Clivedurdle

In English, we tend to use phrases like flesh and blood.

Now I was brought up in Assemblies of God pentecostalism where blood was preached about most weeks - blood of the lamb etc.

Benny Hinn, that respected theologian, has a very popular book "The Blood".

(I know we are meant to link books to Amazon, but maybe not in this case!)

Has blood been looked at in a similar way to Katie? It is the other part of the eucharist, and there are some fascinating rules in the OT about it and it is a major part of NT theology, especially in Hebrews.

Phrases like "life blood" mean there was a strong consciousness of its importance - that death results from loosing it - JW's emphasise this so much they die because of their beliefs!

What superstitions were there about spilling blood? Is Onan related? Was his blasphemy spilling his seed on the earth, not refusing his sister in law?

Is the NT a very alien medical religious document?

Thomas II

"The Blood" is a primitive way to see "the essence", "the essential",that which would link us to God...
The story of Isaac means the end of those sacrifices,which were common until then...There is a new understanding...It is about consciousness not blood...
In the case of Jesus there is a new understanding of SELF (ego) sacrifice.
He is basically saying "Don't talk the talk. Walk the walk." His teachings constantly point to a practical transcendence of ego-self importance.
I guess his experience on the cross points to a very direct lesson in this sort of transcendence. As a teacher he meant to illustrate the point...
So that is the new understanding. It's not about the wording in the book, nor the letter of the Sabbath. It's about releasing of individual self importance so that a universal sense of SELF can become apparent.

Toto

The Blood is searchable on Amazon (no need to buy it - or get a used copy for 1 cent.)

The Blood Taboo may shed some light on this.

Clivedurdle

We are having huge discussions about katie but somehow ignoring the animist beliefs at the heart of xianity.

The above verses were used by many preachers I have heard to justify Christ's death and the "do this in remembrance of me" of communion.

Sin is pollution - christ's death can be seen as magically cleaning the defilement caused by myriad blood touching earth - more magic of things being mixed (like in garments) that should not be. I was taught directly that - I was washed in the blood of the lamb.

I am puzzled at the continual denial of all this magic and alchemy - the Bible was not written by Victorian Anglican clergy!

There is a story that Jesus healed a woman who had been bleeding for many years who touched the hem of his garment! Periods were unclean!