Why does the god of fertility became the lord of flies?\n\nis that how religion put down their competitors?\n\nno offense ok? i'm just curious as how one religion can make a demon out of the other's god...
210978
To be precise, the original name was "Ba`al Zebul".  This was an honorific title "the Lord, the Prince", that the Phoenicians used for their god not his name; his "proper name"was Hadad.  ("Zebulon" is, however, a Hebrew word from the same root.)\n\nNow keep in mind that to the people of Israel the worship of this god of the Phoenicians, and the various practices that went with that practice, was undermining the worship of THEIR God (Yhwh, traditionally "the LORD").  So don' be surprised if they didn't want to use this flattering title for him!!\n\nSo what happened at some point is that speakers or perhaps later scribes who did not want to write such a name for this god of the pagans made a slight change, a wordplay, on the name, changing it to "Ba`al Zebub",  or "Lord of the flies".\n\nActually, the original name DID persist, and the NT writers use the old form which comes through Greek as "Beelzeboul"  (though the variant Beelzeboub, our modern "Beelzebub" is also found).\n\nDo note that the use of this name for a DEMON, in fact for THE demon par excellence --"Satan"--  came MUCH later than the OT uses of "Ba`al Zebub", at a time when the worshp of the OT "Baal" storm and fertitiliy gods had died out.  In other words, by the time it became an alternate name for "the Devil" no one was even worshiping the old fertility God.\n\n(On the importance of this god -- we have many examples of this title "the Prince" used for him in ancient tablets from the Phoenician coast [the ancient port city of Ugarit].  These tablets also help to demonstrate that the name of Queen JEZEBEL, daughter of a Phoenician king, actually means "Where is the Prince?"   It is a cry of worship, calling for this god to come and act.   The same sort of expression is used by Elisha in 2 Kings 2, where he calls out "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" when calling on God to part the wates of the Jordan.)
70688
I agree and this is one of the most difficult issues that I have been struggling with lately.  Our ancestors of 2000 years ago did not have the science nor the technology to explain everyday events.  "Oh my gosh!  That glowing ball is back!  It must be a god!"  So, they named him Helios.  I'm just so confused as to why the Bible is still the end all, be all authority.  We've obviously made leaps and bounds in our understanding of the earth, our solar system, our galaxy and our universe.  Ugh!  I'm just so confused and find it VERY hard to follow with blind faith.
98521
Yeah, crawl back under your Satanic rock!\n\nHonestly, Atheist, I always enjoy your input, and I'm glad that you've asked this question, because it boggles my mind that people continue to put such stock in mythology.\n\nThe truth of the matter is that people like you and I may never be able to wrap our minds around this issue. If Dean Hamer is right and there is a "god gene," we have no more hope of knowing what it is to be a person of faith than we do of knowing what it is to be a gay man. (Apologies if you're gay, but you know what I'm saying.)\n\nIt also comes down to the so-called "leap of faith" that you and I are unwilling to take. We see the crumpled bodies at the base of the cliff and think "That's nuts. Those rocks are sharp." \n\nI'm amazed that we live in the twenty-first century and people are still putting things, both good an bad, down to "god's will."\n\nI'll make the same argument I've made a hundred times before: Two hundred years ago many young mothers died shortly after childbirth. The cause was unknown. It was not until the invention of the microscope and the discovery of infection that the reasons behind this daily tragedy were finally revealed.\n\nIt's very easy to say that things are "god's will." It's very hard to invent the microscope. Perhaps it is human nature to always take the path of least resistance.
309066
Does this mean that the first man in the holy book was the bastard son of a goddess? Who got her pregnant. I like this story. Was it one of the other Gods?
231859
i'm pretty sure you know the Christian view... this is something i've been thinking about a good bit lately - Genesis talks about 'when a man leaves his parents and basically takes a wife... they live together and become one.. sorry - paraphrasing i dont like... i'll add more as i research\nI'm curious more because of the jewish prophecy concerning the messiah; of a virgin, yet of the line of David. \n& my head hurts.
92237
I don't understand the question, but I agree with Miz.  Keep up the good work.  I love the questions; they make me laugh.  Does anyone believe them?  Anyway, thanks, and oh, come to Pantheistic Universalism.  We are waiting.
243331
God appears to be quite a sexist bit of work. Could be jealousy.... as a 'masculine' deity, he can't give birth.Maybe he could do with a bit of balance. (shrugs)
511497
Why don't you read the wikipedia entry on the book if you are searching for ideas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_of_the_flies  \n\nGood Luck!!!
584721
Well, God has a plan. They asked to be put into the herd of swine. Jesus allowed it. See the point? The demons couldn't even make a move without His very approval. The question misses the overall view. They could do nothing apart from His power. And they knew it. Jesus was demonstrating His power over the very forces of Hell. They will "get theirs" in due time, so to speak.
590940
Well done.  I knew about the one in Exodus, but the others are new to me.  Thanks for pointing that out.  \n\nI'm a Bible believing Christian and I have always supported abortion.  In fact, I support abortion even when the mother doesn't want to in cases where the child will be born seriously defective.  \n\nI have gotten into many arguments with my Christian friends over this and I believe their problem is that they listen to what the preacher says and not the Bible.  For me, the Bible trumps the preacher any day.\n\nGreat job.\n\n===\nTo Williamzo: Exodus 21:22 says {para} "If two men fight and during the fight a pregnant woman is injured such that she miscarries, the man shall be FINED as the judges determine, but  if the woman also dies, then the man is put to death."  I suggest you read it again.\n\nWhat God is telling us in this verse is that an unborn baby is NOT the same thing as a human life.  If it were, the punishment would be death for that also.  Thus, God is telling us that abortion is NOT murder.\n\nBefore conception/before entering the womb - Isn't it obvious that God is talking about their spirit and not their physical body?
101267
Bob Dylan said "you gotta serve somebody", if it ain't God them who? Just look at Ozzy. That fellow is definitely possessed. What would cause someone to kill their kids? It has to be demonic.
509823
Heaven and hell exist... the whole story!\n\n\nEvery Atman soul manifests a body ... On its journey towards Emancipation! If it were a plant it would do all within its means to become an animal (in next Life) ... the next higher of the species but would it swoop low (owing to bad Karma), it could regain the body of an insect or even an Amoebae in its next manifested Life. Who knows when ... the sword may fall! We pray and do Punya Karma (pious deeds not only in the physical frame but mentally also) ... We elevate ourselves to the higher planes of cosmic consciousness ... we inherit Paap Karma ... We are doomed to go to Hell ...\n\nYou are born a Human Being. You live a Life of content. One day hell breaks loose ... You fail to control your emotions and cause hurt to your fellow beings ... Earn Paap Karma. Ultimately hurtled into the dungeons of Hell in your next birth ... You are born a crawling insect to be trampled by one and all. What apathy .. nothing within your control you shall again have to take the cast of a Human body before you can atone for your sins and ask god for his Forgiveness!!\n\nEvery ‘Atman’ manifests initially on a Life supporting planet and then goes on Spiritually elevating itself to higher and higher planes. You go to ‘Swarg’ owing to your Punya Karma and ‘Narak’ owing to your Paap Karma. God never differentiates ... For him all are equal.\n\n\nBefore an Atman is allotted another body, it has merely to wait ... Where? Where else other than Swarga or Naraka depending upon the balance sheet of your previous Life! There is no waiting in Hell! So many species of insects plants and animals!\n\nWaiting for a proper birth is essential ... For the family in which you have to take birth may not yet exist. The complex theory of genes and chromosomes is to be understood well. The balance sheet of you and your would be parents must match ... Then only you inherit the womb of that Mother. Your Mother may be a she animal or a woman ... Is solely dependent on the balance Karma of your previous Life.\n\n‘Swarg’ is no where else but it is a X-dimension where only Atmans operate. We do not see an Atman or God but still we feel their presence ... Where? The travel of Atman is not limited by time or space. They travel on frequencies above the speed of light i.e. above 1,86,000 miles per sec. All thought waves without exception travel on frequencies above the speed of light. Traveling on different waves lengths in the X-dimension (i.e. speeds above 1,86,000 miles per sec) can one Atman meet another.\n\n\nEvery Human Being who has learnt to control his senses, can elevate his mental status to levels that he can seek blessings of one and all whom we consider as dead and liberated i.e. God realized! All purified Atmans are practically known as Human Gods like Mahavira, Jesus, Buddha and Mohammed of the earlier Ages and Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Ramanna Mahirshi of the recent ages reside in the X-dimension known to us as ‘Baikunth (abode of God). These purified Atmans are ever ready to bless us if we sincerely and with full devotion (i.e. through mantras) invoke their presence and blessings. Proper use of Mantras is essential for their invocation.\n\nIn ‘Hell’ which is nowhere else but exists on this planet itself can be found those poor Souls whose misdeeds landed them in Hell. You slowly through the evolutionary process elevated yourself to the level of a Human Being. Your works as a Human Being did not conform to the standards laid down by the scriptures! You failed yourself at all levels of Morality and Ethics. On the Earthly plane, the society may not spurn your advances, neither you may be ridiculed and pitied upon for you are the lord of great wealth and riches and none wants to face your wrath! More on god here- http://www.godrealized.org/swarga_naraka_and_dharti.html
540302
It's more poetic junk in the Bible that you can really interpret to whatever you want it to be.  This bit seems to be more threats of hellfire for those outside the group.  Religion likes to use the carrot and stick approach to gaining and keeping converts.  This is one example of a stick.  On the carrot side of it, they'll talk about "God's love" and such (ignoring, of course, such contradictions as this).
111132
"Exodus 33: 'evil tidings' from LORD? Moses talked face to face with LORD, but only saw 'back' parts of LORD?"\n\nAre you trying to reconcile Exodus 33 with the Kabbalistic concept of Qlippoth?\n\nWhile its quite normal in most mythological systems for deities to tell humans that they won't survive gazing upon the deity's awesome visage, Qlippoth does make an interesting question here.  Perhaps the suggestion would be that while we try to look YHVH in the face, we are unable to really conceive of it and can only glimpse the "back", the Qlippoth, ie the stuff we don't like so much.  Interesting how akin it is to the way children think of their parents when they're young. Maybe someday humans will mature and be able to see YHVH in a more wholistic fashion.\n\n"Could there be two LORDS to consider, sort out, if there's also mention of the LORD of 'LORDS'?"\n\nIn the translation I'm looking at right now, I don't see the phrase "Lord of Lords" used in Ex 33.  However, when it does come up its referring to one or both of two things: The supremacy of YHVH in the pre-Abrahamic Judaic pantheon (before Abraham made his covenant with YHVH, the Jews were polytheistic and YHVH was one deity among many), and/or the supremacy of YHVH as a heavenly Lord to earthly Lords.\n\n"Which 'things' are an 'allegory' and 'mystery'."\n\nThere's no allegory in this chapter.  And, for me at least, the Bible in its entirety can be understood as a Mystery if one chooses to see it that way.\n\n"Why did story of Noah's Ark mention God and LORD, who notably gave Noah contradicting commandments?"\n\nThe commands aren't really contradictory: They don't "undo" each other.  So its not like there are two entities here giving opposite commands to Noah and using him as a pawn in some secret hidden war.  God doesn't say "save the animals" only to have Lord come back and say "don't save the animals."  There's just a confusion over number, which I consider being a result of bad editing - something that's bound to happen when a text is scribed, re-scribed, redacted, translated, etc. ad nauseum over the course of roughly 6000 years.
374200
And why would we worship a god who favors pedophiles over heroes?\n\nDoesn't seem like a nice god.  What motivation do we have to worship him?\n\nOh yeah, right, eternal damnation.  So, we are supposed to believe the word of a god who has no qualms about tossing heroes into Hell.  Yeah, do people really think that God would be good on his word?  If he doesn't care about human life, then what makes you think he cares about honesty?
182623
I thought we were only allowed a certain number of characters with which to spew our idiocy across the proverbial cosmos. Aparently that doesn't apply to those who worship those who steal other peoples "wastes." What was the juxtaposition of the question? Did your "profet" take a hit to the neck region? Or does hitting people in the neck region forcibly convert them from Judaism to Islam. An event similar to the medical event of "fast detoxification under anesthetics" only this ones for your soul. I gift myself two points.
610245
I'm not sure how I'm gonna answer this, but here goes.\nLet's see: God created Lucifer (now known as Satan) as His second in command. Lucifer then saw how much better than all the other angels he was and thought to himself, "If I'm so much better than them, why can't I be better than God himself?" No one knows where this thought came from, seeing how God only makes perfect creations. The only logical place that it could have came from is freedom of choice that God gave them when He created the Angels. This freedom also explains why 1/3 of the Angels chose to follow Lucifer in his rebellion against God. After Lucifer and his demons (fallen angels) were cast out of Heaven, God seperated His angels so far away from Lucifer's that the demons know that they can never get back. Lucifer is free to come and go as he pleases in God's throneroom (as evidenced in the first chapter of Job), but he can never return to what he once was. This fact has angered him so much over the millenia that he's esentially declared war on humanity, God's most prized creation. The first battle in this war was waged on the day of Adam and Eve's temptation and fall away from God when Satan successfully decieved them to eat of the tree that God explicitly said not to eat from. The victory was prophesied not even a day later when the Spirit of the Lord walked through the Garden looking for Adam and Eve to felowship with them as He normally did, only to find them hiding from them, dressed in fig leaves. God asked them why they were ashamed of themselves, and then they went through the whole "it's his/her fault" routine, blaming each other for what one did. When the truth finally did come out (not like God didn't already know), God pronounced consequences on humanity (a series of hardships which can be read in Genesis 3), and cursed the serpent (as this was the creature Satan used to decieve Adam and Eve). The curse on the serpent also held hope for the redemption of Mankind, as it fortold of the defeat of Satan through the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The war was over before it begun! \n\nSo, to answer your question: Yes, Satan invented the concept of sin. He then successfully marketed this concept to himself, his demons, and ultimately to humanity. He even tried to get Jesus to sin, but since Jesus is God in the flesh (and God is perfect), he couldn't do it. Jesus was the only man who ever lived here on earth that lead a perfect life, one completely without sinning.