God's Wife (Full Version)

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tazzygirl -> God's Wife (3/23/2011 5:39:20 AM)


Some scholars say early versions of the Bible featured Asherah, a powerful fertility goddess who may have been God's wife.
Research by Francesca Stavrakopoulou, a senior lecturer in the department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, unearthed clues to her identity, but good luck finding mention of her in the Bible. If Stavrakopoulou is right, heavy-handed male editors of the text all but removed her from the sacred book.


What remains of God's purported other half are clues in ancient texts, amulets and figurines unearthed primarily in an ancient Canaanite coastal city, now in modern-day Syria. Inscriptions on pottery found in the Sinai desert also show Yahweh and Asherah were worshipped as a pair, and a passage in the Book of Kings mentions the goddess as being housed in the temple of Yahweh.

J. Edward Wright, president of The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies and The Albright Institute for Archaeological Research, backs Stavrakopoulou's findings, saying several Hebrew inscriptions mention “Yahweh and his Asherah." He adds Asherah was not entirely edited out of the Bible by its male editors.


Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/22/fertility-goddess-asherah-was-gods-wife-edited-out-of-the-bible/#ixzz1HQSX6vbb

Just an interesting concept. [:D]



Aneirin -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 6:28:34 AM)

It most certainly is an interesting concept, and if there is any truth in it, then it would make this religion more acceptable to many as it does not seek to alienate an important aspect of mankind, the other half.

But, the suppression of the female kind goes much further than simply the bible, for it is known that each and everyone of us possess both male and female characteristics, but in a male centred society such traits that could be female are suppressed there leading to confusion and the inevitable problems that causes for the self and possibly those others around. Men are not allowed to be passive, not allowed to be gentle, not allowed to cry, why the hell not, if it is natural, why suppress natural urges, or put another way, why suppress that which whatever god you support made you, do you, or does your society know better than god.

Suppression is the ill of mankind, other peoples values moulding and governing our own.

But if Asherah comes back, maybe then the ills of the past might be challenged and put right.



rulemylife -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 6:49:29 AM)

I have a question for you Tazzy.

No one still believes in the Greek or Roman gods and goddesses as anything but mythology.

What makes this different?



Aneirin -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 7:02:10 AM)

You accept Asherah as mythology, then it stands you must accept God as mytholology, but to many most religions are just mythology and superstition, so, there is no difference, one either accepts , or they do not.

I am aware of people who still say they worship ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses, and with that Thracian, Roman, Sumerian etc, as that appeals to them, or calls to them.



Louve00 -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:15:20 AM)

I always considered "gods" and "goddessess" to be mythology, too.  However (and rml you have scoffed at my googling before so get ready...) I googled "Did God have a wife and this is what I found in Wiki....

Did God Have a Wife?: Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel, (Eerdmans, ISBN 0-8028-2852-3, 2005),[1] is a book by Syro-Palestinian archaeologist William G. Dever, Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Arizona. “Did God Have a Wife?” was intended as a popular work making available to the general public the evidence long known to archaeologists regarding ancient Israelite religion: namely that the Israelite God of antiquity (before 600 BC), Yahweh, had a consort, that her name was Asherah, and that she was part of the Canaanite pantheon. The book has nine chapters, plus "afterword" and a list of sources. Chapters 1 to 3 define the topic and describe the different scholarly approaches to Israelite religion, biblical and non-biblical sources and texts, and the role of archaeology. Chapter 4 (“The Hebrew Bible: Religious Reality or Theological Ideal?”) examines cultic terminology and activities in the Hebrew Bible. The core of the book lies in chapters 5 (“Archaeological Evidence for Folk Religions in Ancient Israel”), 6 (“The Goddess Asherah and Her Cult”), and 7 (“Asherah, Women’s Cults, and ‘Official Yahwism’”). These chapters describe polytheistic religion in ancient Israel, which, Dever points out, was the reality in the religious lives of most people. The last two chapters (ch. 8: “From Polytheism to Monotheism”; ch. 9: “What Does the Goddess Do to Help”) sum up the book, concluding that biblical monotheism is an artificial phenomenon, the product of the elite, nationalist parties who wrote and edited the Hebrew Bible during the Babylonian exile as a response to the trauma of the conquest, and subsequently enforced it in their homeland during the early Persian period. Dever also notes that folk religion and the role of the goddess did not disappear under official monotheistic Yahwism, but instead went underground, to find a home in the magic and mysticism of later Judaism.[2]
[/link][link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_God_Have_a_Wife%3F]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_God_Have_a_Wife%3F

**edited to add...it still sounds like mythology to me.  But we're all entitled to our beliefs as we interpret them. 



tazzygirl -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:22:48 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

I have a question for you Tazzy.

No one still believes in the Greek or Roman gods and goddesses as anything but mythology.

What makes this different?



If you will notice, I said it was an interesting concept. Do you recall what I said about the Bible itself?



rulemylife -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:24:03 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Louve00

I always considered "gods" and "goddessess" to be mythology, too.  However (and rml you have scoffed at my googling before so get ready...) I googled "Did God have a wife and this is what I found in Wiki....

Did God Have a Wife?: Archaeology and Folk Religion in Ancient Israel, (Eerdmans, ISBN 0-8028-2852-3, 2005),[1] is a book by Syro-Palestinian archaeologist William G. Dever, Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Archeology and Anthropology at the University of Arizona. “Did God Have a Wife?” was intended as a popular work making available to the general public the evidence long known to archaeologists regarding ancient Israelite religion: namely that the Israelite God of antiquity (before 600 BC), Yahweh, had a consort, that her name was Asherah, and that she was part of the Canaanite pantheon. The book has nine chapters, plus "afterword" and a list of sources. Chapters 1 to 3 define the topic and describe the different scholarly approaches to Israelite religion, biblical and non-biblical sources and texts, and the role of archaeology. Chapter 4 (“The Hebrew Bible: Religious Reality or Theological Ideal?”) examines cultic terminology and activities in the Hebrew Bible. The core of the book lies in chapters 5 (“Archaeological Evidence for Folk Religions in Ancient Israel”), 6 (“The Goddess Asherah and Her Cult”), and 7 (“Asherah, Women’s Cults, and ‘Official Yahwism’”). These chapters describe polytheistic religion in ancient Israel, which, Dever points out, was the reality in the religious lives of most people. The last two chapters (ch. 8: “From Polytheism to Monotheism”; ch. 9: “What Does the Goddess Do to Help”) sum up the book, concluding that biblical monotheism is an artificial phenomenon, the product of the elite, nationalist parties who wrote and edited the Hebrew Bible during the Babylonian exile as a response to the trauma of the conquest, and subsequently enforced it in their homeland during the early Persian period. Dever also notes that folk religion and the role of the goddess did not disappear under official monotheistic Yahwism, but instead went underground, to find a home in the magic and mysticism of later Judaism.[2]
[/link][link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_God_Have_a_Wife%3F]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Did_God_Have_a_Wife%3F



When have I scoffed at you or anyone for backing their claims?

I may not agree with them but that doesn't mean I am dismissive of them.

But don't get me started on this one, because I will ask the same question I asked Tazzy, how does this differ from any other mythology?



domiguy -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:25:19 AM)

I wonder if Asherah enjoyed anal and could deep throat God's massive member?



Louve00 -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:27:01 AM)

I don't recall the exact thread but you did when the link I posted said something to the effect of or exactly what your link posted, and you accused me of not clicking on links.  (and at that time, I admitted I don't always click on links.  Sometimes I believe people at their word, sometimes I don't have time to click links...and sometimes I just don't want to).

Have a good day rml  [:)]



mnottertail -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:27:40 AM)

I believe she rose to omnisuculent, yes.

She did have a little trouble gobbling on it like a good girl,  until he came up with the artifice of removing his foreskin.



JohnWarren -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:29:23 AM)

Well, the Hebrew god himself does admit there are other gods.  Read the first commandment carefully.



tazzygirl -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:30:39 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: domiguy

I wonder if Asherah enjoyed anal and could deep throat God's massive member?


You are assuming it was massive! Show me a biblical quote that says as much.

I often saw the Virgin Mary and the immaculate conception much like Zeus impregnanting Danae in a golden shower.



rulemylife -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:30:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl


quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

I have a question for you Tazzy.

No one still believes in the Greek or Roman gods and goddesses as anything but mythology.

What makes this different?



If you will notice, I said it was an interesting concept. Do you recall what I said about the Bible itself?


No I don't, refresh my memory.



tazzygirl -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:31:47 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: JohnWarren

Well, the Hebrew god himself does admit there are other gods.  Read the first commandment carefully.


Very true... provided people want to read that commandment and dont take talking points from religious leaders or atheists.



tazzygirl -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:33:38 AM)

http://www.collarchat.com/fb.asp?m=2913408



rulemylife -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:34:00 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Louve00

I don't recall the exact thread but you did when the link I posted said something to the effect of or exactly what your link posted, and you accused me of not clicking on links.  (and at that time, I admitted I don't always click on links.  Sometimes I believe people at their word, sometimes I don't have time to click links...and sometimes I just don't want to).

Have a good day rml  [:)]



So let me see if I understand.

You are accusing me of something that you can't quite remember.

But that's very possible, because I don't understand how people respond to topics other people post without bothering to read the links.







Louve00 -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:40:01 AM)

I remember you being upset because the link I posted said exactly what you posted and you asked me if I even bothered to click the link.

As far as remembering what it was about...I pretty much dismiss what I don't think is worth remembering.  I just remembered it bothered you that I googled something similar (or exact) to what you posted and you had something to say about it. 

Some people are anal like that, ya know?



rulemylife -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 8:44:18 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Louve00

I remember you being upset because the link I posted said exactly what you posted and you asked me if I even bothered to click the link.

As far as remembering what it was about...I pretty much dismiss what I don't think is worth remembering.  I just remembered it bothered you that I googled something similar (or exact) to what you posted and you had something to say about it. 

Some people are anal like that, ya know?



Uh.....yeah..........okay.

You really don't remember anything about it.

But hey, I'll take your word for it.



GreedyTop -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 9:06:27 AM)

~FR~

As JohnWarren pointed out:

"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. "

so, even the Christian God acknowledged other Gods (and presumably Goddesses).



tazzygirl -> RE: God's Wife (3/23/2011 9:07:54 AM)

Yup Yup.



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