The Hidden Origins of the Abrahamic Religions: How Ancient Polytheism Shaped Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
The Hidden History of God
Did you know his origin is a mystery that reveals the hidden history of the Abrahamic religions?
This article will show you how Yahweh became God, using historical and archaeological evidence. You will discover how his story shaped the world we live in today.
The Hidden Origins of the Abrahamic Religions: How Ancient Polytheism Shaped Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
How the ancient gods influenced the world’s biggest faiths
Many people today believe that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the three branches of the same monotheistic tree, worshiping the same God who revealed himself to Abraham and his descendants. However, this belief is not supported by historical evidence or by the scriptures of these religions themselves. In fact, the Abrahamic religions have very different and contradictory views on God, Jesus, and the Trinity, which can be traced back to their roots in ancient polytheism.
In this article, we will explore how the Abrahamic religions evolved from the worship of multiple gods and goddesses in the ancient Near East, especially in the region of Canaan (modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria). We will also examine how the Sumerian and Canaanite history and mythology influenced the development of these religions and their doctrines.
The Canaanite Connection
The Canaanites were the original inhabitants of the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants in the Bible. They were a Semitic people who spoke a language related to Hebrew and Arabic. They practiced a polytheistic religion that centered on a supreme god named El and his consort Asherah, as well as their children and grandchildren, such as Baal, Anat, Astarte, and Yam. These deities were associated with various aspects of nature, such as storms, fertility, war, love, and the sea.
The Canaanites also believed in a pantheon of lesser gods and goddesses who were worshiped at local shrines and high places. Some of these were adopted from neighboring cultures, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia. For example, they worshiped Horus as Haru, Ishtar as Ashtoreth, and Marduk as Merodach.
The Canaanite religion was not static or uniform; it changed over time and varied from place to place. Different cities and regions had their own patron deities and cults. For example, the city of Ugarit had a special devotion to Baal Hadad, the storm god who was also known as the son of El. The city of Byblos had a special devotion to Baalat Gebal, the goddess of the city who was also known as the daughter of El.
The Canaanite religion also influenced and interacted with other religions in the region. The Amorites, who migrated from Mesopotamia to Canaan in the early second millennium BCE, adopted many Canaanite deities and blended them with their own. The Hyksos, who invaded Egypt from Canaan in the late second millennium BCE, introduced some Canaanite deities to the Egyptians. The Phoenicians, who emerged from Canaan as a maritime power in the first millennium BCE, spread their religion to other parts of the Mediterranean world.
The Israelite Transformation
The Israelites were one of the many groups that emerged from Canaan in the late second millennium BCE. They claimed descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (also known as Israel), who were nomadic patriarchs who migrated from Mesopotamia to Canaan. According to the biblical narrative, they were enslaved in Egypt for four hundred years until they were liberated by Moses under God’s guidance. They then wandered in the wilderness for forty years until they reached the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership.
The Israelites initially worshiped the same gods and goddesses as their Canaanite neighbors. They acknowledged El as their chief god and called him by various names, such as El Shaddai (God Almighty), El Elyon (God Most High), El Olam (God Everlasting), El Roi (God Who Sees Me), El Bethel (God of Bethel), and El Elohe Israel (God of Israel). They also worshiped Asherah as his consort and erected wooden poles or trees in her honor. They also worshiped Baal as a storm god who brought rain and fertility.
They also worshiped other deities such as Anat, Astarte, Chemosh, Dagon, Milcom, Molech, Resheph, Shamash, and so on. They built altars and high places for them and offered sacrifices and incense to them.
However, the Israelites also had a unique relationship with a particular god named Yahweh.
Yahweh was the god who revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush and gave him his name, which means “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14).
Yahweh was the god who performed miracles and signs for the Israelites in Egypt and in the wilderness.
Yahweh was the god who made a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and gave them the Ten Commandments and the Torah (the Law). Yahweh was the god who led the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land and gave them victory over their enemies.
Yahweh was not originally a Canaanite god, but a foreign god who came from outside of Canaan.
Some scholars have suggested that he was a Midianite god who was worshiped by Moses’ father-in-law Jethro (Exodus 18:12).
Others have suggested that he was an Edomite god who was worshiped by Esau’s descendants (Genesis 36:8). Others have suggested that he was a Kenite god who was worshiped by Cain’s descendants (Genesis 4:26).
In any case, Yahweh was a different and distinct god from El and his family.
It seems that Yahweh was not worshiped as a creator god by the Kenites, Edomites, Midianites, and the Shasu in the earliest periods of their history.
These groups may have viewed Yahweh as a god of metallurgy, a divine warrior, a storm god, an ancestral god, or a protector, but not as the sole creator of all things.
The notion that Yahweh is the creator-god of all the earth is first elaborated by the Second Isaiah, a 6th-century BCE exilic work.
This idea was later developed by the early Christians and Muslims in their monotheistic religions.
The Israelites gradually transformed Yahweh from a foreign god to their own national god.
- They identified him with El and called him by his titles, such as El Shaddai, El Elyon, El Olam, etc.
- They also merged him with Baal and called him by his epithets, such as Baal Zebub (Lord of Flies), Baal Peor (Lord of the Opening), Baal Berith (Lord of the Covenant), etc.
- They also assimilated him with other deities and attributed their qualities and functions to him, such as Resheph (god of plague), Shamash (god of sun), Molech (god of child sacrifice), etc.
The Israelites also elevated Yahweh above all other gods and goddesses and claimed that he was the only true and living God.
They declared that he was the creator of heaven and earth, the king of kings and lord of lords, the judge of all nations, and the savior of his people. They also demanded that he be worshiped exclusively and that no other gods or idols be made or served beside him.
This process of transformation was not smooth or uniform; it was gradual and diverse. Different groups and individuals within Israel had different views and practices regarding Yahweh and other gods. Some were more loyal and faithful to Yahweh; others were more tolerant and syncretistic with other gods. Some were more radical and reformist; others were more conservative and traditional.
This process of transformation was also influenced by external factors, such as political events, military conflicts, cultural contacts, social changes, etc. For example, when the Israelites were oppressed by foreign powers, such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, or Rome, they tended to cling more to Yahweh as their protector and deliverer. When they were prosperous and peaceful under their own kings or judges, they tended to stray more from Yahweh and follow other gods.
This process of transformation also resulted in internal conflicts, such as wars, rebellions, divisions, exiles, and restorations.
These conflicts were often interpreted as signs of Yahweh’s anger or favor, depending on the outcome.
They also produced different sources and traditions that recorded and preserved the history and identity of Israel.
These sources and traditions were later compiled and edited into what we now call the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament.
The Hebrew Bible is not a single book, but a collection of books that were written by different authors over a long period of time.
The Hebrew Bible is divided into three main parts: the Torah (the Law), the Nevi’im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings).
- The Torah contains the first five books of the Bible, which tell the story of creation, the patriarchs, the exodus, the covenant, and the law.
- The Nevi’im contains the historical books, which tell the story of the judges, the kings, and the kingdoms; and the prophetic books, which tell the messages of the prophets who spoke on behalf of Yahweh.
- The Ketuvim contains the poetic books, such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Job; and the wisdom books, such as Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Esther.
The Hebrew Bible is not a simple or literal account of historical events, but a complex and symbolic expression of faith, theology, and morality.
The Hebrew Bible uses various literary genres and forms, such as narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, wisdom, and so on, to convey its message and meaning.
The Hebrew Bible also reflects the cultural and historical context of its authors and audiences, who lived in different times and places.
Therefore, to understand the Hebrew Bible properly, one needs to use various methods and tools of analysis, such as historical criticism, literary criticism, textual criticism, source criticism, form criticism, redaction criticism, and so on.
These methods help to identify the sources, genres, forms, structures, themes, purposes, and meanings of the biblical texts. They also help to compare and contrast the biblical texts with other ancient texts from the same or different cultures.
The Christian Revolution
Christianity emerged from Judaism in the first century CE as a new religious movement that followed Jesus of Nazareth as its leader and savior.
Jesus was a Jewish preacher, a gnostic by some accounts, and healer who claimed to be the Messiah (the Anointed One) who was sent by God to fulfill the prophecies and promises of the Hebrew Bible.
He also claimed to be the Son of God who had a unique relationship with God as his Father. He taught his followers to love God and their neighbors as themselves. He performed miracles and signs that demonstrated his authority and power. He also challenged the religious and political authorities of his time who opposed him and his message.
Jesus was eventually arrested by the Jewish leaders who accused him of blasphemy (claiming to be God) and sedition (threatening to overthrow Rome). He was handed over to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate who sentenced him to death by crucifixion (a brutal form of execution reserved for criminals and rebels). He died on a cross outside Jerusalem around 30 CE.
However, according to his followers, Jesus did not stay dead. He rose from the dead on the third day after his death and appeared to them in various ways. He also gave them instructions to spread his gospel (good news) to all nations and to baptize them in his name. He then ascended to heaven where he sits at the right hand of God as his Lord and King.
Jesus’ followers believed that he was not only a human being but also a divine being who was one with God. They believed that he was not only the Messiah but also God himself who became flesh and dwelt among us. They believed that he was not only the Son of God but also God’s Word or Logos who created all things. They believed that he was not only a prophet but also God’s Wisdom or Sophia who revealed all things.
Jesus’ followers also believed that he was not alone in his divinity. They believed that he was part of a Trinity or Triune God who consisted of three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Jewish Rejection of Jesus As The Messiah
The Sumerian Influence
The Truth About Yahweh: Is He Creator Of All?
Jesus: The Liberal God Who Loves His Enemies
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