The San People and the Origins of Religion. (genesis, bible, Israel)
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I have heard it taught that people did worship God from the beginning, but many decided to worship other gods, ansestors, forest spirits, etc. Even the Jews drifted away from God and began to worship other gods-says so in the OT
Actually, the Jews started as polytheists and slowly switched to the monotheist cult of Yahweh after they stole the idea from the Egyptian Aten worshippers.
Sorry but if there is a "one true creator God", it isn't the "god" of The Bible. He's a cheap man made imitation not worthy of the title.
Actually, the Jews started as polytheists and slowly switched to the monotheist cult of Yahweh after they stole the idea from the Egyptian Aten worshippers.
Sorry but if there is a "one true creator God", it isn't the "god" of The Bible. He's a cheap man made imitation not worthy of the title.
Or, it's possible that the idea was borrowed from the Persians, imported back with them after the exile, and the Yahwists (with the royal decree backing them up) were able to promulgate parts of the Torah among the people, with new laws forbidding the worship of other gods and the high places, etc. Putting the borrowing on Aten worshippers seems to imply that Moses actually existed, and the Egyptian slavery was real - and we have evidence of neither yet.
Check out The Bible Unearthed, by Finklestein and Silberman, if you want an excellent account of how archaeology might back this up.
Otherwise, check out F.M. Crosse's Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic for an excellent discussion on where the gods of the Israelites may have come from, and their history.
Or, it's possible that the idea was borrowed from the Persians, imported back with them after the exile, and the Yahwists (with the royal decree backing them up) were able to promulgate parts of the Torah among the people, with new laws forbidding the worship of other gods and the high places, etc. Putting the borrowing on Aten worshippers seems to imply that Moses actually existed, and the Egyptian slavery was real - and we have evidence of neither yet.
Check out The Bible Unearthed, by Finklestein and Silberman, if you want an excellent account of how archaeology might back this up.
Otherwise, check out F.M. Crosse's Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic for an excellent discussion on where the gods of the Israelites may have come from, and their history.
I am more inclined to go with this explanation (as I have posited here a few times). Persian influence on the post exilic Jewish community and subsequent Christian and Muslim faiths is VERY understated. While many people are aware of the councils and bloodshed that went on over doctrine in the early Christian era, many folks do not recognize that such theological wars also occurred during the years of the Old Testament monarchy, notably between the Yahwehists and Baalites. Just like how the god-man version of Jesus eventually won out in the post New Testament era, so did the desert god Yahweh win out (eventually) in the latter Old Testament era.
Actually, the Jews started as polytheists and slowly switched to the monotheist cult of Yahweh after they stole the idea from the Egyptian Aten worshippers.
Sorry but if there is a "one true creator God", it isn't the "god" of The Bible. He's a cheap man made imitation not worthy of the title.
Of course, most of the polytheists were a bit monotheist in that they believed the mascot they had chosen to be their city's god was the most powerful.
Or, it's possible that the idea was borrowed from the Persians, imported back with them after the exile, and the Yahwists (with the royal decree backing them up) were able to promulgate parts of the Torah among the people, with new laws forbidding the worship of other gods and the high places, etc. Putting the borrowing on Aten worshippers seems to imply that Moses actually existed, and the Egyptian slavery was real - and we have evidence of neither yet.
Check out The Bible Unearthed, by Finklestein and Silberman, if you want an excellent account of how archaeology might back this up.
Otherwise, check out F.M. Crosse's Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic for an excellent discussion on where the gods of the Israelites may have come from, and their history.
Or maybe it implies that they lived near Egypt and were exposed to Egyptians and were probably jealous.
I'm curious if we accept the genetic evidence that the San people of Africa are the oldest group of modern humans, then it would seem to follow that there religious beliefs would likewise be the oldest forms of religious beliefs and practices. That being the case all of the major existing religions are very recent . Almost yesterday when viewed in the time-line of human existence. That being the case, it would seem to me to be yet another problem confronting authority the Abrahamic religions and their narratives because there is no relationship between the religious beliefs of the San people and modern theist.
The Sans and !Kung may have the oldest DNA, but they haven't lived in stasis for thousands of years. In fact, they aren't from the Kalahari region; they were pushed there by more powerful tribes only a few hundred years ago.
The same goes for just about any tribal people; the Navajo can be connected to northern Canadian tribes, the Lakota migrated out onto the plains from the Great Lakes region only in the 1700s. Imagine how much those cultures must have changed over time! The Bushmen are no different...
Or maybe it implies that they lived near Egypt and were exposed to Egyptians and were probably jealous.
There were quite a few hyoptheses floating about for a while.
1. A famous one was the Kennite Theory - that Moses received information about a previously uknown god from his father in law. That theory might have a few adherents still.
2- Moses picked up the idea from his Egyptian education, and the whole Aten thingamabob. Both of these ideas assume an actual historical Moses, however - which is problematic on many accounts.
They definately were exposed to Egyptian influence at various times - you are correct about that. They were vassals at one time - during the monarchies, not just during the pre-Exodus times. Canaan (including those who lived in it) were subject to various peoples over the years. The Biblical authors downplay this in many cases, but if one looks closely enough - the evidence is there. It could be argued that their contemporary dealings with the Egyptians inspired the stories of the Exodus, in fact. Perhaps some writers wished to show how unreliable they were, when the Southern Kingdom was thinking about breaking from Assyrian rule when Egypt had promised their assistance. We cannot forget, also, the number of refugees that went to Egypt around the time of the Exile and established a flourishing community worshipping a shortened form of Yahweh. Yahu, or something like that..
There were quite a few hyoptheses floating about for a while.
1. A famous one was the Kennite Theory - that Moses received information about a previously uknown god from his father in law. That theory might have a few adherents still.
2- Moses picked up the idea from his Egyptian education, and the whole Aten thingamabob. Both of these ideas assume an actual historical Moses, however - which is problematic on many accounts.
They definately were exposed to Egyptian influence at various times - you are correct about that. They were vassals at one time - during the monarchies, not just during the pre-Exodus times. Canaan (including those who lived in it) were subject to various peoples over the years. The Biblical authors downplay this in many cases, but if one looks closely enough - the evidence is there. It could be argued that their contemporary dealings with the Egyptians inspired the stories of the Exodus, in fact. Perhaps some writers wished to show how unreliable they were, when the Southern Kingdom was thinking about breaking from Assyrian rule when Egypt had promised their assistance. We cannot forget, also, the number of refugees that went to Egypt around the time of the Exile and established a flourishing community worshipping a shortened form of Yahweh. Yahu, or something like that..
I thought it was Yahoo.
It's pretty easy for me to believe that Moses was a historical figure, as were Jesus and Buddha and Julius Caesar, etc... I'm sure there are many people who would do magic tricks and attempt to lead a people... Quite sure they were kicked out of Egypt with the expulsion of the rest of the Hyksos.
The Sans and !Kung may have the oldest DNA, but they haven't lived in stasis for thousands of years. In fact, they aren't from the Kalahari region; they were pushed there by more powerful tribes only a few hundred years ago.
The same goes for just about any tribal people; the Navajo can be connected to northern Canadian tribes, the Lakota migrated out onto the plains from the Great Lakes region only in the 1700s. Imagine how much those cultures must have changed over time! The Bushmen are no different...
That's a good point.
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