>Now here's a thought for consideration. Let's suppose that there is an
>least an element of truth in the exodus tales and that at least a small
>troupe of Israelites did leave Egypt under the leadership of a man named
>Moses. What better way to keep them under control than to instill in =
them a
>fear and awe by telling them that they would suffer the divine wrath of
>their god if they intruded on sacred territory that was reserved for =
only
>for Yahweh's chosen leader?
When I find time, I will try to do
>a study of the "lest you die" injunction in the Pentateuch. It seems =
very
>likely to me that a bunch of priests were just protecting their turf and
>reducing the chances that they would be found out for what they were, =
i.e.,
>just ordinary men, by constantly warning the people that they would die =
if
>they came too close to the sacred paraphernalia that the priests used to
>bamboozle them.
Here's 2 of my favorite verses that show just how open to
questioning/disagreement the old/new testament gawd is:
Deut 17:
12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto
the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God,
or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away
the evil from Israel. 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear,
and do no more presumptuously.
Luke 19:
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over
them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
So much for a "loving" god's "free" choice to accept or reject him!