Sleet & Hail)
Vapor, Rain, Ice - but it is all WATER.
“The first and most important one is this,” Jesus replied—‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength’. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-30
"Hey, it pays my salary, lets me travel, get my photo in the papers... what is not to like!" - maybe a quote from the Learned Doctor?
(other than the fact that it appears that she will FAIL her "Final Exam")
Thank you. Yes, there are passages in Isaiah were God is heart-broken that His people have abondoned Him as an unfaithful spouse (also, see the book of Hosea).
A duck-billed platypus?!?! Just what were you thinking?!?!
Ah - so witnessed creation?
No?
But the guy who wrote Genesis did?
No?
So you’re taking it on faith. It’s something you believe.
Which is fine...accept that you’re pushing it with a smug, self righteous attitude.
Pride is a sin.
Lucifer thought he had all the answers too. And he went out talking down to everyone as well.
Yep - when nothing’s going on it’s time for “Bash The Bible” game with your host .....”-”
There was always tension between the keepers of the Faith and various backsliders and syncretists, some of whom surely were Levites, even. That there were such does not in any way indicate that the monotheistic Faith was, itself, something different.
She describes herself as “an atheist with huge respect for religion”....
&&&
Big shock, huh?
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