Seth
@prehistoricseth.bsky.social
Professional research scientist. Amateur pontificator. Esoteric dabbler.
Pretty interesting to read about other historical periods when Christianity became a tool of the state (or the Empire) in service of advancing the state (or Empire).
June 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Pretty interesting to read about other historical periods when Christianity became a tool of the state (or the Empire) in service of advancing the state (or Empire).
I think it is an important thing for a translator to clearly note. For example, when trying to understand the source/context of the household codes in chapter 5 or the spiritual forces section in chapter 6.
June 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I think it is an important thing for a translator to clearly note. For example, when trying to understand the source/context of the household codes in chapter 5 or the spiritual forces section in chapter 6.
How much trouble could have been avoided if this framework for reading scripture had been taken more seriously. Don't assume every story, good, bad, or ugly, is a literal record or is intended to be taken literally.
June 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
How much trouble could have been avoided if this framework for reading scripture had been taken more seriously. Don't assume every story, good, bad, or ugly, is a literal record or is intended to be taken literally.
I really like this introduction to the book of Job as explained by Maimonides. I wish I had read it earlier in life. "This fiction, however, is in so far different from other fictions that it includes profound ideas and great mysteries, removes great doubts, and reveals the most important truths."
May 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I really like this introduction to the book of Job as explained by Maimonides. I wish I had read it earlier in life. "This fiction, however, is in so far different from other fictions that it includes profound ideas and great mysteries, removes great doubts, and reveals the most important truths."
I think Maimonides is on to something...and it might not jive with what we learned in Sunday school.
May 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I think Maimonides is on to something...and it might not jive with what we learned in Sunday school.
This description by Hannah Arendt seems to capture the Fox News community, and explains well why it does no good to argue with MAGA friends and family.
April 21, 2025 at 10:27 PM
This description by Hannah Arendt seems to capture the Fox News community, and explains well why it does no good to argue with MAGA friends and family.
This should ease your mind.
April 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This should ease your mind.
Clearly the man is determined to have access to a concentration camp where he can disappear people.
April 16, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Clearly the man is determined to have access to a concentration camp where he can disappear people.
One of my favorite examples of Jesus operating as a teacher *within* rabbinic discourse not in opposition to it. Here, the "test" should not be read as a "trick", but as finding if Jesus is more aligned with stricter beit Shammai or more lenient Hillel (or later Akiva).
March 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
One of my favorite examples of Jesus operating as a teacher *within* rabbinic discourse not in opposition to it. Here, the "test" should not be read as a "trick", but as finding if Jesus is more aligned with stricter beit Shammai or more lenient Hillel (or later Akiva).
The idea of an invitation to unbelief in folk superstition (including the running theme of the רוּחַ רָעָה) seems to be a constant back and forth. Was just reading this section to a similar effect.
March 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The idea of an invitation to unbelief in folk superstition (including the running theme of the רוּחַ רָעָה) seems to be a constant back and forth. Was just reading this section to a similar effect.
"Grok, this still feels like evangelicalism. Are you sure this new church model is affirming?"
"Yeah. And I disabled penal substitution and inerrancy. Should be perfectly safe now."
"Yeah. And I disabled penal substitution and inerrancy. Should be perfectly safe now."
March 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"Grok, this still feels like evangelicalism. Are you sure this new church model is affirming?"
"Yeah. And I disabled penal substitution and inerrancy. Should be perfectly safe now."
"Yeah. And I disabled penal substitution and inerrancy. Should be perfectly safe now."
An interesting halakhic example of what Christian scholars (i.e. Sanders) termed "covenantal nomism", here directly situated in the context of conversion.
February 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
An interesting halakhic example of what Christian scholars (i.e. Sanders) termed "covenantal nomism", here directly situated in the context of conversion.
Fun! I ran the Grok experiment. I asked Elon's AI "What famous person spreads the most disinformation online right now?"
February 21, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Fun! I ran the Grok experiment. I asked Elon's AI "What famous person spreads the most disinformation online right now?"
Be careful out there.
February 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Be careful out there.
"A characteristic of [the bourgeoisie] has been that everybody could belong to it who conceived of life as a process of perpetually becoming wealthier, and considered money as something sacrosanct...[and not] a mere commodity for consumption." - H. Arendt
"Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto...”
"Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto...”
February 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
"A characteristic of [the bourgeoisie] has been that everybody could belong to it who conceived of life as a process of perpetually becoming wealthier, and considered money as something sacrosanct...[and not] a mere commodity for consumption." - H. Arendt
"Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto...”
"Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto...”
This resistance movement needs an anthem. 1) Which classic American guitar do you choose to stick it to the man, and 2) What is the name of your anti-fascist song that rages against the wannabe dictators and billionaire overlords?
February 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This resistance movement needs an anthem. 1) Which classic American guitar do you choose to stick it to the man, and 2) What is the name of your anti-fascist song that rages against the wannabe dictators and billionaire overlords?
You don't need 1930s Germany to understand our current fascist movement. Jim Crow was US fascism. Consider an excerpt on "reorganizing government" from a 1911 novel by W.E.B. Du Bois. Southern white political leaders (and business lobbyists) then were strikingly similar to today's GOP.
January 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
You don't need 1930s Germany to understand our current fascist movement. Jim Crow was US fascism. Consider an excerpt on "reorganizing government" from a 1911 novel by W.E.B. Du Bois. Southern white political leaders (and business lobbyists) then were strikingly similar to today's GOP.
Some are arguing Elon's salute was not a Nazi one, but a Roman salute. Perhaps. Is there a connection between fascism and a fascination with Roman Empire? Yes, and it's no more a secret now than it was for Mussolini and Hitler. For example:
January 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Some are arguing Elon's salute was not a Nazi one, but a Roman salute. Perhaps. Is there a connection between fascism and a fascination with Roman Empire? Yes, and it's no more a secret now than it was for Mussolini and Hitler. For example:
For your consideration.
January 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
For your consideration.
Me and the three folks who read my posts
January 15, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Me and the three folks who read my posts
I'm increasingly fascinated by how much the Jewish literati wove older myths into their writings. I.e, in the Hebrew Bible God at times is superimposed with or replaces (if not is derived from) older divine stories, such as Ba'al conquering the god Yamm and the dragon Tannin in Ugaritic literature.
January 9, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I'm increasingly fascinated by how much the Jewish literati wove older myths into their writings. I.e, in the Hebrew Bible God at times is superimposed with or replaces (if not is derived from) older divine stories, such as Ba'al conquering the god Yamm and the dragon Tannin in Ugaritic literature.
Just finished. Wow! So good!
September 9, 2023 at 2:19 AM
Just finished. Wow! So good!