Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Anunnaki in light of Torah, Talmud, Zohar
muman613:
--- Quote from: Zelhar on March 22, 2009, 10:14:08 AM ---
--- Quote from: muman613 on March 20, 2009, 11:41:51 AM ---http://www.vbm-torah.org/Parasha.58/32behar.htm
--- Quote ---The prohibition of idol worship that appears in these two parshiot is also differentiated by these two basic differences - the focus on man (Mishpatim) or on the sanctified place (Behar). The spotlight in Mishpatim is turned to the individual Israelite who must not remember other gods. Not only is ritual-religious worship prohibited, but also abstract sectors of philosophical thought are forbidden. In comparison, in our parasha the prohibition stems from the concept that the land of Israel is a sanctified place where idol worship cannot be tolerated: "You shall not make idols for yourselves, or set up for yourselves images or pillars, or place figured stones in your land to worship upon ..." It is forbidden to build idols or statues in the land (even if no man is going to worship them), and do not put "in your land" figured stones. There is a clear feeling that the land will be desecrated by placing of idols or statues within it, and "in your land" it is forbidden to place even a stone that may be used for worship.
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I don't think that the quoted passage validates you assertion that even mentioning the names of idols is forbidden. Moreover like S.P. mentions, some idols' names are everyday words in Hebrew like Shamash/Shemesh, Baal, even the word El is a name of a Mesopotamian idol.
In English the names for the planets and for some days of the week are those of Indo-European idols, so do you avoid those words Muman ?
BTW, Personally, I think that the name of the natural object/entity such as the sun (Shemesh) preceded the 'deity' but anyway these idols are a bygone.
I assure you that practically every living person today do NOT attribute any godly power whatsoever to these old idols. Therefore I don't think one can claim that mentioning their names is a form of idolatry.
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Mentioning the names of other powers and claiming that they are gods is idolatry in a mild form. Also posting them in a section where people may be looking for Jewish ideas may lead some astray. The word El means forces in general and is short for Elokim which also means Strict Justice verses the name Yud Kay Vav Kay which is the name we use for his attributes of kindness.
I believe people can do whatever they want but that in a section which is called Torah and Jewish ideals we should not be speaking or writing the names of powers which the ancients worshiped. Maybe in a forum where everyone there is seeking knowledge for secular studies such as archeology or ancient religions or something.
There is no reason to seek other gods. Hashem has told the Jewish people very clearly not to do so. Let me also quote another section of Torah which explains just how much Hashem feels about this:
Just two Shabbats ago we read Ki Tisa which contains the following:
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=15567&v=ds&p=6
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11 Observe thou that which I am commanding thee this day; behold, I am driving out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest they be for a snare in the midst of thee.
13 But ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim.
14 For thou shalt bow down to no other G-d; for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous G-d;
15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go astray after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and they call thee, and thou eat of their sacrifice;
16 and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go astray after their gods, and make thy sons go astray after their gods.
17 Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.
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I will ask my rabbi about this next time I talk with him. I believe it is best to avoid names of other G-ds even if you are just looking at the roots of words. There are many good talks on the topic of the orgins and mystical gematria of hebrew words by rabbis...
Also read this:
http://www.aishdas.org/ta/5765/mishpatim.pdf
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The commentators point out that (one of) the intention(s) of the reminder to "keep all of the things I have said" is to instruct us to "keep" or "watch over" the commandants by creating protective layers around the laws, i.e. the rabbinical decrees that create a fence around the biblical prohibitions. It is interesting to note that the Torah contrasts the need to provide more than just "lip service" to the commandments (but actually "keep" them, even observing the protective layers around the prohibition) with the prohibition against even giving just "lip service" to other belief systems, i.e. even mentioning, or causing the mention of, other gods. However, the Torah itself mentions some of those other gods (as being the gods of other nations, and warning us not to follow them), and we are therefore permitted to mention those names (although derogatorily). If the Torah mentions other gods, how could the rabbis have?
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