Nephi and His Asherah

[daycat]

I think it's pretty clear that the "Hebrew" religion of Abraham wasn't monotheistic in anything like our modern sense of the term, and, though I can't prove it, I expect that his religion included a "divine Mother."

The story of Abraham chopping to pieces the idols of his father Terrah and putting the axe in the hand of the last god standing, leaving the blame there tends to make one think that Abraham was valiant about there being one true God.

I've never written a paper focused on that topic. But I think that the original, longer, version of my paper on Asherah gives a fairly clear picture of the general direction of my thinking about it:

http://mi.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=13&chapid=94

In the article you say that the prophets of Israel were not against Asherah. But Solomon was condemned for it and Jezzebel was miserably treated for her Phoenician goddess and Jeremiah condemned the worship of the queen of heaven.

As far as opening the door that Abraham's religion included a "divine Mother" there are certain theological holds that bar the possibility of God the Eternal Father from having a wife. LDS scripture is under utilized to expound what is contained therein which bear upon this subject. Such things as: Christ is the Very Eternal Father, Christ is our Maker, God spoke and man was created, the organizatin of intelligence was by the appointment of independent spheres of creation, that God creates all things by the word of his power, none of these suggest a creation by the continuation of the seeds. There remains an entire eternity of organized intelligences wherein we existed before being born spirit children of seed bearing exalted parents.

Further I suggest that a reason Ancient Israel was to some extent comfortable with the feminine aspect of God is rooted in their acceptance of the Chokmah, or the Greek Sophia even the wisdom of God. Blessings of God and his wisdom were put upon the people which made them think of a goddess in this way. The mystery of God's wisdom has forever called up a female aspect. The entire ministry of Christ manifests more a female aspect than a masculine one. How oft would he have gathered the children of Israel under his wings as a hen gathers her chickens and nurture them it they only would?

The Ancient prophets may have understood far more than we do yet. Our day may be the first time the full nature of God can be expounded and begin to be comprehended. I will explain further if anyone would care to know.

[maklelan]

The story of Abraham chopping to pieces the idols of his father Terrah and putting the axe in the hand of the last god standing, leaving the blame there tends to make one think that Abraham was valiant about there being one true God.

That's an Islamic era tradition. It's incredibly late.

In the article you say that the prophets of Israel were not against Asherah. But Solomon was condemned for it and Jezzebel was miserably treated for her Phoenician goddess and Jeremiah condemned the worship of the queen of heaven.

These scriptural traditions are the work of specific priestly ideologues. Most of the original Israelite religion had been scrubbed clean by the time of the exile.

As far as opening the door that Abraham's religion included a "divine Mother" there are certain theological holds that bar the possibility of God the Eternal Father from having a wife. LDS scripture is under utilized to expound what is contained therein which bear upon this subject. Such things as: Christ is the Very Eternal Father, Christ is our Maker, God spoke and man was created, the organizatin of intelligence was by the appointment of independent spheres of creation, that God creates all things by the word of his power, none of these suggest a creation by the continuation of the seeds. There remains an entire eternity of organized intelligences wherein we existed before being born spirit children of seed bearing exalted parents.

Further I suggest that a reason Ancient Israel was to some extent comfortable with the feminine aspect of God is rooted in their acceptance of the Chokmah, or the Greek Sophia even the wisdom of God.

But neither of these ideas was extant in ancient Israel. These are Second Temple ideas, after the Hellenization of much of Judaism.

Blessings of God and his wisdom were put upon the people which made them think of a goddess in this way. The mystery of God's wisdom has forever called up a female aspect. The entire ministry of Christ manifests more a female aspect than a masculine one. How oft would he have gathered the children of Israel under his wings as a hen gathers her chickens and nurture them it they only would?

I think the bridegroom and shepherd metaphors outnumber any feminine metaphors.

[ed2276]

I gave two talks at BYU Education Week this morning. One of them was pretty good. The other was fairly bad.

There's a Mormon Times article about one of them. (Fortunately, it's about the pretty good one.) I thought maybe somebody here might find it (and the link that is supplied to my actual article) at least slightly interesting.

http://www.mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/doctrine_discussion/?id=10285

I'm biased, of course, but I think that the subject is interesting.

I would like to see your "fairly bad" talk.

[Daniel Peterson]

I would like to see your "fairly bad" talk.

It was based on this article:

http://mi.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=12&num=2&id=349

Probably quite a bit too abstract for an Education Week audience.

[ed2276]

It was based on this article:

http://mi.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=12&num=2&id=349

Probably quite a bit too abstract for an Education Week audience.

I am absolutely enjoying this article! I don't see how anything "fairly bad" could come from it.

I especially like the the ideas about how things appear differently based on the linguistic foundation of the words that inform our thoughts. The Hebrew vs. Greek conception of "word" really impressed me. We are told in the NT that Christ is the Word, the creator of all things, and that by the word of His power all things are upheld. Here then, though the Greek word "logos" is used, from a Hebrew point of view is action/deed/effect associated with the "word". The very letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet (the otiyot yesod...foundational letters), which form Hebrew words, are said to give effect to the creative power of God. God speaks words (..."and God said, 'let there be....'") and things come into existence and are upheld by the word [effect] of His power.

I also am impressed by the comparisons that are made between the primitive church/Hebrew mindset and the LDS and the contrasts of later church/Greek mindset and non-LDS present-day churches. The orthopraxy vs. orthodoxy contrast was especially impressive.

I have not yet read the rest of the article; that is a work in progress.

Thank you for making the link available for me so I could read this.

[Ron Beron]

'daycat' writes,

The story of Abraham chopping to pieces the idols of his father Terrah and putting the axe in the hand of the last god standing, leaving the blame there tends to make one think that Abraham was valiant about there being one true God.

I think that there are two stories being presented here. The one in Torah doesn't mention the breaking up of the idols, simply stating, "When Terah had lived seventy years, he begot Abraham, Nahor and Haran... Haran died in the presence of Terah his father, in his native land, in Ur Kasdim" (Genesis 11:26-29)." while only in the Quran and the Midrash offers the second story. In fact one of the stories presented in the MIdrash offers a bit of wimsy. There it is explained that when Abraham was still a young child, he realized that idol worship was nothing but foolishness. To make his point, one day, when Abraham was asked to watch the store, he took a hammer and smashed all the idols - except for the largest. His father came home aghast. "What happened?!" he shouted. "It was amazing, Dad," replied Abraham. "The idols all got into a fight and the biggest idol won!" It's inclusion only later emphasizing the "fact" that Abram was a strict monotheist when reality was closer to the opposite. While he might have been among the first to recognize the one true God he more than likely, similarly to Moses, recognized the existence of other deities.

Further I suggest that a reason Ancient Israel was to some extent comfortable with the feminine aspect of God is rooted in their acceptance of the Chokmah, or the Greek Sophia even the wisdom of God. Blessings of God and his wisdom were put upon the people which made them think of a goddess in this way. The mystery of God's wisdom has forever called up a female aspect. The entire ministry of Christ manifests more a female aspect than a masculine one. How oft would he have gathered the children of Israel under his wings as a hen gathers her chickens and nurture them it they only would?

The Hebrew acceptance of Hokmah probably came later as a backlash against the worship of Asherah. During the period after the exile the concept of Asherah became more 'intellectualized' and less personifed in Israel. I think you are absolutely correct in submitting that Jesus was in this tradition of hokhma or Wisdom. There are three excellent reads on this.

Lady Wisdom, Jesus, and the Sages: Metaphor and Social Context in Matthew's Gospel, by Celia Deutsch Published in 1996, Trinity Press International (Valley Forge, Pa)

The Wisdom of God:Sophia and Christian Theology, by Leo D. Leferbure, The Christian Century, October 19, 1994

From Goddess to Literary Construct: The Transformation of Asherah into Hokmah, by Judith Hadley, published in A Feminist Companion to Reading the Bible.

The Ancient prophets may have understood far more than we do yet. Our day may be the first time the full nature of God can be expounded and begin to be comprehended. I will explain further if anyone would care to know.

How right you are.

[urroner]

'daycat' writes,

I think that there are two stories being presented here. The one in Torah doesn't mention the breaking up of the idols, simply stating, "When Terah had lived seventy years, he begot Abraham, Nahor and Haran... Haran died in the presence of Terah his father, in his native land, in Ur Kasdim" (Genesis 11:26-29)." while only in the Quran and the Midrash offers the second story. In fact one of the stories presented in the MIdrash offers a bit of wimsy. There it is explained that when Abraham was still a young child, he realized that idol worship was nothing but foolishness. To make his point, one day, when Abraham was asked to watch the store, he took a hammer and smashed all the idols - except for the largest. His father came home aghast. "What happened?!" he shouted. "It was amazing, Dad," replied Abraham. "The idols all got into a fight and the biggest idol won!" It's inclusion only later emphasizing the "fact" that Abram was a strict monotheist when reality was closer to the opposite. While he might have been among the first to recognize the one true God he more than likely, similarly to Moses, recognized the existence of other deities.

I love this story from the Book of Jasher. From reading this, I think that it has nothing to do with monotheism, rather it has to do with the worship of idols and Abraham showing his father the "illogicalness" of doing so.

Book of Jasher 11

13. And Abram knew the Lord, and he went in his ways and instructions, and the Lord his God was with him.

14. And Terah his father was in those days, still captain of the host of king Nimrod, and he still followed strange gods.

15. And Abram came to his father's house and saw twelve gods standing there in their temples, and the anger of Abram was kindled when he saw these images in his father's house.

16. And Abram said, As the Lord liveth these images shall not remain in my father's house; so shall the Lord who created me do unto me if in three days' time I do not break them all.

17. And Abram went from them, and his anger burned within him. And Abram hastened and went from the chamber to his father's outer court, and he found his father sitting in the court, and all his servants with him, and Abram came and sat before him.

18. And Abram asked his father, saying, Father, tell me where is God who created heaven and earth, and all the sons of men upon earth, and who created thee and me. And Terah answered his son Abram and said, Behold those who created us are all with us in the house.

19. And Abram said to his father, My lord, shew them to me I pray thee; and Terah brought Abram into the chamber of the inner court, and Abram saw, and behold the whole room was full of gods of wood and stone, twelve great images and others less than they without number.

20. And Terah said to his son, Behold these are they which made all thou seest upon earth, and which created me and thee, and all mankind.

21. And Terah bowed down to his gods, and he then went away from them, and Abram, his son, went away with him.

22. And when Abram had gone from them he went to his mother and sat before her, and he said to his mother, Behold, my father has shown me those who made heaven and earth, and all the sons of men.

23. Now, therefore, hasten and fetch a kid from the flock, and make of it savory meat, that I may bring it to my father's gods as an offering for them to eat; perhaps I may thereby become acceptable to them.

24. And his mother did so, and she fetched a kid, and made savory meat thereof, and brought it to Abram, and Abram took the savory meat from his mother and brought it before his father's gods, and he drew nigh to them that they might eat; and Terah his father, did not know of it.

25. And Abram saw on the day when he was sitting amongst them, that they had no voice, no hearing, no motion, and not one of them could stretch forth his hand to eat.

26. And Abram mocked them, and said, Surely the savory meat that I prepared has not pleased them, or perhaps it was too little for them, and for that reason they would not eat; therefore tomorrow I will prepare fresh savory meat, better and more plentiful than this, in order that I may see the result.

27. And it was on the next day that Abram directed his mother concerning the savory meat, and his mother rose and fetched three fine kids from the flock, and she made of them some excellent savory meat, such as her son was fond of, and she gave it to her son Abram; and Terah his father did not know of it.

28. And Abram took the savory meat from his mother, and brought it before his father's gods into the chamber; and he came nigh unto them that they might eat, and he placed it before them, and Abram sat before them all day, thinking perhaps they might eat.

29. And Abram viewed them, and behold they had neither voice nor hearing, nor did one of them stretch forth his hand to the meat to eat.

30. And in the evening of that day in that house Abram was clothed with the spirit of God.

31. And he called out and said, Wo unto my father and this wicked generation, whose hearts are all inclined to vanity, who serve these idols of wood and stone which can neither eat, smell, hear nor speak, who have mouths without speech, eyes without sight, ears without hearing, hands without feeling, and legs which cannot move; like them are those that made them and that trust in them.

32. And when Abram saw all these things his anger was kindled against his father, and he hastened and took a hatchet in his hand, and came unto the chamber of the gods, and he broke all his father's gods.

33. And when he had done breaking the images, he placed the hatchet in the hand of the great god which was there before them, and he went out; and Terah his father came home, for he had heard at the door the sound of the striking of the hatchet; so Terah came into the house to know what this was about.

34. And Terah, having heard the noise of the hatchet in the room of images, ran to the room to the images, and he met Abram going out.

35. And Terah entered the room and found all the idols fallen down and broken, and the hatchet in the hand of the largest, which was not broken, and the savory meat which Abram his son had made was still before them.

36. And when Terah saw this his anger was greatly kindled, and he hastened and went from the room to Abram.

37. And he found Abram his son still sitting in the house; and he said to him, What is this work thou hast done to my gods?

38. And Abram answered Terah his father and he said, Not so my lord, for I brought savory meat before them, and when I came nigh to them with the meat that they might eat, they all at once stretched forth their hands to eat before the great one had put forth his hand to eat.

39. And the large one saw their works that they did before him, and his anger was violently kindled against them, and he went and took the hatchet that was in the house and came to them and broke them all, and behold the hatchet is yet in his hand as thou seest. (My note: I did an LOL here the first time I read this. This was totally awesome.)

40. And Terah's anger was kindled against his son Abram, when he spoke this; and Terah said to Abram his son in his anger, What is this tale that thou hast told? Thou speakest lies to me.

41. Is there in these gods spirit, soul or power to do all thou hast told me? Are they not wood and stone, and have I not myself made them, and canst thou speak such lies, saying that the large god that was with them smote them? It is thou that didst place the hatchet in his hands, and then sayest he smote them all.

42. And Abram answered his father and said to him, And how canst thou then serve these idols in whom there is no power to do any thing? Can those idols in which thou trustest deliver thee? can they hear thy prayers when thou callest upon them? can they deliver thee from the hands of thy enemies, or will they fight thy battles for thee against thy enemies, that thou shouldst serve wood and stone which can neither speak nor hear?

43. And now surely it is not good for thee nor for the sons of men that are connected with thee, to do these things; are you so silly, so foolish or so short of understanding that you will serve wood and stone, and do after this manner?

44. And forget the Lord God who made heaven and earth, and who created you in the earth, and thereby bring a great evil upon your souls in this matter by serving stone and wood?

45. Did not our fathers in days of old sin in this matter, and the Lord God of the universe brought the waters of the flood upon them and destroyed the whole earth?

46. And how can you continue to do this and serve gods of wood and stone, who cannot hear, or speak, or deliver you from oppression, thereby bringing down the anger of the God of the universe upon you?

47. Now therefore my father refrain from this, and bring not evil upon thy soul and the souls of thy household.

48. And Abram hastened and sprang from before his father, and took the hatchet from his father's largest idol, with which Abram broke it and ran away.

[structurecop]

From Goddess to Literary Construct: The Transformation of Asherah into Hokmah, by Judith Hadley, published in A Feminist Companion to Reading the Bible.

Judith Hadley is good people.

[clairc829]

Thanks for sharing!

I really liked this quote from the basis of your "bad" presentation

"My friend and colleague Stephen D. Ricks likes to imagine an updated version of Matthew 16:13â??17 in which Jesus, questioning his disciples, encounters a theologically more savvy Peter than the one depicted in scripture:

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the ground of all being, of whom no positive attribute may be predicated. Thou art the focus of our ultimate concern, transcending both existence and non-existence, ontologically one with the Father and the Holy Spirit in a manner that neither confuses the persons nor divides the substance."

And Jesus answered and said unto him, "What?""

[Ron Beron]

Judith Hadley is good people.

A good read too. It's available via Google books.