Doing the Right Things or Believing the Right Theologies?

 

My past few emails have established the context in which the First Story in Genesis must be viewed. The First Story in Genesis is at the beginning of an ancient Hebrew scroll called “The Torah.” At the other end of that scroll (which is over 45 yards long) is the last story in the Book of Deuteronomy. Knowing that we are reading a wisdom text is the essential requirement for knowing how to read it. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/40caac79c3b7/doing-the-right-things-or-believing-the-right-theologies

Using a Simple Linguistic Model to Discover Wisdom in the Bible

 

In 458 BCE, Artaxerxes I, King of the Persian Empire sent Ezra a priest and scribe of Yahweh on mission – deliver a new scroll, called the Torah, to the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. Temples where places people could go to hear the ancient wisdom scrolls of the gods read.  One of the least understood priestly groups in Temples and Palaces in the ancient Middle East were the scribes. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/81c8b7c54d11/using-a-simple-linguistic-model-to-discover-wisdom-in-the-bible

The Original Jesus Taught Being Elohim’s Lights on Earth!

 

There is a very big difference between “believing in God” and “being Elohim’s Lights on earth.” I was taught that Jesus wanted me to believe in God. But the First Story in Genesis teaches something else -- “Humankind being the son of Elohim and His representative on the earth.” Humans are to exercise dominion over all life on earth, like shepherds exercise dominion over the animals of their flocks. To learn how “being Elohim’s Lights” is connected to the teachings of the original Jewish Jesus, click on the link below. https://mailchi.mp/45bee4c91b2c/the-original-jesus-taught-being-elohims-light-on-earth

The First Truth Claim of the Wisdom of Genesis

 

From a Persian’s point of view, to be an Israelite meant one worshipped the Israelite god and followed Israelite religious customs. This meant that it was in the best interest of the Persian state for the formal worship of the god in the kingdom in Judah to continue undisturbed and in accordance with the proper rules of the Torah. However, I seriously doubt the Persian king new anything about how different the Temple in Jerusalem was from other temples. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/29bc20997d77/the-first-truth-claim-of-the-wisdom-of-genesis

Whose Words are You Reading in Your Bible?

 

I handed different versions of the Bible to two people, Bob and Susan. I asked Bob to read Genesis 1:1. This is what he read: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Then I asked Susan to read the same verse. This is what she read: “When God began to create heaven and earth - . . .” Bob was reading, “The Reader’s Digest Bible” and Susan was reading the “Tanakh.” Did “God” refer to the same “Being” in both Bibles? Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/a27fc42070dc/whose-words-are-you-reading-in-your-bible

Be a Peace Maker By Discussing the Bible

 

My two previous emails were about Creating Peace and Creating Transparency. Transparency is an important factor in being a Peace Maker. Having successful discussions is very important too. We explored 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . . .” and discovered that “Scripture” did not mean “Christian Bible.” Another good discussion to have is about Genesis 1:1. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/943318dc746a/be-a-peace-maker-by-discussing-the-bible

Making the Invisible Visible to Create Peace!

 

We are living in an AI driven echo chamber that constantly streams opposing positions through corporate and social media. The result is increasing hopelessness and helplessness in the minds of people immersed in those information streams. Clearly the sources of these conflicting streams of information are political parties, human rights groups, and religious groups. A common polarization generator is opposing positions in which words found in Christian and Jewish Scriptures are presented as proof they are both right. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/b173460fb24d/making-the-invisible-visible-to-create-peace