Comments on Earliest Christian History: Moses and Monotheism

ANONYMOUS,It is not possible that Moses wrote the ...

2008-05-13T13:39:00.000Z

ANONYMOUS,

It is not possible that Moses wrote the King James Version.

Is it possible, as many fundamentalists like to claim, that the Bible "gets it right" while all their neighbors mythology is perverted forms of their original? Sure, in the same sense that it is possible that the Greeks got it right and the Hebrews have the twisted version, or that the original version results from some ancient peoples who were allowed by time travellers to watch the movie Clash of the Titans.

Historical critical study, on the other hand, isn't about asking whether one's own preferred views are "possible". It is about going further and asking what view best fits the evidence. It is about what is probable. If you have the honesty and courage to ask those sorts of questions, then do come back and learn more!

Could it be that, the KJV Biblical account is fact...

2008-05-13T08:16:00.000Z

Could it be that, the KJV Biblical account is factual, emphasized in places by figures of speech, parables and the like? Passed down by word of mouth until the written Word was given to Moses, and he began to record it? Could it be, that the "nephilim", were actual offspring of angelic beings and flesh bodies, "demi-gods" if you will, and that having been seen of men, the stories of whom were passed down through time became legend? Could it be, that the "gods" of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks, and various others, are all corruptions of ancient truth?

Now there's a question! There is one issue that co...

2007-10-29T13:37:00.000Z

Now there's a question! There is one issue that comes through in such sources, namely the problems with a creator being linked to this corrupt world so to speak (some pagans see this as a problem with Judaism) and try to make a significant difference.. I don't know enough about the history of the Xn doctrine of creation to make an informed point but, yes, our conception of the doctrine of creation could be the reason for not seeing ancient 'monotheism'.

That's not a great answer, I know.

Do you think the doctrine of creation out of nothi...

2007-10-26T17:28:00.000Z

Do you think the doctrine of creation out of nothing comes in later, and that it is the absolute distinction between God and all else that we take for granted, but which is not articulated in these ancient sources, that leads to the tension when we read ancient sources and ask questions about 'monotheism'?

Now that definitely would work...

2007-10-26T13:59:00.000Z

Now that definitely would work...

monotheism: belief in a supreme being whose baggag...

2007-10-26T13:27:00.000Z

monotheism: belief in a supreme being whose baggage you have to carry wherever you go.