Sea Monsters and Behemoths and Tablets of Destiny are ancient Sumerian myths about the origins of humanity.

Marduke (Behemoth) is the champion of the Gods and Tiamat (Sea Monster) is chaos and the Tablets of Destiny are similar to the ten commandments (except they are made of clay instead of stone). The tablets are cosmically inspired script that essentially grants the universe to the god who possesses them. Marduke battles Tiamat for possession and wins and so defines a universe that is structured with humans serving gods. Of course, the gods are on top and liaison with the chosen (the few, the wealthy) who liaison with the merchants who control the majority of the poor dumb bastards. Marduke wins and brings order or the creation of civilization to the universe. Of course, this is a historical myth to Semitic people in general but is the basis for Babylonian religion. Isaiah's prophesy has the Jewish god defeating the Leviathan in the end of days and bringing order to the universe (supposedly a prophesy from the Babylonian captivity). Of course, John the Revelator renews Isiah's prophesy and defines the sea monster as Rome (his world recognized the son of god as the Emperor in Rome, and that ain't right) but that god had destroyed Jerusalem and if he took a boat to Ephesus all he would see would be monuments to that Roman god. He defines the Behemoth as a land monster or antichrist or the theft of the Messiah by Gentiles because of Paul. They have stolen the baby (Messiah) at it's birth from the it's mother, Israel.

An Atheist interpretation but an interpretation none the less.

Oh ya the Genesis story.... I read this in a Karen Armstrong book I believe...any way...all the Old Testament stuff was oral tradition until around the time of the Babylonian exile. That is when it was written down and the people of the book really began. Of course it had to explain why the Jewish god pretty much sucked at war. Of course you hear a lot about unfaithful humans and stuff but they really define god as a camper. He does not need a Temple. A tent is fine.Of course in Job he will test humans (Job also contains the Leviathan). So, captivity and exile are a test of man's faith. God is always there watching. With all that comes a purge of the infidel and Deuteronimists get to write on and on about ritual and god's requirements.

The priests need a creation that tops the Babylonian creation and positions the Jewish god above the Babylonian gods. So what do they do..

They create a god who calmly creates everything in 7 days. He doesn't battle sea monsters for tablets of destiny. He creates the sea and the sea monsters. Ultimately, he creates the tablets of destiny (the ten commandments) and gives them to an undeserving people (humans, not gods).

Gotta love it!

oh! well i guess it would make sense that the old testament was oral tradition, i do remember some discrepancies here and there, throughout actually...i think?,,,but in a way it is kind of good, i mean that they include it...in this record of humans groping for some kind of understanding? or something? i mean they got some stuff in there! but to sell it as THE WORD OF GOD...is that enough to mess with your head? that is kind of enough to mess with your head!

I think the best bit is about 36:30 in where he talks about shane and dublin butter and the song mails it out to the tide

it makes no sense at all
it makes more sense now

look a falling star, cool!

I think the best bit is about 36:30 in where he talks about shane and dublin butter and the song mails it out to the tide

fuc^#n hell i forgot this bit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckd-V48fGLc

there is a bit about oral tradition
quite well done and fits here somehow

let's raise a toast to Black Bess

I am not now nor have I ever been opposed to religious literature. In fact, I find it quite fascinating (obviously). However, those who proclaim it as the word of god fail to look at it honestly. They use as a means to their ends. I mean the actual Jewish literature is opposed to centralized power and kingdoms. The prophets all say kingdom is folly. Of course then they all fall in love with David and then Solomon comes along with all the bad traits and none of the good traits of David and it just gets progressively worse from there until your singing by the rivers of Babylon (I usually put on Steve Earle when I want to sing it, that was his best album ever!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPeORSIeb0U

so, does living in a tolerant world mean sacrificing freedom of speech?

I don't like the fringe christians any more than the violent muslims.

Should I not be allowed to say that for fear of causing riots and deaths?

I mean that fear is why I don't like these beliefs.

oh...what i was trying to say up there, is that...along with the video in question, aren't the bible and quran both exercises in freedom of speech as well?...and i mean, there is some stuff in there (in the two books) that makes you want to go, "really?"

i mean, if they can say some of that stuff?

and yes, then there is the whole...my god is better than your god thing.

there is always acceptable and unacceptable freedoms of speech
it is like liberty
We are all for liberty as long as we get to define it!