Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Baal
I have been curious about Baal. With everything that God offers and the horrible punishments that he delivers turning to other gods, I am wondering why people keep turning against him. (Besides the fact that it makes a good story) What does Baal offer his followers? It turns out, Baal is not one god, it is a term for many of the gods. If you want more information, this website is helpful. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02175a.htm . Back to reading.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Response to Debbie's Bible Blog
I agree with Debbie's stance that children are taught only the stories that adults feel they can "handle". This is not only true of Bible stories. In Literature for Children and Adolescents, we started with fairy tales, and moved to Charlotte's Web, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. I can assure you they are not the stories I am familiar with from my childhood.
Then Debbie asks, "So is the problem that parents, churches, or education has failed?". I think people's hearts were in the right place to begin with. Perhaps they wanted to shelter children from some of the violence and more adult topics in the Bible. However, by leaving it out all together, people seem to have forgotten that there is more to the story; I know my mother has.
A few nights ago, my mother looked at me and actually said something like, "Well, I do not know what kind of Bible you have that they are making you read, but those sorts of things were NOT in my BIBLE". It was an interesting moment in so many ways. First of all, because my tiny 4'9" 82 year old mother was so irate I thought she was going to explode. Second, it was news to me that she read the Bible (which from the conversation I am wondering if she actually did. The only thing that makes me think she may have is that she reads everything she can get her hands on). I think Mom took me to church maybe twice in my life. Third, that she was so passionate and opinionated about this. She has read many of my papers, and she does not usually have a strong opinion even when I come up with some twisted view of a classic. In case you are wondering what we were discussing from the Bible that had her so riled up, I will tell you. I was talking about there being giants and unicorns mentioned. She is, I assure you, of sound mind. She was just very passionate that these things were not in HER Bible.
As for Debbie's view that the Bible should be taught in schools, I have to agree. This is not just a religious book, this is the basis of a lot of our literature, and culture. I honestly do not see why this should be a problem. There are no Bible stories that I have read so far that contain more mature content than what my daughter brought home from elementary school. I do not even want to think about her assigned reading in middle school, I was not sure I was old enough to read some of it. (Yes, I let her read it for her assignment.)
The tough question is where do we draw the line? What is okay to present to kids and what needs to be taken out? I think presenting the entire story is important. Perhaps presenting some of the more child friendly stories and holding off on something like Lot and his daughters would be a better solution.
Then Debbie asks, "So is the problem that parents, churches, or education has failed?". I think people's hearts were in the right place to begin with. Perhaps they wanted to shelter children from some of the violence and more adult topics in the Bible. However, by leaving it out all together, people seem to have forgotten that there is more to the story; I know my mother has.
A few nights ago, my mother looked at me and actually said something like, "Well, I do not know what kind of Bible you have that they are making you read, but those sorts of things were NOT in my BIBLE". It was an interesting moment in so many ways. First of all, because my tiny 4'9" 82 year old mother was so irate I thought she was going to explode. Second, it was news to me that she read the Bible (which from the conversation I am wondering if she actually did. The only thing that makes me think she may have is that she reads everything she can get her hands on). I think Mom took me to church maybe twice in my life. Third, that she was so passionate and opinionated about this. She has read many of my papers, and she does not usually have a strong opinion even when I come up with some twisted view of a classic. In case you are wondering what we were discussing from the Bible that had her so riled up, I will tell you. I was talking about there being giants and unicorns mentioned. She is, I assure you, of sound mind. She was just very passionate that these things were not in HER Bible.
As for Debbie's view that the Bible should be taught in schools, I have to agree. This is not just a religious book, this is the basis of a lot of our literature, and culture. I honestly do not see why this should be a problem. There are no Bible stories that I have read so far that contain more mature content than what my daughter brought home from elementary school. I do not even want to think about her assigned reading in middle school, I was not sure I was old enough to read some of it. (Yes, I let her read it for her assignment.)
The tough question is where do we draw the line? What is okay to present to kids and what needs to be taken out? I think presenting the entire story is important. Perhaps presenting some of the more child friendly stories and holding off on something like Lot and his daughters would be a better solution.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Solomon's roller coaster
"The peoples of the Congo do not believe in a natural death, not even when it happens through drowning or any other accident." James George Frazer Folklore in the Old Testament Chapter V page 335.
Solomon was the one guy I was really counting on. I thought he was actually going to be successful. He told God he wanted wisdom so he could judge his people. This is wonderful!!! This could actually get everyone on the same page! He could have asked for anything, but he asked for wisdom. With enough wisdom anything could be accomplished. Then again, maybe not. Solomon (the replacement), the son of David and Bathsheba, became king when his father died, and his mother arranged for him to take the throne. Everything is going great; the people are united, everyone is wealthy, Solomon builds a house for the Lord and a palace. Then he makes a huge mistake. He is led astray by foreign women and their gods. This should not come as a surprise because when he first asked for wisdom he was already married to the pharaoh's daughter in what probably seemed like a great way to make peace between the lands. I was hoping that when God gave him wisdom he would be able to figure out that going against God's law was a bad idea. Instead he decides to worship other gods and before you can say "where are we going and what are we doing in this hand basket" everything falls apart.
This is exactly the pattern we discussed in class. He was just a nobody; not even the one who was supposed to have any power. Out of the blue he gets power over the people and a great gift of wisdom from God. Then he starts going down hill and hits bottom again. Why the same story over and over? Maybe this pattern is to teach readers that just because you are doing well does not mean that you can let things go. Of course there is the lesson about obeying God; that's obvious. Even though I was hoping for Solomon to do the right thing, it would be more difficult if he had. How could anyone come after him? The guy has wisdom from God, riches beyond belief, and he must have been attractive considering the description of all the women he kept. There has to be a flaw or he is just a Ken doll; he is plastic. It is the flaws that make people and stories truly interesting. So, the pattern keeps the story interesting and gives readers a better moral message.
Solomon was the one guy I was really counting on. I thought he was actually going to be successful. He told God he wanted wisdom so he could judge his people. This is wonderful!!! This could actually get everyone on the same page! He could have asked for anything, but he asked for wisdom. With enough wisdom anything could be accomplished. Then again, maybe not. Solomon (the replacement), the son of David and Bathsheba, became king when his father died, and his mother arranged for him to take the throne. Everything is going great; the people are united, everyone is wealthy, Solomon builds a house for the Lord and a palace. Then he makes a huge mistake. He is led astray by foreign women and their gods. This should not come as a surprise because when he first asked for wisdom he was already married to the pharaoh's daughter in what probably seemed like a great way to make peace between the lands. I was hoping that when God gave him wisdom he would be able to figure out that going against God's law was a bad idea. Instead he decides to worship other gods and before you can say "where are we going and what are we doing in this hand basket" everything falls apart.
This is exactly the pattern we discussed in class. He was just a nobody; not even the one who was supposed to have any power. Out of the blue he gets power over the people and a great gift of wisdom from God. Then he starts going down hill and hits bottom again. Why the same story over and over? Maybe this pattern is to teach readers that just because you are doing well does not mean that you can let things go. Of course there is the lesson about obeying God; that's obvious. Even though I was hoping for Solomon to do the right thing, it would be more difficult if he had. How could anyone come after him? The guy has wisdom from God, riches beyond belief, and he must have been attractive considering the description of all the women he kept. There has to be a flaw or he is just a Ken doll; he is plastic. It is the flaws that make people and stories truly interesting. So, the pattern keeps the story interesting and gives readers a better moral message.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
disregarding the deadline, a few quotes, and names.
"So when her next child is born, the infant receives one of a special class of names called dzikudziku or "dying" names, which signify something mean, disagreeable or repulsive, "in order that Death may feel no desire to meddle with the child," or "in order that Death may be deceived and fancy that these children are not human beings at all."" -James George Frazer Folk-Lore in the Old Testament
2 Samuel 12:24 "And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD."
The first quote was randomly chosen as assigned, the second was in the reading I was doing today. I was really confused about the passage from the Bible so I did the only thing I could do at this point; stop and dig for answers. This is what I came up:
Plotz says that Solomon means "replacement" (Plotz 145), so that explains the first name quite well. God took the first son of David and Bathsheba as a punishment for David's sins (adultery and murder). This child is a replacement of the son they lost. That would be a cheery thought to carry around your whole life-you are a replacement. To complicate things further, Nathan, the prophet, names him Jedidiah. More digging led to the following website: http://nlt.scripturetext.com/2_samuel/12.htm. Their version has a bit more detail; it states that Jedidiah means, "beloved of the lord". This helps a great deal and is a nicer name in my opinion.
Names are important in literature, and the Bible is not an exception. The meanings of the name bring about memory of who the people are and where they came from, and the story of their people. Sarah, Issac, Ichabod, Jedidiah, are just a few examples of names that mean something to the story that is being told.
Culturally, names are also of great importance. When naming a baby, I have noted many people look up the meaning of the name before making a decision. If someone is greatly admired in the family, a child is often named after that person. I named my daughter, Dallas, after my father. As a baby gift my friend found a small framed definition of her name. It turns out, Dallas means "wise"; this made me like the name even more. Of course right now she is sixteen, so I am still waiting for the wise part to kick in. My point is, names are more than just a label; they have meaning. This is not new, and the tradition does not appear to be winding down.
With all the side reading I have done to get more information about this story or that passage, I do not have a lot of hope for finishing the Bible by October first. Not that I really care that much at this point. I really think that to get through the Bible and get anything out of it, you have to check other sources and get more information. This is not only true with the Bible, but with many stories. How much of Moby Dick would be missed if you did not bother to have a Bible, dictionary, and google at the ready? Sure, you can skip it and take just what is obvious and have a great story, but what would you miss? It would be like flying nonstop around the world and saying you are a world traveler. I am going to stop trying to read every last page before the deadline and make my way through the best I can. Who knows, maybe I will still make it.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Book of Enoch
I found a copy of The Book of Enoch for Kindle so I have been quickly reading parts of it. I have not found time yet to do a detailed reading. This book explains what Enoch saw while he walked with God. In addition, it contains The Book of Noah in which Enoch fills Noah in on what has happened. This book answers many of the questions I had, including...
What were the people doing that was so bad God decided to kill them all?
Where did they learn all these evil ways?
Why did the people follow God? Only so he would not smite them?
When Enoch and Noah walked with God where did they go?
This book gives me a better idea of why the story of the flood takes place, and why God is being so hard on everyone. It turns out that angels came to Earth, had children with women, and taught people things they should not know. They were up to trouble and they were actually the ones who created the entire mess.
This is not to imply that all angels are bad, there are stories of good ones as well.
It also has a great description of what happens to people when they die. Also included is where knowledge comes from. Bonus, it is written from the perspective of Enoch and Noah; as if they wrote it. It's like their adventure to the great beyond.
I am flipping through the part on astronomy now, but I really have to get back to the books that are included in the Bible. It really seems like there is a giant gap in the story without this book. My next question is why would they take all this out? It's really not hard to imagine that some people would not like this book. In the story, angels teach humans about enchantments, charms, and about plants. (Ch 7:1-2). Also, remember all the giants they keep mentioning? Those were the children of the angels and women, and they were trouble! "...whose height was three thousand ells:Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood"(Ch 7:3-6). Drinking blood? So is this how the vampire stories started?
What were the people doing that was so bad God decided to kill them all?
Where did they learn all these evil ways?
Why did the people follow God? Only so he would not smite them?
When Enoch and Noah walked with God where did they go?
This book gives me a better idea of why the story of the flood takes place, and why God is being so hard on everyone. It turns out that angels came to Earth, had children with women, and taught people things they should not know. They were up to trouble and they were actually the ones who created the entire mess.
This is not to imply that all angels are bad, there are stories of good ones as well.
It also has a great description of what happens to people when they die. Also included is where knowledge comes from. Bonus, it is written from the perspective of Enoch and Noah; as if they wrote it. It's like their adventure to the great beyond.
I am flipping through the part on astronomy now, but I really have to get back to the books that are included in the Bible. It really seems like there is a giant gap in the story without this book. My next question is why would they take all this out? It's really not hard to imagine that some people would not like this book. In the story, angels teach humans about enchantments, charms, and about plants. (Ch 7:1-2). Also, remember all the giants they keep mentioning? Those were the children of the angels and women, and they were trouble! "...whose height was three thousand ells:Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood"(Ch 7:3-6). Drinking blood? So is this how the vampire stories started?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Cultural difference in storytelling?
If you read my previous blog about all the violence, you know I have been having a hard time getting past it. I think I have a new way of looking at the stories that will help. I remembered a conversation I had a few years ago with a friend from Afghanistan. He is studying in Missoula and trying to help his country overcome some of the political issues that are experiencing. One of the difficulties he has run into is his culture's tradition of embellishing stories. It is more acceptable to stretch the truth than to bore your audience. I have heard this from someone else about another culture, unfortunately I do not remember who or where.
What does this have to do with me reading the Bible? Now I am thinking that maybe all the killing may be a bit exaggeration to make the story more interesting or impressive. Before everyone gets offended, I am not saying that the authors or any particular group of people are liars. I truly do not believe that. What I am saying is perhaps to further impress upon people the power of their God and to make the story better maybe there could possibly be a bit more violence in the stories. Also, I am not taking the reading as a literal historical account. Yes, I can get this unsettled about imaginary violence. So, I am feeling much better about what I am reading. If anyone has questions about or is offended by my thoughts on this one, please let me know. It is never my intent to upset anyone. Disclaimer....disclaimer...disclaimer....fine print.
What does this have to do with me reading the Bible? Now I am thinking that maybe all the killing may be a bit exaggeration to make the story more interesting or impressive. Before everyone gets offended, I am not saying that the authors or any particular group of people are liars. I truly do not believe that. What I am saying is perhaps to further impress upon people the power of their God and to make the story better maybe there could possibly be a bit more violence in the stories. Also, I am not taking the reading as a literal historical account. Yes, I can get this unsettled about imaginary violence. So, I am feeling much better about what I am reading. If anyone has questions about or is offended by my thoughts on this one, please let me know. It is never my intent to upset anyone. Disclaimer....disclaimer...disclaimer....fine print.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Class notes 9/9
Memorize Frye's 7 words that describe the Bible
1. Creation
2. Exodus (revolution)
3. Law
4. Wisdom
5. Prophecy
6. Gospel
7. Apocalypse (revelation)
Southern dude name Jedpr
J-Jahwist
superior storyteller-greatest storyteller of all time-anxiety of influence
E-Elohist
name of God-tells about proph, dreams, visions
D-Duteronomist
P-Priestly
transent, systems, uses "generations", technical details
R-Redactor
job to copy and revise in light of doctrine, intertextualy, everything tied together
website mentioned in class:
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/Genesis_texts.html
1. Creation
2. Exodus (revolution)
3. Law
4. Wisdom
5. Prophecy
6. Gospel
7. Apocalypse (revelation)
Southern dude name Jedpr
J-Jahwist
superior storyteller-greatest storyteller of all time-anxiety of influence
E-Elohist
name of God-tells about proph, dreams, visions
D-Duteronomist
P-Priestly
transent, systems, uses "generations", technical details
R-Redactor
job to copy and revise in light of doctrine, intertextualy, everything tied together
website mentioned in class:
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/Genesis_texts.html
Joshua
I was reading a lot, and blogging a little. Then I got to Joshua 7 and wrote some thoughts (on paper-I did not have my computer with me). I tried to go on, and I did read on a bit more, but I was having such an issue with all the killing, I felt I had to set both down for a bit until I could go back to (hopefully) reading with a more open mind. I realize I have not commented about some of the books, I assure you I have read them, and I will get back to them. For now, as a last act of getting past everything I was having an issue with I am going to share what I wrote about Joshua 6-9:15. This has much more of my personal feelings about what is written than I usually would share, so feel free to skip this one if you are not interested in such things, or you do not feel this type of writing belongs here. I am not sure I feel they do either, but as an account of my reading, my blog would be incomplete without it. Enough disclaimer, here it is...
Joshua 6-Jerico-Everyone marches around the city and on the 7th day it falls. Everyone dies except the harlot and her family that helped them earlier. I was actually beginning to wonder if they would actually them.
Joshua 7- They mess up again! God is really mad this time. Someone took something from the city they destroyed. So, they figure out who it was and stone him and burn all of his belongings. What a brutal way to kill someone. I cannot imagine that this was an easy task for the people. This is a group whose fathers were freed from slavery, and all survived together to create the next generation to find the promised land. They were a big family. They were all working and living for the same goal. To have to kill others would be terrible, in my opinion, but to have to kill one of their own had to be heart-wrenching. At this point I realize God is trying to set up rules and order, but at times He seems to go to such extremes! What happened to eye for eye and all that? Achan answered truthfully to his crime of theft. Is death the only answer? What happened to repenting and offering sacrifice? I know he defied God, but if he must be put to death is stoning really the only or best option? To watch your family, your tribe, turn on you and kill you seems is so terrible I cannot even fathom it. I know, the argument will be that he turned on them by disobeying God. I still don't buy that this was really necessary. God seems to be a bit of a bully-do exactly as I say or die. Even thinking of what they were trying to do and keep as good just does not get me through this one. Why am I so upset about one man? Maybe I am not, maybe it's just all the killing put together. I guess when they are killing others at least you can think of them as the good guys conquering evil and doing their God's work faithfully. This one just seems more difficult.
Joshua 8-More genocide as directed by God. What terrible bloodthirsty people these must be to carry it out. I would be the one God had killed, because I would not do hiss killing. I would be like Moses; stomping my foot and telling him he was not acting decent. And why hang their enemy's leader? If they killed everyone who is left to appreciate their gory display? Honestly, if I were part of this group I would go out to the desert and die rather than travel with them. I would be ashamed to say I was one of them.
Joshua 8:31-They sacrifice peace offerings. HA
Joshua 9:15-"And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them" He let them live; what a great guy.
Obviously at this point I need to step away for a bit.
Joshua 6-Jerico-Everyone marches around the city and on the 7th day it falls. Everyone dies except the harlot and her family that helped them earlier. I was actually beginning to wonder if they would actually them.
Joshua 7- They mess up again! God is really mad this time. Someone took something from the city they destroyed. So, they figure out who it was and stone him and burn all of his belongings. What a brutal way to kill someone. I cannot imagine that this was an easy task for the people. This is a group whose fathers were freed from slavery, and all survived together to create the next generation to find the promised land. They were a big family. They were all working and living for the same goal. To have to kill others would be terrible, in my opinion, but to have to kill one of their own had to be heart-wrenching. At this point I realize God is trying to set up rules and order, but at times He seems to go to such extremes! What happened to eye for eye and all that? Achan answered truthfully to his crime of theft. Is death the only answer? What happened to repenting and offering sacrifice? I know he defied God, but if he must be put to death is stoning really the only or best option? To watch your family, your tribe, turn on you and kill you seems is so terrible I cannot even fathom it. I know, the argument will be that he turned on them by disobeying God. I still don't buy that this was really necessary. God seems to be a bit of a bully-do exactly as I say or die. Even thinking of what they were trying to do and keep as good just does not get me through this one. Why am I so upset about one man? Maybe I am not, maybe it's just all the killing put together. I guess when they are killing others at least you can think of them as the good guys conquering evil and doing their God's work faithfully. This one just seems more difficult.
Joshua 8-More genocide as directed by God. What terrible bloodthirsty people these must be to carry it out. I would be the one God had killed, because I would not do hiss killing. I would be like Moses; stomping my foot and telling him he was not acting decent. And why hang their enemy's leader? If they killed everyone who is left to appreciate their gory display? Honestly, if I were part of this group I would go out to the desert and die rather than travel with them. I would be ashamed to say I was one of them.
Joshua 8:31-They sacrifice peace offerings. HA
Joshua 9:15-"And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them" He let them live; what a great guy.
Obviously at this point I need to step away for a bit.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Reading-Great Blogging-Not so much
I'm on track to actually finish the Bible before the first of next month. The blogging part is killing me; I am so far behind. So, the plan is to blog today about class and a few other interesting notes and hopefully jump back in tomorrow.
I found a beginning to an answer to my question about Enoch. It turns out there is a Book of Enoch. When I get a reliable copy I will make more info available. I think this book might clear up a lot of the questions I have been asking. However, it does bring me to questions concerning the omission of this book. That tiny little passage about Enoch raises so many questions, yet the book with more has been left out. I am wondering why. I am going to catch up on my blogging before I read it, but I think I found a copy. I am so excited to find out what happened. This maybe a great time to ponder the importance of employing a good editor.
Class on Tuesday was a whirlwind of people who use the Bible, how they use it, and the power of the book. This brings me back to a Lit Crit from last semester during which we discussed "performance language". Some words create something by being said or written. I believe one example used in class was when people get married they make a promise and the words create the actual contract. The words create the legal union. The Bible is somewhat like that to many people. If something is in the Bible, according to them, then that is how it is and should be. If the Bible says people should live a certain way then to some there is no question. The power of words together with such passionate beliefs are amazing. Unfortunately, it seems that in some cases, there is not a positive outcome. It always surprised me that there were so many religious wars. After reading this far in the Bible (currently at Joshua 5) I now know that this book details a grisly repetition of violence and murder. God encourages people to kill when he is not doing the dirty work himself. It is no wonder people resort to violence. If the author was trying to mirror and give reason for people's tempestuous nature I think he a fine job. Some of the passages are difficult to read just because of the amount of killing. My fiance tends to use a quote quite a bit that might help put this into perspective. In the 1993 movie The Man in the Iron Mask, the character D'Artagnan
advises, "Think not of who you kill, but what you allow to live" (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_Iron_Mask). (ps.Yes, I used wikiquote. No, I usually do not use anything with wiki in it.) Maybe that is the way to get through these passages; by focusing on what God was allowing to thrive instead of what He was killing the story gets a little more palatable.
I found a beginning to an answer to my question about Enoch. It turns out there is a Book of Enoch. When I get a reliable copy I will make more info available. I think this book might clear up a lot of the questions I have been asking. However, it does bring me to questions concerning the omission of this book. That tiny little passage about Enoch raises so many questions, yet the book with more has been left out. I am wondering why. I am going to catch up on my blogging before I read it, but I think I found a copy. I am so excited to find out what happened. This maybe a great time to ponder the importance of employing a good editor.
Class on Tuesday was a whirlwind of people who use the Bible, how they use it, and the power of the book. This brings me back to a Lit Crit from last semester during which we discussed "performance language". Some words create something by being said or written. I believe one example used in class was when people get married they make a promise and the words create the actual contract. The words create the legal union. The Bible is somewhat like that to many people. If something is in the Bible, according to them, then that is how it is and should be. If the Bible says people should live a certain way then to some there is no question. The power of words together with such passionate beliefs are amazing. Unfortunately, it seems that in some cases, there is not a positive outcome. It always surprised me that there were so many religious wars. After reading this far in the Bible (currently at Joshua 5) I now know that this book details a grisly repetition of violence and murder. God encourages people to kill when he is not doing the dirty work himself. It is no wonder people resort to violence. If the author was trying to mirror and give reason for people's tempestuous nature I think he a fine job. Some of the passages are difficult to read just because of the amount of killing. My fiance tends to use a quote quite a bit that might help put this into perspective. In the 1993 movie The Man in the Iron Mask, the character D'Artagnan
advises, "Think not of who you kill, but what you allow to live" (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_Iron_Mask). (ps.Yes, I used wikiquote. No, I usually do not use anything with wiki in it.) Maybe that is the way to get through these passages; by focusing on what God was allowing to thrive instead of what He was killing the story gets a little more palatable.
Monday, September 6, 2010
catching up
Genesis 1:
I have read this part of the Bible before. Good. That sums it up. God creates something, looks it over, and makes sure it is good before going on. A bit like checking a math problem. Yes, there it is, I used the correct equation, got a reasonable answer, it is good; next problem. He only says it is good. Maybe that is sufficient at that time. Maybe fantastic or amazing or awesome were overkill at that time. Maybe it just was not that impressive to him. If he had made it great maybe He would not have had to destroy it all in a few pages.
Gen 1:21 Probably this is just one of my odd observations, or maybe because I recently finished Moby Dick, but the question I have is why whales? God creates all the creatures and fowl and all life and kind of lumps them all together and then actually mentions whales. Whales are impressive, maybe the author was so impressed with whales he decided to mention them. Maybe there was some weird cult that worshiped whales so the author to persuade his readers decided to throw in that his god made whales.
Gen 1:26 Confusion!!!! Who was the creator talking to? He uses the words "us" and "our" when talking about how he is going to make man. Maybe he is just talking to himself. I have been known to talk to myself; who hasn't? Usually this occurs when I have lost my keys or I am dangerously close to the end of my rope with my teenage daughter. Still, I do not use the words "us" and "our" unless I am including her stepfather in my tirade. Then it goes something like,"She must think we our out of our minds if she thinks we will allow her to dye her hair that color". If someone is sitting alone creating and having a bit of a chat with himself and he began using "us" and "our" I would think he had a multiple personality disorder. Since Jesus and the Holy Spirit have not shown up, it seems like it should be just Him. Maybe I'm thinking too small. He is God, maybe he knows what is to come. Anyone else pondering this one?
God makes everything, gives Adam and Eve a bit of instruction and hands it all over to them. Wow. This is a generous God. He even makes them in his image. A bit of vanity maybe? I think this was where it all started going wrong. Of course we will not read about it until later, but God tends to make seemingly empty promises, kill people, commit genocide, have a bad temper, and generally be a bit hard for the new people to get along with. Perhaps they are a bit too much alike.
Genesis Book 2:
Details!!! This book is a more detailed account of the first story. Did they forget to write everything down the first time? Why did they make it two books instead of editing it into one? Interesting.
Names-Adam had to name ALL the creatures. Can you imagine doing this? I had a difficult time naming my only daughter. I cannot imagine this task. Of course, being the only person, it was probably easier. As soon as someone hears you are pregnant they want to add their two cents on what to name the child. Adam just went about and decided with no one to complain.
The Rib-Eve was created as a "help meet" and together they are one. Taking the rib to make her was the way the bond was formed between them. Unfortunately, some people use this to mean woman belongs to man. Sad really, it's a beautiful story.
Naked-Huge point right at the end of Gen 2:25-they have no clothes and they do not care. The state of nakedness can be read many ways in a text. Reading further, they sew together clothes and then God makes them better clothes. Are they covering nudity or are they covering their shame of sin? Both?
Serpent-How does the serpent know all this? (Gen 3) How does this creature know what the fruit does? How does he know it was forbidden? Did God tell him to tempt Adam and Eve? Did he want to kick them out of the garden? Eve convinces Adam to eat the fruit and now the husband rules over the wife. So much for equality.
Gen 3:22 There He goes with "us" again; I still want to know who he is talking to. Is is Angels? Other Gods? Himself? Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden. Is this the death penalty He promised? They ate the fruit so they go out and God sends for guards so they cannot eat from the tree that will grant them eternal life.
Gen 4- Cain is a farmer and Able is a shepherd. They both give offerings to God, but He rejects Cains'. There is no explanation for the rejection. Is God still mad about the fruit being eaten? Did he think gardening was not enough of a challenge? Jealousy rears it's ugly head and Cain kills his brother. Later we learn God goes around killing and gets jealous easily. Again, maybe He went too far when he made man in his image.
Begot, begot, begot...Seth was born to Adam and Eve and he had a son named Enos. At this point men "...began to call the name of the Lord"(Gen 4:26). What did I miss? Did people stop talking to God at some point and Enos started talking to them again?
Gen 5-People lived a LONG time, and then died. There is one exception; Enoch did not die. Gen 5:24 states, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him". This leads me to even more questions. Is walking with God a good thing? I am going to assume that God did not just get mad and wipe him off the Earth. If that would have been the case the story could be used as a cautionary tale to those who upset God. I am wondering what he did that was so impressive that he was allowed to be with God instead of die. Why would the author choose not to include this story? Of course this is the Bible, so there are many authors. Could this be bad editing? Is the story out there somewhere, but it is not included in the Bible? I will check into it and update my findings.
Gen 6-GIANTS!!! There are giants in the Bible. This is a bit unexpected for me. Who were these giants? Were they really giants or just impressive people? Did the author literally mean giants? How large were these people if they really were giants? People have grown taller over the course of history. Were the Hebrews just short?
-God decides people should have shorter lifespans, so He reduces it to 120 years. This seems a bit more reasonable. I suppose if people stayed healthy and still had their wits about them a very long life span could have benefits. They could make huge accomplishments during their life. Then again, considering the way a lot of people procrastinate, probably many of them would just put the big things off until they were 400. 120 is good, but it makes the story a little less believable. I personally have never know anyone over the age of 97.
-Noah walked with God!!! He lived, walked with God then cam back, and later died. There was more, but set that aside for now. This is another example of someone walking with God, but all the details are gone!!! I really hope there are details later on. This has me extremely curious.
-Earth is covered in people being evil and violent so God decides to take action. He saves the only good family on the planet and get rid of the bad ones. It is not clearly stated what Noah did that was so much better than the other people. If some of the details were included, maybe people could have a good example to live by. So far, this is a how-not-to book.
-Gen 7-FLOOD. That would be a long time in a boat full of animals; not to mention your kids and wife.
-Gen 8 A dove brings an olive leaf so they know it is all going to be okay. They build and alter and make an offering. I feel like I am missing an obvious symbol here. What is the symbol of the olive leaf beyond that there is a healthy olive tree?
-Gen 9-Rainbows will be the sign of the covenant between God and man. Was the author trying to explain something that is beautiful and, at the time, a bit mysterious?
-Noah is drunk and naked!!! Ham sees that his father is naked and his other two brothers cover their father. Since Ham did not act, his son is cursed. What? Noah got drunk and naked so his grandson is cursed? I suppose that it would teach everyone to watch out for each other and lend a hand to those who are unable. Still, is it right to get drunk and pass out naked in this society? Here it is the first night on the freshly laundered Earth and people are already cursing each other. This is not a good sign.
-Gen 10-Noah's family tree.
I have read this part of the Bible before. Good. That sums it up. God creates something, looks it over, and makes sure it is good before going on. A bit like checking a math problem. Yes, there it is, I used the correct equation, got a reasonable answer, it is good; next problem. He only says it is good. Maybe that is sufficient at that time. Maybe fantastic or amazing or awesome were overkill at that time. Maybe it just was not that impressive to him. If he had made it great maybe He would not have had to destroy it all in a few pages.
Gen 1:21 Probably this is just one of my odd observations, or maybe because I recently finished Moby Dick, but the question I have is why whales? God creates all the creatures and fowl and all life and kind of lumps them all together and then actually mentions whales. Whales are impressive, maybe the author was so impressed with whales he decided to mention them. Maybe there was some weird cult that worshiped whales so the author to persuade his readers decided to throw in that his god made whales.
Gen 1:26 Confusion!!!! Who was the creator talking to? He uses the words "us" and "our" when talking about how he is going to make man. Maybe he is just talking to himself. I have been known to talk to myself; who hasn't? Usually this occurs when I have lost my keys or I am dangerously close to the end of my rope with my teenage daughter. Still, I do not use the words "us" and "our" unless I am including her stepfather in my tirade. Then it goes something like,"She must think we our out of our minds if she thinks we will allow her to dye her hair that color". If someone is sitting alone creating and having a bit of a chat with himself and he began using "us" and "our" I would think he had a multiple personality disorder. Since Jesus and the Holy Spirit have not shown up, it seems like it should be just Him. Maybe I'm thinking too small. He is God, maybe he knows what is to come. Anyone else pondering this one?
God makes everything, gives Adam and Eve a bit of instruction and hands it all over to them. Wow. This is a generous God. He even makes them in his image. A bit of vanity maybe? I think this was where it all started going wrong. Of course we will not read about it until later, but God tends to make seemingly empty promises, kill people, commit genocide, have a bad temper, and generally be a bit hard for the new people to get along with. Perhaps they are a bit too much alike.
Genesis Book 2:
Details!!! This book is a more detailed account of the first story. Did they forget to write everything down the first time? Why did they make it two books instead of editing it into one? Interesting.
Names-Adam had to name ALL the creatures. Can you imagine doing this? I had a difficult time naming my only daughter. I cannot imagine this task. Of course, being the only person, it was probably easier. As soon as someone hears you are pregnant they want to add their two cents on what to name the child. Adam just went about and decided with no one to complain.
The Rib-Eve was created as a "help meet" and together they are one. Taking the rib to make her was the way the bond was formed between them. Unfortunately, some people use this to mean woman belongs to man. Sad really, it's a beautiful story.
Naked-Huge point right at the end of Gen 2:25-they have no clothes and they do not care. The state of nakedness can be read many ways in a text. Reading further, they sew together clothes and then God makes them better clothes. Are they covering nudity or are they covering their shame of sin? Both?
Serpent-How does the serpent know all this? (Gen 3) How does this creature know what the fruit does? How does he know it was forbidden? Did God tell him to tempt Adam and Eve? Did he want to kick them out of the garden? Eve convinces Adam to eat the fruit and now the husband rules over the wife. So much for equality.
Gen 3:22 There He goes with "us" again; I still want to know who he is talking to. Is is Angels? Other Gods? Himself? Adam and Eve are sent out of the garden. Is this the death penalty He promised? They ate the fruit so they go out and God sends for guards so they cannot eat from the tree that will grant them eternal life.
Gen 4- Cain is a farmer and Able is a shepherd. They both give offerings to God, but He rejects Cains'. There is no explanation for the rejection. Is God still mad about the fruit being eaten? Did he think gardening was not enough of a challenge? Jealousy rears it's ugly head and Cain kills his brother. Later we learn God goes around killing and gets jealous easily. Again, maybe He went too far when he made man in his image.
Begot, begot, begot...Seth was born to Adam and Eve and he had a son named Enos. At this point men "...began to call the name of the Lord"(Gen 4:26). What did I miss? Did people stop talking to God at some point and Enos started talking to them again?
Gen 5-People lived a LONG time, and then died. There is one exception; Enoch did not die. Gen 5:24 states, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him". This leads me to even more questions. Is walking with God a good thing? I am going to assume that God did not just get mad and wipe him off the Earth. If that would have been the case the story could be used as a cautionary tale to those who upset God. I am wondering what he did that was so impressive that he was allowed to be with God instead of die. Why would the author choose not to include this story? Of course this is the Bible, so there are many authors. Could this be bad editing? Is the story out there somewhere, but it is not included in the Bible? I will check into it and update my findings.
Gen 6-GIANTS!!! There are giants in the Bible. This is a bit unexpected for me. Who were these giants? Were they really giants or just impressive people? Did the author literally mean giants? How large were these people if they really were giants? People have grown taller over the course of history. Were the Hebrews just short?
-God decides people should have shorter lifespans, so He reduces it to 120 years. This seems a bit more reasonable. I suppose if people stayed healthy and still had their wits about them a very long life span could have benefits. They could make huge accomplishments during their life. Then again, considering the way a lot of people procrastinate, probably many of them would just put the big things off until they were 400. 120 is good, but it makes the story a little less believable. I personally have never know anyone over the age of 97.
-Noah walked with God!!! He lived, walked with God then cam back, and later died. There was more, but set that aside for now. This is another example of someone walking with God, but all the details are gone!!! I really hope there are details later on. This has me extremely curious.
-Earth is covered in people being evil and violent so God decides to take action. He saves the only good family on the planet and get rid of the bad ones. It is not clearly stated what Noah did that was so much better than the other people. If some of the details were included, maybe people could have a good example to live by. So far, this is a how-not-to book.
-Gen 7-FLOOD. That would be a long time in a boat full of animals; not to mention your kids and wife.
-Gen 8 A dove brings an olive leaf so they know it is all going to be okay. They build and alter and make an offering. I feel like I am missing an obvious symbol here. What is the symbol of the olive leaf beyond that there is a healthy olive tree?
-Gen 9-Rainbows will be the sign of the covenant between God and man. Was the author trying to explain something that is beautiful and, at the time, a bit mysterious?
-Noah is drunk and naked!!! Ham sees that his father is naked and his other two brothers cover their father. Since Ham did not act, his son is cursed. What? Noah got drunk and naked so his grandson is cursed? I suppose that it would teach everyone to watch out for each other and lend a hand to those who are unable. Still, is it right to get drunk and pass out naked in this society? Here it is the first night on the freshly laundered Earth and people are already cursing each other. This is not a good sign.
-Gen 10-Noah's family tree.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Day 1
I have never blogged or read the Bible, so I am excited to start the new challenges. Today I read and frantically jotted down notes in a notebook; I will get them transfered over tomorrow. So far overall, I have to say the text seems to lead to an excessive amount of unanswered questions. If this were not a religious text I wonder if people would still think it was such a good book. There will be tons of examples in my next blog post, but for now, I am off to read.
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