Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Roger Pearse · 08-23-2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstafleu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

Atlantis cultists tell us that pyramids in Egypt and pyramids in Mexico 'proves' connection and thus the existence of Atlantis. In reality it indicates only that people with blocks of stone to heap up can't think of very many different ways to pile them in heaps.

Well, never mind Atlantis. But the question here is: why were these people piling stones into heaps to start with? Seems like a lot of wasted effort if there is no good reason, surely?

Well, there wasn't a lot else to do in Mexico in the 6th century....? No TV, no printed books, and no holiday resorts. Even throwing bananas at monkeys gets boring after a while...

People that bored can get very silly. Marxism was invented after Karl Marx endured 3 weeks of steady London drizzly rain, while unable to afford whisky.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Loomis · 08-25-2007, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheerful Charlie

Yhwh definitley had a connection to El, the God of earlier Semites, of whom Baal was one of 70's sons.

As I understand it, in The Baal Epic Baal is portrayed as a son of Dagon. Baal wins El’s favor by defeating Prince Yam. (Prince Yam was El’s son and the god of the sea.)

This is similar to Psalm 89:6 where Baal’s qualities are attributed to Yahweh:

Who in the skies can compare to Yahweh?

Who is like Yahweh among the sons of El?

El is honored in the divine assembly,

And feared all who surround him.

O Yahweh of hosts,

Who is strong like you, O Yahweh?

Your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over Prince Yam.

Lugubert · 08-25-2007, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheerful Charlie

Allah means The God.

Uncontested.

Quote:

Which god that is is not mentioned.

I suppose anyone that happened to be around.

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Al Lah was probably not derived from El. Not directly anyway.

I see no reason to doubt that Arabic ilah '(a) god', Allah 'the one and only God', El(ohim), Ugaritc il 'god' or 'the chief God' have the same linguistic origin.

Quote:

Israel means, He who strove with God (El). Jacob wrestles with God and is renamed Israel. His descendents become the Israelites. See Genesis 32.

I feel that the israh-el of Gen. 32:28 should be grouped with innumerable other entertaining but scientifically worthless etymologies of the Torah.

Other theories propose roots like jshr, 'shr 'be happy', interestingly, to be compared with Ashera, which shouldn't be too impossible, considering the Canaanite connections.

According to major dictionaries, the verb is שרה ŚRH 'grow angry, contend'. It seems like this verb only occurs here and in Hosea 12.

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