Toto

I'm not sure there is anything really new here, but there is a BBC television special:

Why the BBC's new face of religion believes God had a WIFE

Dr. Francesca Stavrakopoulou is the co-editor/author of Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah (or via: amazon.co.uk)

Jaybees

God did father a child out of wedlock. I suppose that could be regarded as some form of common-law marriage.

Saramago

If Asherah is (was) Yahweh's wife, and there's no indication Mary was a polygamous wife to Yawheh, that means Jesus was conceived in an adulterous relationship, not just out of wedlock. Hmm.

But of course Yahweh couldn't spill his seed on the floor in Mary's room; not after he'd gone & made an example of Onan.

Minimalist

No, not new at all

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=...page&q&f=false


but worthwhile to keep rubbing the nose of believers in the fact that their precious bible is not a viable history.

Toto

That link is to Did God have a wife?: archaeology and folk religion in ancient Israel (or via: amazon.co.uk) By William G. Dever

PhilosopherJay

Hi All,

According to the article, Asherah was also the wife of El. Thus Yahweh was committing adultery with her as we have no record of her ever divorcing El to marry Yahweh.

The Bible tells us that the nation of Israel was also the wife of Yahweh. We definitely have him on grounds of polygamy with Asherah and Israel.

Since Israel was a man (Jacob) before becoming a nation, we might be able to save him from the charge of adultery by saying that he was merely having a gay fling with Israel while remaining faithful to Asherah.

Still, the more common interpretation would have to be that he was married to a Goddess (Asherah) and the Nation of Israel, when he fell in love with a 12 year old human virgin girl named Mary and raped her (apparently only statutory rape as the Bible says she consented to it).

If we want to go further, we can say that Mary was a daughter of Israel, so God raped one of his daughters while being married to Israel and Asherah.

Still, I think offering Abraham children in perpetuity if he cut off the foreskins of the penises of all male heirs was the kinkiest thing that God ever did.

Warmly,

Philosopher Jay

arnoldo

In addition, Israel is often allegorically described as an adulterous wife in the OT.

mountainman

So was the christian God divorced?
And does he pay maintenance?

Doug Shaver

If I remember correctly, it's not adultery if you don't have sex with the "other woman."

Minimalist

Dammit. I forgot that again. Good thing you're here, Toto.