(March 3, 2016 at 7:25 pm)TheRocketSurgeon Wrote:(March 3, 2016 at 3:51 pm)Rekeisha Wrote: May I see the documentation for the evidence of the Israelite God coming for the storm god El? As well as the evidence of the change of the biblical old testament documents that were altered trying to cover up the fact?
Okay, start with Dr. Mark S. Smith, a Biblical scholar who holds the Skirball Chair of Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies in the Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at NYU:
In the past, the question of Israelite polytheism has been approached by looking for evidence of specific deities worshipped by Israelites in addition to Yahweh. These would include biblical criticisms of the worship of other deities, such as the goddess Asherah in 2 Kings 21 and 23, as well as apparent references to this goddess or at least her symbol in the inscriptions from Kuntillet 'Ajrud and Khirbet el-Qom in the eighth century. In the Kuntillet 'Ajrud inscriptions, the symbol is treated respectfully as part of the worship of Yahweh. The gods Resheph and Deber appear in Habakkuk 3:5 as part of the military retinue of Yahweh. Other deities who gain some mention in the Bible include the "hosts of heaven" criticized in 2 Kings 21:5, but mentioned without such criticism in 1 Kings 22:19 and Zephaniah 1:5. Scholars have also noted that the god El is identified with Yahweh in the Bible, again with no criticism. The criticisms of Yahweh's archenemy, the storm god, Baal, also seem to reflect Israelite worship of this god. While many of these deities are not well known from the Bible, they are described sometimes at considerable length in the Ugaritic texts, discovered first in 1928 at the site of Ras Shamra (located on the coast of Syria about 100 miles north of Beirut). As a result of comparing biblical and inscriptional evidence with the Ugaritic texts, we can see how the worship of other deities lasted for quite a long time in Israel down to the Exile in ca. 586.
(Bold emphases my own.)
http://www.bibleinterp.com/articles/MSmi...eism.shtml
I actually recommend you read some of his books. You can start with these:
The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel
The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts
I read some of the article, watched some lectures from Mark Smith, as well as some of his works and others works a well. I also looked into the ugaritic and I still think this is a thin argument.
As no one is neutral I believe our presuppositions will play into how we treat God's word. If you wish to find fault in the text you will. I don't agree with what is asserted by Professor Smith which is Yahweh becoming the head God over lesser gods, but actually the writers of scriptures using the literary styles of the time. As well as showing Yahweh's dominance over all of the surrounding culture's man made gods by rightly taking ownership over their abilities. God's prophets were directed, by Him, to magnify Him and help their fellow Israelites see that God is over and above all other false gods of their time. In the account in Exodus of God removing the Israelites from slavery you can see God attacking the Egyptian gods. In the Account of Elijah, in Kings, you can see God controlling the weather which a neighboring culture were attributing to Baal, and the Israelites had adopted as their "god". Elijah even challenges the Baal worshippers to have their god bring fire from heaven and light the fire on the altar which they couldn't. Yet, God sets fire to a soaked altar. God was displaying, like now, His dominance over any other false"'gods".
Also, I as I mentioned before, that people used similar words to explain who God is. He uses the understanding and culture of the people to explain who He is through the ideas and understandings of the culture. (this type of writing is seen throughout the bible)
So trusting in someone's degrees to bolster your rejection of God will not save you. You still have a major problem and there is only one who can save you. He accomplished this through His blood for all of your lies you tell yourself and other about Him. God is willing to give you forgiveness and embrace you. He is trustworthy and true. He is the only way you will be able to remove the stain of your sin.
