Religious books, pagan origins of Mary cult
Claire E. O'Connor claireoc@softdisk.com
Fri, 07 Nov 1997 15:01:03 -0600 (00878958063, 3463818F.3670@softdisk.com)
Ralph Nielsen wrote:
>
> >>
> >> TILL
> >> The more likely explanation of Exodus 6:3 is that it was a part of the
> >> Elohist document. He (she) thought that the name Yahweh was not known by
> >> the Hebrews until the event in Exodus 6:3, and so the editor who blended the
> >> E and J documents together either didn't recognize the problem that Exodus
> >> 6:3 caused or didn't care.
> >
> >Helen:
> > The Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV), which explains many things using the P,
> >E, and J document explanations, has this as a footnote to the verse:
> >
> > The Lord (YHWH), the same God who led Israel's ancestors, was formerly
> > known by another name, El Shaddai.
> >
> > I think that the Oxford Companion and the Oxford Annotated Bible are
> >dishonest in that although they are more willing than most Christian
> >commentaries to talk about things like J, P, and E texts and the non Hebraic
> >origins of the Mary cult, they wont always give the drawn out explanation of
> >embarrassing texts. Is it possible that what the experts claim is that this
> >was the first time this name was used in the Elohist document and marks the
> >start of the identifying YHWH with El Shaddai? Is it claimed that this marks
> >the marrying of two faiths as occurred throughout the middle east at this
> >time?
>
> RALPH (retired librarian)
> What it means is that publishers are in the business of selling books, even
> as august a house as Oxford University Press. They can't afford to offend
> too many buyers or they would go out of business. Fortunately, we have
> Prometheus Books to publish what others will not. That explains why their
> books are also relatively expensive. (I'm currently reading one of their
> newest titles: The Unriddling of Christian Origins, a Secular Account, by
> Joel Carmichael (425 p. $39.95))
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Claire O'Connor's opinion(s)
I don't think publishers are terribly worried about offending
Christians. Just look at the multitude of skeptical books by the Jesus
Seminar, who are very good at marketing themselves. What about Bishop
Spong (I don't know why he's still a bishop)!?
Frankly, I am disgusted with the chain bookstores. All I ever seem to
find are books by extreme skeptics (such as Spong and the Jesus Seminar
guys) and silly books about angels (which have NOTHING to do with those
tough angels in the Bible), or religious books by celebrities. I am
venting here! I need some books to explain the Bible by someone other
than Spong or the Jesus Seminar - I already have their books! I can
never find Luke Timothy Johnson (who is more moderate) in the bookstore,
but then he is less effective at marketing himself. Actually, I am more
upset for the average person who may not know that there are serious
scholars who don't agree with the assumptions/methods used by the Jesus
Seminar, because the other books are so hard to find.
Helen Willis asked me about the pagan origins of the Mary cult. I have
not heard much about this except from people on the CARM board or the
Countering Contradictions board who were quoting anti-Catholic
propaganda articles. Don't get me wrong - I do take this question
seriously, and I am not offended by Helen's asking it. I just know very
little about it. I will try to do some research about it. I think this
issue is mostly outside the scope of this board, so I might email Helen
privately if she wishes.
I would be interested in people's opinion of the infancy narratives in
the Bible (which provide some information about Mary). For example, do
people on this board think that a "slaughter of the innocents" by Herod
took place around the time of Jesus' birth? I saw a discussion on this
board about the star at the time of Jesus' birth, but I didn't read all
the posts. If I repeat questions that have been asked before, please
forgive me. I would be interested in any comments that anyone has about
the infancy narratives (of course, I am interested in other things,
too!)
By the way, what is the God worksheet, and how long is it? I haven't
seen it - I've only been receiving this board for a few days.
-CEO