Comments on: Visions of the End: Where did they come from? (End 1.1) http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/ Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean houses my podcast, websites, blog, and publications, providing an entryway into social and religious life among Greeks, Romans, Jews, Christians, and others in the Roman empire. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:14:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Seeker31 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/comment-page-1/#comment-124725 Seeker31 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:39:01 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/#comment-124725 It would seem that many of the religions of the ancient near east had very similar origins and characteristics. The ancient Israelites were apparently no different than their neighbors in many ways. It is fascinating to explore the forces and circumstances which lead these Israelites to become the later day Jews with a strong ethical monotheism and system of social justice. What forces were at work in early Israel that were absent in the Mesopotamian, Persian,Egyptian etc. histories that resulted in what we have today? It would seem that many of the religions of the ancient near east had very similar origins and characteristics. The ancient Israelites were apparently no different than their neighbors in many ways. It is fascinating to explore the forces and circumstances which lead these Israelites to become the later day Jews with a strong ethical monotheism and system of social justice. What forces were at work in early Israel that were absent in the Mesopotamian, Persian,Egyptian etc. histories that resulted in what we have today?

]]> By: Phil Harland http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/comment-page-1/#comment-14903 Phil Harland Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:22:49 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/#comment-14903 Hello Gary and Jane, Gary: You are right that there are many other such aspects of the Ancient Near Eastern traditions, including Egyptian ones, that help us to place Jewish apocalypticism in a broader context. Jane: As I approach the study of religion from an historical, academic perspective, I steer away as much as possible from making value judgments on whether this or that view is self-aggrandizing or right or wrong or stupid or wonderful, etc, etc. Instead, I try to understand the views and activities of specific historical groups or persons (in social contexts) without judging them on my own moral grounds. And this academic attempt to refrain from moral or value judgment would also hold for my approach to persons within modern religious contexts, be they Jew, Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian, or atheist. Thanks to both of you for commenting. Phil H. Hello Gary and Jane,

Gary: You are right that there are many other such aspects of the Ancient Near Eastern traditions, including Egyptian ones, that help us to place Jewish apocalypticism in a broader context.

Jane: As I approach the study of religion from an historical, academic perspective, I steer away as much as possible from making value judgments on whether this or that view is self-aggrandizing or right or wrong or stupid or wonderful, etc, etc. Instead, I try to understand the views and activities of specific historical groups or persons (in social contexts) without judging them on my own moral grounds. And this academic attempt to refrain from moral or value judgment would also hold for my approach to persons within modern religious contexts, be they Jew, Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian, or atheist.

Thanks to both of you for commenting.

Phil H.

]]> By: Gary Greenberg http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/comment-page-1/#comment-14877 Gary Greenberg Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:21:20 +0000 http://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2007/01/21/visions-of-the-end-where-did-they-come-from-end-11/#comment-14877 You might want to consider an Egyptian source, Spell 175 from the Book of the Dead, in which Atum, the creator god, says that he will destroy all that exists and send it back into the deep, where only he and Osiris (Judge of the Dead) will survive. You might want to consider an Egyptian source, Spell 175 from the Book of the Dead, in which Atum, the creator god, says that he will destroy all that exists and send it back into the deep, where only he and Osiris (Judge of the Dead) will survive.

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