AndresDeLaHoz

Yeah, I was arguing with someone who threw that classic "all religions are really my religion, just misinterpreted". However, it got me thinking, I don't really know anything about early judaism, how the religion was early on, how it shapes up to be what it is in the OT. Could someone throw a few links at me regarding early judaism and the OT? thanks.

Celsus

Hello Andres,

Aside from checking the booklist (which we're in the midst of updating) in the sticky at the top, here are a few links that might be of interest:

Minimalists:
On the Problems of Reconstructing Pre-Hellenistic Israelite (Palestinian) History by Niels Peter Lemche

Towards a new History of Israel by Jan-Wim Wesselius

Specifically answering your question, as recommended by DrJim and Apikorus (I've only pre-ordered this, I can't vouch for it other than having our two resident experts vouch for it):

Religions of Ancient Israel: A Synthesis of Parallactic Approaches (not yet available in softcover though) by Ziony Zevit (hardcover - out of stock)

And a generic site with tons of useful links (and more mainstream approaches than the minimalists):

History of Israel [Edit: er... I just had a double take at that site and it is pretty heavily minimalist]

Best of luck with your search,

Joel

Tellurian

Regarding the Torah: If you look to the old Sumerian religious beliefs you will find where many of the stories came from, including the Garden of Eden and Noah's ark stories. Additional information can be found at: http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze...sumer-faq.html

The reason many of the Torah stories come from Sumer is because it was written in the 6th century BCE when captive Jews were in Mesopotamia surrounded by Babylonians, who got many of their religious beliefs from the Akkadians, who got many of their religious beliefs from the Sumerians.

Volker.Doormann

Most people confuse religion with social systems trading blind worship rituals. My experience is, that only a few people have a clear sight on religion, most people have no knowledge what religion is and mean. P.e. no one can possess a religion, as no one can possess a truth or a sky. I think the origins are mostly lost. They are mostly lost, because people do not realize religion their self, but seeking understanding in remote times of history, and have no ability anymore to recognize the spiritual symbols hidden after this religious symbols. I think this holds for Judaism, as well as for Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism.

Quote:

Could someone throw a few links at me regarding early judaism and the OT?

How about to start with doormann.org/manuslaw.txt to get an impression on the Manu-Smriti. The spiritual symbols treated in the Indian Vedas, as the symbols of the firstborn as fleshly body, or the twiceborn as the awaken spiritual soul, which is the only existence, which has a relation to that »re_ligion« where taken from the Semites to Mesopotamia about ~2300 BCE and were implemented in many parables in the OT, the Torah of the Jews (Jacob/Esau, Cain/Abel, Passover). You may also try to read doormann.org/the0.htm about the 'creation' of the 'Genesis', which is also adopted from the Indian Vedas and from Sumerian myths. There were also some astrological knowledge by Semitic scholars 4000 years ago, and the spiritual twelve houses, around each being - known as astrological houses - become stunted to 'The twelve tribes of Isra_El' ('He, who wrestle with God'), and a stupid (social) country and tribe claim (until today!) has followed the lost of spiritual knowledge in Judasim; only in some text's of Jewish mysticism you can find a few spiritual interpretations of that 'Jewish origin'. Some books which can enlighten the origin spiritual aspects in Judaism:
Mystic Tales from the Zohar, Aryey Wineman, ISBN 0-8276-0515-3, 1997
Sumerian Mythology Samuel Noah Kramer, ISBN 0-8122-1047-6, 1944, 1961, 1972.
The Sumerians, Samuel Noah Kramer, ISBN 0-226-45238-7, 1971
Inanna - Queen Of Heaven And Earth, Diane Wolkenstein and Samuel Noah Kramer, ISBN 0-06-090854-8, 1983

Volker

CX

I'd recommend two books in particular that are on the BC&H reading list:

The Bible Unearthed by Israel Finkelstein & Neil Silberman

Who Wrote the Bible by Richard Friedman

Both are relatively short and very readable. Additionally both are reasonably moderate in their postitions.