tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post8873054715833219488..comments2024-03-25T09:01:20.997-07:00Comments on Diary of an Autodidact: Evil is Spelled S-E-X (Part 2): The Twisting of Stories About Violence, Abuse of Power, and Justice to be About SexDiary of an Autodidacthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-29758178832310896152015-11-27T08:42:31.790-08:002015-11-27T08:42:31.790-08:00Excellent post, as usual. If you like studying the...Excellent post, as usual. If you like studying the Bible in context, I highly suggest Dr. Michael Heiser (http://www.drmsh.com). <br /><br />From his "About" page: Mike Heiser is a scholar in the fields of biblical studies and the ancient Near East. He is the Scholar-in-Residence at Logos Bible Software. Mike earned the M.A. and Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Semitic Languages at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. He has also earned an M.A. in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania (major fields: Ancient Israel and Egyptology).<br /><br />Besides his website, he has a podcast, "The Naked Bible Podcast" (http://www.nakedbiblepodcast.com/). He is currently going through Leviticus.<br /><br />I think you will really enjoy him.Jasenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612368694261383142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-80000230346133237792015-11-25T10:28:47.275-08:002015-11-25T10:28:47.275-08:00I hadn't heard that one taught, I'll admit...I hadn't heard that one taught, I'll admit. But it bears a strong resemblance to the story of Lillith, doesn't it? A bit of a nod to a pagan story that pre-dates the earliest possible writing of the Old Testament by several centuries...Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-87488042671973154042015-11-19T16:08:39.184-08:002015-11-19T16:08:39.184-08:00I thought of a story you missed in this line-up. ...I thought of a story you missed in this line-up. There are some that teach that Eve had sex with the serpent in the Garden of Eden and that Cain was their offspring. I've read this attributed to the Mormons and that this sexual relation was the real "forbidden fruit" in their more secret doctrines (haven't verified that with personal research). There are also some other groups that teach this and it is referred to by some as "the Serpent Seed" doctrine. The ones I first heard telling it were Independent Baptists - Peter Ruckman's groupies to be exact. <br /><br />Again, as you mention in the flood incident, the problem is with the text. I didn't go check what the other translations say (don't have time at the moment), but the KJV clearly says that "...Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, <br />and bare Cain..." That isn't too hard to figure out. <br /><br />Btw - I still find it mind-boggling that there are people who think that Eve was "the first Feminist". It's amazing what you can weasel into the text when you're "dandruff is up" (as per Bullwinkle). Some church signs should read, "Join us for our weekly Bible wrestle." They certainly don't *study* it. Maybe I'm being too ornery...Mary E. Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09206071568335923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-26542101561525352892015-11-17T10:08:33.574-08:002015-11-17T10:08:33.574-08:00Yup. Exactly. In fact, there is a tendency in hum...Yup. Exactly. In fact, there is a tendency in human nature to abuse those who are viewed as "less than us". There is an organization called "Dress A Girl Around the World" that provides nice, simple, handmade dresses for girls in under-privileged countries. The main premise, as I understand it, is that girls in those environments are less likely to be abused or mistreated by random people if they are dressed in such a way that it appears someone loves and cares for them. Interesting, isn't it? Mary E. Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09206071568335923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-65265425431709689722015-11-14T17:17:20.884-08:002015-11-14T17:17:20.884-08:00You called Bathsheba's husband Uziah. The nam...You called Bathsheba's husband Uziah. The name you want is Uriah. And, he was a Hittite, so you might want to add the fact that it was quite possible that there was a racial element to David's attitude toward him. Since he was a foreigner, it was "not as bad" to steal/rape his wife. Only God didn't agree with David!<br /><br />I'll probably comment more later after I've chewed on this awhile. You probably dread to see my comments come up. Ha. :-)Mary E. Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09206071568335923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-61323923297814880352015-11-05T09:49:20.387-08:002015-11-05T09:49:20.387-08:00Short answer: Autocorrect liked "Amon" b...Short answer: Autocorrect liked "Amon" better than "Amnon." Long answer: Apparently, "Amon" or "Amun" was a deity worshiped in Egypt and other places, and his name is much more well known than Amnon. I've made the correction. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-74433086942105838662015-11-05T09:47:22.279-08:002015-11-05T09:47:22.279-08:00But now you have plenty of time to nail the costum...But now you have plenty of time to nail the costume for next year.<br />;)L**, Bathtub Fabric Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850512533584110856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-51519573305617292392015-11-05T09:27:26.372-08:002015-11-05T09:27:26.372-08:00"Jezebel as Ivan the Terrible makes me pictur..."Jezebel as Ivan the Terrible makes me picture Putin in drag. Really ostentatious stuff too. Like a fuschia and red sequined dress and really big hair."<br /><br />You had to say this *after* Halloween?! Damn it.<br />Dana Carpenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14755223481359798197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-18936857245518842002015-11-05T09:25:34.105-08:002015-11-05T09:25:34.105-08:00I then posted a link on my Facebook page and told ...I then posted a link on my Facebook page and told other people they should read it, too. :-DDana Carpenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14755223481359798197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-68545366864729524872015-11-04T22:56:48.036-08:002015-11-04T22:56:48.036-08:00Thank you so much for thinking and writing. And I&...Thank you so much for thinking and writing. And I'm so impressed that you're a man and not a woman. I had to catch myself a few times while reading this since I've not read any of your other posts. Wondering why you use 'Amon' and not 'Amnon'? Thanks again for this. Appreciated your thoughts on divorce especially.Irenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12029159180699570451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-54778935706816716952015-11-04T18:23:58.360-08:002015-11-04T18:23:58.360-08:00Jezebel as Ivan the Terrible makes me picture Puti...Jezebel as Ivan the Terrible makes me picture Putin in drag. Really ostentatious stuff too. Like a fuschia and red sequined dress and really big hair.<br /><br />I also wanted to comment on the focus in general on sex trafficking as opposed to other forms of human trafficking. I live in an area in which sex traffic is the most common form of human trafficking. I know people who've survived it. I also have friends (2) that work for different secular non-profit NGOs that deal with trafficking. One works specifically with sex traffic now; the other works with a labor traffic group. Both argue that there are notable differences in dealing with people who've ended up in sex traffic.<br /><br />1st, because so many cultures have prioritized female purity and stigmatized male homosexuality, people who've been sexually trafficked often feel they have no/ not much futures because they are damaged goods. They don't see themselves as marriage material, and because they suffer high rates of STIs (and the females pregnancies and abortions, often performed by untrained people) many end up sterile, making them feel even worse about themselves, their options, and worth as humans.<br /><br />2nd, with few exceptions, individuals in labor traffic don't see the work they perform as trafficked as very different than work they'd have done at home. Now this is not to minimize or obfuscate the abuse that can happen and does happen to farm, factory, or domestic laborers who've been trafficked (or not trafficked), but someone who's been trafficked and ends up picking grapes, mopping floors, or doing piece work in a factory typically expected they'd end up picking something, working as a butler or maid, or doing piece work in a factory at home. And with few exceptions, these types of work aren't stigmatized, so if someone is able to go home/ is sent back, there may be issues in the family, but it is easier usually to reintegrate people trafficked for labor than sex. A lot of people in poor families would expect to enter some kind of farm, domestic, or factory labor, depending on what kind of work was prevalent/available in the region, but no person or family, in general (with few exceptions) anticipates entering sex work.<br /><br />3rd, relates to both above. Victims/survivors of sex traffic often fear-- to the point of terror-- being returned to the country of origin, not just their families. Anyone who has been trafficked can fear going back the their families-- fear resentment of having them back, getting another mouth to feed again, fear the traffickers will want money, etc. But because of stigmas on sexual activity and sex work, people fear being shunned or even killed by their families and communities. Males fear being seen as homosexual and attacked for that. Females fear that because they are basically unmarriageable that they'll be attacked because they are a perpetual expense or dowry is exorbitant. Or just assaulted as "wanton" women. Because of stigmas and fear, people who've been sexually trafficked generally need to be granted asylum in more "progressive" countries because they face immense danger in their home countries, for the most part (obviously, much of this depends on country of origin). Those dangers don't typically apply to people who've been trafficked for farm, factory, or domestic work. L**, Bathtub Fabric Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850512533584110856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-89470169676305543812015-11-04T16:09:31.757-08:002015-11-04T16:09:31.757-08:00As is often the case, that is a half-truth. Of cou...As is often the case, that is a half-truth. Of course some poor people are lazy and undisciplined. But so are some (a lot!) of middle class and wealthy people too. They just don't pay as drastic of a price for failure, because they can fall back on their own safety nets. (I include myself here.) <br /><br />The bottom line, which seems to be lost on the Religious Right these days is that if you raise the difficulty level, fewer people will succeed. If you lower it, more will. <br /><br />My suspicion is that the goal *isn't* to help people succeed, but to make it abundantly "clear" who is righteous and who isn't. "I thank God I am not like other men..."Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-11087051192107786822015-11-04T15:57:04.878-08:002015-11-04T15:57:04.878-08:00There's also elements that the "have nots...There's also elements that the "have nots" have put themselves and stayed in poverty because they don't work hard enough, they waste their money on crap, aren't smart enough to invest wisely or get an education, etc. It goes back to the bootstrap theory that any one can be successful and wealthy if only they work hard enough, have discipline, and use self-control. Again, it is easier to blame people for their poverty and say they are poor because they are stupid and lazy. To really think about poverty requires looking at systems that disempower and disenfranchise whole sectors of society and perpetuate cycles of poverty.L**, Bathtub Fabric Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850512533584110856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-34309179785956191222015-11-04T09:33:57.704-08:002015-11-04T09:33:57.704-08:00I agree. I agree. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-64032682633781909192015-11-04T09:33:23.598-08:002015-11-04T09:33:23.598-08:00There should be a gold star or something for that ...There should be a gold star or something for that ;)Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-43849935119636991052015-11-04T07:49:04.573-08:002015-11-04T07:49:04.573-08:00But, Tim, I read all the way through. :-DBut, Tim, I read all the way through. :-DDana Carpenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14755223481359798197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-36022279713796555332015-11-04T06:39:18.896-08:002015-11-04T06:39:18.896-08:00Too many of us fall into the sins of the Pharisees...Too many of us fall into the sins of the Pharisees and Sadducees... jochanaanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14143066702059757955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-90207427351164547072015-11-02T20:58:30.482-08:002015-11-02T20:58:30.482-08:00I'll admit I am rather ignorant of Orthodoxy. ...I'll admit I am rather ignorant of Orthodoxy. It isn't in the cultural blood, so to speak, like the more western versions of Protestantism and Catholicism. I rather like this view of Magdalene. If you change the demon possession thing to a modern understanding of mental illness, she seems like a truly admirable character. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-6648148752507389142015-11-02T19:54:42.107-08:002015-11-02T19:54:42.107-08:00This post reminded me to mention something about S...This post reminded me to mention something about St Mary Magdalene and Orthodoxy: in Orthodoxy, she is not identified with the prostitute but instead is said to have lived a holy life her entire life. This is just good fortune on Orthodoxy's part that we didn't mess that up, I don't mean to be self-congratulatory. Mr. G. Z. T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09921024148049682188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-64077659043232148542015-11-02T15:01:56.246-08:002015-11-02T15:01:56.246-08:00Yes indeed. It is so much more comforting to belie...Yes indeed. It is so much more comforting to believe that all the injustice in the world is either because people need to just "come to Jesus" or that they should just stop having so darn much sex. To look at the complicated and interconnected problems of privilege, oppression, and justice is much messier. <br /><br />Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-21128339001692193052015-11-02T13:42:20.645-08:002015-11-02T13:42:20.645-08:00It doesn't surprise me at all that the focus i...It doesn't surprise me at all that the focus is on sex. Focusing on injustice would mean looking at systemic barriers to equity and parity. And that would require looking at the systems that exist in our world that prevent some people from having equal access to opportunities and grants other people significant privileges and entitlements.<br /><br />The Religious Right in the US has hitched its wagon to the Republican Party, which has hitched its wagon to corporate America. It isn't in the interests of Corporate America or the GOP to question capitalism and the distribution of wealth or the various matrices of power and privilege that help to ensure who stays/is wealthy and stays/is poor. The Religious Right is also shaped and sustained by wealthy organizations (I hesitate to call them non-profits) and the wealthy leaders at their helm. It isn't in James Dobson's interest, for example, to question economic injustice when doing so could topple his wealthy empire and his own personal wealth.<br /><br />Focusing on sex is EASY compared to asking about economics. Questioning our lack of economical justice means really examining class, racism, xenophobia, and sexism (among other issues). It means challenging and potentially destabilizing the power held by white, educated, Christian, heterosexual men who come from at least somewhat monied backgrounds and meet standard norms of masculine performance. <br /><br />Focusing on sex also means perpetuating patriarchy and male privilege because it disempowers women. Focusing on sex is easy AND it keeps women in "their place." From their perspective, what's not to like? L**, Bathtub Fabric Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850512533584110856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-5696911876342277072015-11-02T13:16:23.985-08:002015-11-02T13:16:23.985-08:00Yup. Funny thing, in the oh-so modesty obsessed V...Yup. Funny thing, in the oh-so modesty obsessed Victorian era, it was very common and perfectly acceptable for women to breastfeed in public, even in church. Because a "working" breast feeding a baby was not considered sexual.<br /><br />In many kashrut observant Jewish families, it is common for women to breastfeed at the table. The big question isn't about her breasts, but does the baby consuming breast milk if the meal is meat-based violate kosher law? (It doesn't.)L**, Bathtub Fabric Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11850512533584110856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-27827127357792780132015-11-02T11:02:50.920-08:002015-11-02T11:02:50.920-08:00And all my comments. ;)And all my comments. ;)Breanna Teintzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06857684157682898312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-67199891237051586472015-11-02T09:28:34.802-08:002015-11-02T09:28:34.802-08:00"Sometimes I think sanctification is one long..."Sometimes I think sanctification is one long process of God convincing us that we are not Him." Awesome, Breanna.<br /><br />As I've said on many blogs like this over the past several years, I think that the modern-day Origens like Gothard and Harris were at least partially motivated by a nefarious urge to drag others down in their own social ineptitude and sexual repression, hence the obsession with modest dress and purity. I think the Gnostic genophobia that has been part and parcel of Evangelicalism will prove to be much more of a heresy than people realize.<br /><br />Maniachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17053603647490713967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4051826042602269061.post-10903238955507463492015-11-02T07:07:54.774-08:002015-11-02T07:07:54.774-08:00Darn autocorrect! I'll fix that.
We too are ...Darn autocorrect! I'll fix that. <br /><br />We too are trying to read the Bible to our kids the same way. There are many riches to be found in it, but one cannot approach it simplistically, and as if "the Jews believed it to be so" is the same as it being so. Diary of an Autodidacthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11849157548643091986noreply@blogger.com