RE: Ecclesiastes 9:5
August 1, 2023 at 11:27 am
(This post was last modified: August 1, 2023 at 12:55 pm by Bucky Ball.)
(August 1, 2023 at 11:21 am)Angrboda Wrote: That being said, it's not clear that something has to be intended as prophecy for it to be prophetic.
But what is clear, is that omen-reading and soothsaying was not a part of the Hebrew role of a prophet, and the present day understanding
of what "prophesy" was is wrong fundamentally, NOT "because it didn't *come true*, but ibecause it's ignorance of that culture and history.
Another example of "presentism".
As Rabbi Sachs wrote "When a prophesy comes true, it's a failed prophesy, and if it did not, it's a successful prophesy".
Why ? Because the prophet addressed the people of his time, often in a warning that they are not doing what they should be.
If the people listen and take his advice, (which is all "prophesy" is ... advice), then the bad things he warns them of DO NOT HAPPEN, and the prophesy was successful.
If the people do not accept the advice, the warning (prophesy) failed as they did not heed the advice.
Prophesy as such is always intended. The prophets always intentionally were telling the people of their own day, what the will of their god AT THE TIME.
Looking for The "hidden" meanings was never intentional. Looking for "hidden meanings" did not even start until they (the prophets) were all long dead,
It was a novel use of the texts.
This is a very very common misunderstanding of the nature of prophesy. Most Bible 101 students learn this in the first week.
There are open courses at both Harvard and Yale on the topic.
Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble. - Joseph Campbell 
Militant Atheist Commie Evolutionist

Militant Atheist Commie Evolutionist