On Moses
Before I really confirmed my atheism, I went searching for religion. I picked up the Bible. My first impression on Moses was this: con-man of the highest class.
Moses lived in hard times. Food depended on the weather, disease was rampant, sanitation scarce, wealth completely unevenly distributed, slavery abundant, and despite what the Bible claimed, lifetimes were brief.
Suddenly, Moses "discovers" the creation of all mankind! Amazing! Moses is the only one who can see this god, the only one who can speak to him. Moses is obviously charismatic. He starts telling people. People listen. Charismatic people can carry out Holocausts, after all. An invisible being who only asks for a few sacrifices in exchange for their own land and eternal reward is not so much of a stretch, right?
Moses lays down some laws via his god to keep his new society in check. His relatives and their generations to follow are appointed the priests that watch over the tent where sacrifices are brought. Who do you think gets to consume all of that? God? *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
I was impressed by Moses' ingenuity and ambition. It seems that humankind has changed little over the ages. If there is power to be had or if one can find a way to make his way a little easier, he will do it. Even in tent-dwelling, goat-herding times in the middle of the desert.
I was wondering: am I the only one who sees it this way? It was pretty obvious to me, but billions of Christians saw it completely differently: divine, amazing, a man chosen by the deity, etc.
Opinions are welcome.
Moses lived in hard times. Food depended on the weather, disease was rampant, sanitation scarce, wealth completely unevenly distributed, slavery abundant, and despite what the Bible claimed, lifetimes were brief.
Suddenly, Moses "discovers" the creation of all mankind! Amazing! Moses is the only one who can see this god, the only one who can speak to him. Moses is obviously charismatic. He starts telling people. People listen. Charismatic people can carry out Holocausts, after all. An invisible being who only asks for a few sacrifices in exchange for their own land and eternal reward is not so much of a stretch, right?
Moses lays down some laws via his god to keep his new society in check. His relatives and their generations to follow are appointed the priests that watch over the tent where sacrifices are brought. Who do you think gets to consume all of that? God? *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
I was impressed by Moses' ingenuity and ambition. It seems that humankind has changed little over the ages. If there is power to be had or if one can find a way to make his way a little easier, he will do it. Even in tent-dwelling, goat-herding times in the middle of the desert.
I was wondering: am I the only one who sees it this way? It was pretty obvious to me, but billions of Christians saw it completely differently: divine, amazing, a man chosen by the deity, etc.
Opinions are welcome.
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Comment by MagicallyAdept on May 13, 2010 at 1:42pm -
Have you seen the Ricky Gervais film - The Invention of Lying?
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Comment by Kris on May 13, 2010 at 1:47pm -
Yeah, the movie is a parody of religion and focuses a lot on what OP speaks about. Great movie
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Comment by kvnvk on May 13, 2010 at 5:37pm -
sounds way more plausible than the generally accepted view of events.
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Comment by Reggie on May 13, 2010 at 10:17pm -
M, I hadn't really given Moses much thought in my adult life, but that does sound much like more modern religious leaders and founders of religious sects. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.
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Comment by Peter H. Boling on May 14, 2010 at 2:01am -
I think that would be pretty accurate had Moses existed, which I don't think he did. Excellent job cutting through the BS!
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Comment by M on May 15, 2010 at 12:42pm -
Yes, I agree that I don't believe Moses was an actual existing being. No evidence other than what's in the Great Book has been discovered to that extent.
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Comment by M on May 15, 2010 at 12:43pm
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No, I've not seen the film. Note to self: check it out.
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