Uh oh... who's gonna tell him NOW that Adam&Eve and all that were actually the work of highly creative lil' Martians ?
http://www.amazon.com/forever-change-ideas-about-Bible-ebook/dp/B00GX5OHYQ/re...Actually, the guy is
anything but the moron next door.
He was the official Vatican translator for the Bible into Italian from the original ancient Hebrew and ancient Greek.
He claims many events which are protrayed as "miraculous and unexplainable" are actually crystal clear if you look at them with the modern eyes of contemporary technology.
He explains there is no reason why the "Elohim" which are described as "many" in Genesis, should be translated as "the One" into modern languages.
He explains many facts have been twisted beyond recognition from Hebrew into Greek, Latin and English, to the point there is little in common between the original facts described and what we are made to read these days.
He explains the "Blessing" given to a son from his father on his deathbed was not the current meaning of "blessing" but a statement to install unto his one son his feudal authority over territory, livestock, wives and children, and military authority as well: see Jacob who steals Isaac's blessing from his brother Esau, Esau goes to his father Isaac and begs "is there no blessing left for me, too?"
As if a father could only bless one son ,and all the others go away ?
(*) [See footnote]
There are many times when it is clear that... the Malakim (=Angels) are not little heavenly creatures with dove-like wings, but armed guards, soldiers, escort officers or servant-at-arms to one or more Elohim: they walk across the desert, they are tired, dusty, hungry and thirsty, stop to rest, pitch camp, cook meals and eat among themselves.
More than once YHWH instructs Abraham, then Moses, exactly how to prepare "the offering", and it reads more like a recipe for cooking than a host for sacrifice.
As Gyrobob used to insist (re: "Wheatbelly", remember?) I suggest "
read the book", it makes an extremely interesting read, to say the least.
FOOTNOTES:1.
From the Book of Genesis, Chapter 27:
22 So Jacob moved close to his father Isaac. Isaac felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice but the hands are the hands of Esau." 23 He didn't recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's. 24 he pressed him, "You're sure? You are my son Esau?" "Yes. I am." 25 Isaac said, "Bring the food so I can eat of my son's game and give you my personal blessing." Jacob brought it to him and he ate. He also brought him wine and he drank. 26 Then Isaac said, "Come close, son, and kiss me." 27 He came close and kissed him and Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes. Finally, he blessed him, Ahhh. The smell of my son is like the smell of the open country blessed by God.
28 May God give you of Heaven's dew and Earth's bounty of grain and wine. 29 May peoples serve you and nations honor you. You will master your brothers, and your mother's sons will honor you. Those who curse you will be cursed, those who bless you will be blessed. 30 And then right after Isaac had blessed Jacob and Jacob had left, Esau showed up from the hunt. 31 He also had prepared a hearty meal. He came to his father and said, "Let my father get up and eat of his son's game, that he may give me his personal blessing." 32 His father Isaac said, "And who are you?" "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." 33 Isaac started to tremble, shaking violently. He said, "Then who hunted game and brought it to me? I finished the meal just now, before you walked in. And I blessed him - he's blessed for good!" 34 Esau, hearing his father's words, sobbed violently and most bitterly, and cried to his father, "My father! Can't you also bless me?" 35 "Your brother," he said, "came here falsely and took your blessing." 36 Esau said, "Not for nothing was he named Jacob, the Heel. Twice now he's tricked me: first he took my birthright and now he's taken my blessing." He begged, "
Haven't you kept back any blessing for me?" 37 Isaac answered Esau, "I've made him your master, and all his brothers his servants, and lavished grain and wine on him. I've given it all away.
What's left for you, my son?" 38 "
But don't you have just one blessing for me, Father? Oh, bless me my father! Bless me!" Esau sobbed inconsolably. 39 Isaac said to him, You'll live far from Earth's bounty, remote from Heaven's dew. 40 You'll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you'll serve your brother. But when you can't take it any more you'll break loose and run free...
2.
From the Book of Genesis, Chapter 32:
1 And Jacob went his way. Angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them he said, "
Oh! God's Camp!" And he named the place Mahanaim (Campground).
[actually, "Mahanaim" is a plural, it means "the CampgroundS, as if there were at least two, one for the Elohim (the Officers) and one for the malakim (the Troops). It makes much more sense both lexically and militarily]
3.
From the Book of Genesis, Chapter 18:
1 God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. 2
He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them. 3 He said, "Master, if it please you, stop for a while with your servant.
4 I'll get some water so you can wash your feet. Rest under this tree. 5 I'll get some food to refresh you on your way, since your travels have brought you across my path." They said, "Certainly. Go ahead." 6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread." 7 Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. 8 Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted,
set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree
while they ate.
4.
From the Book of Exodus:
34 God spoke to Moses: "Take fragrant spices - gum resin, onycha, galbanum - and add pure frankincense. Mix the spices in equal proportions 35 to make an aromatic incense, the art of a perfumer, salted and pure - holy.
5.
From the Book of Leviticus:
1 God called Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting: 2 "Speak to the People of Israel. Tell them, When anyone presents an offering to God, present an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 "If the offering is a Whole-Burnt-Offering from the herd, present a male without a defect at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting that it may be accepted by God. 4 Lay your hand on the head of the Whole-Burnt-Offering so that it may be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. 5
Slaughter the bull in God's presence. Aaron's sons, the priests, will make an offering of the blood by splashing it against all sides of the Altar that stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 6
Next, skin the Whole-Burnt-Offering and cut it up. 7 Aaron's sons, the priests, will prepare a fire on the Altar, carefully laying out the wood, 8
and then arrange the body parts, including the head and the suet, on the wood prepared for the fire on the Altar. 9
Scrub the entrails and legs clean. The priest will burn it all on the Altar: a Whole-Burnt-Offering, a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance to God. 10 "If the Whole-Burnt-Offering comes from the flock, whether sheep or goat, present a male without defect. 11 Slaughter it on the north side of the Altar in God's presence. The sons of Aaron, the priests, will throw the blood against all sides of the Altar. 12 Cut it up and the priest will arrange the pieces, including the head and the suet, on the wood prepared for burning on the Altar. 13 Scrub the entrails and legs clean. The priest will offer it all, burning it on the Altar: a Whole-Burnt-Offering, a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance to God. 14 "If a bird is presented to God for the Whole-Burnt-Offering it can be either a dove or a pigeon. 15 The priest will bring it to the Altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the Altar. But he will first drain the blood on the side of the Altar, 16 remove the gizzard and its contents, and throw them on the east side of the Altar where the ashes are piled. 17 Then rip it open by its wings but leave it in one piece and burn it on the Altar on the wood prepared for the fire: a Whole-Burnt-Offering, a Fire-Gift, a pleasing fragrance to God.
A BBQ to God ?
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