On Dennis Prager's radio show, 8/22/06 he asked the question, "Who is God speaking to when he says at Gen.3:22 - Behold, the man has become as one of US..."? No one came up with the answer.
A clue is given at Gen.3:5. In that verse the words "God" and "gods" appear. Both of these words are translated from the Hebrew word "Elohim". Why is that word translated two different ways - God and gods? Are they both right?
No. The Hebrew word for God is El. To make a word plural in Hebrew you'd add 'im' the same way you would add an 's' in English. The word Elohim, then, is the plural form of the word El (God). When the biblical authors have God speaking of 'us' (as in Gen.3: and 11:7) Yahweh is speaking to the other gods - the Elohim.
Bible translators all play fast and loose with the word Elohim. Sometimes they translate it in the singular and sometimes in the plural. They do this to protect the tradition that the Jews were always monotheistic. It isn't true. The O.T. is jam packed with gods. But you only know them as "false gods", a term that never appears in the Bible itself.
You will be shocked, I'm sure, to know that the creator of the universe in the first creation story (Gen.1:1 - 2:4a) was the Elohim - the gods.
If you doubt this you can check any concordance for the word God.
7 comments on Answer for Dennis Prager
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Although, "God" may manifest "Himself" in an infinite ways, for purposes known only to "Him." At those various occasions may refer to "Himself", as Mother, Father, or even We.
"I am what I am."
For example, what would you say is the most important word in the Bible?
But now let's shift from a religious answer to an historical one. What single word in the Bible would do the most to clarify the murky history and religious beliefs of the People who wrote it?
I have great respect for your ability to rationalize on non-ecclesiastical issues. If you can apply that same talent to your religious studies you will discover some amazing things. Remember, it is not rational people who fly airplanes into buildings; it is people of faith. It's important to know why.
I despise Islamic terrorism as much as you do. The reason I do not attack the Quran is that I know very little about it and because I have no wish to attack any religion. As I've said, I am only offering knowledge and perspectives that are not openly available to the general public. If the pillar of the three faiths cannot stand exposure to truth then all of them will fall. And though I respect the core sentiments of all three faiths it is undeniable that each can be easily be distorted into dangerous shapes by murderous people. If we could have Christianity and the others practiced on their highest moral principles I would withhold the facts I have been trying to put forth. But you know the danger is there and if it can be ended with the simple telling of truth then that seems to me a reasonable goal.
I cannot agree with your theory that unstable people in religion are unstable to begin with. If, for example, you believe that Nazism was/is a religion based on faith in the Fuehrer you need only consider the indoctrination process he put the Hitler Youth through. Many of them grew up and murdered innocent human beings. They never would have done such things had they not been indoctrinated to blind faith. You know the same thing is going on in Muslim schools as we speak. They are turning innocent children into bomb carrying suicidal maniacs. And consider what happened at Waco. Mothers prevented their children from leaving the burning buildings so that they could die with their god and savior. I hate to have said it in such shocking terms but the truth of it cannot be denied.