#Abrahamic

[thejewitches]

Before you say “religion”...

Take a moment and ask yourself a few questions:

- Do you mean just 1 religion? 

- Do you know enough about the all worlds religions to make a potentially harmful generalization about all of them?

- Are you making assumptions about other religions based off of your experience with one religion?

- Are you making assumptions about other religions and cultures based on your limited experience with a single person or group of people from said religion or culture?

- Are you taking out your valid frustrating, anger, hurt, and pain with one religious group on people who have nothing to do with it by making a generalization?

If you don’t actually mean the every single one of the vast, diverse, multi-faceted religions in the world, don’t make a blanket statement and list the one(s) you mean specifically. This also goes for using ‘grouping’ labels that do not apply, like Abrahamic, etc. 

[dhddmods]

THE BIBLE IS NOT ANTI-QUEER!

We have been dying to make this post for a long time. What we'll be covering includes the following:

Firstly - mistranslations and out-of-context verses.

Secondly - genderqueerness in the Bible.

Thirdly - Jewish cultural genders.

(Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and genital mutilation.)

1st Corinthians 6:9 - 6:10

1st Corinthians 6:9 - 6:10 is mistranslated.

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

"Effeminate" is a mistranslation of malakoi. Malakoi is a man who is weak or cowardly - not a man who is feminine. The mistranslation is based in misogyny, by turning "weak/cowardly" into a feminine trait.

"Homosexual" is a mistranslation of arsenokoitai. Arsenokoitai are men who assault other men - not just a gay man. Its absurd to mistranslate "gay rapist" into just "gay."

Leviticus 22

Leviticus 22 is out of context. Leviticus briefly mentions homosexuality, by stating “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.”

However, the context of the original Hebrew text and the verses before this is very important. Before this verse, there was a discussion of incest and infidelity between men and women. But none of these texts ever clarified if the laws also applied to male-on-male incest and infidelity. The addition of Leviticus 22 is not to condemn homosexuality, but to clarify that the previously listed laws also apply to gay incest and gay infidelity.

In full context, the verses go as following:

None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. I am the LORD. The nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover; for theirs is thine own nakedness. The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister; for she is thy mother's near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son' wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness. And thou shalt not take a woman to her sister, to be a rival to her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her lifetime. And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination.”

Eunuchs

The Bible discusses Eunuchs in many different chapters. “Eunuch” was a term used to describe three things:

A man whose penis was removed, due to slavery or a desire for abstinence. 

A person who was born with a male-appearance, but no penis; a type of male-appearing intersex person.

Or a person who removed their penis due to not identifying as a male; a transgender or altersex person, or an intersex person whose penis did not align with the rest of their experiences.

Each of these definitions can be seen in Mathew 19, Verse 12.

“For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Further evidence that some eunuchs are non-binary can be seen in Isaiah 56, Verse 4-5.

“For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.”

Jewish cultural genders

In Jewish culture (which is where Jesus is from), there were eight recognized genders - Zachar, Nekevah, Aylonit Hamah, Aylonit Adam, Saris Hamah, Saris Adam, Androgynos, and Tumtum.

(Zuh-car) Zachar was the term for people who were born with male traits, and lived their life as a man. In modern terms, this is a cisgender man.

(Neck-eh-vuh) Nekevah were people who were born with female traits, and lived their life as a woman. This would be a cisgender woman.

(Eye-low-night Hah-maw) Aylonit Hamah were people who were born with female traits, but naturally developed male traits later in life. This describes people who were intersex, and had hormonal variations that caused male traits to develop.

(Eye-low-night Ah-dom) Aylonit Adam were people who were born with female traits, but developed male traits through human intervention. This describes trans-men or masculine non-binary people.

(Saw-riss Hah-maw) Saris Hamah were people who were born with male traits, but naturally developed female traits later in life. This describes people who were intersex, and had hormonal variations that caused female traits to develop.

(Saw-riss Ah-dom) Saris Adam were people who were born with female traits, but developed female traits through human intervention. This describes trans-women or feminine non-binary people.

(And-draw-joe-naws) Androgynos were people who were born with a mix of female and male traits. This described intersex people who had ambiguous genitals, or otherwise appeared to have a mix of genitals. Modern Jews also use it to include non-binary and altersex people with androgynous identities.

(Pronounced exactly how it's spelled) Tumtum were people who were born lacking sex traits. This described intersex people who were on the agenital spectrum - people whose genitals were small or obscured. Modern Jews also use it to include non-binary and altersex people with neutral identities.

[gayleviticus]

I overheard a guy today giving a progressive Muslim take on Islam to someone else - not proselytising, but sort of like 'here are the good things about Islam and why it makes sense to me and how it's liberatory' - and power to him for it! but what I found interesting about it from a progressive Christian POV was that even as he was expounding a antiracist, feminist, anti colonialist, anti capitalist version of the faith, he did not hesitate at all to draw on language of judgment and hell.

and ofc it was in an inclusivist way - God judges only evildoers not non-believers, Islam is not necessary to be s good person but is about going further to have a relationship with God. hence the targets of judgment are Israeli politicians and IOF soldiers who martyr Palestinians destined for paradise. but it was interesting bc I feel like progressive Christians tend to shy away from the topic entirely. heck, not even just on the topic of hell, even just on the afterlife in general.

and tbc i don't necessarily think this is in progressive christianitys favour! im not trying to be 'eww even progressive islam is so cruel and judgmental unlike christianity the perfect religion of peace'.

i think there is strong biblical language of judgment for a reason, and even as a universalist who believes all will eventually be reconciled to God, it doesn't mean I don't think any kind of judgment takes place.

I think judgment is an integral component of God's plan to recreate the world- to judge is to deem unfit, unworthy. we recoil from this because we see the language used of marginalised people far too often. but I think fundamentally judgment is on sin and death. sin cannot exist in heaven not because heaven is an exclusive VIP members club, but because heaven is defined as a place without sin. to admit sin into heaven is just to recreate hell. So judgment is God discerning what has a place in human flourishing and fulfilment of the law of love.

ofc that's not to make a blanket statement about all progressive christianity or all islam. but I did appreciate this guy shining a light on how judgment can have a liberatory dimension to it

[freeandclear3567]

Life feels tough right now stomach trouble problems sleeping and the cropping up of driving (motor vehicle) anxiety. I just kind of wanted to voice it out there in the world. I fear accidents more than death you know. I’d rather die in my sleep than get in an accident it’d be my eternal shame.

Lately it feels like my life has taken a turn for the worse. The onset of stomach trouble and pains like 2 months ago has upended my life and made life more difficult for me. Luckily on Feb 8 I’ll meet with a therapist to see if we are a good match.

I feel like I’m a burden to my beloved parents who I still live with. I am 30 this is not how I thought my life would go. Idk why I’m saying all this I just wanted to write it down. Wanted people to know I exist I live I struggle. I work. I like my job but the commute is the toughest part of my life it is comparatively small at 35 mins but I still struggle with it.

Idk what I want from this post perhaps just some witnesses of my life now as it is. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. May goodness and peace come to you all. All of humanity deserves to chill out

[obsessivefangirl]

If you're something else or specific that you think should be known for your answer just put it in the tags

[theunfairfolk]

hi please will you elaborate on why the term abrahamic is whack I would like to know more

i tried real hard to find a non-paywalled article that could explain this better than me but alas.

basically it's an overly reductive term that's mostly used by christians to create an us vs them mentality ("them" being multitheistic religions, atheists, or the enemy of the week) as well as paper over the rich theistic differences between the three religions. it's at best an arbitrary grouping and at worst a crack at absorption based cultural erasure .

[degeneratedworker]

" Women's Emancipation: The essence of his character is clear: He has two bottoms. On top - where he unfolded the newspaper, Below - where he is faithful to Muhammad." Soviet Union c. 1970s

[lokesven]

If the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the only true god, the creator of universe, and all others are false, then he is to be stripped of his name and origin.

[disgruntledexplainer]

list of abrahamic terms and how they are used

monotheistic: describing a religion which believes in only one God. examples: judaism, islam, jehovah’s witness.

trinitarian monotheistic: describing a religion which believes in only one God, who also exists as three Persons, typically described as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. examples: Catholic Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, and most mainline and evangelical christian sects. some trinitarian monotheistic religions also believe in “Saints”, but these are merely particularly virtuous humans and are not worshiped (though they may be prayed to; there is a distinction between prayer and worship i may get to later).

monolatrous: belief in many gods, but only one that is worthy of worship. example: mormonism.

henotheistic: belief in many gods, but one is held up as more worthy of worship than others. example: early Yahweism (extinct for about 3200 years now).

Dualism: describing a religion that believes in two gods; usually a good God who is actively worshiped, and a weaker evil god who is rejected. All other “divinities” are typically emanations of these two gods, like rays of sunlight emanating from the sun. example: zoroastrianism

Polytheistic: describing a religion that believes in many gods that are all worthy of worship. there are no major polytheistic abrahamic groups, despite accusations that often fly this way or that between groups.

Abrahamic: describing a religion that shares a common cultural mythos with Yahweism, Judaism, Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, and Islam. Examples: All Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions.

Judeo-Christian: describing a religion that claims direct continuity with second-temple judaism, rahter than a separate revelation tangentially related to it. Examples: Judaism, Catholic Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, all mainline protestant christian sects, most other protestant sects.

Christian: Describing a religion which believes that Jesus is the actual Son of God and worships Him as such. Examples: All self-described Christian groups except Jehova’s Witnesses and Mormons.

High-Church Christian: Describing christian groups which retain the ritual practices and beliefs from the early church (circa 30 AD). Examples: Catholic Christianity, Orthodox Christianity, Coptic Christianity, Anglicanism, Episcopalianism, and Lutheranism.

Low-Church Christianity: Describing christian groups which reject all aspects of early christianity, instead opting to adopted a more free-form individualistic form of devotion more reminiscent of germanic or norse paganism. Examples: most other forms of christianity.

i may add to this post later.

[vibesaresubjective]

[plutointerludeart]

Eve; mother of us all

[bs-specialist]

Every single Christian had their ancestral cultural deities and spiritualities forcibly and violently stripped from them ages ago.

To see Christians constantly trying to pass laws that outlaw any way of life but theirs, and acting like they are being or have ever been persecuted when they are both a part of the largest organized religion in the world and also have been taken in by a very savage and tyrannical theism without choice of their own, is a kind of horror and frustration that can be difficult to stand against.

[indo-europeans]

Was killing men for their wives + having lots of wives the norm during Abraham’s time in general or more near Egypt?

 “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'this is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you”

- Abraham, to his wife & half-sister

[gayleviticus]

the Sabbath law can seem like the most archaic and arbitrary of the 10 commandments but in a way enshrining an absolute non negotiable need for some level of work life balance feels like a very modern concern actually

[septembergold]

I have a dream

That my Middle Eastern Family will come together and embrace its many differences and find solace in shared grief and hope. For we might be scattered like the sand through the wind in all Cardinal directions yet we are all equally dancing under the stars and God's eyes (whoever he or she or it may be).

Israel

Palestinian

Lebanese

Jordanian

Syria

Saudia Arabia

Kuwait

Bahrain

Libya

Tunisia

Algeria

Morocco

[mimok]

"Chasing the Winter Sun: A Timeless Connection to Light and Life"