The Bad Idea that Took Over the World

In this 2015 lecture I talk about the ways in which dualistic forms of thinking about the cosmos, often referred to as "Enochian" in their Jewish forms and "Gnostic" in the wider Hellenistic world, basically took over the Western world and fundamentally transformed Judaism, Christianity, and Islam into religions of "cosmic salvation," rather than ethical transformation of this world--what Judaism calls Tikun Ha-'Olam.

This lecture was part a Biblical Archaeology Society program, publishers of the premiere archaeology magazine, Biblical Archaeology Review. It is used with permission.

[Oldman_nomad]

Introduction 00:00
The speaker discusses his topic of "Enochian Judaism" and its ancient vision of the world and how it became ubiquitous in religious thought.
"I'm talking about an ancient vision of the world or the cosmos and how it took over our world."

The Definition of Cosmology 00:47
Cosmology, as used here, refers to the human perception of the world or the universe and the human place within it. It poses big questions about human existence and purpose.
"Cosmology is the human perception of our world or even the universe and the human place therein... Who are we? What are we? Where did we come from? How did we get here? What is our purpose?"

Fundamental Shift in Human Thought 01:39
The speaker proposes that the transition from Abraham to Jesus represents a fundamental shift in human thought. He believes this change had a profound impact on the way people perceive the world and everything within it.

Ancient Hebrew Conception of the Universe 02:36
The ancient Hebrew view of the universe is a three-level structure. It consists of the sky/heavens with God or angels, the circle/dome of the earth with the planets, sun, moon, and stars, and the good earth itself. There are also chaotic waters on each side, and Sheol (Hades) represents the realm of the dead.

Ancient Hebrew View of Sheol 03:43
Sheol is the realm of the dead in Hebrew thought. This place is not a form of punishment or torture but rather an eternal retirement plan. It is a shadow of the former self and is often described as resting or sleeping in the dust.

Human Place in the Hebrew View 06:11
According to the Hebrew Bible, humans inhabit the good earth and are instructed to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This view emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and fulfilling one's purpose on earth.

Psalms Reflecting the Three-Level Universe 06:26
Psalms 115:16-18 encapsulate the three-level structure of the ancient Hebrew view of the universe. The heavens are attributed to the Lord, the earth is given to humans, and the realm of the dead (Sheol) does not praise God.

Lamentation and Mourning in Psalms 08:14
Psalm 88 is an example of a lamentation, expressing someone's nearness to death and their troubles. It reflects the belief that the dead do not praise God and emphasizes the sorrow associated with death.

"I'm going to suggest something outlandish: that this is the most fundamental shift in human thought until the Enlightenment."

The Hebrew Bible's View of Death 09:12
The idea of the earth being a place for humans to be fruitful, multiply, and live is embedded in the Hebrew Bible.
The book of Job is often misunderstood, as it deals with the problem of human suffering and the belief in cosmic justice.
"The idea of the earth being the place, the human place, be fruitful and multiply, live life, is very much embedded in the Hebrew bible now."

The Problem of Job 09:47
The book of Job presents the problem of why a righteous man like Job is suffering. Job's friends suggest that he must have done something wrong to deserve his suffering, but Job cannot figure out a cause for his suffering.
Job's suffering challenges the belief that God always blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked.

Job's Lack of Knowledge 10:17
Job is unaware of the cosmic drama between Yahweh and the sons of God, including the Satan. He is unaware of the contest that led to his suffering.
Job's friends are unaware of the cosmic drama as well, and they mistakenly attribute Job's suffering to his wrongdoing.

Job's Wish for Death 12:09
Job expresses his wish to be hidden in Sheol and suggests that if a man dies, he should live again. However, he does not believe this is the case.
"If a man dies, shall he live again? See, now the answer is no, but it should be that way. You should do that." 1

The House of the Dead 17:38
In chapter 7, verse 4, the house of the dead, also known as Shio, is described as the place where none leave once they enter.
The dwellers in this house are devoid of light and subsist on dust and clay.
Metaphorically, they are depicted as being in the muck, eating clay.

Greek Literature Influence 18:12
Book 11 of the Odyssey features Achilles in Hades, highlighting the Greek concept of the underworld.
Achilles arranges to be seen in a seance-like event with the help of Odysseus.
The mention of blood signifies a metaphorical revival of Achilles.

Tombs and Tablets 20:40
Around 350-400 B.C., solid gold tablets resembling tin foil were found in tombs across the Mediterranean.
These tablets, called prayers for the dead, are rolled up and placed near the ear or hand of the deceased.
Seventeen of these tablets have been discovered so far, bearing instructions for navigating the world of Hades.

Instructions for the Dead 22:13
The gold tablets contain cues or instructions for the souls in the world of Hades.
They guide the dead on how to navigate the realm and ensure their successful journey.
These instructions mention important landmarks, such as the River Styx and the fair cypress tree with a nearby lake for quenching thirst.

The Spring of Forgetfulness 24:34
One of the instructions on the gold tablets cautions against approaching a spring called Lathay.
Lathay, meaning forgetfulness in Greek, causes souls to lose their memories of past lives.
Souls that drink from this spring remain unaware of their previous existence before reincarnation.

Dualistic Thinking in Ancient Greece 25:29
The speaker talks about the idea of a lake that is significant to them and how they had to confess certain things to drink from it.
They express the belief that their race is from heaven alone and that they are a child of both earth and starry heaven.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and making a bold confession to the guardians of the lake.

Dualism and the Concept of Life and Death 33:25

The speaker explains that in dualistic thinking, the physical world is considered temporary, corruptible, and lowly, while the spiritual world is seen as eternal, incorruptible, and glorious.

Africanus, a philosopher, challenges the concept of life and argues that it is actually death, while death is true life.

[goanywhere]

A fascinating and enlightening lecture. It is so interesting that in reviewing hundreds of testimonies of NDEs, so many of these Helenistic themes are present in their experiences. Very few come back proclaiming doctrinal religious views, but most describe the "spiritual" world in such terms as "our real home", "nothing but love", "where we came from, and where we will return to" etc. and much more. And most are transformed in their views about the importance of "doing good" and serving others as the priority of life in this world.

[annettecloutier]

This is one of Prof. Tabor’s best! So easily understood and how we’ve come to believe in life after death.
So good!

[jameswaldon]

Balanced information shared in a non dogmatic presentation. A lot of questions I have had for years about what certain people believe and why they do so we’re answered in this lecture. This was my first time hearing from Mr. Tabor but it will not be the last.

[benjaminlopez]

Your simply brilliant professor. I throughly have enjoyed every lecture you graciously have posted online. Always illuminating.

[richardhall]

This was fascinating. Thank you very much.
I find it very useful to learn about ideas and paradigms that have become so fixed in aspects of culture that they become invisible and unquestioned. I enjoy the way that it changes my view and reminds me to hold my own perspective lightly.

[hughlowe]

This is one of the best presentations I’ve heard that spans the history of how the earth has been seen from the OT to the NT

[tiberiusgracchus]

Great video! I became interested in these same ideas many years ago through a book by Martin A. Larson, " The Story of Christian Origins" (1975). Larson presents essentially the same theory that the later views of early Christians were formed from ideas of Enochian Judaism permeated by Pythagorian ideas, views that became widespread during the last centuries BCE. A great book that has been a big influence on my thinking, it is not easy to find but well worth seeking out. Thanks for bringing this concept forward on the internet.

[kevinmendez]

Job chapter 19
21:Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord hath touched me. [22] Why do you persecute me as God, and glut yourselves with my flesh? [23] Who will grant me that my words may be written? Who will grant me that they may be marked down in a book? [24] With an iron pen and in a plate of lead, or else be graven with an instrument in flint stone. [25] For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth.
[26] And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God. [27] Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this my hope is laid up in my bosom. [28] Why then do you say now: Let us persecute him, and let us find occasion of word against him? [29] Flee then from the face of the sword, for the sword is the revenger of iniquities: and know ye that there is judgment.

[kerryvorster]

This was informative and well researched. As an intellectual and a Christian i do feel a small adjustment in the perception of the Book of Job is necessary. If you do a deep dive into the book you will note that the Lord was not drawn into a petty wager with the Accuser at the expense of his faithful, blameless sergant Job. God is omniscient, he clearly baited the Accusser into testing His servant job for the purpose of spiritual development. You will read that the nature of the relationship between Job and The Lord changes notably throughoutthe book as the dialogue progresses. Job was blameless and essentually a good man, but seemed to be going through the motions of religious rituals and placing his faith in those good works which he perfomed. He is therefore serving a God who is external and and whom he has no tangible personal relationship with. However as his trials persist he learns to truly lean into and turn to the Lord. At end of the Book, Job conceeds that he had 'only heard of God but now he sees God'. The tone and wording indicates to us that Job now fully embraces the Lords nature and authentically submits to Him bringing about the intimacy and personal dimension which the Lord actually desired from Job all along and which He had used the Accusser to achieve through all of the testing.

[charliebrandt]

One word. Profit. Greed is the driver and destroyer of our world today. The universe is far, far away. Jesus was right to throw the moneychangers out of the temple. Period. Nothing else matters, compassion, love or truth all thrown away in its pursuit.

[meofamily]

I have subscribed as a result of this lecture: the topic is important and the scholarship solid; the one thing that I found strange, is that the audience is expected to be familiar with Gilgamesh but is not expected to be familiar with the works of Cicero.
In my youth that was exactly inverse.

[tsolerman]

Thank you very much Sir. Your work is such a comfort for our souls, that strive to find their way around the world and a meaning

[Notallowed]

Pairs nicely with James Lindsey's recent talks about Gnosticism in the contemporary age.

[kingdomcome]

26:00 ... I seem to remember a passage within the Nag Hammadi library that had similar instructions once one physically dies. To tell the guardian "I am returning to the place from which I came" or something to this effect. I'll have to look that particular passage up. I do remember it was missing a lot of the script within that book/scroll.

It seems to me, many of the scrolls withing this Library dealing with the gnostic side of things are missing (or purposefully taken out - I do seem to lean more to the conspiratorial side of things these days) portions of the script right whenever things/the teachings started to get interesting.

[MISTERBLUE]

I've died and came back, I know what, who and where I went, spoke to and spoke to about. These bodies aren't our true form.

[MortenBendiksen]

Christians also wait for the world to come, and dont see heaven as another world. Yes, you'll find all kinds of beliefs, and also that. But heaven is here, now, fundamentally just the invisible side of this world. It is one world, without end. It's always been the orthodox view. Heaven is just the invisible parts, like love, actual personhood, etc. It is the rejection of materialism, which says all that is just some illusion, not really part of this world. Yes, Christians usually believe that seen from a temporal perspective there is a life "after" death, e.g. the dead play a part, an unseen part in this world, as any ancient (except in an intermediary hyper individualistic age), would take for granted. But it is about this world, always. It is a difficult thing to talk about, because only caring about the seen, is part and parcel of how we become lost. Christians live the reality that ones actions matter, in this world, for actual people now, and in the world to come. Of course there are always forces fighting this view. There are always the ones who desire this to be all, that ones actions are done in some vacuum. As we humans became more and more individuals growing out from the total identification with the whole (how could it ever have been different, given any sort of evolution into individual consciousness we see now?), we need a new way to picture the cosmos. Now I believe consciousness creates the world, so I believe it also actually did change the cosmos we inhabit in fundamental ways, and that continues. We shall regain our identification with the whole, but as a choice, from a personal point of view. But we are unable to simply choose it, only by grace are we given what is needed to make the turn about, and regain a conscious felt connection with the whole. The ethical flows from this identification with the whole and realization of how everything forms a whole, in the moment, in the now, in the actual. Compassion for all is the natural response, not to this as dogma, but to the growing into actually believing love is an eternal quality, and giving before deserving, is how anything exists. But usually we are all somewhere in between, not able to see it fully, only aspiring towards it.

[spitfirered]

Your Teaching Shook Me To The Core, At 69 I Have Never Learned Most Of This Subject Of Life And Death, Thank You God Bless.

[LoveVanillaRose]

All souls are immortal. We are here for a short time in a body but continue on eternally beyond it’s death.

[wallyswarzone]

🤔 Brother!

Great title!
Got me interested and it's definitely divine intervention in my case. The most high will show you what you really want to know about 😉.

Thank you, everyone else stop watching TV if you haven't already, at least the mainstream media. Literally rots the brain 🤦..!