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Title: Was God's wife edited out of the Bible? Atheist claims the Almighty had partner known as Asherah
Source:
Daily Mail
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... poulout-BBC-face-religion.html
Published: Mar 20, 2011
Author: Daily Mail Reporter
Post Date: 2011-03-20 18:37:00 by abraxas
Keywords: None
Views: 360
Comments: 16
Was God's wife edited out of the Bible? Atheist claims the Almighty had partner known as Asherah By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 7:26 PM on 19th March 2011 Respect for faith: Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou A leading academic has claimed that God has a wife who was edited out of the Bible. Atheist Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou says that the Almighty, known as Yahweh, had a partner called Asherah who was worshipped. The scholar's controversial claims are being explored in BBC2 series The Bible’s Buried Secrets. His wife was presented as a deity in Israel and someone who sat alongside him, according to journal articles and books by the scholar. Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, who has been given a primetime BBC slot, also claims that Eve has been ‘unfairly maligned’ by ‘middle-aged bearded men’ and should not have been blamed for the Fall of Man. But some may raise eyebrows among viewers – including her suggestion that Eve was not the first woman in the Bible because the Garden of Eden did not belong in the original Old Testament. The University of Exeter lecturer told Radio Times: ‘Eve, particularly in the Christian tradition, has been very unfairly maligned as the troublesome wife.’ But former MP Ann Widdecombe, who is a Roman Catholic, said: ‘I would guess that most other theologians will demolish her theory in three seconds flat.’ Dr Stavrakopoulou, who has a doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford, has confirmed she does not believe in God. She said: ‘I’m an atheist with a huge respect for religion. I see what I do as a branch of history like any other.’ Dr Stavrakopoulou's claims that God had a wife appeared to be backed up by her own research into the subject. In a recent article she wrote: 'Archaeological evidence including inscriptions, figurines and ancient texts as well as details in the Bible, indicate not just that he was one of several worshipped in ancient Israel, but that he was also coupled with a goddess. She was worshipped alongside him in his temple in Jerusalem. 'I spent several years specialising in the cultural and social contexts of the Bible and I discovered that Yahweh, the God we have come to know, had to see off a number of competitors to achieve his position as the one and only god of the ancient Israelites.' 'The biblical texts name many of them: El, Baal, Molek, Asherah. Despite Yahweh's assertion in the Ten Commandments that "You shall have no other gods before me", it appears these gods were worshipped alongside Him, and the Bible acknowledges this.' Francesca Stavrakopoulou with a reconstruction of a biblical inscription Claims: Dr Stavrakopoulou with a reconstruction of a biblical inscription 'Far more significant is the Bible's admission that the goddess Asherah was worshipped in Yahweh's temple in Jerusalem. In the Book Of Kings, we're told that a statue of Asherah was housed in the temple and that female temple personnel wove ritual textiles for her. 'In fact, although the Bible condemns all of these practices, the biblical texts suggest that goddess worship was a thriving feature of high-status religion in Jerusalem. What, then, was her relationship to Yahweh? 'Ancient texts, amulets and figurines unearthed here reveal that she was a powerful fertility goddess. ''But perhaps most significant of all, Asherah was also the wife of El, the high god at Ugarit - a god who shares much in common with Yahweh. Given the evidence within the Bible that she was worshipped in the temple in Jerusalem, might she have played the role of a divine wife in ancient Israel too?' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367981/Atheist-Dr-Francesca-Stavrakopoulout-BBC-face-religion.html#ixzz1HBL2kjI9
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#1. To: abraxas (#0)
From what I find, the name Asherah is another name for Astaroth , later turned into a demon(ess), also appearing in the Goetia. www.google.com/search?q=a...official&client=firefox-a It doesn;t surprise me that they would delete this info, if it's legit. Every other god except the psycho kike god was made into a demon. .
Click for Privacy and Preparedness files
ruin everything, including sig lines.
#2. To: abraxas (#0)
Whatever?! But Eve was the very first woman carpenter. She made Adam's Banana Stand.
But some may raise eyebrows among viewers – including her suggestion that Eve was not the first woman in the Bible because the Garden of Eden did not belong in the original Old Testament.
#3. To: PSUSA (#1)
This gal isn't the first to proclaim that Asherah was the wife of El, the precursor to Yahveh. According to The Oxford Companion To World Mythology (David Leeming, Oxford University Press, 2005, page 118), "It seems almost certain that the God of the Jews evolved gradually from the Canaanite El, who was in all likelihood the 'God of Abraham'...If El was the high god of Abraham - Elohim, the prototype of Yahveh - Asherah was his wife, and there are archeological indications that she was perceived as such before she was in effect 'divorced' in the context of emerging Judaism of the seventh century B.C.E. El derived fro Enlil, the God of Wind and also the ruler of Saturn.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
#4. To: LACUMO (#2)
Well there is some incontrovertable theology.
But Eve was the very first woman carpenter. She made Adam's Banana Stand.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" 
#5. To: abraxas (#0)
I really wish these dumbass atheists would read the Bible. Some idolatrous Hebrews worshiping Asherah does not make it Gods wife, any more than my fantasizing about Winona Ryder makes her my wife.
It clearly states that the Hebrews were worshiping all kinds of things, in violation of the Commandments. That's one of the reasons God was so angry with them.
"Asherah poles" are mentioned in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, Judges, the Books of Kings, the second Book of Chronicles, and the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah. It's pretty clear that God did not approve of them.
#6. To: Armadillo (#5)
lol......
Some idolatrous Hebrews worshiping Asherah does not make it Gods wife, any more than my fantasizing about Winona Ryder makes her my wife.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
#7. To: Armadillo, *Post Of The Day* (#5)
I really wish these dumbass atheists would read the Bible.
No Planes. Think about it. ................. Guaranteed Penetration (no it's not porn)
#8. To: wudidiz (#7)
Wow, post of the day again.*Post Of The Day*
I must be really good, or really bad.
#9. To: Armadillo (#8)
I thought it was good.
No Planes. Think about it. ................. Guaranteed Penetration (no it's not porn)
#10. To: abraxas (#0)
Well, when God got his Divorce, as part of the settlement, he got the book, and fan club, while the wife got the pool boy and a nice planet to live on. The problem, is that God apparently was a hypocritical abusive jerk, who apparently plays favorites and pits one group of his children against the others, while not actually giving a shit about how unfair his parenting strategy is. The wife on the other hand, probably has the house, the car, the pool, the poolboy, and is enjoying the shit out of herself. She probably got the garden of eden in the settlement along with the tree of life. This is what happens sometimes when Dad gets custody of the kids. Religion is a fucking joke. Organized Religion is the fucking punchline.
It is better to be hated for what you are, than loved for what you are not. - Tommy The Mad Artist. I went to Chernobyl, and all I got was this glow in the dark T-shirt. - Tommy The Mad Artist.
#11. To: Armadillo, abraxas (#5)
It clearly states that the Hebrews were worshiping all kinds of things, in violation of the Commandments. That's one of the reasons God was so angry with them. "Asherah poles" are mentioned in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, Judges, the Books of Kings, the second Book of Chronicles, and the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah. It's pretty clear that God did not approve of them. Some idolatrous Hebrews worshiping Asherah does not make it Gods wife, any more than my fantasizing about Winona Ryder makes her my wife. "....4. Astarte/Asherah/Ashtaroth "Astarte was worshipped conventionally 'on the high places'; hills and mountains -- Mount Hermon, for example -- abounded with her shrines." [Baigent, Temple & the Lodge, p. 126] "Fortunately, a stone image of Asherah has survived...found in ruins of Dan, where the golden calf was worshipped in what is now northern Israel, [which] dates from the eighth century B.C.E. The Goddess strongly resembles her neighboring deities Anet, Astarte, Ashtaroth." [Johnson, p. 315]....." The Lost Tribe of Dan - THE EARLY JEWISH & CHRISTIAN VIEW OF THE IDENTITY OF THE ANTICHRIST 1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. .1 John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 2 John 1:7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. New International Version ©1984 by Biblic I really wish these dumbass atheists would read the Bible.
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speech http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
#12. To: abraxas (#0)
That makes absolute, perfect sense.
I discovered that Yahweh, the God we have come to know, had to see off a number of competitors to achieve his position as the one and only god of the ancient Israelites.
Rastus? What'n you like bestus?
Why I like asbestos.
#13. To: Armadillo (#5)
All of these gods had consorts. Many inscriptions have been found that name Yahweh and Asherah together dedicated to "Yahweh and his Asherah." As humans emerged from the bronze age, the male deities came to the fore. There were a number of reasons for this, not the least of which is the female cults, like the females themselves, were difficult to control. There was an orgiastic side to many of these cults, and ancient practices clung to them like temple prostitution and at times human sacrifice. There was a slow but steady ascendancy of the male gods over the female deities in both the West and the Near East at this time. It took the 7th century authors of the Hebrew testament to expunge the goddess forever.
Some idolatrous Hebrews worshiping Asherah does not make it Gods wife, any more than my fantasizing about Winona Ryder makes her my wife.
It is a violation of Natural Law to use this document in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.
#14. To: randge (#13)
And that is meaningless.Many inscriptions have been found that name Yahweh and Asherah together dedicated to "Yahweh and his Asherah."
If I decide to worship a cat along with Yahweh, Yahweh is not required to conform to my ideas.
The Bible is very clear that God is the only God and He alone was to be worshiped. That the Hebrews choose to ignore that and practised idolatry is why they were destroyed.
#15. To: abraxas (#0)
I'm believe in God. It's religion I have a problem with. Why would God need a wife? There are plenty of virgins in heaven.
She said: ‘I’m an atheist with a huge respect for religion. I see what I do as a branch of history like any other.’
I want either less corruption or more opportunity to participate in it. Ashleigh Brilliant
#16. To: Armadillo (#5)
deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one.
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Ben Franklin
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