The Sons Of God And The Daughters Of Men - from MDD

[_maklelan]

That mythology is really foundational to the Jewish religion. El was their first God - their relationship with El's sons was not always adversarial.

I would say that's true of Israelite religion, but Jewish religion has its roots in the Exile, which had diluted that mythology to quite a large extent.

Deuteronomy 32:8-9.

When the Elyon (most high) gave the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of El. But Yahweh's portion was with his people, (the tribe of) Jacob was his share of inheritance.

Psalm 29:1
Acknowledge Yahweh, you sons of El,
acknowledge His majesty and power!

Psalm 89:6
Who in the skies can compare to Yahweh?
Who is like Yahweh among the sons of El?

Yahweh himself was not originally one of those sons, but a minor war god from another tradition who was borrowed by the Jews and later conflated with El himself.

He wasn't a war god, but a storm god (another recent theory has him as a god of metallurgy, which is interesting), and he was originally from the southern negev (probably the Teman/Midian/Seir area). He would much later be conflated with the war deity Anat at Elephantine, where Anat-Yahu was worshipped.

[_Buffalo]

It is very clear in the Old Testament that the Hebrews struggled constantly with paganism.

Their religion was founded on what we might now call paganism. Their deity is merely a mixture of two "pagan" gods. Judaism isn't any less pagan than any other religion (and by extension, neither is Christianity).

[_Buffalo]

I would say that's true of Israelite religion, but Jewish religion has its roots in the Exile, which had diluted that mythology to quite a large extent.

Agreed.

He wasn't a war god, but a storm god (another recent theory has him as a god of metallurgy, which is interesting), and he was originally from the southern negev (probably the Teman/Midian/Seir area). He would much later be conflated with the war deity Anat at Elephantine, where Anat-Yahu was worshipped.

I thought that the storm god elements were borrowed from Baal. I thought I remember reading in Mark S. Smith's book that Yahweh was an Edomite war god.

[_maklelan]

I thought that the storm god elements were borrowed from Baal. I thought I remember reading in Mark S. Smith's book that Yahweh was an Edomite war god.

Smith has argued that, but I don't think it has held up that well. Yahweh's warrior aspects are more than accounted for in the various motifs associated with the storm deity. Baal, for instance, gains his kingship in the Ugaritic texts through battle with Yamm. He then dies in a battle with Mot.

[_madeleine]

It is very clear in the Old Testament that the Hebrews struggled constantly with paganism.

Their religion was founded on what we might now call paganism. Their deity is merely a mixture of two "pagan" gods. Judaism isn't any less pagan than any other religion (and by extension, neither is Christianity).

That is one way to look at it.

Another is, God works through our nature.

Peace.

[_Buffalo]

That is one way to look at it.

Another is, God works through our nature.

Peace.

Sounds like the loose translation arguments.

[_madeleine]

Not how I see it. I see Salvation history.

Peace.

[_sock puppet]

The LDS apologists are more in touch with the scriptures than the prophets. Maybe they should switch places.

The prophet does quite a bit more than just interpret scripture, though, and scripture is only one portion of what contributes to the church's theology and ethics.

What does the prophet do?

[_moksha]

There is no reason why LDS theology cannot embrace the dwellers of Jotunheim. We are a prophetic and synergistic people.

[_just me]

What does the prophet do?

Travel. Groundbreaking ceremonies.