[lit-ideas] Re: One fewer god
- From: Jack Spratt <dosflounder@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 13:41:34 -0700 (PDT)
I am not sure that the dates associated with Zoroaster are really that certain.
Some modern scholars believe that Zoroaster is the author of the Gâthâ's (a
part of the holy book of the Zoroastrians, the Avesta), which they date on
linguistic grounds - in the fourteenth or thirteenth century BCE. Since the
time-lines are uncertain they should be put aside.
I would note however that I did not say that they originated monotheism but
were original thinkers, meaning that they (Abraham and Zoroaster), unlike small
and for the most part, forgotten monotheistic cults, were succesful in
establishing a following that expanded into major religious groups.
Are you saying that Judaism originated as an Egyptian cult? Were early "Jews"
even Jews at all if they needed to be taught what monotheism is?
J.S.
The one thing we lack is a handy utopia.
dreas Ramos <andreas@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I wondered about this.
Egyptian cults, such as Aten (1,300 BC), were monotheistic. That's where the
early Jews
learned about monotheism.
Early Judaeism was polytheistic and there's plenty of examples for this in the
Torah.
As for Zoraster, that is 300-500 BC, so it was fairly later.
In any case, neither Zoraster nor Abraham were original thinkers about
monotheism.
yrs,
andreas
www.andreas.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Paul"
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 11:23 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: One fewer god
> Jack Spratt wrote:
>
> "Abraham's or Zoroaster did not arrive at their teachings about god entirely
> from their
> tribal experience, they were original thinkers. God(s) come out of man's head
> like Venus
> coming out of Zeus' but what they look like and how they are accepted by
> those nearby
> becomes part of the culture." \
> You are, perhaps, thinking of Athena, who according to myth, literally
> emerged from Zeus's
> head, after he had swallowed her mother. Venus is the Roman counterpart of
> Aphrodite, who
> emerged from the foam after Cronos castrated his father, Uranos, and threw
> his genitals
> into the sea. Homer's account of her origins differs, and in it, Aphrodite is
> the daughter
> of Zeus and a sky goddess, Dione.
>
> The earlier version makes a better painting though.
>
> Robert Paul
> Reed College
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> All-new Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done
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