How a Gay Jewish Boy from New England Came to Be and Leave the JWs (and what he did next)

by CalebInFloroda 43 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Crazyguy

  The word elohim is said to be plural but the Jews used it to show there God as being more. This is the reason for it in plural instead of singular. But skeptics say this is the only time they see this kind of plural use of a word in the language and say this is bunk, what's is your opinion?
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  CalebInFloroda

  The Jews went from worshipping multiple deities to finally the one championed by the Davidic dynasty. Though the narrative in the Bible is often read as if my people were constantly faithful to the God of Abraham, this is not supported by archeology, history or even a close examination of Scripture.

  The Davidic dynasty introduced and enforced a single state religion, the cult of YHWH with the construction of the Temple. Along with this redactions to Scripture ironed out the economy of this cult and the dynasty itself as part of this enforcement.

  Etymologically speaking the terminology used in worship, mainly the plural word for "gods" became one of the Names for YHWH. Polytheism was thus the likely origins for the plural term, transferring the plural expression now to the Only God who they nationally believed ruled over all others.

  Gentile Christians would read in this a foreshadowing of the Trinity, but the claim was not necessarily definitive at the expense of simple grammatical syntax. A similar misunderstanding has arisen due to the use of the masculine pronoun in reference to Elohim, allowing for a misogyny in Christianity that was blamed on the Jews for inventing, in essence claiming that Jews understood God to be primarily masculine. In reality the use of the masculine occurs due to the lack of neuter pronouns in ancient Hebrew as Jewish religion strictly forbids assigning gender to Elohim.

  In closing, the plurality is just a holdover from the origins of the term but not representative of what later became defined in the Shema.
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  Crazyguy

  Whats your opinion of the Davidic dynasty was it a Persian invention or what since there's no proof he or Solomon ever existed?
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  paradisebeauty

  You have an interesting story Caleb.

  And I read some of your other threads, you are very well documented on the Bible.

  And you are very good with words, Yours is the longest thread I actually read.