STUDIES IN THEOLOGY: 12/18/2006 (No Package No Admission! If You Thought Divorce Was Bad? Wet Dreams In Adult Hood?)

STUDIES IN THEOLOGY;

Popular Christianity 12/18/2006

Study Notes And Journal Entries,

No Package No Admission! If You Thought Divorce Was Bad? Wet Dreams In Adult Hood?

An Observation

By

David A. Archer

02/15/1968

(r.f.p.p.s.h.)

12/18/2006

21:22 describes the punishment of hanging - and specifically that the person hung should not remain hanging dead from the tree overnight. It says to bury the body the same day. ~

This kind of puts a different light on the development of the Western United States particularly - more in reference to popular lore in even displaying bodies at times for what ever reason. ~

Chapter 22 looks as though it describes some basic social neighborly things in returning that of others and of course lending a hand in troublesome moments with donkeys and oxen. ~

22:05 then turns to dictate the difference between womens clothing and mens clothing in so far as forbidding one to wear the other. ~ This I see really as more in relation to something similar to 22:11, than in some effort to stem cross dressing. 22:11 stating that wool and linen woven together is unacceptable as clothing. I see a similar relationship in reasoning between men and womens clothing's - not to say one is wool and the other linen, but more a relative aspect in meaning - intention. Very much in the idea that (22:09) to plant something between two rows of another crop would then mean that neither could be used. ~

This of course, as we now know - being rather insightful pertaining to the effect of spores on one another - some with potential for mutation. ~

Yet further in suggesting some deeper aversion in such concerns, is the forbidding of plowing with an ox and donkey together. This pattern of separation even extending to types of stitches on clothing in some instances. ~

The reasoning which appears in 22:08 is rather intriguing. If a person were to build a new house, a rail must be included around the edge of the roof in the event that someone should fall from it - the owner would then be absolved of murder as it states. ~

Obviously the intention is in safety precaution(s) - but the murder aspect of a person falling from the roof is a glimpse into the social reasoning's of the time to say the least.

To be guilty of murder in the even that a person fell from the roof? ~

I suppose the distance between more modern reasoning and that display in 22:08, is as much the interesting part. ~

It could even be used in argument pertaining to the idea(s) right and wrong. This of course in the context of conditioned perspectives. ~

It might sound preposterous in the modern day to consider murder as a result of neglecting to install a railing - especially with the various other modern components in/of perspective - though, in simple consideration beyond those conditioned paths and opinions, why then couldn't it be seen as correct reasoning?

22:12 instructs that four tassels must be worn on the hem of a cloak - front, back and sides. ~

This I would presume as initially pertaining to the lunar cycle. Then further, as the compilation of the works called the bible was solidified - then found relation with the fourth book - Numbers - within the developed symbolic logic. ~

22:13 addresses standards for sexual purity. Something that humans are the only creature with reason to worry about. There is no other creature with such concerns. ~

02/07/2007 Something further to note hear about the developed perception of popular Christianity and things presented in instances such as this; There is no indication here of any inclination toward the idea of abstinence being a mandated goal. Such things and perspective, more than likely arose from the application of personal oaths - Nazirite examples and the sort.

Though I find the descriptions within these passages as no less than interesting, it is 22:17 that piques the curiosity - presuming the suggestion in proving virginity was pertaining to a broken hymen in regard to presenting the bed sheets - what of the female that had inadvertently broken the hymen? I suppose in that instance the females father would miss out on the 100 pieces of silver! ~

It calls to mind yet another comparison between/in the distance between modern culture and even interpretations and those depicted within these passages; Marriage itself in that day and age, seems to have been potentially as precarious as in the modern day - with only different reason and social consistencies in play. ~

Even casual relations could cost a person 50 pieces of silver if it was found out! And in some instances death was very much possible in both male and female respects regarding the perceived situation. ~

23 begins with quite the statement! If a mans testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the Lord! ~

Obviously quite the importance placed on virility. This perhaps even as remnant from previous structures in such concerns with potency. Further as a note, this is similar in the context of being an incomplete person in such a state as other civilizations having permitted eunuchs for instance, to retain possession of their testicles in the interest of remaining complete though in fulfilling the service needed. ~

23:02 states that ten (10) generations must pass of a bastard child's line, until they may again be admitted for worship. ~

23:03 continues in addressing the other people in the area and forbids those having turned the Israelites away from joining the assembly of the Lord for ten (10) generations, then further condemns the Ammonites and Moabites in forbidding the promotion of their prosperity. ~

23:07 states that Egyptians may enter the assembly after 3 generations as can the Edomites. ~

23:10, under the title of miscellaneous regulations, states that a defilement due to nocturnal emission must be dealt with through bathing and staying away all day. ~

This is interesting to me in the reference of any man experiencing such. ~

In modern society, wet dreams are usually no longer an occurrence after puberty. ~

Curious that such is suggested as a possibility in that day and age for any man. ~

As a further note - thus far there has been no consideration in regard to female masturbation. It isn't as though they just invented it, of that I am certain! ~

23:12 speaks of latrine sort of standards in a manner that seems to suggest some instruction was needed. The odd aspect of such instruction is that it is put forward describing the digging of a hole for each need for one to relieve ones self. Then further, specifically to cover it each time. ~

Western culture seems to have diverged some in this development and progression - even upwards to the early mid 1900's in some places - the outhouse was rather common and obviously was not covered with every use aside from perhaps a handful of dirt thrown in - and in that, only in certain examples. Then further as note within the urban areas of Western culture for some period, was commonly a chamber pot under the bed or in the closet which many times simply ended up in the street.

23:14 describes excrement as a shameful thing as being reason to bury it with each movement. ~

To again consider the possibility of nocturnal emission for any man - though it is speculation, the consistency of such having become focused during puberty in the modern day, could represent a physiological change - perhaps directly as result of the concentration in focus pertaining to the single deity. ~

To think that perhaps such tendencies became more concentrated to within a given few years in the modern day - isn't all that far fetched and further so in comparison with things such as in 23:10 which suggest that such was common through adult hood as well. Even in considering the much earlier consideration in age constituting man hood from such areas and cultures. ~

23:15 describes that escaped slaves from other places must not be turned over to their masters. And must be allowed to live int he town of their choosing without oppression. ~

Again a similarity of this and the idea of welcoming the refugees of other countries as a citizen populous. ~

Further is an obvious similarity with the underground railroad in the American Civil War era of the United States. ~

Strange to some degree that a culture - new social structure - which employed the presence of its own slaves, would actually put forward such social standards. Immediately I think such would have been as much in the interest of subversion of those other societies which a slave may have escaped from, as in the interest of any humanitarian sort of function. ~

The Israelites, as is obvious at this point, having designs on exponential growth - could gain more in subversion value with such, than in returning them to their former masters. ~

Especially on a large scale sense in the instance that neighboring societies relied heavily on slave labor. To remove the everyday efficiency of those neighboring societies through removing potentially depended upon labor - was to make them all the more vulnerable. ~

That doesn't remove the potential benefits the former slaves could experience though - and in fact, made it all the more possible to find even better treatment and perceived success. ~