In the polytheistic culture of the Ancient Near East, deities were worshipped by means of sacrifices made in particular places. Most gods were considered to have what we might consider “regional” power (the Babylonians having a few patron deities vs. those of say the Assyrians); and within those regions to have particular locations in which...
Tag: christianity
Jesus at 7PM – Live Audience Q&A in Irvine, CA
Honest answers to sincere questions are essential to the work of love. Indeed the lessons that have been most formative in my spiritual life have not come from books and lectures (important though they are!), but from the candid conversations that came at the cafe or in the parking lot after the formal lesson was...
Understanding the Bible 06: Israel Enters the Promised Land
Understanding the Bible requires a constant return to the covenant with Abraham (see part 3 of this series). It is that promise of salvation that drives the rest of the biblical narrative and which guides our interpretation of scripture. And central to Abrahamic covenant is the pledge that Israel will come to possess the land...